The Infamous Scoot Balance Bike Gets A Makeover for the US

If you're here because you've done some research about balance bikes, you have no doubt read some things about the Scoot Balance Bike by Ridgeback UK, imported and distributed in the US by WeeBikeShop. Here's a quick review of this wildly popular balance bike in it's current 2017 configuration built exclusively for the US.

Wide handlebars enhance control. Think of it this way: would you be a better driver with a tiny steering wheel?

Originally launched 10 years ago, the Scoot has a timeless design that's been engineered for it's riders by a reputable British bicycle producer. Ridgeback has been selling bikes since 1983 and they are not in the habit of slapping something together just to rush it to market. The Scoot was developed with the same quality workmanship as the company's adult bikes, meaning that it was designed as a bicycle, not as a toy. This is evident in it's "stacked nickel" aluminum welds, it's lack of any weight limit, and it's compliance with bicycle safety testing protocol- a process that would destroy most every other balance bike on the market that avoids this testing for obvious reasons.
The Scoot was launched in the US by WeeBikeShop in 2013 and since that time, a lot has changed and improved. The 14" version of the Scoot (called the Scoot XL) was launched about a year later, designed to fit the typical 4 year old son or daughter of parents who may have become aware of the balance bike craze a little later than others. This bigger bike solved a problem for many families, by rescuing 4 year olds from having to ride under-sized toy product with 50 lb weight limits, masquerading as real bikes. It's hard for an untrained eye to tell the difference between toy and real bikes, because they all market themselves as "bikes".. something the bicycle industry should take issue with, the same way that the dairy industry plans to do with "soy milk" and "almond milk". (If it's not from a cow, it's not milk! and if it's not safety tested as a bicycle, it's not a bike! but we digress..)

Back to the Scoot. It's recently been upgraded, changed and adapted for the US market. To wit:

1. It now has an all-terrain tread pattern on the tire, by Vee Rubber, so it can be ridden safely on any surface. The previous tire was rather devoid of much tread, designed mainly for pavement.
2. Scoot now has angled valve stems that make topping off the air in the tires much easier, regardless of the brand or model of bike pump.
3. The hand lever for the brake was improved, changing from an all-plastic version to a much better alloy lever that loads the cable end from the side for better engagement of the brake wire.
4. Aforementioned hand lever is now positioned on the right hand side of the handlebars by default, instead of the left (as is the custom in the UK, those wacky Brits!)
5. The Scoot is now a co-branded bike in the US so you will observe the nifty WeeBikeShop logo on the rear tubes of the bike. This is intended mainly to filter UK version Scoots sold by unscrupulous rogue European sellers to the US. What this means is that WeeBikeShop, as the sole exclusive US importer, can avoid servicing warranty claims from the customers of the aforementioned unauthorized sellers. Make sure you're buying the "US Edition" whenever shopping for a Scoot. Otherwise, you will be left holding the bag if you need service, as it should be.
6. Assembly tools are now included with every Scoot and Scoot XL- something that should have happened long ago, but which took some time for the WeeBikeShop folks to sort out.
7. Touch up paint is now included with every Scoot balance bike, in an exact match. Like any paint material, it's potentially hazardous stuff, so please keep it out of reach of children. Making those scratches disappear is a nice feeling though, and a feature normally reserved for high end adult bikes.

Nothing new but worth pointing out: Every balance bike shipped from the WeeBikeShop facility in San Diego (yes even if you ordered it on another website or on Amazon) is thoroughly bench prepped. What this means is that it's removed from the carton, inspected for defects, checked for safety, tires re-inflated to 35psi, rear wheel tuned to spin true, v-brakes dialed for balance, brake shoes aligned with rims, and everything re-packed with extra protection to survive the wrath of angry Fedex handlers. The cherry on top is a nice big complimentary hand wipe that's included for customers to clean their hands after assembly.. and why not? to also remove all the finger prints you added to the glossy paint before presenting it to a lucky recipient.

Some bad news: Some colors were discontinued in the US, namely the matte black (both sizes) and the Lime Green 12" Scoot (still available for Scoot XL) One of the finer details of the Scoots is their paint job- they are quite pristine with a thick clear coat protecting the decals underneath- none of those cheap stickers that other brands put on top of the paint that get dog eared and filthy over time.

Did we mention there is no weight limit? While we're on the subject of weight, let's inform you about why ultra light balance bikes are not necessary. Flash forward 2 years. You are shopping for your kid's first pedal bike, the one that someone promised you they would ride immediately, without training wheels, after a couple of seasons on a balance bike. The bike has either 14" or 16" wheels (please avoid pedal bikes with 12" wheels) and weighs about 20 pounds (assuming you are spending $200-250 for it.. if you're going cheap, expect it to weigh 25 pounds) So.. realizing that junior was practicing his/her balance on a toy product that weighs 6-7 pounds, you now realize that this pedal bike weighs 3x to 4x more than the first bike. Sounds ridiculous! Let's think clearly about this.. It's the equivalent of practicing to ride a Harley, using a bicycle (which is not a motorcycle). To get ready for a Harley, you don't practice on a bike, and to get ready for a real bike, you should't practice on a toy. Long story short, a hyper light balance bike does not help your kid adapt to the real deal. Why even go there?
If any of this sounds like defensiveness of the weight of the Scoot and Scoot XL (weighing 11b and 12.5lb respectively) you are correct. But please consider that the protocol for bike weight that is most successful is for a bike rider to outweigh their bike by a factor of at least 3. For example, A Scoot recipient should weigh at least 33lbs and a Scoot XL recipient should weigh at least 37 lbs. Some discretion can be used of course for muscular, athletic kids, but these guidelines are pretty successful. As it turns out, most 3 year olds weigh 32-35lbs (perfect for Scoot) and most 4 year olds weigh 36-40lbs (perfect for Scoot XL)
Still not sure? Then please consider the seat height of the bikes you are considering. The Scoot has a seat range of 14" to 20", and the Scoot XL has a seat range of 16" to 22". It says so right on the box. Avoiding a tiny bike will avoid buyer's remorse, like when you observe your kids elbows digging into their torso because the reach to the handlebars is ridiculously small. No such issues with the Ridgeback Scoot. It was engineered for optimal fit and comfort for kids age 3-6, by a real bicycle company. Happy shopping! Thanks for reading.

Brake cables are routed through the frame for clean lines.

The distance from the seat to the handlebars allows room for growing arms. None of that nonsense you get from the toy industry stuff. #realbikesnottoys is a thing!

Check it: the seat is finely upholstered with handsome stitching AND a convenient carrying handle  (for you to use, not the kid)

V-brakes are TOP MOUNTED, as they should be. It's important to be able to observe a bikes brakes and easily inspect them. We see bikes with the brakes mounted under the frame and we just shake our heads.. So not necessary to hide this important component from view and make maintenance a challenging ordeal!

This is the best brake lever on the market for little kids. Sized for small fingers and built to endure the abuse of any 3-6 year old.

The seat clamp is pretty basic, but can be upgraded to a premium quick release in one of 6 cool colors.

Not to sound like a late night infomercial, but these are all of the goodies included with your Scoot! A bell, an extended length 2nd seatpost, assembly tools, touch up paint, a little cardboard foot (license to ride), and a pleasantly scented hand wipe (smells a lot like Davidoff, so Dads will like it)

With welds like "stacked nickels" and evidence of it's genetics, the Scoot has the same appeal as a Land Rover, but for kids.

These new sneakers can go anywhere (sneakers=bike tires) The domed axle nuts  perform double duty- they fasten the wheels to the frame and they keep the frame from touching the ground when the bike is sleeping. Scratches prevented!