Last year Priority Bicycles was launched with a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign for their first bike, the Priority Classic. The Classic was designed as a simple no-maintenance commuter, and since it sold extremely well the company is back this year with their new kids bike, the Start.
Company founder and CEO Dave Weiner is a father of two who decided to revisit the design of kids bikes, which haven’t seen much innovation in quite a long time. Weiner set out to create something that would be easy to maintain, always ready to ride and will last for generations.
Intended for children aged 2-8, the Start comes in two models with either 12” or 16” wheels, and is built with durable, no-fuss components like rust-free aluminum frames, non-inflatable tires, greaseless belt drive and tool-free adjustable (and removable) training wheels.
Click past the break for more details and photos…
The Start rides on some of the coolest looking tires this writer has laid eyes on, and I’m sure most kids would agree. The air-free Easy Go tires look like traditional tires that have been drilled out, with open holes in the sidewalls to provide compliance for absorbing bumps. These tires can never be punctured, will never need their air pressure checked, and you’ll never gear up for a ride only to find a surprise flat tire waiting for you. Priority says the tires will last for up to 2500 miles.
Priority Bicycles says they’re the first to offer a belt drive system on a kid’s bike. It’s quite a sensible idea as it runs clean, requires almost no maintenance and the belts are durable for the long run. Not having to deal with messy hands or greasy clothing from rerouting dropped chains is a definite plus, and the belt drive hasn’t pushed up the price of the bike like you might expect.
Priority’s Start System training wheels adjust to three heights with a simple hand operated knob, with no tools required. Level three is where kids start, with the training wheels situated just slightly off the ground to keep your child supported. Level two raises the wheels to encourage introductory balance skills, and level one raises them more so kids have to fully balance the bike but still have a little tip-over protection. Installing, removing and adjusting the training wheels can be done by hand so whenever or wherever your little one suddenly gets the groove, you’re ready to adjust or remove them.
The Starts’ aluminum frame is lighter than steel, and it can be left outside with no concern about rust. The bikes feature a comfortable saddle with a handle for parents to assist with balancing or carry the bike easily, a quick-release seat clamp, and a front brake so kids can learn the levers while still having a coaster brake to fall back on.
Two different frame styles are available, a diamond style and a step-through with a slightly lowered top tube. The diamond style frame is essentially the boy’s model, and comes in red with gold details, or blue with silver accents. The step-through models are a little more girly with options for pink and gold, or turquoise and silver.
The Priority Start’s Kickstarter campaign goes live today, and the bikes will be sold at an introductory price of $199 and $209 USD, after which the price will go up to $249 and $259. The first production units are expected to ship out in October.
Check out the Kickstarter campaign here or go to Priority Bicycles’ website for more info.
