Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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74 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good idea, poor execution, July 22, 2004
Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars
Like so many others, I was deluded that having the Radio Flyer name on it meant it was a quality product - and unfortunately it is not. Or at least, all of it is not.
I had no trouble assembling the trike (took about 30 minutes), and my 2.5 year old absolutely loves his bright-red "bike". The trike does roll along pretty well, both over grass at the local park, and on the sidewalks to get there. The trike seems solid enough, although I agree that the screws on all the pre-assembled parts needed to be tightened when I unboxed it and started to put it together.
The problem with the trike is the push bar mechanism. In theory, it's a great idea: Standing behind the trike, you are able not only to push it along, but you can also steer the trike, by turning the push bar left or right. So the child gets to ride along on the trike like a "big kid", while you can control it and help them move it along. Once your child gets bigger, the push bar can easily be removed entirely, allowing the trike to be used like any other, and the child to pedal and steer by themselves.
In execution, the push bar is lacking in terms of the poor quality of the steering mechanism. The ability of the push bar to control the front wheel works by means of a cable mechanism, that appears to use standard bicycle brake cables. Turning the push bar left or right turns a hidden (covered) wheel at the back of the trike, which in turn pulls one of two cables (one left, one right) which then turns (pulls) the front wheel in the proper direction. Good idea, and it works well enough.
However it doesn't stand up to use. Our son got his for the holidays last year, which unfortunately here in the Northeast meant it didn't actually get used for months. When the weather improved, we used it about every other day for a month - generally speaking, my son would come with me when I took the dog for a walk, and we'd go along with me holding the dog's leash in one hand, and the trikes's push bar in the other. After just that one month of light use, one of the cables snapped - leaving me with no way to control the steering on the trike, and a jagged brake cable end hanging there for my son to get hurt on. I ended up having to carry my son home in one arm, while I pushed the unsteerable trike and held the dog's leash with the other (and we have a full-size German Shepard - you try managing all three of these at once sometime!)
My son loves the trike, so we're keeping it, but I've completely removed the cable system. I also opened up the mechanism at the back where the bar attaches, and have drilled holes into the frame of the bike, through which I put bolts and locked the rear "steering wheel" into a fixed position. This allows me to keep using the push bar, albeit without steering. I find it works just as well this way anyway - my son is starting to learn to steer himself, and with the bar fixed in a locked position now, it's just as easy to drag the bike sideways if I really need to.
So to end, we're keeping it, but if I had it all to do over again, I wouldn't have bought this product.
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57 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Radio Flyer Disapointment, November 4, 2003
Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars
I don't know where to really start, ok i must admit i fell for the brand name thinking it would be a quality product boy was i wrong. I should know better to fall for that type of thing due to working in retail but hey im a new parent. Anyway lets start with its construction, parental bar that steers the front wheel! This can't be good, if you want a parental bar i suggest one that doesnt affect the front wheel like the Kiddio trike or Kettrike.
Now for the seat, how it bolts to the frame is ridiculous go to Toys-r-us and you'ill see what i'm talking about. The handlebars, when tightening the clamp to secure them it broke! Fixed it with an extra bolt i had in my tool box. Oh yeah last but not least it has no brakes, meaning your child can't pedal backwards. Plus the bell on it is very cheap. So there you have it, i ended up taking this peice of junk back to Toys-r-us for a refund and ended up buying the Ex Kiddio Supertrike 1 for just $29.99 and a bell for $3.99 now i'm happy and so is my son. I hope this review helps someone from making the same mistake i did.
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45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a great bike!!!!, July 15, 2002
Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars
We just got this bike earlier this week, but not only does my 20 month old son love this bike, but both of his parents do too!!! The qualities that I was looking for when I research a bike for my son were:
a push handle for mom and dad,
durable,
safe,
seatbelt, and
adjustable seat so he could grow with the bike.
This bike not only has a push handle, but one better, a steering handle. My son doesn't really know how to push the pedals yet, so he sits and holds on and mom and dad can actually push AND steer the bike - what a GREAT feature. This bike is mostly metal and I feel that it will be very durable (I can't actually tell for sure since we have only used it a week). The bike also seems safe, we haven't had any spills yet. Seat belt - this bike didn't come with a seat belt, but we really didn't need one after all, he is sitting just fine on the bike. Ajustable seat - it can be adjusted to three different positions in relation to the handle bars (note: no vertical adjustment only horizontal).The advertisement also mentions a place for the child to put their feet. We really aren't finding the location of this feature to be useful. It is too far back on the bike for my son to feel comfortable to put his feet there. BUT when assembled correctly (I put the front pedal on backwards to begin with) the front pedals won't turn without being pushed so they are like foot rests until he gets the hang of pedaling.
Also, this bike has great colors, a little pouch to store those wonderful collectables (rocks, etc.) picked up along the way, and made by a reputable company (Radio Flyer). Assembly was quite easy (just make sure you put the front tire on correctly - facing the right way). The hubcaps were a bit troublesome, but ok overall. This bike had many of the same features of the more expensive [price] range bikes, but we only paid about [price] for this one.
I am highly recommending the Radio Flyer Steer and Stroll to all I know with kids this age range.
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