The short answer
The CatEye Velo 7 is the budget wired speedometer (CatEye lists about three years from one coin cell at an hour a day), the CatEye Padrone is the press-to-change wireless pick, with a display CatEye’s listing calls oversized on the largest unit of the three CatEye picks here (CatEye’s dimensions), and the CYCPLUS G1 is the GPS pick with no wheel sensor and, by its manual, no app or account at all.
Our verdict
Our Top Picks
A bike computer shows a child how fast and how far they rode, and the forum threads that rank for this search ask for simple ones: a speedometer with a sensor on the fork, or a small GPS unit with nothing to fit on the wheel. We found seven on Amazon we would consider for a child’s bike: four sensor-based speedometers from CatEye and Planet Bike that run on coin-cell batteries, and three GPS units from CYCPLUS, iGPSPORT and Garmin that charge over USB-C. Check fit first: the sensor computers need your child’s wheel size, and every pick has to sit on a kids’ handlebar.
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Find a bike computer for your child
Pick what the computer should do and a price tier. The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the seven computers below, not a test result. Check your child's wheel size and handlebar against the maker's figures before you buy.
Compare the picks
Compare the 7 Bike Computers for Kids
Every value is the maker’s, for the model we link, unless its review names another source. “Not published (maker)” means the maker sources we read give none. Measure your child’s wheel (next section) against the maker’s range. Price tiers in the reviews: $ = entry level, $$ = mid-range, $$$ = premium, relative to these seven.
CatEye Velo 7Budget Wired SpeedometerWired, no chargingWired sensor1x CR2032 coin$24.95
Evidence: OutdoorGearLab, this exact model
CatEye Velo WirelessLower-Priced WirelessWireless, no chargingWireless sensor2x CR2032 coin$44.95
Evidence: BikeRadar reviewed a Velo Wireless in 2011 whose function list has no calorie reading, so probably an earlier version than the current CC-VT230W
CatEye PadronePress-to-Change WirelessWireless, no chargingWireless sensor2x CR2032 coin$54.95
Evidence: Cyclingnews, this exact model
Planet Bike Protégé 9.0Four-Line Wired DisplayWired, no chargingWired sensor1x CR2032 coin$34.99 Prime
Evidence: OutdoorGearLab tested the Protégé 9.0 Wireless; the wired version was not tested
CYCPLUS G1GPS With No AppGPS, no appGPSRechargeable$34.99
Evidence: OutdoorGearLab, this exact model
iGPSPORT BSC100SGPS With Ride UploadsGPS, app uploadsGPSRechargeable$34.99
Evidence: The Sweet Cyclists, this exact model
Garmin Edge Explore 2Maps for Longer RidesGPS, mapsGPS with mapsRechargeable$260.99 Prime
Evidence: DC Rainmaker, this exact model
Wired, Wireless or GPS on a Child’s Bike
- Wired sensor (Velo 7, Protégé 9.0). A magnet on a front spoke passes a sensor on the fork, and a wire runs up to the handlebar unit. There is nothing to pair and no wireless signal to lose. In a Reddit thread a parent started, Skygazer80 wrote: “I myself prefer wired for the accuracy reasons.” The cost is a fiddlier install along the fork.
- Wireless sensor (Velo Wireless, Padrone). The same spoke magnet, but the fork sensor sends its signal to the handlebar unit. CatEye gives both a 20 to 70 cm transmission distance, so measure your child’s bike: the fork sensor has to sit within that distance of the handlebar unit.
- GPS (G1, BSC100S, Edge Explore 2). Speed comes from satellites, so there is no magnet, no fork sensor and no wheel size to enter. The trade-offs are charging, a wait for a satellite fix (iGPSPORT’s guide says 5 to 120 seconds, standing still), and, on two of the three, a phone app.
