Frog 53 (20 inch) review
Best for: First gears and longer family rides · Upper mid-range
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Pros
- Light for a geared 20 inch bike at 8.15 kg
- Shifters and short cranks designed for children
- Mudguards and bell included
- 8 gears help with hills
Cons
- Costs more than supermarket-style 20 inch bikes
- Rim brakes rather than discs
- Fit information varies between charts
Full review
The Frog 53 is one of the most recommended 20 inch bikes in the UK, and it is easy to see why. At 8.15 kg it is much lighter than many geared kids' bikes, and its 6061 aluminium frame and fork are paired with child-specific parts: patented 114 mm straight-arm cranks to keep the pedalling action comfortable, narrow 460 mm bars and shifters designed for small hands.
It has eight gears from a Shimano Altus rear derailleur with an 11-32T cassette, enough to climb the hills of a family ride without a frustrating gear jump. The brakes are Tektro V-type rim brakes with kids' levers. Full-length mudguards and a bell are included, which is handy in an Irish or British winter.
Sizing is by inside leg. Dealer listings give an inside leg of 50 to 65 cm and an age of 5 to 7, so measure your child and check against the current chart before buying. Frog is now owned by a large UK retailer group, and its own website forwards to that retailer, so buy from an authorised seller and check the warranty terms on the listing.
The bike holds its value well on the second-hand market, which softens the higher upfront cost.
Full specifications
| Type | Lightweight 20 inch geared hybrid |
|---|---|
| Wheel size | 20 in |
| Recommended height or inside leg | Inside leg 50 to 65 cm (height not published) |
| Recommended age | 5 to 7 years |
| Weight (brand) | 8.15 kg |
| Frame | 6061 T6 aluminium |
| Brakes | Tektro V-brakes front and rear |
| Gears | 8-speed (11-32T cassette, 32T chainring) |
| Fork | 6061 T6 aluminium, rigid |
| Tyres | Kenda 20 x 1.5 in |
| Cranks | Frog 114 mm aluminium straight-arm cranks |
| Handlebar | 460 mm aluminium flat bar |
| Included | Bell, full-length mudguards |
Spec check note: Frog's own website redirected to another retailer when we checked, so all figures come from a UK dealer's listing of Frog's specification. Dealer listings agree on 50 to 65 cm inside leg and 5 to 7 years (one gives 53 cm for a single size); no height is published. Check the current chart before buying.
Specifications checked against: Tweeks Cycles (Frog dealer) Frog 53 listing
How it compares with its rivals
| Feature | Frog 53 (20 inch) | Hornit AIRO 12" balance bike | woom GO 2 (14 inch) | Hornit HERO 16" kids pedal bike | Trek Precaliber 24 8-Speed Suspension | woom OFF AIR 5 (24 inch) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | First gears and longer family rides | Toddlers learning balance | Children moving up from a balance bike | Good quality on a sensible budget | Older children on mixed paths | Keen young trail riders |
| Price band | Upper mid-range | Mid-range | Upper mid-range | Mid-range | Upper mid-range | Premium |
| Type | Lightweight 20 inch geared hybrid | Lightweight balance bike | First pedal bike with hand brakes | Lightweight 16 inch pedal bike | 24 inch kids' mountain-style bike with front suspension | 24 inch kids' mountain bike |
| Wheel size | 20 in | 12.5 in (sold as 12 in) | 14 in | 16 in | 24 in | 24 in |
| Recommended height or inside leg | Inside leg 50 to 65 cm (height not published) | Inside leg 30 to 46 cm (height not published) | 95 to 110 cm height | Inside leg 40 to 51 cm (height not published) | About 130 to 150 cm height | 128 to 145 cm height |
| Recommended age | 5 to 7 years | 1.5 to 5 years | 3 to 4.5 years | 3 to 6 years | 8 to 12 years | 7 to 11 years |
| Weight (brand) | 8.15 kg | 2.95 kg | 5 kg (without pedals) | 5.55 kg | 11.90 kg (dealer listing) | 10.3 kg (without pedals) |
| Frame | 6061 T6 aluminium | Magnesium alloy frame | 6061 aluminium | AL6061 aluminium | Alpha Silver aluminium | 6061 T6 aluminium, butted and hydroformed |
Prices in every region
We haven't confirmed prices for this product yet. Use the links to see today's price at each shop.
Prices include VAT where the shop shows it and may have changed since we checked. Delivery costs and stock vary by country, so check on the shop's site before you buy.
Prices in Ireland and United Kingdom
| Country | Shop | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Decathlon | – | Visit shop → | |
| United Kingdom · GBP | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Argos | – | Visit shop → | |
| Evans Cycles | – | Visit shop → |
Other countries
Rest of Europe
| Country | Shop | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| BIKE24 | – | Visit shop → | |
| ROSE Bikes | – | Visit shop → | |
| Austria · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| BIKE24 | – | Visit shop → | |
| ROSE Bikes | – | Visit shop → | |
| France · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Alltricks | – | Visit shop → | |
| Belgium · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Coolblue | – | Visit shop → | |
| Bol | – | Visit shop → | |
| Netherlands · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Coolblue | – | Visit shop → | |
| Bol | – | Visit shop → | |
| Spain · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Italy · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Portugal · EUR | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Poland · PLN | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |
| Sweden · SEK | Amazon | – | Visit shop → |