GOMO Balance Bike Review: Longest Fit Under $70

Q: GOMO or Banana Bike LT, which should I buy?

Buy the GOMO if your child is already 2.5 plus or tall for their age and you want the seat range to last into year four. Buy the Banana Bike LT if your child is small, young, or you simply want the lightest bike at this price.

Q: What does the steering limiter actually do?

It is a soft mechanical stop that keeps the handlebars from spinning past roughly 45 degrees, which prevents the front wheel from jackknifing sideways in a fall.

Q: Is 7.9 lb too heavy for a 2-year-old?

For a small or young 2-year-old under about 26 lb, yes, since it is over the 30 percent body weight guideline. For a sturdier or older 2-year-old, 7.9 lb rides fine.

Every balance bike under $70 makes a trade-off; the GOMO's is honest and easy to describe. It gives up about a pound and a half compared with the Banana Bike LT in exchange for five extra inches of seat range — 12–17″ instead of 12.2–15.7″ — which buys a taller kid an extra year on the same bike.

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Specs at a glance

Spec	GOMO Balance Bike
Weight (our scale)	7.9 lb
Seat height	12–17″
Frame	Steel
Tires	Foam EVA
Steering limiter	Yes (soft stop)
Typical price	~$60

The fit-longevity argument

Seat range is the spec that decides how many years a bike earns its price, and the GOMO's 12–17″ range is the longest we've measured under $70. A child who starts at a 12–13″ riding inseam (measured with our sizing guide method) at age 2 can still be on this same bike at 4, once the post is raised to 17″. The Banana Bike LT tops out at 15.7″, which for a fast-growing kid can mean outgrowing it by 3.5. That extra two years of use is the entire case for the GOMO's roughly 1.5 lb weight penalty.

The steering limiter — a soft mechanical stop that keeps the bars from spinning past about 45 degrees — is a small but real feature at this price. It softens the classic beginner crash where the front wheel jackknifes sideways and the bike folds under the child. Nothing else near $60 includes one.

A season of ownership

Assembly took us about 15 minutes: front wheel, bars, seat post, all tool-free clamps except the front axle bolt. The steel frame is noticeably stiffer than the Banana's aluminum-alloy under hard curb drops, with zero flex or creak after a full season. The one part that loosened was the steering limiter's stop bolt, which backed out slightly after a few months of repeated hard turns; a wrench check every month or two keeps it snug. Foam tires show the usual cosmetic flat-spotting on hot pavement but no functional wear.

Pros

12–17″ seat range is the longest we've measured under $70
Steering limiter softens the beginner bar-spin crash
Stiffer steel frame under hard use than most bikes at this price
Tool-free seat and bar adjustment

Cons

7.9 lb is heavy for a small or young 2-year-old
Steering limiter bolt needs an occasional wrench check
Foam tires only, no brake

Who it's for

A child who's already 2.5 or tall for their age, where the extra reach of a 17″ seat height means real extra years of use. It's also the better pick for a nervous first-time rider, since the steering limiter takes one specific fear — the bars spinning out from under them — off the table.

Who should skip it

A small, young 2-year-old under 25 lb will feel the extra 1.5 lb over the Banana Bike LT, and doesn't need the extended seat range yet anyway. For that rider, our full Banana Bike LT review covers the better starting point.

How it compares

Against the Banana Bike LT, this is a straight weight-versus-fit trade: read our full Banana Bike LT review for the other side of the argument, or the direct breakdown in Strider vs Banana Bike for how both stack against a $120 rival. If your child is already gliding and wants a footrest instead of a longer seat range, the Chillafish BMXie is the sibling to compare against. Full field at this price: best balance bikes under $100.

FAQ

GOMO or Banana Bike LT — which should I buy?

Buy the GOMO if your child is already 2.5-plus or tall for their age and you want the seat range to last into year 4. Buy the Banana Bike LT if your child is small, young, or you simply want the lightest bike at this price.

What does the steering limiter actually do?

It's a soft mechanical stop that keeps the handlebars from spinning past roughly 45 degrees, which prevents the front wheel from jackknifing sideways in a fall — a common beginner crash.

Is 7.9 lb too heavy for a 2-year-old?

For a small or young 2-year-old under about 26 lb, yes — it's over the 30% body-weight guideline. For a sturdier or older 2-year-old, 7.9 lb rides fine.

Bottom line: the GOMO trades a pound and a half for two extra years of fit. Right choice for a taller or older toddler; the Banana Bike LT stays the pick for a small, young one. Check price on Amazon →