When choosing the right braking system for your child’s bike, many parents face a tough decision. Should they go with coaster brakes or hand brakes? Both have their pros and cons, and the choice often depends on what feels right for the young rider. Growing up, I vividly remember learning to ride with coaster brakes—the simple act of using my foot brakes felt natural and gave me confidence. Yet, as I grew older, transitioning to hand brakes introduced me to a more precise braking experience, especially for quicker stops.
The real challenge lies in understanding the differences between coaster brakes vs hand brakes. Coaster brakes, often called back-pedal brakes, work by pedaling backward to stop, making them intuitive for kids still mastering balance. On the other hand, hand brakes require squeezing levers on the handlebars, which can be tricky for smaller hands but offer better control over time. For parents, weighing these truths against the quality of the bicycle and their child’s ability to learn new skills ensures they make an informed choice.
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Pros and Cons of Coaster Brakes vs Hand Brakes
Advantages
| Coaster Brakes | Hand Brakes |
|---|
| Intuitive for new riders | Offer better control |
| Have fewer parts | Provide flexible positioning |
| Are less expensive | Are replaceable |
| Suitable for young riders | Feature all-weather performance |
| Great for disabled riders | Ensure a shortened learning curve |
| Reliable for casual riding | Built with higher quality |
Disadvantages
| Coaster Brakes | Hand Brakes |
|---|
| Backpedaling tendencies | Require coordination and strength |
| Cause awkward foot positioning | Potential for injury |
| Have size difficulties | Impacted by weather |
| Are unserviceable | Are more expensive |
| Unfit for specialty bikes | Lack backup brake |
| Offer no alternative braking system | Demand proper setup |
| Limited for certain riding styles | Can be challenging for small hands |
Related: what is coaster brake bike?
Coaster brakes
What are coaster brakes?
A coaster brake is a classic feature introduced in the 19th Century that allows a bike to move forward without requiring the pedals to spin. This gives riders the ability to enjoy coasting while sitting still. Located inside the rear hub, this mechanism activates when you rotate backward on the pedals, generating braking power. The more power you apply, the greater the friction between the moving and fixed components, which will gradually slow down and eventually stop the bike.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, bikes with a seat height of less than 25″ require foot brakes, especially for small children who use bikes with 12″ to 16″ diameter wheels. Beyond these sizes, brake systems often diversify, with older kids transitioning to hand-based versions. However, coaster brakes remain popular on cruiser bikes, as their design complements riding styles that require the ability to back-pedal.
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Coaster brake benefits
Intuitive
Coaster brakes are incredibly easy to learn for any child. You simply pedal forward to go and pedal backward to stop, making them a great choice for beginners. While foot brakes or back-pedal brakes offer simplicity, hand brakes require a bit more skill and the ability to operate with proper hand-eye coordination. With thoughtful teaching and monitoring of your child’s progress, you can determine which system works best for their confidence and abilities.
Fewer parts
One reason many parents prefer coasters over hand brakes is their simplicity. Without the need for cables running along the frame, a coaster-equipped bike is easier to maintain and offers a cleaner appearance. This is particularly helpful for folding models or take-apart models, where fewer components make transport and assembly much simpler. While aesthetics should never outweigh safety, having a no-cable bike can encourage your little rugrats to enjoy the sidewalk more confidently and keep your hair stress-free.
Less expensive
Coaster brakes are often a cheaper option compared to their hand-brake counterparts. Thanks to their internal braking system and minimal components, coasters require very little maintenance, both upfront and over time. This makes them a practical choice if cost is an issue, especially when your kid is just starting to climb the motor skills chart and might outgrow their bike quickly.
All-weather performance
One advantage of coasters is their placement within the rear hub, which makes them less susceptible to wet conditions. While your child might still slip or slide on damp ground, this won’t happen because of the brakes, which is definitely a good thing. It’s a feature parents will appreciate when their eager kids can’t wait to peel out of the garage moments after a storm has passed.
