Just Say No to the Coaster Brake

What's up with the Coaster Brake?

With 20 inch wheel bikes (typically ages 6 and up), hand brakes are almost always provided and with good reason.  However, when it comes to 12, 14 and 16 inch pedal bikes, not only is difficult to find a good bike geometry and fit wise, it is also difficult to find a bike without a coaster brake.

How has the coaster brake permeated through the North American psyche as gospel for small kids' bikes? Is it the memories we have as a child, hammering the pedals back and laying a big skid at the bottom of the driveway? No, it's an archaic ruling by the US CPSC that bikes with maximum seat heights under 25 inches be classified as "sidewalk bikes."  And as such, all "sidewalk bikes" must be fitted with a coaster brake.

Who's making freewheel bikes for kids?

Thankfully, a few manufactures are fighting the good fight and shipping with a freewheel or with a freewheel kit. Prevelo, Woom Bikes, Cleary Bikes, Pello Bikes, Park Cycles, Guardian Bikes, and  Spawn Cycles are leading the charge.

Why are hand brakes and a freewheel better?

In our opinion and experience we find hand brakes are superior for skill development and enjoyment even for the under 5 crowd. The reasons are many:

  • Kids will need to learn how to use hand brakes so why not introduce from the start? Hand brakes allow child to modulate braking forces ( a coaster brake is more on/off)V brake
  • Hand brakes offer more power (most comes from the front brake).  If the idea of getting thrown over the bars from too much front brake scares you, just adjust the front brake by loosening the brake anchor to engage less and slowly up engagement (tighten the anchor) as child learns brake modulation.
  • The new V-brakes offered on quality kids' bikes have child specific levers and reach in addition to an easy pull.  My just turned 3 year old had no problem stopping with a rear hand brake.
  • A freewheel/Hand Brake combination allows the child to rotate pedals backward to find the sweet spot to start momentum.
  • Two Brakes are better than one.  In the event of one failing there is another for back-up.  If your chain drops on a coaster brake bike.... no stoppy.
  • Despite misconception, a quality pad/rim combo maintains stopping power in the wet.
  • Service is easy and can be done by parents who have a screw driver and allen key set (blog post on brake adjustment to come).  If you get in trouble a $10 repair job or a nice smile to your friendly local bike shop mechanic will have you on your way in 5 min.

Of course, if a disability or other hurdle made hand brake operation too difficult for a child, the coaster brake is the option. And yes, a beach cruiser and a coaster brake are like peas and carrots.




83 Comments

  1. MApril 14, 2022

    The people that comment “I’m an adult who loves my coaster brake!!!!” on this article also comment “I substituted the sugar for salt and the recipe came out too salty!!!! This recipe site is garbage!!!” on recipe sites.

    You can be an adult who likes coaster brakes. The article didn’t say anything about coaster brakes for adults. They just aren’t the best way for a young child to use. If the article said, “Pennyfarthings aren’t the best bikes for a child to learn on,” all the comments would be about how much better Pennyfarthings are.

    Reply
  2. John WaldenJanuary 29, 2022

    I’m a 67 year old bike rider and I HATE hand brakes. Give me good old-fashioned coaster brakes any day of the week!

    Reply
    1. ColinJanuary 29, 2022

      Try some new hydraulic disc brakes, I’m sure you will change your tune.

      Reply
    2. Jacob Patrick HarrisJune 28, 2023

      Coaster brakes are great for slower paced, more upright cycling. I think most Dutch bicycles have coaster brakes, and those people bike everywhere!

      Reply
  3. Trevor F.January 6, 2022

    Our 3 yo watches older siblings pedal backwards and tries to mimic which goes terribly with a coaster.
    Stop, go, stop, go, oh, no

    Reply
  4. SayNoToCoastersDecember 31, 2021

    My gosh! I just started looking for a new bike for my daughter and googled “16” with hand brake” and came across this post. She has a 14″ coaster now, and the coaster is terrible. It shocks her confidence going down big hills or just being able to brake on command without her feet slipping. Sure, she can learn how to use it better. But its making her not like the bike as much as one she could control better.

