Children’s bikes in the test: bad result for the popular Austro brand Woom

The ÖAMTC and Stiftung Warentest subjected twelve children’s bicycles with 20-inch rims to a quality test – with surprising results. More expensive models – such as the Woom bike, which is popular with many families – were among the test losers, and pollutants were also found in more than half of the bikes tested.

These models were tested:

– Puky Skyride 20-3 Alu Light
– Cube Kid 200 Street
– Decathlon City Bike 20 inch D4 Rock
– Victoria Pro 5.3
– KTM Wildcat 20
– Puky Cyke 20-7 Active
– Pegasus Avanti 7 20
– Bulls Tokee Street 6 20 inches
– Raymon Tworay 2.5 Street
– S’cool Xxlite 20 “7-speed
– Winora Dash 20 3 speed
– Woom Woom 4

The bikes were put to the test in the following categories: ride, safety and durability, handling, suitability for children and pollution. “In our first children’s bike test, only three models achieved the overall grade ‘good’. Four were rated ‘satisfactory’ and five bikes were rated ‘inadequate’,” concludes ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl.

“Good” does not have to be expensive

The top rating given in the test was “good”, three of the twelve bikes received this rating. The cheapest model in the test, the Decathlon City Bike 20 inch D4 Rock, also achieved the overall grade “good” and was able to master the requirements without any major problems. In addition to good driving characteristics, it impresses with the best light and comes up with parking lights at the front and rear.

Next to the Decathlon is also that Cube Kid 200 Street with a “good” in the test at the top – and, with the same grade but a bit better in details, that Puky Skyride 20-3 Alu Light. “This model is particularly convincing as a comfortable and safe children’s bike without any major weaknesses. According to the supplier, however, it is unfortunately a discontinued model,” says Kerbl.

The test results:

“Not enough” for Austro brand Woom

The test losers, i.e. the bikes rated “inadequate”, mainly have brake problems or poor durability – i.e. cracks on the seat clamp or on the pedal crank. The bikes rated a “five” are those Bulls Tokee Street 6that Raymon Tworay 2.5 Streetthat S’cool Xxlite 20″ 7-speedthat Winora Dash 20 3 speed and the most expensive model in the test, the woom 4 by the Austrian children’s bicycle manufacturer Woom. As a lightweight among children’s bikes, the latter would be particularly suitable for children, but the pedal crank repeatedly cracked.

“We do not know this error pattern from practice,” says Woom: “All our components are of course tested according to the prevailing industry standards by renowned and accredited test institutes in Germany. The cranks had not been conspicuous until then.” The poor performance is seen as a work order: “We take a very close look and do everything we can to achieve a top rating not only in daily practice, but also in the laboratory,” says in a mailing from the Lower Austrian company. woom sold more than 200,000 children’s bikes in the Corona year 2020. The bikes, which are available in six sizes, were partly sold out for a long time or not available for a while due to missing components.

• Video: ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl explains why five models failed the test:

Harmful substances and softeners in the saddle

Due to many and regular consumer tests, pollutants and plasticizers are now very rare in bicycles for adults. It was all the more surprising that plasticizers and pollutants could be detected in the saddle in more than half of the children’s bicycles tested. This also results in the poor performance of so many models: the detection of pollutants has a direct impact on the overall rating. “In the current test, we detected either DPHP (a plasticizer) or PAH (polycyclic aromatic compounds) in the saddle covers. Although these pollutants are not banned, they are still considered harmful to health or the environment, since most pollutants remain in the parts for years , the level of pollution has a strong influence on the overall score in the test,” says the ÖAMTC expert.

• The ÖAMTC test in detail

Tips for buying children’s bikes

• Weight: In the practical part of the test, it quickly became apparent that children got along better with the bikes the lighter they are. Therefore, you should pay attention to the weight when buying.
• test drive: Before you buy it, you should do a practice ride on the bike. Preferably in a closed off area. “After a practice drive, it’s worth taking a look at possible cracking and the individual components. The specialist trade can also provide support here,” says Kerbl.
• Correct attitude: Before the bike is ready for a ride, the specialist retailer should adjust the brake handles, the position and accessibility of the bell so that they can be operated as easily as possible by the child.
• Helmet: Wearing a helmet is a matter of course, here too the parents are role models.