If your child has outgrown their first balance bike but isn't quite ready for pedals, the Ridgeback Scoot XL Balance Bike might be exactly what you're looking for.
Built on 14-inch wheels rather than the standard 12-inch, it's the next step up in the Scoot range, sized for taller children who need a bit more room to stretch out.
Ridgeback bikes have always been built to proper cycling standards rather than toy-aisle expectations. The Scoot XL is no different. The aluminium frame is light but solid, the grips are shaped for slightly bigger hands, and both the saddle and handlebars adjust in height as your child grows. Among children's bikes at this level, that kind of adjustability makes a genuine difference to how long the bike stays useful.
The Bertie Blue colourway is a proper head-turner at the school gate or the park, and most kids are pretty taken with it from the moment they see it.
What sets this scoot balance bike apart from cheaper alternatives is the rear hand brake. A lot of balance bikes skip it entirely, but this Ridgeback bicycle includes a small lever designed for little hands. It teaches children how to brake before they ever touch a pedal bike, which makes that transition significantly smoother when the time comes. The cable runs inside the frame too, so there's nothing loose getting in the way.
The 14-inch air-filled tyres grip well on grass, gravel, and uneven paths. A noticeable step up from the hard foam wheels common on budget options.
As ridgeback cycles go, the Scoot XL punches well above its price point. It's the sort of bike that ends up being passed down to a younger sibling rather than heading straight to the charity shop.