Wheel size. A sensor computer counts wheel turns, so it needs your child’s wheel circumference. CatEye’s Velo 7 and Velo Wireless accept preset sizes from 16 in, or any circumference from 100 to 299 cm; the Velo Wireless manual’s chart puts a 16 x 1.75 tire at 120 cm and a 20 x 1.75 at 152 cm. Planet Bike’s Protégé takes the figure in millimetres; its manual says wheel-size slot 1 takes 1,000 mm and up, and a smaller wheel goes in slot 2. To check yours, use the roll-out method in Planet Bike’s manual: with the valve at the bottom, mark the ground, roll the bike one full wheel turn while pressing on the handlebar, and measure. Outside a maker’s range, that computer is not for that bike.
Mounting on small handlebars. The picks mount with zip-tie brackets (Velo 7, Velo Wireless), the FlexTight bracket CatEye calls tool-free (Padrone), a screw bracket with rubber shims “to fit different diameter handlebars” (Planet Bike), or rubber-band mounts (the GPS units; CYCPLUS includes four bands). None of the makers we read publishes a handlebar-diameter range, so wrap the band or tie around your child’s bar before you commit, and keep the unit clear of the brake levers.
Power. The four sensor computers run on CR2032 coin cells, so there is nothing to charge (coin cells are covered in the safety section). The GPS units charge over USB-C.
App or no app. Of the picks here, only the BSC100S and the Edge Explore 2 pair with a phone app; the safety section quotes what their makers say about children and accounts.
How We Chose Computers for a Child’s Bike
How this guide was built
built from manufacturer documentation, published third-party reviews and owner reports; we have not tested these products ourselves.
What every pick had to meet
- Works on a child’s bike. A sensor computer had to take a wheel size you enter, with the maker’s range published where we could find it (the Padrone’s is not on CatEye America’s page; see its review); a GPS unit had to mount with bands rather than a bike-specific bracket.
- Simple to read. Speed on screen at all times. We left out power-meter and training-focused units.
- Stocked on Amazon. In stock, new, with a buy button when we checked on November 4, 2026. Two picks are sold by Amazon.com; the other five by the maker’s own Amazon storefront (CatEye America, CYCPLUS, iGPSPORT Official), each named in its review.
- Both power types. Four coin-cell speedometers and three rechargeable GPS units, from five brands.
Sources and how we graded them, what parents asked on the forums and what we left out, and why
Sources and how we graded them
Each review’s Evidence line names its source. Five picks have an independent review of the exact model: OutdoorGearLab (Velo 7, CYCPLUS G1), Cyclingnews (Padrone), The Sweet Cyclists (BSC100S, on a sample iGPSPORT provided) and DC Rainmaker (Edge Explore 2, a Garmin loaner). Two picks are graded “same series” and say what differs: the Protégé 9.0 (OutdoorGearLab reviewed the wireless version) and the Velo Wireless (BikeRadar reviewed a Velo Wireless in 2011, probably an earlier version). None of these reviews looks at a child’s bike.
What parents asked on the forums
On the Cycling UK forum, ClappedOut wrote: “My Son has been asking about a cycling computer at 9 years old I’m concerned he will be put off and not concentrate on the road.” The poster asked for a large display and “as little number of buttons to press” as possible. In the same thread Cyril Haearn answered: “Best to do without while cycling.” On Reddit, the parent who started the r/bicycling thread, inthecuckoosnest, turned down using a phone instead: “And I don’t want to encourage her using her phone while riding.” We took two things from these threads: favour one-button computers, and leave the screen question to the parent (see the safety section).
What we left out, and why
- COOSPO BC107, the top pick in the earlier version of this page: its Amazon listing showed no buy button on two checks on November 4, 2026.
- COOSPO BC200: in stock, but Cyclists Hub’s test found its buttons “tiny and hard to press” and its GPS track poor; the BSC100S covers the same role.
- Garmin Edge 130 Plus: a compact GPS unit some guides name, but we found no in-stock Amazon listing.
- No-name speedometers: many low-cost wired and wireless units are sold on Amazon by unfamiliar sellers with no maker manual or independent review we could find.
