Whether they were your own or a friend’s, odds are you remember at least one wheeled ride-on toy from childhood – and how much pure fun it was. Didn’t matter if it was a wagon, Bigwheel, or some kind of foot pedal car, controlling both steering and speed allowed your imagination to take over and launch you on missions all over the world and the universe.
It’s true that as we grow up, the enjoyment of wheeled toys never really leaves us – the toys just change form. 4-wheeled cars for tots become go-karts, toddler bicycles lose their training wheels, and tricycles and big wheels become fast scooters, ATVs, and minibikes. Ultimately, coming of age brings adult cars and motorcycles capable of triple-digit speeds and true independence – with all kinds of mechanical and performance variations to appreciate.
Back to ride-on toys. There’s no arguing the fact that they’re great, wonderful fun for kids. But did you know that ride-on toys are also instrumental in developing the positive social skills, confidence, and eye-hand coordination of young children? In this article, we’ll discuss why wheeled ride-on toys are hugely beneficial in childhood development – and we’ll look at some really great electric-powered ones designed for ages 2 through adulthood.
Why electric power? Electric motors and battery technology have come a long way in the last decade, and they provide snappy performance that’s pollution-free and safe for indoor use as well as outdoors. If you’ve already got a gasoline-powered car, truck, lawnmower, snowblower, leaf blower, emergency generator, or weed whacker, your hands are already full with maintenance-heavy internal combustion engines. Electric motors are virtually maintenance-free, and you never need to mess with gasoline or oil to keep them running - just plug in for a battery recharge.
So when it comes to wheeled toys for kids as well as around-town commuter bikes and scooters, forget adding another maintenance-heavy gas engine to your fleet – go with electric power instead.
Benefits Of Ride-on Toys
They Promote Healthy Development in Younger Children
When it comes to young children, ride-on toys are very useful aids in development of large and small motor skills. Just by mastering their own control of steering wheel or handlebars, throttle control, brake levers, and other functions, kids gain a natural understanding of how muscles and bones are commanded by the mind to initiate movements necessary. For further stimulation, many ride-ons feature buttons that activate lights and horns, and doors that open and close.
Although electric ride-on toys can keep children occupied and entertained indoors, it’s outdoors where many benefits really occur. Young boys and girls are naturally curious about their surroundings, and being able to go for a drive into parts of the yard they’re unfamiliar with will foster their sense of adventure and exploration.
Eye-hand coordination and spatial intelligence levels increase as children practice navigating their vehicles – enjoying the ability to reach higher speeds as they master avoiding obstacles. Children who are allowed to be independent and explore their surroundings also develop more positive self-esteem and self-confidence. If they can get their ride-on across certain areas of bumpy or rough terrain, a great sense of accomplishment and pride results.
While they’re behind the wheel, young children are often engaging in creative make-believe play – such as driving an ambulance, or ferrying stuffed animals on a trip. This kind of play is essential to developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills. In fact, early childhood development experts say a combination of all these factors is the best way to create building blocks for logical reasoning and critical thinking in adulthood.
Young children also gain a sense of independence by operating a vehicle that’s controlled strictly by them. And if their ride-on buggy of choice seats two, sharing these joys with other children promotes sharing with others – a key to cementing friendships and good family bonds. Independence gained leads to greater self-confidence, which leads to more positive interactions with other kids at all times – the foundation of a healthy childhood.
They’re Fun and Beneficial To Older Kids and Adults Too
As children grow, progressing to toddler motorcycles, mini-ATVs, and motorized scooters will continue to help them develop balance and coordination – something that will benefit them during a lifetime of physical activities. At pre-teen ages, slightly faster toys can continue to help boys and girls develop and master driving skills that will keep them safe behind the wheel when they graduate to real cars. More specifically, we’re talking about electric go-karts and minibikes that can reach speeds of up to 17 miles per hour.
Even if you or everyone in your family has reached adulthood, it doesn’t mean the fun with wheeled electric toys needs to be over. For the grown kid in all of us, we’ve got larger electric 4-wheel go-karts and 3-wheel trikes designed for drifting on smooth surfaces – both of which are a blast for anyone to whip around on! And if you live in urban areas or make a regular trek to a train station as part of your commute, we’ve got powerful electric scooters (with and without seats) that can handle 220-pound adults. We’ve even got electric bicycles with pedals that can travel at 20 mph for almost 30 miles on a full charge.
Ride-Ons
“Ride-On” electric 4-wheel buggies are usually the first step in motorvating your youngsters to explore and enjoy their surroundings. Designed and sized for tots aged 2-6, many have a top speed of no more than 3 to 5 miles per hour to ensure things stay sane and safe.
