Why buy Tadpole – 12” Lightweight Kids Balance Bike with Brake
Balance Bikes
The Frog Tadpole 12-inch balance bike is designed to help toddlers build balance, coordination, and confidence.
The Frog Tadpole 12-inch balance bike is designed to help toddlers build balance, coordination, and confidence. With a lightweight aluminium frame, easy-grip handlebars, steering limiter and adjustable seat height, it's tailored for small riders ready to explore the outdoors - making it one of the best balance bikes for 2-3 year-olds. Comfortable, safe, and intuitive to ride, the Tadpole makes learning to cycle fun and empowering. Suitable for children with an inside leg of 30-41cm, it's more than a balance bike; it's the start of a lifelong love of cycling. Trusted by parents and praised by experts, the Tadpole is a top choice for toddler bikes!
We're updating the Tadpole's geometry to match the sleek, sweeping frame of our Tadpole Mini, making it even easier for little riders to get going with confidence. During this transition, the colour you choose may determine which frame version you receive. Rest assured, both styles deliver the same lightweight performance and rider-friendly features you expect from Frog Bikes.
The Frog Tadpole 12-inch balance bike is designed for children aged 2 to 3 years who are ready to take their first steps into cycling. With a lightweight aluminium frame, it's easy for toddlers to handle and light enough for parents to carry. This pedal-free toddler bike supports gross motor skill development while helping children build balance, coordination, and independence through active outdoor play.
With a 12-inch wheel size, the Tadpole is perfect for toddlers who are ready to ride further and explore more. Its chunky tyres offer excellent grip and stability across varied terrain, while the adjustable saddle and handlebars ensure a comfortable fit as your child grows. Whether it's a trip to the park or a backyard adventure, the Tadpole 12-inch balance bike is built to keep up.
Safety is at the heart of the Tadpole's design. It features a small, easy-to-reach Tektro brake lever for stopping control, top-mounted brake arms to prevent feet from catching, and a steering lock to reduce the risk of oversteering and falls. This lightweight toddler bike for outdoor play is packed with thoughtful features that give parents peace of mind while empowering children to ride with confidence.
The quick-release seat post and adjustable handlebars make it easy to customise the fit as your child grows. Suitable for children with an inside leg measurement of 30-41cm, the Frog Tadpole balance bike adapts to your toddler's changing needs, supporting their development every step of the way.
Weighing just 3.78kg, the Frog Tadpole toddler bike is one of the lightest 12-inch balance bikes available. Its aluminium frame is strong enough to withstand everyday use while remaining easy for toddlers to manoeuvre and parents to lift and transport.
Unlike stabilisers (training wheels), the Tadpole 12-inch toddler bike teaches natural balance and coordination, making the transition to a pedal bike easier and more intuitive. With high-spec, age-appropriate components, a bell included, and a free 10-year extended warranty on frames and forks, the Tadpole lightweight toddler bike is a smart investment in your child's cycling journey.
Every Frog bike is rigorously tested to exceed international safety standards - because nothing matters more than your child's safety.
The Tadpole balance bike includes a fun little bell for extra enjoyment.
Note: Valve dust caps are not included to comply with safety regulations.
Your Frog bike arrives 95% pre-assembled to ensure safe delivery and a hassle-free setup experience. Only a few simple steps are needed to get your child’s new bike ready to ride:
Ride worry‑free with comprehensive coverage and optional extended protection.
At Frog Bikes, we stand by the quality of our products with a standard 2-year warranty covering all frames, forks, parts, and paintwork (excluding tyres and inner tubes). Suspension forks are also covered by a 2-year warranty but are not included in our extended warranty offer.
Looking for extra peace of mind? We offer a FREE 10-year extended consumer warranty on frames and forks (excluding MTB suspension forks) when you complete and submit our Warranty Plus application within 28 days of purchase.
This frog bikes extended warranty is available for new, full-priced bikes and bikes purchased directly from our Frog Factory Outlet. For full details, please visit the Frog Bikes Warranty Plus application page below.
Note: The Warranty Plus offer is non-transferable.
Your Frog bike is built, inspected, and delivered to your door with free standard delivery to mainland UK addresses.
Free standard delivery is available for UK consumer orders shipping to mainland UK addresses.*
All Frog kids' bikes are carefully assembled, quality-checked, and typically dispatched within 5 business days of order confirmation.
Our packaging is 82% recycled, 100% recyclable, and virtually plastic-free.
*For deliveries to non-mainland UK addresses, such as Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, or the Scottish Highlands and Islands, additional local taxes, customs fees, or carrier surcharges may apply. These charges are the responsibility of the customer.
We want you to have the best experience with your new Frog Bike, so our customer service team are only a click or call away!
Our friendly and knowledgeable customer support team is ready to assist you with anything you need, from order updates and product questions to assembly guidance and warranty information. We're here to make your experience smooth and stress-free.
Get in touch via email or phone, and we’ll be happy to help!
Before reaching out, check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page; it’s the quickest way to find clear, helpful answers to common queries. From choosing the right bike size and understanding delivery times to assembly tips and warranty info, we’ve covered all the essentials.
If you can't find what you're looking for, our support team is always just a click away.
| Approximate Age | 2-3 years |
|---|---|
| Product Safety Certifications | EN71 and ASTM F963-17 |
| Bike Weight | 4.17kg |
| Frame | 6061 T6 heat treated aluminium alloy, seat tube 4" (100mm) |
| Fork | 6061 T6 heat treated aluminium alloy |
| Front Hub | Quando, aluminium, 16 hole, sealed hub with 5mm allen bolt internal fixing |
| Rear Hub | Quando, aluminium, 16 hole, sealed hub with 5mm allen bolt internal fixing |
| Rim | Aluminium, 12", single wall |
| Headset | Locking headset, 27mm |
| Stem | Aluminium, 1"1/8, 38mm, 4 bolt clamp |
| Grips/Bar Tape | Frog Bikes specific, lock on, slim grips |
| Brakes (F&R) | (Rear only) Tektro J310, aluminium, mini v-brake |
| Tyres | Kenda K909A, 12.5"x1.75", Hybrid, (ETRTO/ISO: 47-203) |
| Accessories Included | Bell, paint plasters, frame protector patches, right brake lever (Tektro JL352-RS) |
| Handlebar | Frog Bikes Aluminium Little Handlebars, Width 420mm |
| Brake Levers | Tektro JL352-RS, aluminium, easy reach brake lever |
| Saddle | Frog Bikes child-specific saddle (small) |
| Seat Post | Aluminium, micro adjust, 27.2mm |
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| A - Wheelbase (mm) | 569 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B - Seat Tube Angle (°) | 68 | ||||||||||||||
| C - Head Tube Angle (°) | 68 | ||||||||||||||
| D - Effective Top Tube (mm) | 322 | ||||||||||||||
| E - Head Tube Length (mm) | 50 |
