Spawn is a small kids' bike manufacturer out of Squamish, Canada. Born out of the lack of quality kids' bikes, Spawn set out to design and manufacture bikes that were lighter and had better components than what was previously available. The passion of those behind this company is evident in every detail of their bikes- from the welds in their frames to the custom sized alloy cranks in the various models. BMX and mountain biking themes run strong in their 16 inch Banshee but be sure almost any child will feel very comfortable aboard this trusty steed. The $350 USD price of the bike may deter some people but we discussed the resale value of quality bikes in an earlier post and encourage parents to make the investment in a good bike if the cash is available.
Spawn Banshee Details:
- Intended Age- 4 and 5
- Weight- 15 lbs
- Inseam Fit- 16.5 to 21.5 inches
- Features- Alloy frame and parts, chromoly fork, mushroom grips, sealed bearings, flip flop hub, 3 piece cranks, and tektro v brakes
- MSRP- $350 USD, $495 CDN
- Available at: www.spawncycles.com
The Bike Dads' Take:
"Spawn changed the game for 16 inch kids' bikes in North America. They brought quality aluminium components , a beautifully made alloy frame, and a "coaster free" flip flop hub in a light package for the enthusiastic 4 and 5 year old. It's clear from our experience that kids benefit from a bike like this by having more fun and developing confidence/skills at a faster rate. Apart from a quick release seat post and some lock on grips, there is not much more that can be done on this bike to make it better. We have also spent time with the smaller 14 inch Furi and can't wait to try the 20 inch offerings from this great little bike company. If you are looking for a bike in this age/size category, definitely have a look at the Banshee." -Colin
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Hi, curious on your thoughts about the very steep head tube angles on the spawn bikes, do you find it makes them twitchy?
The trend in mountain bikes has been slacker head tube angles, this seems to buck the trend and am not sure why they would go that route
The Yogi 14 and 16 are more BMX geo with head angles in the 70+ range are the norm. They are great bikes but are not really mountain bikes. My eldest had the 14 and 16, fantastic bikes and to this day he loves and rides bmx bikes. Around the neighborhood, light trail use and at the skills park/pump track is where they shine. Keep in mind these bikes are for 3-5 year olds. Most kids are not really going to be riding mountain bike trails til age 5 plus.
Would this bike be too big for a first pedal bike for a 3.5 year old? He is 40” tall and has an inseam of 16” without shoes on, I will have to remeasure with shoes. I prefer not to buy a smaller bike just to teach him to pedal. He is pretty comfortable cruising the n his balance bike but is not super daring.
He will not fit a 16 inch bike at a 16 inch inseam. Try a 14 inch bike.
I just got the Yoji 16” for my little guy who is just learning to ride a pedal bike after his balance bike. In your video you said you removed the front break. I am a clueless mom and I am having a hard time trying to figure out how to do this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you are not comfortable working on bikes, probably best to loosen front brake cable tension (on the v-brake itself, a 4 or 5 mm allan key) and keep brake on bike.
I bought the Yoji for my 4 year old. She has previously not been the most enthusiastic rider, but she will ride off and on and picked up riding a pedal bike very quickly after starting on a Strider. She outgrew her previous pedal bike and I was not happy with the used bike my wife picked up from the local shop. Modern adult mountain bikes are works of art. The Strider was a completely game changer from when I was a kid. But all I could find was these super clunky kids bikes, often with funky geometry, coaster brakes, etc. Some of these things seemed to weigh a ton with half a dozen huge lug nuts holding on a single tiny wheel.
The Yoji was everything I was hoping for. It’s fairly adjustable, has easy to use hand brakes, a freewheel, is reasonably light and has a sensible geometry that is user friendly but doesn’t limit its use. The wheels are great for riding on the sidewalk or off road. I couldn’t be happier with this bike. The only oddity is for some reason in the US they have to sell this bike with a seat post that’s way too long. I spent the $15 bucks and bought the half size version which works great. I guess you could just cut it too.
My kid immediately took to this bike and is cruising around twice as fast and much more confidently then on her previous bike in literally a single session. Adjusted to hand brakes took about 5 minutes. After riding the new bike she declared it the best bike park session she had ever had. Why people think kids can’t use hand brakes is beyond me. I adjusted the front brake so that even at max force it won’t apply a lot of pressure, just to be on the safe side, but will probably adjust it to normal once she’s confident with the modulation.
I guess some people think $400 is a lot for a kid’s bike. Around here people drop 2k just for a set of wheels, so it’s all about perspective. Whether it’s worth the cost probably depends on where riding bikes fits in on your priority list. For me it’s an easy call to spend a extra couple hundred dollars for a way more function and fun bike.
I’m looking at buying a pedal bike for my kid, he is almost 3.5yo and currently has a Strider Pro but he keeps asking me for a pedal bike just like mine. I saw the Banshee and also the Yoji 16″, do you think it will fit properly? I don’t want to buy a 14″ bike and then in a year or two buy another one but 16″. He currently is 40″ tall. I saw your video review of the Banshee and you mentioned that it can be used by 3.5yo but not sure if it will make it more difficult for him.
Hi Jose, Unfortunately kids grow and bikes become too small. A 14 will fit 3-4 year old usually and a 16 will fit 4-6. It’s best to measure their inseam and compare to manufacturer recommendations and minimum seat heights (best to have an inch or two to spare). Spawns hold their value on the used market so don’t worry too much about outgrowing, you can sell and buy up. Have Fun.
I bought my 5yo a Spawn Yama Jama 20″ for his birthday 5 weeks ago. It is freaking awesome and he rides it nearly every day. He loves it and I love it so much that I’ve just ordered the 14″ Yoji for my 2.5yo and have sold his Byk 250. Bring on family MTB riding!!
Any thoughts on the q-factor of the Banshee? Does it matter?
Hi Scott, not sure the exact Q factor of the Banshee but from personal experience I would not worry about Q factor when looking at a Spawn, Isla, Woom etc. More concern are the big box and big brand bikes….Have Fun!