Detailed Reviews
CatEye Velo 7, Budget Wired Speedometer
Parents who want a simple wired speedometer with nothing to pair, for a child's bike whose wheel CatEye's presets cover and who don't mind some time with zip ties; set the wheel size yourself and check the coin-cell cover is closed (see the safety section).
$24.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:38 UTCVerdict
A wired speedometer with one front button, CatEye’s presets from a 16 in wheel, the lowest maker list price of the picks here, and no charging.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. OutdoorGearLab: Velo 7 (CC-VL520), reviewed 2016.
CatEye’s Velo 7 shows current speed on the top line and steps through time, distance, average and maximum speed, the odometer and a clock on the bottom one. Its wired sensor mounts on the fork with a 70 cm wire for the front wheel, and CatEye’s tech specs list preset tire sizes of 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 in and 700C, or any circumference from 100 to 299 cm. Power is one CR2032 coin cell, which CatEye rates at approximately three years at an hour a day.
OutdoorGearLab reviewed it in 2016 (the same CC-VL520 model is still sold) and called it “a basic cycling computer that provides speed, distance, and time data points.” It found the interface “simple and easy to learn,” but setup “more difficult” than a wireless unit: the sensor and wire are zip-tied along the fork and brake cable. It noted that it “is only capable of storing one wheel size” and that moisture got into the battery compartment once after a rainstorm on a roof rack. On CatEye America’s own store, one buyer, Ron Kovatch, titled the review “8yr old grandson gift” and wrote “perfect.”
Specs (linked: Velo 7, CC-VL520)
Pros
- Wired sensor with nothing to pair or charge, and presets from a 16 in wheel (CatEye)
- One front button steps through every reading, by OutdoorGearLab’s account
- No app, account or ride upload
Cons
- Wired install along the fork and brake cable takes time (OutdoorGearLab)
- Stores one wheel size, so moving it to a new bike means re-entering the size
- No backlight among CatEye’s listed features (a drawback for dusk riding)
Who should buy it
Parents who want a simple wired speedometer with nothing to pair, for a child’s bike whose wheel CatEye’s presets cover and who don’t mind some time with zip ties; set the wheel size yourself and check the coin-cell cover is closed (see the safety section).
- Sensor: wired, front wheel, 70 cm wire (CatEye)
- Tire sizes: 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 in, 700C presets, or 100-299 cm (CatEye)
- Battery: 1x CR2032 coin cell, approx. 3 years at 1 hour a day (CatEye)
- Water rating: IPX8 (CatEye)
- Size and weight: 55.5 x 37.5 x 18.5 mm, 30 g computer (CatEye)
- Handlebar range: not published (maker); zip-tie mount
- Warranty: 2 years (CatEye America)
- Seller: CatEye America on Amazon
- Price tier: $
CatEye Velo Wireless, Lower-Priced Wireless
Parents who want the lower-priced of the two CatEye wireless picks here, for a wheel its manual covers; measure the fork-to-bar distance against CatEye's 70 cm and set the wheel size yourself.
$44.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:39 UTCVerdict
The lower-priced of the two CatEye wireless picks here, with CatEye’s presets from 16 in and no wire to snag, but a coin cell in both the sensor and the unit.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, previous generation. BikeRadar: earlier Velo Wireless, reviewed 2011.
The Velo Wireless swaps the Velo 7’s wire for a short-range wireless sensor on the fork. CatEye’s manual gives a 20 to 70 cm transmission distance, preset tire sizes from 16 to 29 in plus 700C, or a circumference from 100 to 299 cm, and a CR2032 coin cell in each part: about a year in the computer at an hour a day, and about 10,000 km in the sensor. It adds a calorie reading to the usual speed, distance and time, and mounts with a zip-tie bracket.
BikeRadar reviewed a Velo Wireless in 2011 whose function list has no calorie reading, which the current CC-VT230W has, so it was probably an earlier version; it wrote that “The Velo is the cheapest wireless option from Japanese computer supremo Cateye, but it does the basics well” (its wording at the time; CatEye now also sells the Urban Wireless). It found the single button “a bit wobbly” but easy to find with gloves on, the 70 cm transmission “reliable within that distance,” and its only real downside “the lack of backlight function.” One buyer on CatEye America’s store, Bill Turnquist, said the unit “has trouble if your cell phone is too close to it.”
