Why choose a Rear Kids Bike Seat?

What can a Rear Seat offer your family? This seat is the most versatile bike seat – there is a solution for most bikes and it offers your family a solution for a wide age range. It is a suitable first bike seat. Suitable for children from 1-6 years. A weight range of 9-22kg. Your child needs to be able to sit independently and fit a bike helmet to safely use this seat. You will love the experiences you will share with your child on a rear bike seat attached to your bike.

A rear junior seat is designed for slightly older children 4 to 10yrs with a maximum weight limit of 35kg.  These seats are great for urban commuting, your bike frame needs to be strong, we recommend steel.

Riding with additional load on the rear of your bike seat does change the way your bike will handle or feel. Bike skills such as mounting and dismounting the bike, stopping & starting and balance alter when a rear seat is attached.  With a little practise the adult rider will adapt and feel capable and confident when riding.

If you are wanting to ride with multiple children the rear bike seat offers solutions for attaching a younger child on a front or mid bike seat. Stable towing solutions that attach low at the rear wheel hub are also an option. (Any towing product that attaches to the adult seat post or a carrier is not compatible to use with a rear child bike seat).

Below is a table with the available Rear Seat Solutions and a quick comparison guide. As well as more detailed information about factors to consider to understand the right solution for your family.

Carrier Mount Solutions – For 1 – 6 years Thule Maxi or Iki Urban Rear . For 4-10 years  Iki Urban Junior

Solutions Frame Mount – Yepp Maxi

If you think a rear seat could be a good solution for your family, to open up your riding opportunities and experiences, then please read on…

Bike Compatibility & Attachment Points.

Rear bike seats attach directly to you bike frame (Frame Mount Seats) or attach to a bike carrier installed on your bike (Carrier Mount Seat). You need to determine what seat can be successfully attached to your bike or to your carrier.

Carrier Mount: to a compatible carrier. Two options. Learn more at Will a Thule Maxi Rear Seat fit my Bike?  Will a Urban Iki Rear Bike Seat fit my bike?

Frame Mount: to the bike frame (seat post tube). Will a Frame Mount (Yepp Maxi) fit my Bike? Will a Frame Mount (Junior Seat) fit my bike?

Riding Safely with a Rear Kids Bike Seat.

Having additional weight on you bike with your child positioned behind you can make some of the skills of riding a little more challenging… like mounting a bike, dismounting, going up hills. As the adult rider you need to feel capable and confident that you can ride safely with a front bike seat.

Your child’s age and how long do you want the seat to be used for?

Rear Bike Seats are suitable for 1 years of age through to 5-6 years old. If your child can sit independently and correctly fit a kids bike helmet then this seat is an option for your family. These seats offer you a family riding solution for a great age range. The length of time that this seat will be an option for your family is determined by ability to ride safely and confidently with the level of load on your bike.

Where do you want to ride?

Where you can ride is influenced by your comfort and confidence when riding with your child. Where are you comfortable and confident to ride: In Traffic, bike paths, easy trails and possible multiday.

Rear Bike Seats and E-Bikes.

If your E-Bike is compatible with attaching the rear kids bike seat then using a rear bike seat with an e-bike is a suitable option

Having an e – bike can help overcome some of the challenges around fitness and strength required to bike with a child. However as always be aware of your safety. E-Bikes give you the ability to travel at a much faster speed than you would achieve under your own power.  What does this mean when riding with a young child?  E-Bikes are generally heavier than standard bikes so please consider how this may effect the skills that can be a little more challenging when riding with a Front Kids Bike Seat.

Switching Between Bikes.

It can be great to have the flexibility for your child to be attached to more than one bike. This allows different family members and bikes to be used.

Carrier Mount Rear Kids Bike Seats require you to have a compatible carrier on both bikes. These seats can be easier removed from the carrier and switched between bikes

Frame Mount Rear Kids Bike Seats require you to purchase an additional mounting bracket/ adaptor that can be attached to a second bike to allow you to easier switch the seat between bikes

Storage and Transportation of the seat.

Some people will leave the seats permanently attached to their bike. However if you also use your bike for independent riding then you will need to have a safe space at home to store the rear seat while it is not attached. The weight and bulk of the seat can be important tf you regularly transport your bike to go riding. You will regularly need to light and shift the seat. 

Riding with Multiple Children.

Having the ability to ride with two children can offer more riding opportunities. There are two main things to consider when riding with more than one child…

Can the adult rider ride safely with the added challenge of weight and how this will effect balance?  Having two children with you will be challenging.  Think about your fitness & strength and the places you want to ride.  You should be a skilled rider to consider doing this.  An E-Bike will help enormously with your enjoyment of riding with two children.

How does the set up of the seat restrict an attachment of an additional bike seat or towing solution. A Rear Kids Seat offers the ability to ride with another child: Attaching a younger child on a front or mid bike seat. Stable towing solutions that attached to the rear wheel hub are also an option. ( Any towing option that attaches to the adult bike seat or carrier is not compatible to use with a rear child bike seat.)

Alternative Options if a Rear Bike Seat is not the right solution for my family.

Your needs will be based around the age of the child, where they are in their biking journey and what riding your family would like to acheive Consider options using our  guides

Riding stories, support & solutions that will make you & your family SMILE.