Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Our scores are never for sale. See the affiliate disclosure.
The RoyalBaby EZ 14 exists to solve one specific problem: a child who has mastered a balance bike but panics the moment pedals appear. Instead of buying two bikes, you buy one that converts — balance mode first, pedal mode when they are ready. At $189.99 it undercuts most conversion bikes, and that is both its appeal and the source of its compromises.
Quick verdict
Score: 7.9/10 — a smart buy for a very specific child. The conversion mechanism works, the frame is light enough for a small rider, and the price is reasonable. But the EZ 14 is heavier than the Astro, its coaster brake is the primary stopping system, and the conversion hardware adds a rattle that a simpler bike will never have.
If your child is already pedalling, buy the Astro instead. If they are still balancing, this is one of the cheapest sensible ways to bridge the gap without owning two bikes.
Key specs
| Frame | Steel, step-through |
| Wheel size | 14 inch (14, 16 and 18 inch builds sold) |
| Modes | Balance (pedals removed) and pedal, tool-free swap |
| Brakes | Coaster brake plus rear hand brake |
| Weight | Approximately 21 lb / 9.5 kg |
| Rider range | Roughly 3’1″ to 3’7″ (95–110 cm) |
| Extras | Training wheels, chainguard, basket mount |
| Owner rating | 4.8/5 from about 21 ratings at the time of writing |
What we like
- The conversion is genuinely tool-free. A quick-release collar and a pedal wrench you do not need — the whole swap takes under two minutes once you have done it once. That matters, because parents actually do switch modes mid-week.
- Balance mode is properly low. With the pedals off, the step-through frame lets a small rider get both feet down flat. That is the entire point of the first stage, and the EZ gets the geometry right.
- The price is honest. At $189.99 it is $30 less than the Astro and roughly half of what dedicated conversion bikes cost. If you only need the bridge for a season, that is the correct amount to spend.
- The step-through frame is forgiving. No top tube to catch a leg during a wobbly dismount, which is exactly when beginners fall.
- It grows with the rider. Seatpost and handlebar height adjust far enough that the same bike covers roughly two years of growth, which is longer than most 14-inch bikes manage.
What we don’t like
- It is heavy for its size. Around 21 pounds is a pound heavier than the magnesium Astro and four or five pounds heavier than a premium 14-inch bike. On the flat it does not matter; on a driveway incline a small rider feels every pound.
- The coaster brake does most of the work. Pedal-back braking is fine on flat pavement but awkward on a downhill for a rider who has never used one. The hand brake helps, but its lever reach is longer than the Astro’s and small hands struggle.
- The conversion hardware rattles. After two weeks on gravel the collar and the pedal inserts developed a noticeable tick over bumps. It is cosmetic, not dangerous, but it is noise a fixed-frame bike does not make.
- The steel frame will rust if neglected. Leave it in the rain and you will see it at the welds by spring. The Astro’s magnesium frame is more forgiving of laziness.
- Accessories are marginal. The included training wheels are the flexy stamped kind, and the basket mount is a bracket rather than a basket.
How we tested
We ran the EZ 14 in balance mode for the first eight days with a rider who had never used pedals, then converted it and rode for another two weeks on sidewalk, grass and a gentle gravel path. We timed the conversion twice, checked every fastener after each session, and weighed the complete bike in both configurations.
The most useful thing we tracked was unsolicited behaviour: how often the rider chose the bike over a scooter, and whether they asked for help lifting it. In balance mode they chose it daily. In pedal mode the first three days were frustrating, then the coaster brake clicked and the bike became theirs.
We did not measure braking distance. We can report that a first-time rider stopped reliably on flat pavement within one session and needed a parent’s hand on the first two downhill attempts.
How it compares
| Bike | Weight | Modes | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RoyalBaby EZ 14 | ~21 lb | Balance + pedal | $189.99 | Beginners who need both stages |
| RoyalBaby Astro 14 | ~20 lb | Pedal only | $219.99 | Riders who already balance |
| RoyalBaby EZ-Pro 16 | ~19 lb | One-key switch | $299.99 | Buyers who want the aluminium upgrade |
| Strider 14x | ~18 lb | Balance + pedal kit | $230+ | Families who want a lighter conversion |
Against the Astro 14, the EZ trades a pound and a better brake for $30 and a conversion stage. Against the EZ-Pro, it gives up an aluminium frame and the one-key switch for $110. The EZ is the value pick; the EZ-Pro is the buy-it-once pick.
What owners report
The rating is only 4.8 from about 21 reviews, so treat it as encouraging rather than conclusive. What is telling is the direction: parents who bought it for a nervous beginner describe the conversion working as intended, and the complaints are about the coaster brake and about assembly instructions rather than about the mechanism failing.
That lines up with our experience. The conversion hardware is simple enough that there is not much to break, which is a genuine advantage of this design over more complicated switchable frames.
The first two weeks: a realistic timeline
If you buy this expecting a child to convert from balance to pedals in a weekend, you will be disappointed. Our rider spent eight days in balance mode, then three frustrating sessions in pedal mode before the coaster brake clicked. That is normal, and it is why the two-stage design exists.
What helped was practising the pedal-back stop on flat grass before introducing the hand brake, then riding a gentle slope so momentum carried the pedals around. Once the rider felt the bike move without pushing, confidence arrived quickly. Budget two weeks, not two days.
The other thing to plan for is storage. You will be storing pedals, training wheels and the wrench somewhere for weeks at a time. A small parts bag taped inside the garage door is unglamorous and effective.
Who should buy it
Buy it if your child is three or four, has used a balance bike but not pedals, and you want to avoid buying two bikes in two years. It is also a good choice for grandparents’ houses, where a bike needs to work for several grandchildren of different abilities.
Skip it if your child already pedals — you are paying for a mechanism you will never use. Skip it as well if you need a bike that survives being left outside; the steel frame wants a garage.
FAQ
How long does the conversion take?
Under two minutes the second time. The first attempt took us about six, mostly spent reading the instructions and figuring out the pedal thread direction.
Do I need tools to switch modes?
No. The seat collar and pedal inserts are both hand-tightened. A pedal wrench is included for the initial install only.
Is the coaster brake a problem for beginners?
It can be. Pedal-back braking is unintuitive if a child has only used hand brakes. Teach it on flat grass before letting them ride a slope.
Will it fit a four-year-old?
Usually yes, if their inseam is at least about 17 inches. Check that they can straddle the frame with both feet flat.
Can it be converted back to balance mode later?
Yes, and that is the reason to keep the pedal inserts in a drawer. If a second child arrives, the bike goes back to balance mode in two minutes and starts over. That hand-me-down flexibility is where the conversion design actually pays for itself.
Is the frame steel or aluminium?
Steel, on this model. The step-through tubes are heavier than the aluminium EZ-Pro but considerably cheaper. If you plan to hand it down twice, the aluminium version is worth the extra money.
What is the weight limit?
RoyalBaby rates this frame for riders up to about 75 pounds. That is generous for a 14-inch bike, but the limiter will be fit, not weight.
Where to buy
Update log
October 19, 2026 — published after three weeks of use across both modes.
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.