Compared with the Padrone below, the Velo Wireless costs less by CatEye’s list prices and has the published 16 in preset; the Padrone is the larger unit (CatEye’s dimensions) and has the FlexTight bracket CatEye calls tool-free.
Specs (linked: Velo Wireless, Black, CC-VT230W)
Pros
- Wireless fork sensor, so no cable to route or snag on a small bike
- Single button, easy to find with gloves (BikeRadar, 2011 review)
- Presets from a 16 in wheel (CatEye manual)
Cons
- Two coin cells to replace and keep away from young children (see the safety section)
- No backlight (none in CatEye’s manual; BikeRadar, 2011 review)
- Signal can be disturbed by a phone held close to it, by one owner’s account
Who should buy it
Parents who want the lower-priced of the two CatEye wireless picks here, for a wheel its manual covers; measure the fork-to-bar distance against CatEye’s 70 cm and set the wheel size yourself.
- Sensor: wireless, front wheel, 20-70 cm range (CatEye manual)
- Tire sizes: 16-29 in, 700C presets, or 100-299 cm (CatEye manual)
- Battery: CR2032 coin cell in computer (approx. 1 year at 1 hour a day) and in sensor (approx. 10,000 km) (CatEye manual)
- Water rating: not published (maker)
- Weight: 26.4 g computer, 15 g sensor (CatEye manual)
- Handlebar range: not published (maker); zip-tie bracket
- Warranty: 2 years (CatEye manual)
- Seller: CatEye America on Amazon
- Price tier: $$
CatEye Padrone, Press-to-Change Wireless
Parents who want a wireless speedometer a child can change with one press, and who will spend time on setup; measure the wheel, check the bracket holds on your child's bar, and test the speed on a known distance.
$54.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:38 UTCVerdict
A wireless speedometer that CatEye describes as having a large display, changed by pressing the unit itself; by CatEye’s dimensions it is the largest unit of the three CatEye picks here.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Cyclingnews: Padrone, black.
With the Padrone’s ClickTec design a child changes the reading by pressing the base of the unit (CatEye) rather than hunting for a small button, which suits the Cycling UK parent’s request for “as little number of buttons” as possible. CatEye lists it at 67.5 x 43.0 x 14.5 mm and 31.5 g (larger than the Velo 7 and Velo Wireless by CatEye’s dimensions), IPX8, with a 20 to 70 cm wireless range, a CR2032 coin cell in the unit (about a year) and another in the sensor (about 10,000 km). CatEye America’s page does not publish the tire-size range, and its manual was offline when we checked, so enter your child’s measured circumference and confirm the speed on a known distance. CatEye also warns that interference may occur near “other wireless devices, E-Bikes, or certain unshielded bicycle headlights.”
Cyclingnews liked it as a fit-and-forget unit: “But if you’d like simple metrics for a distraction free ride, with exceptional battery life and a reliable interface, for less weight and a low budget, I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with the Cateye Padrone.” Its reviewer was less happy with setup: “three very tiny buttons on the back” for the clock and wheel size, a receiver that must sit within 5 mm of the spoke magnet, and a unit she “could not get … to sit properly on my handlebars without it twisting” until she packed it with foam. She found its distance and average speed close to her Garmin’s. It has no backlight and saves no ride data. We link the Black version, the colour she tested (“The Padrone is all black”).
Specs (linked: Padrone, Black, CC-PA100W)
Pros
- Press-the-unit ClickTec button instead of small front buttons (CatEye)
- Display CatEye’s Amazon listing calls oversized, on the largest unit of the three CatEye picks here (CatEye’s dimensions)
- Distance and average speed close to a GPS unit’s in Cyclingnews’ comparison
Cons
- Setup with three tiny rear buttons and a bracket that twisted on the reviewer’s bar (Cyclingnews)
- Tire-size range not published on CatEye America’s page
- Two coin cells (see the safety section); no backlight
Who should buy it
Parents who want a wireless speedometer a child can change with one press, and who will spend time on setup; measure the wheel, check the bracket holds on your child’s bar, and test the speed on a known distance.
