The Off-Road LikeaBike: The FOREST!

Update Oct 24, 2017: The LikeaBike era is ended, but we still have a huge inventory of accessories and spare parts to keep your old LikeaBike in motion. Reach out to us at WeeBikeShop and we'll get your bike sorted out!
The FOREST is a balance bike that is fitted with a very aggressive tires which are designed to grip rough surfaces and make an off-road bike ride safer for your child. The added traction and puncture protection offered by the knobs on the tires makes Forest the official "mountain bike" of the prestigious LikeaBike fleet. It's confusing, in a way because another model offered by LikeaBike, the "Mountain", implies that it's also an off-road model. Not quite so.. We believe that after the "RACER" was introduced in 1997, there was demand for a model with pneumatic tires. (If we look at competitive bicycle racing, we find three disciplines: road, track and mountain.. really four if we count cyclocross). It seems to us that the "Racer" most resembles a track bike or a time trial bike (by virtue of it's hard skinny tires), and that the "Mountain" was the original road bike.. and that finally with the immense popularity of mountain biking, the FOREST was born as the model that's truly compatible with actual off road use. In the LikeaBike USA color brochure, the FOREST is referred to as "the masterpiece".

Main differences between the Mountain and the FOREST:

1. Mountain is offered in 5 different seat colors, FOREST only one- green.
2. The Mountain has color coordinated felt at the frame/fork union, while the Forest uses gray felt only.
3. The Mountain has a clear natural finished mud flap under the seat. The FOREST has a mud flap that is stained a very attractive green color.
4. The Mountain uses tires with an all purpose tread pattern, while the FOREST uses a very aggressive knobby pattern (much like a moto cross bike or a mountain bike)

Confused? Why not let these numerous pictures speak for themselves? Here's the FOREST, up close: Notice the color coordination? The Forest is offered only in green. The mudflap is stained to match, but you can still see the wood grain. Doesn't it look so much like a moto cross bike?
Which child has never flipped their bike upside down to spin the wheels?

Below, the signature gray felt lining in the fork, to keep tender fingertips safe..
Handgrips! The ends are specially shaped to absorb impact, protecting both the bike and your floors (though this model begs to always be outdoors..)
Another note about the hand grips: They're very hard to install! We definitely recommend using them though because the wood finish on the handlebar is quite slick.
Aggressive knobby tires to tame the most unstable, soft, muddy, or leaf covered terrain.
Above, the wishbone shape of the frame is really pleasing to the eye.
The thru bolts at the tip of the fork appear useless, but don't be fooled. They guarantee that your Forest will have a long life span, by making delamination of the plywood impossible.
The floor model pictured above came out of the box with tires fully inflated. We love the "new bike smell" which they give off.

Some notable features of the LikeaBike Mini, common to most other LikeaBikes as well:

• Frame built from two CNC shaped pieces of 10mm thick baltic birch veneer core plywood (9 plies)
• Fork built from a solid piece of CNC shaped 19mm baltic birch veneer core plywood (15 plies)
• Inflatable 12" rubber tires are inflatable to 45 pounds. Schrader valved inner tubes
• Wheels built from solid disks of 15mm baltic birch veneer core plywood (11 plies), with a steel bike rim permanently bonded to the perimeter.
• Removable and washable padded cloth seat cover (GREEN is the only color offered, other colors including leather are offered separately)
• Seat height adjustable to four different positions (11" to 14") for fast growing toddlers
• Limited steering range for extra safety (what happens when front wheel turns too far? Bad things! Ouch.)
• Impact proof rubber hand grips (is Junior dropping the bike onto it's side? No worries!)
• Suitable for use indoors and outdoors (tires will not mark your floors)
• Handcrafted in Germany using wood grown in sustainable forests (FTSE certified?)
• Shipped fully assembled except for handlebar, which is applied with two simple screws
• Compatible with the optional LikeaBike Hopper handlebar basket and the LikeaBike trailer wagon
• Overall dimensions: 14" wide x 21" high x 33" long

The Fastest LikeaBike: The RACER

WHERE TO BUY: WeeBikeShop- Quality bicycles and equipment for growing families, since 2007.
The LikeaBike Racer model is especially appealing to parents (like me) who compete on road bikes because of it's large diameter solid disk wheels and hard rubber tires, which make it the most aerodynamic LikeaBike, and give it the lowest amount of rolling resistance of any model. The fit and finish are impeccable, and it comes right out of the box almost ready to ride. We simply applied the boomerang shaped handlebar to the fork using the two connectors provided (tools are included), and it was ready to roll. No tire inflation necessary! Although we must admit, applying the rubber grips to the handlebar ends takes some horsepower. Moistening the inside of the grip and the ends of the handlebar is the only way to get them in place. This only works if you rotate it while gripping tight, similar to the way you would throttle a motorcycle. Next time, we'll try gently heating the grips with a blow dryer and see if that helps. The Racer was the original LikeaBike first introduced in 1997, and is still very popular today. It's also the fastest looking one!

