Retrospec Cricket Review: Style Over Scale

Q: Is the Retrospec Cricket too heavy for a 2-year-old?

For a small or young 2-year-old under about 28 to 30 lb, yes, since roughly 9 lb puts you over our 30 percent body weight guideline. Sturdier or older toddlers handle it fine.

Q: What ages does the Cricket fit best?

Its 12.5 to 15.5 inch seat range and weight suit a sturdier 2.5 to 4 year old best, rather than a brand new, small 2 year old rider.

The Retrospec Cricket is, without qualification, the best-looking bike in this price range — a real steel frame in colorways that look like they belong on a bigger kid's bike, not a toddler toy. It's also, at roughly 9 lb, one of the heaviest bikes we recommend for a small child. Both things are true, and which one matters more depends entirely on your kid.

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Specs at a glance

Spec	Retrospec Cricket
Weight (our scale)	~9 lb
Seat height	12.5–15.5″
Frame	Steel
Tires	Foam EVA
Brake	None
Typical price	~$70

Style versus scale, honestly weighed

We need to be direct about the physics here: a 25–27 lb 2-year-old riding a 9 lb bike is carrying about 33–36% of their body weight, over our sitewide 30% guideline. That's not a rounding error. On the Cricket specifically, we watched smaller 2-year-olds in our test group struggle to muscle the front wheel back straight after a turn, and remounting after a fall required more help from a parent than on any other bike we tested this cycle.

None of that shows up in a photo. The steel frame, chunky welds, and genuinely striking paint jobs are why parents buy this bike, and why kids who can handle the weight tend to love riding it. The appeal here is real; it's just a different appeal than "lightest possible first bike."

A season of ownership

Assembly took about 15 minutes with the included tools — standard front wheel, bar, and seat post steps. The steel frame is the stiffest of any bike in this price tier, with no detectable flex even under a heavier rider hammering curbs. Nothing rattled loose in our test period beyond the usual headset bolt, which we checked and snugged once around the two-month mark, same as almost every steel-frame budget bike. Foam tires show typical cosmetic wear after a season; no punctures.

Pros

Genuinely striking steel frame and paint options, nothing else at this price looks like it
Stiff, rattle-free frame under hard use
Sturdy steel construction should outlast a younger sibling's turn

Cons

~9 lb is heavy for a 2-year-old under about 30 lb
Front wheel is harder for a small child to correct mid-turn than on lighter bikes
12.5–15.5″ seat range is on the narrow side

Who it's for

A sturdier 2.5–4-year-old, already at 30 lb or more, who has some riding experience and won't be defeated by the extra weight. It's also a fair pick for parents who genuinely prioritize looks and are willing to spot their child a bit more during the first few weeks while they adjust to the heft.

Who should skip it

Be honest with yourself here: if your child is a small or young 2-year-old, ~9 lb is heavy enough to actively work against them learning to ride. We'd point that shopper toward the Cruzee UltraLite, at 4.4 lb the lightest bike we've weighed, or the Banana Bike LT at 6.4 lb if budget matters more than ultimate lightness. Both will get a small toddler riding sooner than the Cricket will.

How it compares

Against the Chillafish BMXie, the Cricket gives up the molded footrest but is the stiffer, better-looking frame of the two. Against the GOMO, the GOMO's steering limiter and lighter build make it the more forgiving choice for a nervous rider. For how the whole budget tier stacks against a $120 rival, see Strider vs Banana Bike; for the full field under $100, see best balance bikes under $100.

FAQ

Is the Retrospec Cricket too heavy for a 2-year-old?

For a small or young 2-year-old under about 28–30 lb, yes — roughly 9 lb puts you over our 30% body-weight guideline. Sturdier or older toddlers handle it fine.

What ages does the Cricket fit best?

Its 12.5–15.5″ seat range and weight suit a sturdier 2.5-to-4-year-old best, rather than a brand-new, small 2-year-old rider.

Is a steel frame better than aluminum for a balance bike?

Steel is stiffer and often cheaper to manufacture well, which is why budget bikes like the Cricket use it, but it adds weight versus aluminum — the trade the Cricket makes for its frame stiffness and looks.

Bottom line: buy the Cricket for the looks and the sturdy-kid fit, not as a first bike for a small 2-year-old. Lighter alternatives sit at Cruzee UltraLite and Banana Bike LT. Check price on Amazon →