In our electric ride-ons page, we’ve got a number of vehicles to choose from that are styled after modern iconic cars and trucks. Most seat one child, although a few do have seats for two. Note that we also offer non-motorized pedal/push cars for ages 1-3.
Virtually all of our ride-ons feature working LED lights and remote controls for parents to take over when necessary. Many of them can play music via input jacks, and most feature side doors that open and close.
Take a few minutes to browse through our section where we offer lots of choices styled after vehicles from BMW, Dodge trucks, Fiat, Jeep, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo, and more.
Miniature Motorcycles & ATVs
In our Mini bikes & ATVs section for example, there are miniature electric street motorcycles for kids of varying ages from 2-16. Top speed isn’t very high (17mph at the most), so injury is unlikely. Also in this section are miniature electric ATVs for younger age ranges that don’t go so fast or weigh much.
Dirt Bikes
When it comes to dirt bike style motorcycles, we’ve got a great value for ages 2-5 in the form of the Best Ride On Cars 6-volt Honda CRF250R 6v Electric Dirt Bike. With training wheels and a top speed of 3mph (forward and reverse), this can handle riders up to 65 pounds. All components are lightweight plastic, and the bike features a horn, music player, and realistic engine starting sound effects.
For older kids age 13-up, we’ve got two 24-volt dirt bikes that can reach 14 mph. Choose the Razor Dirt Rocket MX350 24V Electric Bike or the Dirt Rocket SX350 McGrath 24V Electric Bike with logos licensed from pro rider Jerry McGrath. Both include two 12-volt batteries and come with rubber pneumatic tires and a rear drum brake to handle riders up to 140 pounds.
Moving up to 36-volt dirt bikes, there’s the Razor Dirt Rocket SX500 McGrath and Dirt Rocket MX650 models, both of which add larger tires and advanced coilover shock suspensions. The SX500 (14+ ages) has a 15 mph top speed for riders up to 175 pounds, and the MX650 (16+ ages) has a 17 mph top speed with a rating for riders up to 220 pounds.
Street Bikes
For those that prefer street bike replica designs, we’ve got a few suitable for young children and a few that older children will like. For ages 2-5 (65 pounds max) and with a top speed of 5 mph, we’ve got the Best Ride On Cars BMW 12v Electric Motorcycle in both civilian form and police bike form. These feature an accelerator pedal instead of a twist throttle, 3 forward speeds (plus reverse), a working headlight and horn, and a music player.
Best Ride On Cars also offers the similarly fitted Tron 12v Electric Motorcycle for ages 2-5 which adds LED lights in the tires.
For older kids, check out two Razor electric motorcycles we offer. First, the RSF350 24v Electric Bike (age 13+) ups the power level with two 12-volt batteries instead of just one. Top speed is 14 miles per hour, and 10-inch wheels feature pneumatic rubber tires. For even more power and acceleration, Razor’s RSF650 36v Electric Bike offers three 12-volt batteries along with a coilover shock absorber for comfort, and disc brakes front and rear for better stopping power. Top speed is 17 mph, and maximum rider weight capacity is 170 pounds.
ATVs
Check out our ATVs section. For young ones age 2-5, we’ve got several choices from Best Ride On Cars, both of which can carry up to 66 pounds at 4 mph. LED headlights are included, along with a built-in radio and media player. The Sporty ATV 12v Electric Ride features a traditional ATV-looking body shell on top, while the Utility Quad 12v Electric Ride features a body resembling a typical full-size pickup truck.
For children ages 8+, the Razor Dirt Quad 24v Electric Ride ups the power level to two 12-volt batteries for an 8 mph speed with riders up to 120 pounds. This features knobby pneumatic tires, rear disc brakes, and a coilover shock absorber underneath the seat.
For riders age 14+ weighing up to 220 pounds, Razor Dirt Quad 500 36v Electric Ride adds larger tires, a more powerful motor, additional battery power, and beefed-up brake and suspension components.
Scooters
When it comes to electric scooters, we’ve got various models designed for children, for adolescents, and even for adults to use as train station commuter vehicles.
For children age 8+, there’s the entry-level Razor Power Core E90 Electric Scooter with solid rubber tires, push button throttle, and 10 mph top speed. There’s also a Power Core E100 version which adds a pneumatic front tire, twist grip throttle, and slightly more power for an 11 mph top speed. Both of these “Power Core” models feature two 12-volt batteries, which gives them 50% more torque and a longer battery operating life (70 minutes versus 40 minutes) than Razor’s standard E100 Series Electric Scooter with only one 12-volt battery, which also features a pneumatic front tire and twist grip throttle.