The features of the LikeaBike Racer are as follows:

• Frame built from two CNC machined bullet shaped pieces of 10mm thick baltic birch veneer core plywood (9 plies)
• Fork built from a solid piece of CNC shaped 19mm baltic birch veneer core plywood (15 plies)
• Hard rubber 12" tires do not require inflation. PLus they're narrow just like a time trial bike!
• Wheels built from solid disks of 15mm baltic birch veneer core plywood (11 plies)
• Removable and washable padded cloth seat cover (red or blue standard, other colors, including leather are offered separately)
• Seat height adjustable to four different positions (12" to 16") for fast growing toddlers
• Limited steering range for extra safety (what happens when front wheel turns too far? Bad things! Ouch.)
• Impact proof rubber hand grips (is Junior dropping the bike onto it's side? No worries!)
• Suitable for use indoors and outdoors (tires will not mark your floors)
• Handcrafted in Germany using wood grown in sustainable forests (FTSE certified?)
• Shipped fully assembled except for handlebar, which is applied with two simple screws
• Compatible with the optional LikeaBike Hopper handlebar basket and the LikeaBike trailer wagon
• Overall dimensions: 14" wide x 21" high x 33" long

Now for the close up photos which you'll find no where else:

We love the bullet shaped frame of the Racer, common to some of the other models.

Seat height adjust to four different positions, using an allen key which is provided with the Racer.

Peering down in the racer gives you an idea of just how narrow the wheels and tires are.

This rear wheel looks as slick as Lance Armstrong's time trial wheels in the Tour de France. What a great place to apply some of your own cool graphics or stickers..

Those pesky rubber grips are necessary, don't let junior ride without installing them properly. Besides.. they protect your investment in the bike (and your wood floors).Above, the frame and fork are pinned together permanently at the factory. Matching blue strips of felt protect fingers from being pinched.

Below, the seat cover has a comfy foam insert and is secured using velcro, both on top and underneath with flaps.
Below, this must be what it looks like to our little racers as they line up on the starting line..These views shows you the ingenious wishbone construction of the Racer's bullet shaped frame. The two pieces of plywood are joined where they meet the front fork, but they taper open into a fork of their own, for the rear wheel.

The Littlest LikeaBike!: The Mini Mountain

People are astonished when they discover that a two wheel bicycle exists for toddlers as young as two years old. Here it is: The LikeaBike "Mini". A "balance bike" (or "run bike") designed for children between the ages of two and five. This LikeaBike is especially attractive because of the shape of it's frame. Instead of a bullet shape, it takes a more graceful "swoosh" shape to make it easier for little feet to reach the floor. Using the same outstanding attention to detail and quality materials, the Mini is a bike for the two year old who already has everything.
Some notable features of the LikeaBike Mini, common to most other LikeaBikes as well:

• Frame built from two CNC shaped pieces of 10mm thick baltic birch veneer core plywood (9 plies)
• Fork built from a solid piece of CNC shaped 19mm baltic birch veneer core plywood (15 plies)
• Inflatable 12" rubber tires by Rubena (made in Czech Republic) with Schrader valved inner tubes
• Wheels built from solid disks of 15mm baltic birch veneer core plywood (11 plies), with an aluminum bike rim permanently bonded to the perimeter.
• Removable and washable padded cloth seat cover (red or blue standard, other colors, including leather are offered separately)
• Seat height adjustable to four different positions (11" to 14") for fast growing toddlers
• Limited steering range for extra safety (what happens when front wheel turns too far? Bad things! Ouch.)
• Impact proof rubber hand grips (is Junior dropping the bike onto it's side? No worries!)
• Suitable for use indoors and outdoors (tires will not mark your floors)
• Handcrafted in Germany
  Shipped fully assembled except for handlebar, which is applied with two simple screws
• Compatible with the optional LikeaBike Hopper handlebar basket and the LikeaBike trailer wagon
• Overall dimensions: 14" wide x 21" high x 32" long

Now that we're acquainted with all of the technical specs, let's explore the LikeaBike Mini Mountain up close and personal: The bike pictured has a special optional attachment under the mud guard- a quick release device designed to attach the LikeaBike wagon trailer (sold separately) The seat height is adjustable by way of two allen thru-bolts. The seat cover is removable and washable. Velcro keeps it in place. The clear satin finished baltic birch frame and wheels match each other perfectly.

Notice the reinforcement of the fork tips using high grade steel bolts? The fork is pinned to the frame and little fingers are protected with two bands of felt. The "floor saver" rubber grips not only protect your hardwoods and linoleum, they protect the bike too!
Close up look at the wheels and tires, which will not harm the floors of your home. Possibly the only Christmas gift bike which can be safely enjoyed indoors! No cheap Far Eastern parts here.. This is a European Classic.