Best Bike for 6 Year Old?

Why not take her "looking" at bikes to see which ones she likes and prefers and seems to handle well? You could go shopping and sort of wander to the bikes, make comments like "Wow, this is a cool bike!" or "I really like this one," and even "Which one do you like?" to see what her reaction is. I've found that typically, a child will like and use an item more if they have a say in what they get, even if they don't know they're choosing it ; )

I recommend a "Specialized" Hotrock Girls bicycle. They are usually found at nice bicycle shops. Depending on her height you would want a 16" or 20". They are beautifully made and very LIGHTWEIGHT, which for a new rider makes things so much easier.

Please know that these are expensive! I'm sure most parents will disagree with my recommendation because the price is high, but we LOVE ours. My boys have had three Specialized bikes starting from the very beginning (a balance bike). Fortunately from me, both boys use the bikes, so I rationalize the price as only half.

We bought a Toys 'R Us $50 bike for my son at my sister's house and he hates it. It is so heavy and poorly made. But, a lot of kids that start out on these have no problem with them. My kids are on the small side, so a smaller, lightweight bicycle has been ideal. In fact, my oldest could ride a two-wheel, pedal bike (no training wheels) at age 3. My youngest at age 4.

16 inch should be the right size unless she's super tall. Otherwise, 18". Just bought my son a new bike, he's a tall 5.5 y.o. and the 16 " is perfect!

If she is new to riding without training wheels then a 20" is too big for her. She still needs the 16" bike. This way she still has full access to the ground. She would not be able to have her feet flat on the ground with the taller bike.

I think any bike from Walmart or any other store that sells them would be fine. I would buy one that is a theme she likes, like Barbie or Disney Princesses. Our boy only wants bikes that are plain and in his favorite color.

She will love it no matter what.

It depends on how tall she is. My 6 year old is 49" tall and fits nicely on a 20" bike. If she is smaller a 16" bike would probably be best. If you want a better quality bike without the big price tag, you could look for a used bike. Some bike stores sell them or check Craigslist or garage sales.

We recommend getting a bike and helmet at a locally owned bike shop (NOT Wal-Mart or other mass merchandiser). The bikes you will find at a bike shop are GOOD quality, and the owners of the stores are extremely knowledgeable about the needs of their customers. We go to Bicycle Exchange in Carrollton (just south of the Square on Broadway).