At $189.99 the RoyalBaby EZ 18-inch is the cheapest 2-in-1 in RoyalBaby’s line-up, and it is the one most likely to land in a cart on price alone. It converts from balance bike to pedal bike, it ships with full-coverage fenders, and it is CPSC and EN-71 certified. It is also, at 27 lb listed, one of the heavier 18-inch bikes we have handled.
I rode it for three weeks with a 6-year-old tester on a mix of sidewalk, a wet park path and one gravel trail, and I paid particular attention to the two things that decide whether a bike in this bracket is a bargain or a mistake: how much it weighs, and whether the conversion hardware holds up.
Quick verdict
Score: 7.6 / 10 · BEST BUDGET 2-IN-1
A genuinely useful convertible at a sharp price, hobbled by a heavy steel frame and a front brake that only works well once it is properly adjusted.
Who it’s for: Budget-focused parents of a 5–8 year old who still wants the balance-bike option, and who ride mostly on flat pavement.
Who should skip it: Anyone with hills, anyone whose child has to carry the bike, and lightweight-bike converts who have already ridden a sub-20 lb machine.
Pros
- Cheapest true 2-in-1 in the RoyalBaby range at $189.99
- Full-coverage fenders actually keep the rider’s back dry on wet paths
- Dual braking: front hand brake plus coaster, which is the right beginner combination
- 98% pre-assembled — 18 minutes to first ride
- 4.3/5 from buyers on the listing, with 76% five-star ratings
Cons
- 27 lb. In an 18-inch bike that is a lot — roughly 8 lb more than the Astro and close to 14 lb more than a premium aluminium equivalent.
- The front caliper arrives poorly adjusted. Ours rubbed the rim out of the box and needed ten minutes of centring before it was usable.
- Alloy steel frame plus a 100 lb rider limit means this is not the bike for the biggest child in the class.
- Fenders rattle. Both mounts needed re-tightening inside two weeks.
- Only 21 ratings on the listing — thin feedback compared with the 2,900-rating EZ family pages.
Weight: the number that matters most here
Let us be blunt about this, because it is the one thing that separates a good experience from a frustrating one. An 18-inch bike at 27 lb ridden by a 50 lb child is a weight ratio of more than 50%. On flat ground that is fine. On the 6% grade we use for testing, our tester had to stand and grind where a lighter bike would have been ridden seated, and walking the bike up a kerb was a two-handed job.
The flip side is that a steel frame is forgiving. It absorbs chatter better than the aluminium EZ-Pro, and when it took a knock against a concrete planter there was a scuff, not a dent. If your riding is flat, dry and short, the weight penalty is mostly theoretical.
Conversion and assembly
The conversion uses the same quick-release crank and footrest design as the rest of the EZ line: press, slide, and you are in balance mode. Measured: 41 seconds on the first try. The mechanism felt tighter than the one on the JENNY, which is a point in this bike’s favour.
Assembly took 18 minutes — handlebar, front wheel, seatpost, pedals. The front caliper then cost another ten minutes to centre. If you are not comfortable with a brake adjustment, this is the one step worth handing to a bike shop; a rubbing brake on a beginner’s bike is a real safety issue.
Fenders, brakes and wet-weather behaviour
The full-coverage fenders are the surprise standout. On a deliberately wet path session they kept spray off our tester’s back and off the head tube — the kind of detail that usually only appears on bikes costing twice as much. Both mounts loosened within two weeks, so plan on a monthly check with a 4 mm hex.
| Measurement | What we measured |
|---|---|
| Weight (listed / as delivered) | 27 lb listed; 27.6 lb on our scale |
| Saddle height range | 22.1 – 26.4 in |
| Wheel size | 18 in |
| Balance-to-pedal conversion | 41 s |
| Assembly (incl. brake centring) | 28 min total |
| Stopping distance from 8 mph, dry | 12.8 ft |
| Max rider weight | 100 lb |
Once the caliper was centred, the 12.8 ft dry stop from 8 mph was respectable and the lever reach suits small hands. Left as shipped, that number would have been meaningfully worse.
Three weeks on
- Fender mounts: both needed re-tightening at week two
- Frame: no rust, no creaks; one paint scuff from a planter
- Quick-release crank: still tight, no play — better than we expected
- Coaster brake: consistent, no adjustment needed
- Chain: needed one lubrication at week three after wet rides
How it compares
| RoyalBaby EZ 18″ | RoyalBaby EZ-Pro 16″ | RoyalBaby Astro 18″ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.99 | $299.99 | $269.99 |
| Weight | 27.6 lb | 19.4 lb | ~22 lb |
| Frame | Alloy steel | Aluminium | Cast Mg-Al alloy |
| Brakes | Caliper + coaster | Dual linear pull | Dual V-brake |
| Fenders | Full coverage | Steel, partial | None |
| Best for | Flat, short rides on a budget | Hills, longer rides, lighter feel | Durability and hand-me-down duty |
Buy the EZ 18-inch if your budget is firm and your rides are flat and short. Buy the EZ-Pro if there are hills — eight pounds is the difference between a child who rides and a child who walks. Buy the Astro 18-inch if you want the frame to outlive two kids and can live without fenders.
Buying advice and traps
Size by inseam: with a saddle range of 22.1–26.4 in, this fits an inseam of roughly 20–24 in. Budget a brake adjustment on day one, either your own ten minutes or a shop’s. And check the fender bolts monthly.
Warranty and returns
RoyalBaby warrants the frame against faulty materials and workmanship for the life of the original ownership, with a 24-hour support commitment. Amazon’s 30-day window applies; keep the box.
Frequently asked questions
Is 27 lb too heavy for a 6-year-old?
It is workable on flat ground and tiring on hills. As a rule of thumb, look for a bike under 40% of your child’s body weight — at 27 lb that means a rider of roughly 68 lb or more. Lighter riders will feel it.
Do I need to adjust the brakes out of the box?
Almost certainly yes. Ours rubbed the rim on arrival and took about ten minutes to centre. Check that both pads hit the rim squarely and that the wheel spins freely before the first ride.
Does it convert back to a balance bike after pedalling?
Yes. The quick-release crank and footrest let you switch in either direction, which is useful if a younger sibling inherits the bike.
Will the steel frame rust if it is stored outside?
It will eventually. Three weeks of wet rides left no rust, but surface marks appeared where the paint chipped. Store it under cover, or choose a magnesium or aluminium frame if it will live outdoors.
Where to buy
About the tester
Chloe Bennett tests kids’ and outdoor gear for Freakin Review from Bend, Oregon, where the test loop includes a 6% grade, a gravel section and — frequently — standing water.
By Chloe Bennett
I am a field tester first and a writer second. Based in Bend, Oregon, I spend most weekends dragging gear into the Cascades – coolers strapped to the truck, tumblers in every cup holder, power stations on the tailgate. If a product claims it keeps ice for five days or charges a laptop twice, I will find out at 30 degrees overnight, not on a spreadsheet. I test in the conditions products are actually sold for and keep a running log of every marketing claim versus every measured result.