    Reply
  5. Concerned But Usually Let My Kids Roam Free DadSeptember 7, 2021

    I am adding a hand brake for my kids (6 and 4) after my daughter’s bike chain fell off the spokes while going downhill and she was not able to stop on a coaster brake (no chain on = no brakes).

    I also remember this happening when I was young and launched myself off a ramp and the landing jostled the chain off. Thankfully high weeds off the tracks stopped me.

    Reply
  6. GDSeptember 4, 2021

    Biggest trouble with coaster brake for my child (4 year old) is, she cant get the pedal on right spot to start off pedelling. So all the time I have to be arround either to get the pedal on right spot or give her a push; and I’m here somehow while searching for a 16′ non coaster bike. Haha

    Reply
    1. ColinSeptember 4, 2021

      You have come to right spot.

      Reply
  7. AnonymousJuly 9, 2021

    I can’t agree with this. Hand brakes make no sense for kids. Coaster brakes are just much better as they’re easier to get the hang of and control. Coaster brakes are what I and every kid in my neighborhood learned on, and we all did just fine. No issues. Hand brakes should be reserved for late teens-adults only.

    Reply
    1. ColinJuly 11, 2021

      Coaster brakes are good for beach cruisers, that’s about it.

      Reply
    2. CrispyJuly 17, 2021

      I disagree. I believe coaster brakes make it harder for kids to learn since they watch you as the adult ride your bike with hand brakes. Especially when you take off the training wheels. Freewheel allows them to reset the pedal in the correct spot for takeoff. Handbrakes allow for an easier way to stop without fear of losing their balance. Coaster brakes are a thing in the past

      Reply
    3. AnonymousOctober 25, 2021

      Yes, I agree. I still have a coaster brake bike with a front V-brake and ride it perfectly fine. My bike is a no-chain Priority Bike. I need no adjustment on the brake, I can modulate it perfect, never overheated, I have the front hand brake and use the two together and no issues. My kids learned the coaster brake in about 8 seconds. Hand brake was hard for them as their hand was too small and could not grip the lever easy and pull it hard enough. Coaster brakes ? Mastered it in a jiffy and loved it. Later on their bigger bikes had hand brakes and they use those well, but always said that the coaster brake was just so easy and reliable. My Priority Bike is amazing. I ride weekly and on everything. All I had to do is change the tires for a little more aggressive design and I can go over dirt roads, gravel, asphalt, heck I even ride it on the beach. Everywhere and I keep up with the kids most times even though I have only 3 gears.
      Just because things are old they are not necessary bad or useless. Some things were better and easier 30-40-50 years ago. I would take my coaster brakes over any new china-made disc brakes.

      Reply
      1. ColinOctober 26, 2021

        Disc brakes are far superior “even if they are made in China”, as most of the best bike parts are. It’s just fact that your front brake gives you braking power so if you want to stop fast and effectively you need a front brake. For kids, the new kid friendly quality v-brakes and a freewheel are far better than a coaster brake. Yes, a coaster brake will stop you but it is inferior. If you just ride around the boardwalk at the beach, sure. Everything else, v brakes or even better disc brakes….even from China.

        Reply
  8. BeaApril 28, 2021

    My 3.5 year old is a master at the balance bike. I made the mistake of getting her a traditional 12 inch Liv Adore bike with coaster brakes. She is struggling with pedaling. She gets the hang of it, but as you stated above, as soon as she goes the opposite direction she stops moving. She is too small for a 16 inch bike. The woom 2 is on backorder. I found a used Islabike cnoc 14 for purchase, but it does have a coaster brake, along with a handbrake. Do you think I can remove the coaster brake or should I just wait until she is big enough for the woom 3? She desperately wants to keep up with her big brother.

    Reply
    1. ColinApril 28, 2021

      You would need a whole new wheel for the CNOC 14, one with a freewheel hub that fits size wise (you may need to even custom build one if you want a light weight set-up. The Guaridan has a few left for late June/Early July delivery and I think the Spawn Yogi 14 is available now in blue. I also would not hesitate to grab the Joey from amazon to bridge the Gap to 16 inch. https://thebikedads.com/14-bikes/

      Reply
  9. DodgeMarch 25, 2021

    Anyone got a link to the brake kits they ate putting on these bikes like the woom and prevelo? Thinking about adding one to a balance bike for when she gets faster

    Reply
  10. NaurisMarch 21, 2021

    While I agree that most coaster brake hubs are garbage, there is no need to diss them completely.
    The technology came up during a time when there was no pump tracks and trail riding. It is completely adequate for just riding about.
    If your kid will be just riding around town, coaster brake is just fine.
    Just make sure it’s not the cheapest Made in China thing. (If there is no manufacturer info on the brake arm, it’s probably cheap China stuff).