- Sensor: wireless, front wheel, 20-70 cm range (CatEye)
- Tire sizes: not published on CatEye America’s page; the wheel size is set with the rear buttons (Cyclingnews)
- Battery: CR2032 coin cell in computer (approx. 1 year) and in sensor (approx. 10,000 km) (CatEye)
- Water rating: IPX8 (CatEye)
- Size and weight: 67.5 x 43.0 x 14.5 mm, 31.5 g (CatEye)
- Handlebar range: not published (maker); FlexTight bracket
- Warranty: 2 years (CatEye America)
- Seller: CatEye America on Amazon
- Price tier: $$
Planet Bike Protégé 9.0 Wired, Four-Line Wired Display
Parents who want speed, time and distance on screen at once without buttons; roll out your child's wheel and, if it is under 1,000 mm, enter it in wheel-size slot 2 as Planet Bike's manual says; check the battery cover (see the safety section).
$34.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:38 UTCVerdict
A wired computer whose four-line screen keeps speed, ride time and distance in view together (Planet Bike’s manual).
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. OutdoorGearLab: Protégé 9.0 Wireless.
Planet Bike says the Protégé 9.0’s “easy-to-read 4-line display gives you 5 pieces of data (including temperature!) at a glance.” By its manual, lines 1 to 3 always show speed, ride time and distance, and pushing the computer forward in its bracket changes line 4 (odometer, average and maximum speed, temperature and clock); there are no buttons to press while riding. You enter the wheel size in millimetres; the manual’s chart starts at a 20 x 1.75 tire (1,502 mm) and recommends measuring by rolling the wheel. The manual gives two wheel-size slots: slot 1 “does not allow a size less than 1000mm,” and a smaller wheel is entered in slot 2, so a small wheel takes the slot otherwise used for a second bike. It runs on one CR2032 coin cell, which Planet Bike says should last one to two years, behind a cover you remove “by pulling up on the small tab” (no screw: see the safety section). The bracket takes rubber shims “to fit different diameter handlebars.”
We found no independent review of the wired version. OutdoorGearLab reviewed the wireless Protégé 9.0, which by its description shows the same readings but uses a wireless sensor. It found the screen showed “four different data fields on the screen at the same time” but called setup “a hassle.” It also had “phantom speed” readings before its first ride; that was the wireless version, and we found no report either way for the wired one.
Specs (linked: Protégé 9.0 Wired, model 8002)
Pros
- Four-line screen with speed, time and distance always in view (Planet Bike manual)
- No buttons to press while riding: push the unit forward to change line 4
- Wired sensor: nothing to pair and no second battery in the sensor
Cons
- Setup needs tools and a thin pointer, by OutdoorGearLab’s account of the wireless version
- Battery cover opens by hand with no screw
- A wheel under 1,000 mm uses the second wheel-size slot, leaving none for a second bike (Planet Bike manual)
Who should buy it
Parents who want speed, time and distance on screen at once without buttons; roll out your child’s wheel and, if it is under 1,000 mm, enter it in wheel-size slot 2 as Planet Bike’s manual says; check the battery cover (see the safety section).
- Sensor: wired, front wheel (Planet Bike)
- Wheel size: entered in mm; slot 1 from 1,000 mm, under 1,000 mm in slot 2; chart starts at 20 x 1.75 (Planet Bike manual)
- Battery: 1x CR2032 coin cell, 1-2 years with normal use; tab-release cover (Planet Bike manual)
- Display: 4 lines; speed, ride time and distance fixed, line 4 changes (Planet Bike manual)
- Water rating: not published (maker); “weather proof” (Planet Bike manual)
- Handlebar range: not published (maker); rubber shims for different diameters
- Warranty: limited lifetime against manufacturing defect (Amazon listing)
- Seller: Amazon.com
- Price tier: $
CYCPLUS G1, GPS With No App
Parents who want a GPS speedometer with nothing to fit on the wheel and no phone account; set the clock and units yourself, and charge it before rides.