Good for the young and disabled
Coasters are a reliable option for younglings who may struggle to reach or activate hand brakes, especially as kids tend to grow at different speeds. A foot brake offers simplicity, making it a great alternative for riders with arm disabilities, hand disabilities, or even amputees. Unlike age-specific systems, coasters cater to those lacking the coordination or dexterity needed for handlebars requiring handshake-crushing grips.
Coaster brake issues
Back-pedal tendencies
Back-pedaling is often a natural movement that happens without thinking, especially during activities like riding uphill or maintaining balance. On bikes with a coaster setup, however, this movement automatically engages the brakes, which can be frustrating. It may cause sudden falls and even delay pedal-skills development for young riders. These situations highlight the potential challenges of using a braking system tied to reverse pedal actions.
Awkward foot positioning
The launch position, where the crank arm and pedals align between 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock on one side, and 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock on the other, is essential for optimum leverage. However, with coaster brakes, achieving this position from a stand-still can be tricky since you can’t pedal backward. Instead, riders need to roll forward to align their feet correctly. This becomes even harder for children, especially when they must anticipate stopping in sudden situations, like when a dog darts out of the bushes. Proper positioning ahead of time is key to safe and smooth braking, but it requires a lot of practice to master.
Size difficulties
Foot brakes tend to be heavier than their hand-based counterparts, which can create challenges for younger kids and toddlers. For a kid’s bike, where the weight of the bike is roughly comparable to the child’s weight, even one pound can make a significant difference. Smaller bikes are often equipped with shorter crank arms, which reduce leverage and braking efficiency. This can pose challenges, especially for riders with weaker legs, who may find it difficult to handle a bike that weighs nearly as much as they do.
Unserviceable
While coaster brakes are known for requiring little maintenance, they can become problematic when their internal components wear out. Over time, they may develop dead space, meaning more back-pedal power is needed to engage the foot brake. Repairing these worn-down parts often costs as much as or more than a brand-new ride or a complete bike replacement. In some cases, replacing the entire wheel becomes a more practical solution, making maintenance for these brakes both costly and inconvenient.
Unfit for specialty bikes
Coaster brakes work well on flat surfaces like the boardwalk, but they are a no-go for specialized styles like mountain bikes, BMXing, and road racing. These bikes demand more flexibility, as riders often need to remove their feet from the pedals to stabilize on bumpy terrain or avoid rocks, trees, and other hazards. Additionally, the reliance on back-pedal brakes makes it hard to handle challenging environments like the backwoods, where hand brakes offer superior control. For youngsters transitioning into serious riding, using coasters can quickly become dangerous and impractical as they advance to MTBing and other high-performance activities.
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No backup brake
Coaster-only bikes lack a plan B if something goes wrong, like when the chain slips or breaks. Unlike bikes with hand brakes on the handlebar or dual systems combining coaster brakes and hand brakes, these models rely solely on the coaster system. While your child’s bike might manage a safe stop on flat ground or a long runway, the situation changes drastically on a downhill or in streets with traffic.
Hand brakes
What are hand brakes?
Hand brakes rely on levers mounted on the handlebars, giving riders control over both the front wheel and rear wheel. When you squeeze the left brake, it activates the front wheel, while the right brake controls the rear. This system uses a cable that tightens when pulled, engaging pads that either press against the rim of the wheel or, in modern designs, against specialized discs mounted on the hub. Unlike coaster brakes or a foot-based braking setup, hand brakes allow for precise stopping power with just your hands, making them ideal for more advanced riders.
With a freewheel system, where pedaling backward doesn’t help stop the bike, these brakes are essential. Hand brakes slow the wheel by engaging the pads, which create friction against the rim or disc. Disc brakes have grown in popularity due to their improved performance in wet or rough conditions compared to rim brakes.
Hand brake benefits
More flexible positioning
With a freewheel system and hand brakes, riders have the freedom to choose their ideal pedal positions for both starting from a resting position and braking. Unlike coaster brakes, which lock you into the position where you last stopped pedaling, hand brakes allow more control and adaptability. This flexibility is particularly helpful for beginners, as they can pedal backward to stabilize and regain balance while riding. The ability to easily engage the brakes at any time makes hand brakes a superior choice for smoother transitions and better overall handling.
