You’ve probably heard of Opus Bikes before. They have a long standing reputation for designing amazing mountain and racing bikes, but did you know that they also have an entire line up for kids??
Opus has a goal, to design and build first-class bicycles for riders at every level. Including the entry level! Starting with the earliest of 2 wheel riders, Opus carries four versions of the 12″ bike, including the adorable Bee Bike running bike. Working our way up, you’ll find great selections in the 16″, 20″ and 24″ frames as well.
We had the opportunity to test out the 16″ Opus Scout.
This is a bigger bike than what my oldest son had been using, but he turns 5 this spring and the Scout is designed for riders ages 5-8, so it was the perfect time to let him have a go with a real ‘big boy’ bike.
Normally, I might have been hesitant to get him onto something bigger so soon because he was still appearing to have some confidence issues with his 12″ bike, But I was comforted knowing that Opus builds sturdy, safe bikes for all ages.
What makes Opus Kids bikes stand out from the rest?
Opus breaks it down with the ABC’s-
The ABC’s of Opus Kids—making better bikes for better memories.
A: Aluminum
While most of the other options in the market use steel frames and forks on smaller models, we use aluminum. The reason for this is simple, a lighter bike is easier for a kid to handle it will ride better and it will be quicker to start and stop.
B: Brakes
We all grew up with coaster brakes, but soon learned the benefits of powerful hand brakes— so why penalize the younger riders by making them wait? We feel the sooner they get used to hand brakes the better. Even our run bikes have them! All bikes are built with pedal and hand brakes, giving kids the same powerful control while riding as grown-ups have.
C: Control
A lighter bike with more powerful brakes will be easier to control and safer to operate. Our kids bikes also feature a specially designed headset that does not allow the handlebars and fork to spin freely, resulting in greater control and no jack knifing.
Our Thoughts on the Opus Scout
Well, first off – just look at the smile on this kid’s face! Kind of says it all doesn’t it? But Mommy has a smile too!
The bike was really easy to assemble, of course I left the mechanics of it all up to the Hubster, but he had no difficulties in the building process. Good Start.
My son’s eyes lit up when he first got a look at the Scout. He loves race cars and this looks like a ‘racing bike’. He jumped up on the seat and rode it like a pro the first time out. I didn’t think he would use the hand brakes for some time, but he mastered them quickly and I think it might be his favourite part. It’s very grown up!
I mentioned earlier that my guy was having confidence issues with his 12″ bike. He fell a few times and even went back to riding his balance bike for a bit, but moving up to the 16″ bike didn’t shake his confidence at all, in fact, I think it gave him a boost! He prefers to ride the Scout now and despite my Mommy nerves, he is riding at a pretty good speed these days as he chases after the big kids on the street!
I really feel that that difference is that the Opus is easier for him to control and has a sturdiness to it that others don’t. It’s a well built and designed bike and you can tell he feels safe on his Opus.
Is the Bang worth the Opus Buck?
Well, here’s the thing. The Opus bike does have a higher price tag than the average run of the mill bike. The Opus Scout retails at $256.
The problem with run of the mill bikes is that they are not well built and they may not last. I have 3 boys, and we bought a cute trike for my oldest son when he was 2. It broke at the beginning of this Spring, right when our almost 2 and 3 year old need it the most! Sometimes, buying a better quality product makes better sense in the long run.
If you can swing it, I highly recommend buying an Opus bike. The lightweight, sturdiness and dual brakes gives beginner riders the confidence they need and you’ll be able to pass this bike down throughout the years.
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