$34.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:39 UTCVerdict
A small GPS speedometer with no fork sensor, no wheel size to set and, by its manual, no app, Bluetooth or account.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. OutdoorGearLab: G1.
CYCPLUS’s manual describes a self-contained unit: it reads speed, riding time, distance, total time, odometer, clock and altitude from GPS, with two buttons, a 2 in screen and a 1,200 mAh battery charged over USB-C. CYCPLUS lists 55 hours of working time, IPX6 water resistance (“can resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water”) and a weight of 70 g. Its manual describes no pairing, uploading or account.
OutdoorGearLab wrote that “The Cycplus G1 has such a low price point, it might make your jaw hit the floor,” and found it “intuitive to use, especially after the initial setup.” Its tester needed the manual to set the clock and units, calling the settings menu “cryptic at best,” and noted that it “lacks navigation or gpx tracking.”
Specs (linked: G1)
Pros
- No fork sensor, magnet or wheel size to fit (CYCPLUS manual)
- No app, Bluetooth or account described in the manual
- 55 hours listed between charges (CYCPLUS)
Cons
- Settings menu needs the manual (OutdoorGearLab)
- Needs charging, unlike the coin-cell picks
- No navigation or GPX track (OutdoorGearLab)
Who should buy it
Parents who want a GPS speedometer with nothing to fit on the wheel and no phone account; set the clock and units yourself, and charge it before rides.
- Speed source: GPS; no wheel sensor (CYCPLUS manual)
- Battery: 1,200 mAh rechargeable, USB-C, 55 hours working time (CYCPLUS manual)
- Water rating: IPX6 (CYCPLUS manual)
- Size and weight: 57.5 x 60 x 25 mm, 70 g (CYCPLUS manual)
- Mount: mount with 4 rubber bands (CYCPLUS manual), Garmin-style quarter-turn (OutdoorGearLab); handlebar range not published (maker)
- App or account: none described in the manual
- Warranty: 2 years (CYCPLUS manual)
- Seller: CYCPLUS on Amazon
- Price tier: $
iGPSPORT BSC100S, GPS With Ride Uploads
Parents who want a child's rides saved and mapped, and who will own and run the app themselves; read iGPSPORT's privacy note in the safety section first, and set the pages to speed and distance only.
$34.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:39 UTCVerdict
A GPS computer with a configurable 2.6 in screen and app uploads for a child who wants to see their rides on a map afterward, with a parent running the app.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. The Sweet Cyclists: BSC100S, sample from iGPSPORT.
iGPSPORT’s guide lists five satellite systems (GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS and QZSS), a 2.6 in screen, about 40 hours of battery, about 250 hours of ride memory, IPX7, 86.7 x 51 x 14.9 mm and about 67 g. It pairs over Bluetooth with the iGPSPORT app, which sets the data pages and syncs rides to Strava, TrainingPeaks or Komoot, and it can show an incoming-call alert from a paired phone.
The Sweet Cyclists, reviewing a unit iGPSPORT provided, wrote: “Overall, we found the iGPSPORT BSC100S to be a budget friendly and simple cycling computer.” They found the screen high in contrast “in both low light and direct sunlight” and the two-button control simple, but said the on-device configuration screens “are confusing,” so most settings are easier in the app. Against the G1, it adds ride history and uploads.
Specs (linked: BSC100S)
Pros
- Rides saved and uploaded through the iGPSPORT app (iGPSPORT)
- Screen readable “in both low light and direct sunlight” (The Sweet Cyclists)
- About 40 hours listed per charge (iGPSPORT)
Cons
- On-device settings screens “are confusing” (The Sweet Cyclists)
- Uses a phone app and account; see what iGPSPORT says about children in the safety section
- Shows incoming-call alerts from a paired phone (iGPSPORT guide; see the safety section)
Who should buy it
Parents who want a child’s rides saved and mapped, and who will own and run the app themselves; read iGPSPORT’s privacy note in the safety section first, and set the pages to speed and distance only.
