Most bikes this size stop with a coaster brake and a lever that barely reaches. A coaster brake locks the back wheel, and a locked back wheel on a driveway slope skids rather than stops.

This range fits a proper front V-brake worked by the hand lever, alongside the coaster brake. Most of a bicycle's stopping power is at the front, so this is the part that shortens the stop. It still needs a child whose hand can pull the lever, which is worth checking in the hallway before the first hill.

The bike

A heavy duty metal frame in red with Christmas cartoon graphics on the chain cover, a pennant flag on a pole at the rear, a speaker on the bars and two detachable training wheels.

The maker's size chart

The 12 inch column reads: a saddle of 17.5 to 19.5 inches, an inseam of 16.5 to 18.5 inches, riders 31.5 to 41.3 inches tall, a bike weight of 19 lb and a 110 lb capacity. The note under the chart asks you to measure the child's inseam and compare it with the saddle height.

How far it moves

The saddle runs 17.5 to 19.5 inches and the bars 25 to 27 inches, each on its own clamp. Set the saddle from the inseam before the first ride, not after.

The maker's range for this wheel size.

Adjusted on its own clamp, separately from the saddle.

Published per size, which is unusual and useful when a child has to lift it.

The hand lever works a proper front V-brake rather than a token caliper, which is what actually shortens a stop.

Three sound modes, a doorbell, Christmas greetings and carols, plus a pennant flag on a pole so the bike is visible over a parked car.

Ships from our United States warehouse. Delivery to Canada usually takes 8 to 14 business days, with no customs charges or duties to pay on arrival. Free shipping on orders over $150, a flat $18.90 below that, and tracking by email as soon as it leaves.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused and in the original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

Seen this red 12 in Christmas bike cheaper at another Canadian retailer? Send us the listing and we will match it.

The maker's height band for this wheel size, against an inseam of 16.5 to 18.5 in.

The graphics, the flag and the carols make this a Christmas morning bike rather than a neutral one. That is the point, and it is worth knowing it stays a Christmas bike in July.

A V-brake on the front wheel gives more stopping power than the coaster brake alone, which matters as soon as there is a slope involved.

What we stand behind

• The suitable age, rider height, inseam, saddle height, handlebar height, bike weight and 110 lb weight capacity here are the manufacturer's own published figures for the 12 in.
• No helmet is included. A helmet belongs on every ride, and eight Canadian provinces have helmet legislation, three of them for riders under 18.
• This is a bike for supervised riding on paths, driveways and parks, never on a road.
• The maker calls the braking triple protection. In practice it is one hand lever working a front V-brake, plus a rear coaster brake.
• No battery type, run time or charging method is published for the speaker, so none is stated.
• No safety certification mark appears on this listing, so we claim none.
• The listing title says 3 to 5 years for the 12 inch while the maker's own size chart says 3 to 4. The chart figure is published.
• Ships from our United States warehouse, free shipping over $150, and 14 day returns unused in the original packaging.

What rider does the 12 inch fit?

31.5 to 41.3 inches tall with an inseam of 16.5 to 18.5 inches.

What age does the maker give?

The size chart says 3 to 4 years for the 12 inch. The listing title says 3 to 5, so the chart figure is published here.

How heavy is the bike?

19 lb, published by the maker.

What powers the speaker?

The maker publishes no battery type or run time, so we do not state one.