Friday, March 29, 2024

Specialized unveiled a new ultralight kid’s bike with no pedals

Are you looking for a Sinterklaas or Christmas gift for your child? Then we’ve got the ultimate gift: the Specialized Hotwalk Carbon, a bike without pedals for kids that is made entirely of carbon and weighs only 2.1 kg.

The company calls it the ‘Ultimate First Bike’ with a full carbon version of its Hotwalk strider bike. While the original version of the Hotwalk has a regular aluminum frame, the Carbon edition of this two-wheeler sports a carbon fiber frame, fork, handlebar, and wheel rims. Also, the Rhythm Lite tires have been redesigned for lightness on this bike with the aim of making it as maneuvrable as possible for young shredders. This makes this kids’ bike – that Specialized has ever made from carbon – the brand’s lightest ever bike, coming in at 4.63 lbs (2.1kg).

The bike is intended to be used by children from 18 months to 4 years old who measure up to 35 inches (89 cm) and weigh less than 40 lb (18 kg). While the handlebar is 40 cm wide, the stem has a length of 35 mm. The handles are 105 mm wide and 19 mm in diameter. This is perfect for little children’s hands!

It’s designed to be propelled by the child’s feet pushing on the ground
It’s designed to be propelled by the child’s feet pushing on the ground. Credit: Specialized

The Specialized Hotwalk Carbon is intended to be a premium option for kids to learn on, and in that spirit, it’s what’s known as a balance or kick bike. The bicycle has no brakes or gears – it doesn’t even have pedals. It’s designed to be propelled by the child’s feet pushing on the ground and slowed that way, too.

The small but completely carbon front fork results in incredibly greater comfort compared to its aluminum siblings. However, the bike doesn’t come cheap, as it costs $999.