    Reply
    1. ColinMarch 21, 2021

      No one is dismissing them completely. For kids 14 and 16 inch bikes a freewheel is just better.

      Reply
      1. MasterofnoneApril 12, 2021

        My twins got bikes at age 4. Rode balance bikes from 2 to age 3. The coaster brake had been a problem because pedaling was a new thing. They needed the momentum and one turn of the crank the wrong way and the bike would stop but feet were still on the pedals. Likewise, once they learned to ride (coaster brake disabled) that problem, and the fear of them not being able to stop if their feet came off the pedals on a hill was gone.

        Reply
        1. Crystal Marie DemecsOctober 22, 2021

          How did you disable please because my son’s on the autism spectrum and he can pedal on a tricycle but once the pedal coaster brake was on his new bike he will not do it because sometimes he accidentally pedals back and then forward but he won’t even try anymore. if I can disable it I can get him to pedal and get comfortable on the bike again then he will already be used to it enough to try a regular one again

          Reply
          1. KirkDecember 20, 2021

            You can remove the brake shoes/mechanism from the coaster brake while keeping the drive mechanism, this results in what is typically called a ‘free coaster’, it suffers from the same inconsistent and slow engagement of the coaster brake due to the screw interface (or in hubs like a velosteel, the roller clutch) needing to engage, but the bike can be pedaled backwards. To do safely this requires a familiarity with adjusting cup and cone hubs and the internal function of a coaster brake. Totally doable, but relatively time intensive and relatively high “now nothing works!”/frustration risk. (this is 100% the kind of modification they invented “warranty void if opened” for). If you aren’t familiar with rebuilding coaster brakes, it’s more efficient to buy a new wheel, but even so, the rear axle will need to be spaced and readjusted to fit most freewheel wheels in a coaster brake frame. If he has 2 hand brakes (and they are set up properly) this is an acceptable option, either requires strong home mechanic skills (I’d consider be able to adjust loose bearings correctly a threshold for strong home mechanic skills) or a good local bike shop, but expect to pay a fair amount in labor (no shop larger than ‘dude in his garage’ I can think of will agree to remove a coaster brake from a hub, but YMMV). (ALWAYS have 2 brakes on a bike that will be ridden anywhere near other people or traffic.) Depending on the size of the bike, finding a replacement wheel may be hard (20″+… probably easier). A decent used bike is probably the best option, but finding a 16″ or under freewheel bike is VERY hard. Only the kid specific brands make them (woom, isla, earlyrider etc). If he’s on a 20″ bike, then there is a lot of availability for freewheeling bikes (even used), most will have gears as well and two hand brakes, but won’t be easily fittable with training wheels.

  11. KoloMarch 18, 2021

    Interesting debate. I’m a lifelong biker, grew up on a coaster-brake sting ray and was on hand brakes since I was probably 12 or 13. I’m 59 now, biking all the time, and I recently got a single speed bike with coaster brakes and, I got to say, I love it. Wet conditions do not affect braking. And the large muscles of the legs definitely produce a more secure feeling in braking than relying on the hands. Maintenance is very simple so it’s practical on a simple bike like mine, on a cruiser you might have with a beach town or a rental service, etc. I think your theory that hand breaks or somehow easier use or learn is kind of whack, I don’t buy it. Maybe some of the modern Systems provide more power and good braking without as much pressure, but people with arthritis or other and injuries, and there are plenty of them now at all ages with computer and mobile device use so universal, they see the benefit of coaster brakes on some bikes. No problem with handbrakes though on my multispeed shifting bicycles. But for a carefree ride coaster breaks bring out childhood vibes. And yea, the skid.