For larger kids age 13-14 and up, we’ve got a few choices as well – some are even equipped with seats that can be unbolted. The Razor E-Prime Gunmetal Electric Scooter (age 14+) is designed to be simple yet elegant. A one-piece billet aluminum frame provides lightweight convenience, while a 36-volt battery pack creates snappy performance up to 15 mph. Even the cables for pushbutton throttle and brake controls are uniquely tucked inside the frame tubing.
Razor’s E200S Seated Electric Scooter (ages 13+) offers best-value pricing with the convenience of a removable seat and pneumatic tires front and rear. Two 12-volt batteries can carry riders up to 154 pounds at a top speed of 12 mph.
For larger kids and adults who want a more powerful scooter for metro use or easy train station commuting, we’ve got the Razor E300S Series Seated Electric Scooter and EcoSmart Metro Seated Electric Scooter – both of which feature removable seats and a 220-pound rider capacity. With a twist throttle, luggage rack, cargo basket, and rear disc brake, the EcoSmart is particularly well equipped for urban use as an only vehicle.
Also for use in cities and anywhere, we’ve got electric bikes such as the Yukon Trail Navigator S24 Single Speed Eco-Friendly Electric Bike. With 24 volts, it can reach 20 miles per hour and travel approximately 28 miles per charge. Bonus features include a bright LED headlight, carrying rack, and wide leather seat for comfort.
Go-Karts
Next, let’s look at offerings from our go-carts and trikes section.
Three-Wheelers
For something a little different, we’ll start with the Wild Thing 3-Wheeled EV designed for ages 5-10 and riders up to 100 pounds. Unlike typical “trikes”, this features two large drivewheels in front with a single small wheel in back. Separate joysticks for left and right wheels allow you to travel forward (5 mph top speed), backward, or spin in circles.
Other “trikes” feature a Big Wheel type seating position with a single drive wheel in front that also does the steering. All are designed to allow the rear wheels to slide sideways around turns in a “drifting” fashion. For best value, we’ve got the Razor Power Rider 360 Electric Drift Trike (ages 8+, 9 mph, 120 pound capacity) and Drift Rider Series Electric Drift Trike (ages 9+, 9 mph, 143 pound capacity) which both feature rear caster wheels that swivel in all directions for a true wavy-gravy fun ride.
For larger kids (ages 16+) up to 198 pounds, the Razor DXT Series Black Electric Drift Trike features a rear-mounted pack of three 12-volt batteries for more power and speeds up to 15 miles per hour. Extras include pneumatic tires, a chain drive front motor, disc brake, and racing slick style tires in the rear with a smooth surface that maximizes the ability to skid.
Four Wheel Go-Karts
We haven’t forgotten that, for children, few things beat the feeling of actual driving they get behind the wheel of a responsive go-kart. Combine that with the instant torque electric motors provide, and you’ve got a recipe for real enjoyment. For ages 8+, we’ve got the Razor Ground Force Drifter Electric Go-Kart and Electric Dune Buggy. Both contain a rear disc brake as well as two 12-volt batteries for a 9 mph top speed and 40 minutes of usage between recharges.
The primary difference between these two models comes down to tires. The Ground Force Drifter features solid ones with a smooth surface designed for lower-traction sliding while the Electric Dune Buggy features 8-inch knobby pneumatic tires for roughing it over any terrain.
Razor’s Crazy XL Electric Cart is rated and sized for the 16-adult age group up to 240 pounds. This features the unique layout of a caster wheel at each of the 4 corners. A large drive wheel with a rubber pneumatic tire is mounted just below the steering wheel to propel and steer the kart. Normally, the rear caster wheels slide in all directions and the front drive wheel maintains complete grip for the front end. But if you choose to pull the red lever linkage mounted on the right side, the rear raises up enough to allow the front caster wheels to come in contact with the ground. The steering drive wheel will still control the kart, but the front end will slide just a bit when you want it to. Either way, this kart is great fun for spins and slides of all kinds!
Note that in our Ride-ons & Scooters main section, we offer more than what you’ve just read about. You’ll also find hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, bicycles, and helmets for all ages and sizes.
We also encourage you to check through other sections of RECREATIONiD where you’ll find great products for climbing, water sports equipment, camping & hiking, fishing, optical equipment, winter sports, helpful equipment for pets, and much more! If you have questions about anything on our website, we'll be happy to help on the phone seven days a week!