- Speed source: GPS (5 satellite systems); optional speed sensor (iGPSPORT)
- Battery: rechargeable, about 40 hours; USB-C, cable not included (iGPSPORT; Amazon listing)
- Water rating: IPX7 (iGPSPORT)
- Size and weight: 86.7 x 51 x 14.9 mm, about 67 g (iGPSPORT)
- Memory: about 250 hours (iGPSPORT)
- App: iGPSPORT app over Bluetooth 5.0 (iGPSPORT)
- Mount: mount with 2 rubber bands (Amazon listing); handlebar range not published (maker)
- Seller: iGPSPORT Official on Amazon
- Price tier: $
Garmin Edge Explore 2, Maps for Longer Rides
Parents of a rider who follows routes on longer outings with an adult, and who will set up the Garmin account and the phone features themselves; read Garmin's children's privacy note in the safety section first.
$260.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 11, 00:39 UTCVerdict
The only map-and-navigation unit here, with a 3 in touchscreen and Garmin’s phone-linked features, for a rider on longer routes with a parent setting it up.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. DC Rainmaker: Edge Explore 2, Garmin loaner.
Garmin lists the Edge Explore 2 (Standard) at 104 g and IPX7, with a 3.00 in display and up to 16 hours of battery in demanding use (24 in battery saver). It comes with preloaded maps for following routes (DC Rainmaker). When paired with a smartphone and the Garmin Connect app, Garmin says it can send ride updates to family and friends, send a message with the rider’s location to preloaded contacts if it detects an incident, and show texts and alerts on the screen.
DC Rainmaker, on a unit Garmin lent, wrote: “For the price and display size, the Edge Explore 2 is hard to beat, at least for most cyclists that are more focused on the journey than the mid-ride metrics.” He found it “easiest to use your phone to set up.”
Specs (linked: Edge Explore 2, Standard, 010-02703-00)
Pros
- Preloaded maps for following routes (DC Rainmaker), the only navigation unit here
- Large 3.00 in display (Garmin)
- Phone-linked ride updates to family when paired (Garmin)
Cons
- Premium price for a child’s speedometer
- Phone texts and alerts can show on the screen unless you switch them off
- Garmin account needed for the phone features (see the safety section)
Who should buy it
Parents of a rider who follows routes on longer outings with an adult, and who will set up the Garmin account and the phone features themselves; read Garmin’s children’s privacy note in the safety section first.
- Speed source: GPS; maps preloaded (Garmin)
- Battery: up to 16 hours, up to 24 hours in battery saver; USB-C (Garmin; DC Rainmaker)
- Water rating: IPX7 (Garmin)
- Size and weight: 106.1 x 55.7 x 20.6 mm, 104 g (Garmin)
- Display: 3.00 in color touchscreen (Garmin)
- Phone features: ride updates, incident messages, texts and alerts when paired with a smartphone (Garmin)
- Mount: “standard mount” (Garmin); quarter-turn rubber band mounts in the box (DC Rainmaker); handlebar range not published (maker)
- Seller: Amazon.com
- Price tier: $$$
Screens, Coin Cells and Kids’ Data: Safety Notes in One Place
Eyes on the road, and a parent sets it up. We make no claim that any computer here makes riding safer, and a screen on the bars is one more thing to look at. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org tells riders: “Do not wear headphones, text, or talk on a cell phone while biking,” and says a child learning to ride should be in an area “free of traffic and distractions.” Planet Bike’s own Protégé manual says riders “should ride safely and pay primary attention to the road, traffic or trail conditions at all times.” Our suggestion, not a rule from either: you do the setup (wheel size, units, clock, any pairing), set the screen to speed and distance only, and switch off phone alerts on the GPS units.