    Reply
    1. ColinMarch 18, 2021

      Hand brakes and a freewheel are much easier to learn on for kids as laid out above. Ask any parent these days. The argument is for kids bikes, go ahead enjoy your coaster on your cruiser bike…its just bikes after all. We ride mountain bikes and would not think of using a coaster brake, and we can lay a mean skid with our hydraulic disc brakes and 8 inch rotors as does my 7 year old with his 6 inch rotors or tektro easy pull v brakes. LOL.

      Reply
    2. Michel DouchantJune 10, 2021

      Hello – I do agree on your observance of coaster brake – I refurbished a 60’s men’s bike, single speed coaster brake and I will say after pedaling that bike around, I rediscovered this system and it became apparent just how practical it was – the freedom of no hand brakes and in this case, no gears took me back. My Evo 8speed rear wheel became unusable so I had to buy another bike and someone showed me a used Trek with single hand brake and coaster brake and I took it gladly. Had I not had my experience with the beach cruiser I would not of even considered such a bike but I am very pleased. This is not a reflection on the article nor a rebuttal but just affirming to yourself that I am your age with much the same experience on bikes and it is a revelation that the coasters are quite efficient. I am a commuter and I look way ahead to hazards and it does not take much pressure to slow right down with them when required. Anyway, glad to read your perspective as I experienced the same thing – I liked my disk brakes and would certainly use them again but the efficiency of the coaster surprised me and yes, easy to maintain. Thanks

      Reply
      1. ColinJune 10, 2021

        Our opinion is rooted in mountain biking and kids bikes…and we stand by it. By all means, have fun on our coaster brake bike, it sounds awesome.

        Reply
      2. RubenJuly 15, 2021

        I rented a bike with coaster brake while on vacation and was having a lot of fun until the chain fell off, nearly fell off a cliff.
        Not fun trying to stop quickly without brakes.

        Reply
  12. SchwinnJanuary 25, 2021

    I Ride coaster brake bikes and they stop better than hand breaks. When riding in the snow, hand brakes fail usually and I always crashed into my friends until I got my 1959 schwinn tiger and I can go 50+ down hills with a speedometer and it doesn’t cook the grease. Coaster brakes are cheaper, better looking, easyer, more fun and reliable.

    Reply
    1. ColinJanuary 26, 2021

      Clearly you need to try newer v brakes and disc brakes.

      Reply
      1. Louis Newel CalkinMarch 25, 2021

        My mom raced for the Olympic training team until she killed her legs and I race mountain bikes. Rim breaks are easier to maintain and have a better feel and you don’t have to bleed them. Rim and discs suck in the wet and squeal.
        Coaster breaks are easy and fun. They don’t SPOIL THE FUN and they look good. Can you stop with no hands with Hand breaks.

        Reply
        1. ColinMarch 25, 2021

          Nonsense, disc bakes are superior to any brake in the wet and mechanical discs don’t require bleeding. Throw a coaster brake on your mountain bike and see how that goes. LOL

          Reply
        2. BenMarch 29, 2021

          Love to see you ride a bike at all with no hands!

          Reply
  13. CoryDecember 12, 2020

    Hi Colin,

    Great post, completely agree. Need a hand brakes for a 12 inch strider. Having trouble finding one. Any suggestions?

    Thank you

    Reply
    1. ColinDecember 14, 2020

      I don’t believe strider can take a hand brake as there are no mounts and the rims are plastic. They do a foot brake however.

      Reply
  14. DrMotoNovember 16, 2020

    Love this Blog!

    I bought my 4 year old an SE Racing Lil Flyer and love it, except pulling the hand brake takes about the same strength my 2nd hand 1960’s Kawasaki dirt bike took… It’s a v brake but he can barely apply ANY resistance to the wheel when grabbing with 4 fingers… I tried adjusting it snd would like to just switch to a quality brake (disappointed in SE for the brake they chose).

    Any suggestions for some high quality, very light pull, v brakes for this 16” bike?

    Thanks

    Reply
    1. ColinNovember 16, 2020

      Try tektro kids levers and v brakes. You can get ones that fit 19 and 22mm diameter bars.

