KaZAM Balance Bike

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 30

Riding a two-wheeler is a huge milestone in a child’s life and one that puts fear into the hearts of most parents.  That’s why we do crazy things like keep them on tricycles for longer than we should and adding training wheels to their big bikes.  My husband even went so far as to suggest wrapping our children completely in bubble wrap when they first are learning to ride.  As much as this seems like a great way to recycle our packaging, it also makes for difficult playdates and days on the bike trails.

BlueRedKaZAM_BoysStanding_web Since bicycling is a way of life here in the Northwest, we needed to come up with a solution for cycling as a family that didn’t include training wheels… or packing materials.  That solution is of course a balance bike, so now the trick was to find one that was practical for our riding conditions.  When we found KaZAM Balance Bikes, we knew we had finally found the perfect training bicycle. 

If you haven’t heard of a balance bike before, you’re not alone.  Literally every time we go out with the KaZAM, we get a crowd of parents wanting to know why on Earth our bike doesn’t have pedals.  Although it’s hard to explain the benefits of biking without pedals, it’s not hard to see them once you witness a KaZAM in action. 

Green-sml-375 Instead of having to learn to balance, work the pedals continuously while steering away from danger, and master the brakes all at once, the KaZAM bike lets your child begin with the fundamentals of balance.  Allowing your child to sit on a bicycle seat and keep their feet flat on the ground, it gets them used to the idea of being on two wheels safely. 

They start out “walking” the KaZAM around while seated and then as they get more comfortable they can begin striding on the bike, leaving more and more time when their feet are not on the ground.  Kids usually pick up the idea of the KaZAM pretty quickly and most are coasting fairly soon after hopping on, something you would never see on a first try on a pedaled bicycle. 

 Braking is also really intuitive, you simply place your feet on the ground to stop.  This makes it great for children who can’t manipulate hand brakes and is easy to explain to kids.  Since they feel so in control, it makes it easier for them to relax and get the balance part down as well as helping them figure out steering and the coordination required to ride a traditional bike. 

H KaZAMWhat’s great is that once your child gets really confident in their abilities, they can use the integrated foot rests on the KaZAM frame to rest their legs while cruising, a feature I have not found on other balance bikes.  This also goes a long way in preparing them for riding because they get used to the idea of their feet resting on something instead of keeping them down while they are riding. 

As well as integrated foot rests, the KaZAM stands out in other ways as well.  One thing we really love is that the KaZAM looks and rides like a real bike.  It has a nice lightweight metal frame, is available in multiple colors, has full steering, hand grips, and even has real bicycle wheels – shiny spokes and all.  This makes your kid feel more like they are really riding a bicycle and prepares them for what to expect with their big-kid two wheeler.

Having mastered balance on the KaZAM, the idea is that the transition to a two wheeled bike will be so much easier.  Better yet is that it’s also safer for your child, as well as being packing material-free.  My ultimate hope for the KaZAM is that it allows our children to keep up with us on the trails earlier than most kids are able.  Instead of putting training wheels on our children’s bicycles that teach them to rely on extra wheels which we will eventually remove, the KaZAM teaches them to rely on themselves.       

To read more about the KaZAM Balance Bike that has been collecting awards since it was released, head over to http://www.kazambikes.com/ and check out these awesome bikes and even watch some customer submitted videos to get a better idea of how it works. 

And Now For the Giveaway! 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a KaZAM Balance Bike of their very own!

To Enter: Simply visit KaZAM and comment below with something you learned about the company or the balance bicycles and what color you would like

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) "Like" KaZAM on Facebook (2 extra entries, just leave FB name in comments)

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and #giveaway with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/eKWjWb) after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries  must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On January 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #318 brandy nelson said… I like KaZam on fb
brandy leigh nelson

Leanne Signature 2

A big thank you to KaZAM Bicycles for providing the sample for review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

497 thoughts on “KaZAM Balance Bike”

  8. I learned that they got the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2009 and 2010. I like the green color.
    alsatia23 at hotmail dot com

  15. I learned that the frame with foot rest was strategically designed to simulate the most realistic approach to teaching kids how to ride a peddled bike through proper body positioning, feet placement and balance.

