2023 Stacyc 12eDrive First Ride Review

Getting your kid up to speed and ready to ride a motorcycle has never been easier. Enter Stacyc and its electric bike lineup. A cross between a balance bike and a Class 2 ebike, the Stacyc 12eDrive minibike ($799) helps children understand the dynamic of a real motorcycle in a friendly and fun-to-ride package.

Editor’s note: Children should wear a bicycle or dirt bike–style helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, pant, gloves, and shoes when operating ebikes. Be cognizant of local laws when operating products on public road surfaces and/or trails.

Available in a variety of wheel sizes (12- through 20-inch), based on rider age, the 12eDrive is the American company’s entry-level product engineered for kids between 3 and 5 years old. It offers a friendly seat height and weighs 17 pounds.

Related: Best Motorcycles for Kids 2023

Six-year-old Mason Silva was our lucky test rider. Although he is older than the recommended age, Mason weighs well under the 75-pound weight limit, and his experience was limited to a traditional balance bike making him an ideal candidate.

Despite his hesitancy to try the Stacyc, after a few twists of the throttle, he was hooked.

“It felt like it was comfortable to sit on,” Mason said right away.

Three power modes limit top speed to five, seven, and nine mph, respectively, so your child can get up to speed at his or her pace.

Mason began his ride in the lowest power setting. “It felt like I was touching a soft thing,” Mason said when asked what he thought of the traditional, motorcycle-like right-hand twist throttle. “It made me go fast.”

The removable 20-volt battery affords a riding time between 30 minutes and one hour based on terrain, rider weight, and power mode. The proprietary lithium-ion battery can be recharged via a household 120-volt outlet in around an hour. Additional batteries and a fast charger can be purchased as accessories.

The Stacyc uses an aluminum frame with 12-inch pneumatic tires. A BMX-style fork helps children feel comfortable steering with a drum-style left-hand cable brake. Brake lever pull is a bit stiff for a youngster.

“It made me feel happy,” Mason said when asked how the Stacyc 12e made him feel.

As Mason gets older, he can move to the 16-inch wheel or 18-inch wheel Stacyc. And when he’s 10 or older, if he’s still not ready for a motorcycle, he can opt for the 20-inch model. That’s why Stacyc ebikes are so neat. They let your kids get a feel for what it’s like to ride a new motorcycle. Children progress at their pace and hopefully one day graduate to a gasoline or electric motorcycle.