      Reply
    2. bertieJanuary 4, 2021

      Replacing the brake shouldn’t be necessary – it can probably be improved by carefully tweaking the existing setup. First remove the cable, slacken the springs all the way and check for free movement of the arms – if they don’t pivot freely you’ll have to remove them and make sure they fit properly on the bosses (sometimes a little light filing is required on the boss) and are properly greased. Now check the cable for free smooth movement (replace with a high quality cable if necessary) before refitting it. Finally make sure the brake blocks are properly aligned and tighten the springs the least it takes to lift the brake blocks off the rim. Adjust cable tension and lever reach as required for comfortable operation.

      Reply
  15. JenniferOctober 25, 2020

    I have a question. I have 14 spoke woom 2 with a coaster. I’m trying to free wheel it but the new freewheel is 15 spoke, how can I fix this?

    Reply
    1. ColinOctober 25, 2020

      Woom’s rear wheel/free wheel should fit no problem. Which rear wheel do you have? Spoke count shouldn’t matter, its rear wheels spacing that determines fit.

      Reply
  16. StuartOctober 9, 2020

    Handbrakes are definately the way to go for kids bikes. My sons first started riding on balance bikes(striders), which don’t have brakes and so learned to put their feet on the ground to stop. When moving onto a pedal bike they still had the instinct to take their feet off the pedals and onto the ground when they wanted to stop. Their first pedal bikes had a rear coaster brake and a front v-brake, they found it much easier to start using the hand brake than to use the coaster brake. They still rarely used the coaster brake even after mastering the skill of keeping feet on the pedals whilst braking.

    I guess a caveat with the above is that their bikes were decent bike-shop bikes with quite strong v-brakes, not cheap bikes with poor quality caliper brakes.

    Reply
  17. MickAugust 6, 2020

    Wow, a polarising discussion!

    As a cycling nut, I think the key word here is quality. Cheaper bikes have such poor-quality hand brakes. On my nephew’s 16-inch bike, the whole calliper assembly is made from stamped metal which visibly bends when braking – it barely slows him so the coaster is essential.

    It’s important to note the huge difference between calliper brakes on cheap bikes and quality V-brakes that are setup correctly. There is no way I would let my kids ride a bike that only had cheap calliper brakes.

    The thing that scares me the most about coaster brakes is when kids feet slip off the pedals going down a hill with bumps. They end up bumping up and down on the saddle, feat flailing around for balance with no way to stop – scared crazy. In contrast, quality V-brakes set to the correct distance from the handle bar can be pulled with a finger or two.

    Two essential concepts: Teach kids to always ‘cover the brake’ at the top of all hills – one or two fingers on each leaver is all that’s needed. If they’re going too fast or getting wobbly, they hold on tighter which activates the brake and they slow down. Teach them to ‘modulate’ the brake – ease the brake on to know exactly how much effort is required to slow a little or stop at a given speed. Exactly the same as when you learned to drive a car.

    I suspect that many adults who promote the coaster, grew up with the coaster and aren’t familiar with how good V-brakes are for kids. While I can see the argument for coasters I strongly believe that V-brakes and a freewheel is the best balance of safety and fun.

    Keep in mind that no matter what brakes you have, crashes will happen. I teach my kids to get up from a crash and think about what caused it and how it could be avoided next time. They have to understand that they will come off from time to time. As parents we need to reduce the risk of serious injury, without bundling them in cotton wool. We learn from mistakes.

    As for disc brakes on kids bikes? If you don’t have a strong opinion get the V-brakes. Cheaper, lighter, less maintenance, less likely to be damaged by careless kids and 90% of the stopping power.

    For the record, I’m not affiliated with this site (I’m in Australia), I found it by chance and I’m a cycling nut. Have a great day!

    Reply
  18. SeanJuly 29, 2020

    Thank you for all of the information on this page! My son has a Trek Jet 16″ bike, which comes stock with a coaster brake. However, there does appear to be mounting holes at the rear for a brake caliper, but I have no idea what to purchase. When I contact Trek, they have no advise. Any pointers?

    Here’s a picture of the rear: https://i.imgur.com/N9IqPIa.jpg

    Reply
    1. ColinJuly 29, 2020

      You would need to replace wheel which is costly and caliper brakes not that powerful as a v-brake which requires mounting horns. Best bet would be to sell and replace with a freewheel bike.