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Better control
Hand brakes provide much more control than coaster brakes, which are essentially on or off with no wiggle room. With hand brakes, riders can apply precise pressure to adjust the braking force, making them ideal for managing downhill rides or navigating slippery surfaces. Since coaster brakes are rear-wheel-only devices, they lack the ability to stop the bike as effectively. Hand brakes work on both wheels, and because weight shifts to the front wheel when stopping, the front brake delivers greater stopping power and halts the bike faster. This ability to adjust modulation gives riders confidence and safety in challenging conditions.
Replaceable
While coaster brakes are known for requiring little maintenance, they often can’t be repaired once they fail. In contrast, hand brakes are easily serviced and designed to be replaceable. When the pads eventually wear down, a quick stop at the local shop for a tune-up can restore their performance. This makes hand brakes a practical option, especially if the bike is still the right fit and it’s not time to size up yet.
Higher quality
Traditional hand brakes require the wheels to be of high quality, as they rely on squeezing the rim to stop the bike. A well-built wheel that spins true (without a wobble) ensures better braking performance and maintains the bike’s integrity over time. In contrast, coaster-brake bikes often use lower quality wheels since foot brakes don’t depend on the rim staying perfectly aligned. While this can lower the price scale of coaster models, it also means these bikes may bend more easily and are less durable compared to bikes with hand brakes.
Shortened learning curve
The odds are high that your kids will eventually ditch coasters for hand brakes, especially as they advance in riding skills. Starting with hand brakes on a balance bike eliminates the need to re-learn how to brake after getting used to back-pedaling to stop. For an active family eager to include the little ones on adventures like tackling a single track, this approach gets them there more quickly while building confidence and control.
Hand brake issues
Requires strength and coordination
For youngsters just starting out, using hand brakes demands more skill and thinking than coaster brakes. In the past, these brakes were often hard to use for kids with smaller hands or weaker hands, but this has improved in recent years. Many children’s models now feature youth-specific handles that are easier to reach and operate, making braking and stopping more accessible for young riders.
Potential for injury
One of the most important lessons to teach when learning to use hand brakes is to avoid using only the left brake. Even at low speeds, locking the front wheel can cause the rider to lose control and go flying over the handlebars, especially due to the bike’s forward momentum. While pulling an endo might appeal to experienced daredevils, it’s a dangerous move for young or old riders alike.
Impacted by weather
Hand brakes often rely on friction between the brake pad and the wheel rim, which can become less effective in wet conditions. However, disc-style hand brakes are becoming more prevalent due to their ability to perform well even when the bike is exposed to wet weather.
More expensive
Finding a kids’ bike with quality hand brakes and well-designed brakes often involves a thorough search, and these models tend to cost more than others. Over time, hand brakes also require regular maintenance, which can lead to additional expenses, especially if a trip to the bike doctor is needed. For those who aren’t a do-it-yourselfer in this department, these ongoing costs might add up, making hand brake-equipped bikes a pricier choice compared to simpler alternatives like coaster brakes.
What bike brakes should I get on my kid's bike?
Most people eventually transition to hand brakes (and if you’re ready to take that step, here are seven tips to help your kids learn to use them). However, handbrake may not always be the ideal option for every child. Use the following guidelines as a helpful starting point for parents.
Coaster (Foot) Brakes for Your Kid IF He/She:
- Is developing coordination skills slowly or has small hands or weak hands.
- Used coaster brakes with a training-wheel bike and you want him/her to adjust to no trainers before learning new brakes.
- Has a disability that makes using hand brakes difficult or impossible.
Hand Brakes for Your Kid IF He/She:
- Shows strong coordination skills early and has enough hand strength and dexterity to use them effectively.
- Used hand brakes on a balance bike and is competent enough to handle them on his/her first pedal bike.
- Will likely advance to specialized models quickly, such as transitioning to a mountain bike for family adventures at an early age.
No matter what you choose, make sure your kids show they can stop safely before they hit the streets. Enjoy the ride and safe braking!
