Vitus bikes has a new one for the little ones, a killer-looking new Smoothly balance bike featuring a smooth, swooping magnesium frame. Designed to be a premium lightweight balance bike to get the next generation of riders hooked on two wheels, Vitus says that makes it “arguably one of the most important bikes in the Vitus range.”
Vitus Smoothly 12″ magnesium kids’ balance bike
The Smoothly is a 12″ wheeled balance bike with some cool, premium features. The cast magnesium frame & fork are unique, and allow for a low-slung frame and low center of gravity that should be easy to manage for kids with an inseam from 33-44cm (13-17″) – and the always important easy-carry handle since parents are going to end up lugging it around. Plus, the frame gets an integrated set of footrests in the bashguard bolted onto the base of the frame.
And while many balance bikes get bottom of the barrel spec, this one gets a threadless headset with enough steerer to adjust the stem & alloy bar height 20mm, plus 12″ 12-spoke radially-laced alloy wheels and big 2.1″ wide CST Ironkid pneumatic tires. It has soft, small diameter rubber grips with flanges to keep kiddos from losing hold, plus a scooped padded seat for a secure perch on top the adjustable alloy post. The whole thing is said to weigh just 3.2kg (7.05lb), making easy for small riders to manage.
Smoothly – Pricing & availability
Like all the rest of Vitus’ consumer-direct bikes, you can pick one of these puppies up from their parent companies direct-to-consumer online retailers: either Chain Reaction Cycles or Wiggle.
The £90 / 100€ Vitus Smoothly comes in one size but six different colors to suit any toddler grom’s style: red, white, blue, mint, yellow, or silver. It’s about twice the price of Vitus’ older 10″ wheeled Nippy. But the new low frame fits the same smallest kids and now bigger ones too, plus the better rollover of bigger wheels. Be worried parents, these little wagon-wheel rippers are going to want a 29er in no time!