      Reply
      1. SeanJuly 29, 2020

        Thanks, I appreciate your time! I’ll stick with this bike and upgrade him to an 18-20″ with hand brakes when the time comes.

        Reply
  19. Sean TorrezJuly 27, 2020

    Can’t you just use a road brake with the through holes provided for that purpose on fork and frame? Seems like you are looking for MTB brakes and not finding them but I think the frames are already machined with holes for caliper brake.

    Reply
  20. DennisJune 21, 2020

    I prefer coaster brakes. I lament that they are difficult to find here for kids bikes too as my twin boys have grip strength issues due to a slight disability and would really do better if they could used their feet to brake.

    I’ve considered a conversion, I do have a machine shop.

    Reply
  21. GlennMay 13, 2020

    I agree with the post that kids should have their hands fully on the handle grips and not partly with a couple fingers on the brake. What if they hit that same bump that knocked their feet off the pedals with only a partial grip on handle bars ? Mind you, I’m a grandfather and thinking safety, safety, safety.

    Reply
    1. ColinMay 14, 2020

      Kids do have all fingers on the bar until about 7 years. They just grab brake when time stop. Their feet are more likely come off due to kick back from a coaster brake. Hand brakes and a free wheel are best for kids.

      Reply
  22. DerekApril 8, 2018

    I actually remember being a child and moving from coaster brakes to hand brakes — I felt they were much easier and I felt a lot safer on them. The reason was that with a coaster brake you have to have your feet on the pedals to stop, which means that you have to brake and then be coordinated enough to put your feet down at just the right moment to not fall over. With a hand brake you can brake while you have your feet off of the pedals which, to me, seems much safer. I’m an avid cyclist today, and I would be terrified to ride a bike with coaster brakes.

    Reply
  23. Coaster brakes are greatFebruary 5, 2018

    Coaster brake are very convenient because legs can be used for stopping and they are virtually maintenance free unlike expensive disc or crappy v brakes. For commuters these brakes are best.

    Reply
    1. ColinFebruary 6, 2018

      you find cleaning rims and pads hard?

      Reply
  24. Shaun.January 9, 2018

    Coaster seems to be a risk for getting leg stuck between frame and pedal.

    Reply
  25. AnonymousDecember 7, 2017

    Here is something to think about;
    Parents with children would come into our bike shop and the younger riders would want handbrakes “like the BMX racers”. The test we would use is to put the child on a freewheel bike, adjust the brake levers for their hands and have them squeeze both brake levers. If they could not keep the brakes locked when we pulled them across the floor we would not sell the bike for general use. Most (if not all) children under 6 years old could not apply as much force with their hands as they could by pushing their weight (40-60 pounds) against a coaster brake even under dry conditions. Racing is different, as you just want to slow down but your life does not depend on stopping quickly. On a child’s bike the best emergency stopping is a coaster brake with a front hand brake. Oh, and by the way I ride a 3 speed with a coaster brake and I can stop in the wet conditions…..

    Reply
    1. ColinDecember 8, 2017

      Kids bikes have changed as have the brakes. All the bikes we feature have quality v brakes or disc brakes that even a 2 year old can use effectively. The bikes we recommend are not your big brand heavy clunkers with crap brakes.

      Reply
  26. AndreaNovember 22, 2017

    We are looking at an 18″ bike for my tall almost 5-year-old. They come with both the hand and the foot brake. Do you know if it’s easy to disconnect the foot brake?

    Reply
    1. ColinNovember 22, 2017

      You will need to buy a new wheel in the same size for the rear. It needs a freewheel hub.

      Reply
      1. CarrieApril 24, 2021

        Hi! I’m trying to figure out an inexpensive freewheel set up for my four year old who is great on his balance bike but isn’t ready to pedal yet. He has a Strider 14x in balance mode. I really would like to add a rear brake to it. In the UK, these bikes have a rear brake but I can’t seem to find any info on what they are. The pictures I’ve seen don’t look like regular rear brakes.

        I’ve followed a tutorial (using a junk bike) and it’s pretty easy to disable the coaster brake and turn it into a freewheel, but now I need some sort of brakes for the 14x. Do you have any idea what the UK version uses? It attaches to where the coaster brake arm attaches on our bike.