Helmets: the standard is the CPSC’s, the law is your state’s. A bike computer is no substitute for a helmet. In the U.S., bicycle helmets must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standard, 16 CFR Part 1203; HealthyChildren.org says “Helmets should meet the standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.” Whether a child must wear one is set by each state: the IIHS table of state helmet laws (November 2026) shows ages from “11 and younger” to “17 and younger” in states with a law, and no law in others; check your state’s current rule. Our guide to bike helmets for kids covers fit.
Coin cells (the Velo 7, Velo Wireless, Padrone and Protégé 9.0). These four run on CR2032 coin cells, two of them with a second cell in the fork sensor. The CPSC warns that “A button cell battery can burn through a child’s throat or esophagus in as little as two hours if swallowed,” and advises: “Keep remotes, electronics and products with accessible button cell or coin batteries away from children if the battery compartments do not have a screw closure to secure them.” Following Reese’s Law (enacted 2022), the CPSC adopted a mandatory standard that requires a battery compartment to need a tool “such as a screwdriver or coin” or “at least two independent and simultaneous movements” to open; we have not checked which of these four covers meet it. Check how each cover closes (Planet Bike’s comes off “by pulling up on the small tab”), change batteries yourself, and keep spare and used cells out of reach. If you think a child has swallowed one, the CPSC says to “immediately seek medical attention” and lists the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) and the Poison Help Line (800-222-1222).
Children’s data (the GPS units). The four coin-cell computers and the CYCPLUS G1 have no app or upload (the G1’s manual describes no app or account). The other two pair with a phone app that stores rides:
- iGPSPORT’s U.S. store privacy policy (the store site’s policy; we did not find an app-specific one) says: “The Services are not intended to be used by children, and we do not knowingly collect any personal information about children.”
- Garmin’s privacy policy says: “Children 8 years of age and older may provide personal information to Garmin only with verified parental consent and only to applications and services that support use by children.” Garmin offers child accounts; the pages we read do not say whether the Edge Explore 2 supports one.
Read the maker’s policy before you create an account, and decide who owns it. This is not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Should a kid get a GPS bike computer or a simple speedometer?
For speed, distance and time, a simple speedometer such as the Velo 7 or Padrone does the job with no charging, no app and no data leaving the unit. A GPS unit makes sense if you would rather not fit a fork sensor (CYCPLUS G1) or want rides saved and mapped (BSC100S). Only the Edge Explore 2 navigates.
Q. Will a bike computer fit a 16 or 20 inch kids’ wheel?
The GPS units ignore wheel size. Of the sensor computers, CatEye’s Velo 7 and Velo Wireless list presets from 16 in; the Protégé takes a measured size in millimetres (under 1,000 mm in its second wheel-size slot, by Planet Bike’s manual); the Padrone’s range is not on CatEye America’s page. Measure your child’s wheel by rolling it out (see the buying section above) and compare it with the maker’s range.
Q. Can my child just use a phone instead?
A phone app can show speed, but the parent in the Reddit thread above chose a computer partly so as not to “encourage her using her phone while riding.” A dedicated computer lets the phone stay in a pocket; on the GPS units, switch phone alerts off (see the safety section).
Q. What is a good bike computer under $100 for a child?
Every pick here except the Garmin Edge Explore 2 has a maker list price well under $100: the Velo 7, Velo Wireless, Padrone, Protégé 9.0, CYCPLUS G1 and BSC100S.
The bottom line
Final Verdict
For speed and distance with nothing to charge, start with the CatEye Velo 7 (check price) (wired; CatEye’s presets start at 16 in). The CatEye Velo Wireless (check price) is the lower-priced wireless option, the CatEye Padrone (check price) the press-to-change wireless one if you will take time over setup, and the Planet Bike Protégé 9.0 Wired (check price) shows speed, time and distance together. With no wheel sensor, the CYCPLUS G1 (check price) is GPS with no app, the iGPSPORT BSC100S (check price) adds uploads through an app a parent runs, and the Garmin Edge Explore 2 (check price) is the premium map unit. Set it up yourself and read the safety section above. For the bike itself, see our guides to kids’ bikes by wheel size and age and bikes for kids’ triathlons.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