  32. I love that there is little assembly required and would love to win a pink one for my little girl! My older daugher is 8 and cannot ride a bike yet and I wish I would have had one of these for her!
    sunni08 at gmail dot com

  51. I learned that the KaZAM bike can be used by children age 3 and up and that the maximum load is 55 pounds. I like the blue bike. Thanks!

  52. I learned that KaZAM is an industry leader in Consumer Product and that the foot rest is better for balance to leaarning how to ride a traditional bike.
    I would choose red for my son

  55. I learned that Kazam helps a child learn balance. We would love the pink. shop at adogsdreamtreats dot com

  72. The KaZAM is the only run bike on the market uniquely designed with a foot rest. Children lift their feet up and position them on to the foot rest maintaining proper balance and center of gravity similar to riding a traditional bicycle. It is the most realistic approach to learning coordination and balance; and ultimately teaching kids how to ride a pedaled bike. I’d like the blue

  76. I love that there is a footrest and I learned that training wheels don’t necessarily teach a child how to ride a bike, but learning to balance does.
    I would love the pink bike for my four-year-old!
    debawriter AT yahoo DOT com

  103. I learned that the KaZAM is the only run bike on the market uniquely designed with a foot rest.
    jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

  181. The post above (#180) should say: Entered the Bobux shoes and silly billyz bibs giveaway
    This one (#181) is for being an email subscriber.
    (SORRY!)

  210. They promote physical activity for kids so they will get out of the house and not watching tv and playing video games.

  237. Parents who purchase a KaZAM to assist children with learning to ride a traditional pedaled bicycle will play a significant role changing an American paradigm of how kids learn to ride bicycles; and educate the American public on the principle and approach of balance first, pedal next.
    As bike shop owners my husband speaks highly of this system. We would love a blue one.

  268. I learned with the KaZam the child will never have to use training wheels, they learn balance first with the bike.

  269. would love the bike in red if i’m the lucky one!
    i learned they receieved the oppenheim toy portfolio gold seal award in 2010.

  281. the frame with foot rest was strategically designed to simulate the most realistic approach to teaching kids how to ride a peddled bike through proper body positioning, feet placement and balance

  297. These bikes come with a foot rest so that a child can lift up their feet and rest them on it thereby also learning balance.

  306. Children lift their feet up naturally and position them on to the foot rest maintaining proper balance and center of gravity similar to riding a traditional bicycle.

  339. I learned that they have won awards for this great product. Love the red color
    candice126 at gmail dot com

  387. I learned that The KaZAM ™ is the only run bike on the market uniquely designed with a foot rest. I would select the blue color.

  392. I learned that KaZAM designed the frame with a footrest to simulate the best approach to teach kids how to ride using proper body positioning, feet placement, and balance.
    The green bike is my favorite.
    blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

  426. I learned that you should always wear closed-toe shoes when riding the KaZAM ™ Bicycle never sandals.
    Great giveaway, thanks.

  436. I like that you don’t have to use training wheels with these bikes. I love the Red KaZam bike.
    stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net

  446. I learned that the frame is uniquely designed among childrens “1st bikes” to put the rider in a more natural position for easier transitioning to traditional bicycles. I think its pretty cool that they put some serious thought into it instead of just copying the “dumb it down and market it to kids” theory that most companies seem to have these days. If I win, I’d pick a Blue KaZAM for my son. Thanks.

  447. I learned that they got the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2009 and 2010, I’d love the Red one, thanks!

  456. i learned that the kazam bikes are great for getting children ready to ride a bike i would like the green one!

  462. I was glad to see the company is involved with the hr4040 safety act – lead, phthalates, and other issues with kids’ products are so widespread.

  465. KaZAM ™ is an industry leader in Consumer Product Safety – In compliance with HR4040 – Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This law includes: new requirements for lead in children’s products; a lower limit for lead in paint and surface coatings; a ban on certain phthalates; mandatory third party testing; EU product safety tested and compliant…
    I would choose the blue bike.

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