        Reply
        1. ColinApril 25, 2021

          Yeah, not sure what outside US StriderX brake is using, never seen one unfortunately. It may be a drum brake…

          Reply
  27. Sean HayesNovember 11, 2017

    Woom 3 to the rescue! So glad to find a company who gets the importance of the freewheel.

    Will be getting a 3 for my daughter shortly!

    https://us.woombikes.com/products/3

    Reply
    1. ColinNovember 13, 2017

      We have the woom 3…its amazing!

      Reply
  28. Garrett KautzNovember 5, 2017

    Our 4 year old daughter has been on a Specialized 12″ RipRock coaster brake and riding since 2-1/2 without training wheels. The coaster brake worked great until now. She stands up on the pump track while rolling obstacles and often accidentally hits the brake. She’s crashed more than once because of the coaster brake. Also, she has started riding some short trails and her feet bounce off the pedals in bumpy sections. When that happens, she has no way of slowing down. My opinion is that if kids are riding pavement only without hills, then the coaster brake is fine. Anything else, it’s sketchy. We were about to buy the 16″ Riprock, but are sold on a hand brake option. Looking at the Prevelo Alpha Two as well as the Norco Mirage 16″.

    Reply
    1. ColinNovember 9, 2017

      Well said! We totally agree. Both those 16 inch bikes are great.

      Reply
  29. John McDonaldOctober 17, 2017

    Colin,

    I find the coaster works and does so reliably. I work with a group who refurbish kid’s bikes for those who can’t afford to buy a bike. A recent 20″ bike had a freewheel with sidepull brakes. The cables and housings were replaced and new shoes installed (+ tires/tubes/pedals, etc. as needed). I thought I was done – rode the bike and it would not adequately stop. Recleaned the rims, etc. – no luck. Tried my Koolstop orange pads. Still would only slow. I couldn’t give the bike away in this condition. Replaced rear wheel with a coaster brake and was done. I have found that the sidepulls on the cheap bikes we work on are just crap (stamped steel and levers which seem to have inadequate mechanical advantage). Just my experience. John

    Reply
    1. ColinOctober 17, 2017

      In your situation, what you described, we get it. Keep up the great work of getting more kids on bikes! Do check out the new kids bikes.

      Reply
  30. AlessioSeptember 26, 2017

    I ended up on this page while looking for a 20″ coaster brake wheel and I felt the urge to give my opinion 🙂 I’m totally a fan of coaster brake:
    – even working only on the back wheel, it offers a fair breaking power. The only thing to remember (and get used to) is to keep the feet on the pedals until the bike has stopped completely
    – it’s much quicker to brake. Using hand brakes, either you always go with two fingers on the levers, or the reacting time + moving fingers to reach the levers and break is much slower than give a kick back (really, the risk is that hands might not be ready for the break and slip forward on the handlebar)
    – works the same in every condition
    – on slippery conditions, you have to “forget” your front hand brake (the risk is going face on the ground) and back hand brake is almost non-existent. Once, with my 20″ folding bike, I safely slowed down on a wet pavé road in slight downhill, with only a small (and, yes, cool) skid
    – They are quite eternal. Legends tell about bikes been in junkyards for 50 years with coaster brakes still working. The big risk is if the chain brakes, but even hand brakes have lot of parts that might brake or disassemble in the worst situations. Fact is that, if the chain brakes, you have to walk the bike (so, no more risks)
    – minor, though annoying, hand brakes produce maybe 60/70% of the dirt that’s usually on a bike, while coaster brake is perfectly clean
    – much cleaner look on a bike, without wires… but that’s a matter of taste.

    Reply
    1. ColinOctober 8, 2017

      Sorry, we can not disagree more…

      Reply
      1. AnonymousOctober 18, 2017

        I could not agree more. Younger kids much safer with coaster brake. Both hands on the handle bars fully not partially. Kids will have plenty of time to use hand brakes on their next brake…after they have greater experience and are older. No accident pulling front hand brake and not rear and face plant of bike crashing. And why would you lessen the front brake power so they can’t flip over the handle bars? Then they pull it and they don’t stop…? I wish the would make rear coaster brakes more often for adult bikes as well…..

