AKEZ Jaguar 16" Kids Electric Bike

The AKEZ Jaguar is a 16-inch electric bike made for children, and the design choices reflect that. It sits on 16 x 4.0 inch fat tires, which give a young rider a wide, stable contact patch and make the bike far less twitchy than a narrow-tired kids' bike while they are still building balance and coordination. The seat height is set so a child can put their feet down and stop themselves at any point, which is usually the single thing that decides whether a new rider feels confident.

Speed is something a parent controls rather than something the bike decides. The 350W brushless rear hub motor runs through three selectable speed settings, 5 mph, 10 mph and 17 mph, with a maximum of 18 mph. A parent can leave the bike in the lowest setting for a child's first rides and step it up as the child's handling improves. There are also three riding modes: pure electric using the twist throttle, pedal assist that adds motor help while the child pedals, and manual pedalling with the power switched off, which works as an ordinary bicycle.

Stopping is handled by mechanical disc brakes at the front and rear. Disc brakes give a child predictable, responsive braking without needing a lot of hand strength, and they bring the bike to a stop in a shorter distance than rim brakes on loose or damp ground. The frame is a 16-inch soft-tail design in high-carbon steel with a triple-layer paint finish, and a shock-absorbing double-shoulder fork up front takes the sting out of kerbs, grass and gravel paths.

A 36V 15.6Ah lithium battery gives a quoted range of 20 to 30 miles, which covers an afternoon of neighbourhood and park riding without a recharge. An LCD display shows speed, gear, distance and remaining battery, so a child can see when it is time to head home, and a front LED headlight covers dusk rides. A Shimano 7-speed drivetrain lets a child learn to shift, and the bike is rated to a 200 lb payload.

As with any powered bike, this is a bike for supervised riding. A correctly fitted helmet should be worn every time, and gloves and knee and elbow pads are sensible while a child is still learning. Before the first ride, check that your child can reach the ground comfortably from the saddle, can operate both brake levers, and understands which way the throttle turns. Start in the 5 mph setting somewhere open and flat, and only move up once they are braking and steering confidently.

What's in the Box

• AKEZ Jaguar 16 x 4.0 inch kids electric bike
• 36V 15.6Ah lithium battery
• Battery charger
• Installation tool set
• User manual