        Reply
        1. ColinOctober 21, 2017

          Our experience is the opposite. All of our arguments are presented in the post. There is a reason why performance adult bikes don’t use a coaster brake. This blog and site focuses on performance bikes for kids and the same logic applies…

          Reply
          1. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2020

            you leave out an important part of all of the logic you are spewing here. sure, in many circumstances, your rationale is valid. But you cannot simply disregard coaster brakes across the board. my daughter does not possess the hand strength for a typical 20″ bmx biks’ hand brake (she is 5th percentile in size for her age of 11) and before you say ‘the hand brake just needs adjusting’ that isnt true, if it is loose enough for her to operate fully, it lacks the stopping power, if it is tight enough to work right, she lacks the ability to stop quickly. sure in perfect conditions she can use hand brakes, but using her body weight in an emergency like a downhill slope is safer for her to have both period, there is no arguing with that. your rationale applies to the general population but not every circumstance, that is why they are still required is to ensure safety for all even if some dont need it.

          2. ColinSeptember 21, 2020

            Sounds like you didn’t read the last line of post. “Of course, if a disability or other hurdle made hand brake operation too difficult for a child, the coaster brake is the option.” That said, BMX typically don’t spec a quality easy pull adjustable v-brake like the bikes we list. Crappy canti-lever brakes are just as crap as coaster brakes, we will agree there…

    2. JJNovember 10, 2020

      I agree with this comment and think that coaster break with one hand break is better for safety and control of the bike.

      Reply
      1. ColinNovember 10, 2020

        Why do you think that? Most braking power comes from a front brake.

        Reply
  31. ErikJune 26, 2017

    Are caliper brakes a viable option if the bike frame has the single mounting point but not the b-ball brackets?

    Has anyone successfully converted a 12″ trek to free wheel and brakes?

    Reply
    1. ColinJune 27, 2017

      Hi Erik,

      We have not converted a trek ourselves. Not sure if mounting a cantilever is possible. The only other option would be a disc brake adapter (on the hub) and freewheel which gets expensive…

      Reply
  32. Megan AshlineMay 5, 2017

    I was trying to find the conversion kits on those sites and I wasn’t seeing them. Is it something we have to contact the company and specifically ask for? Thanks!!

    Reply
    1. ColinMay 13, 2017

      Hi Meghan,

      Here is the link to Woom’s. If you are not using on a woom frame make sure the wheel spacing is the same and you have brake horns to mount a rear hand brake.
      https://us.woombikes.com/collections/accessories/products/copy-of-free-wheeling-kit-for-woom-2-or-3

      Reply
  33. Jiten CrApril 28, 2017

    I feel the same. I don’t understand why in the US, almost all bikes less than 20″ never come with handbreaks.
    https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/kids/boys-hotrock-16-coaster/115197
    I bought a specalized hotrock 16″ for my kid and am trying to figure out the right break kit or parts i need to buy to install a handbreak on it myself …in addition to getting rid of the coaster break.
    any suggestions how i should go about picking up the right break kit/ parts?

    Jiten

    Reply
    1. ColinMay 13, 2017

      Hi Jiten,
      The only way to mount a handbrake on that frame would be to lace in a flip flop hub and disc brake using an adapter…extremely complex and costly. The problem is that frame does not have brake horns on the rear to mount a v brake.

      Reply
  34. IanMay 27, 2016

    I created a document on how to replace a coaster brake. It’s not specific to our company and you are welcome to share

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8W2VhOr5Qr9Uk5oZ2lUaDVDV0E/view

    Reply
    1. ColinMay 30, 2016

      Thanks for sharing Ian! We are big fans of free wheels!

      Reply
    2. julieannJune 11, 2017

      my hubs and i just bought our 4yo daughter a bike with a rear coaster brake; we may use your instructions to convert it to a freewheel with rear hand brake. question: why do you need to buy a new rear wheel?

      Reply
      1. ColinJune 13, 2017

        Hi Julieann, you need a freehub laced into a new wheel as the existing coaster hub will not work.

        Reply
  35. […] per our say no to coaster brakes post, we are firm believers that kids 3 and up are more than capable of using and should be using hand […]

    Reply

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