REI Co-Op Kids Bikes Review (REV and REV Plus)

Does the REI kids bike really live up to the REI name? Yes... and no.
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While we were quite impressed with the REV Plus bikes, we didn’t love the REI Co-Op kids bike REV version quite as much. In this review we go over the REI 20 inch bike and the REI 24 Inch bike as well as the REI 16 inch bike and the REI Rev 12. We also compare it the the REI REV Plus, which is the REI kids mountain bike.
1:05 SOLID QUALITY COMPONENTS.
4:05 DIFFERENCES IN GEOMETRY:
5:30 Small Cockpit of the 12″ REV
0:35 REV vs REV Plus
The REV line has standard street tires and is meant for paved neighborhood riding. The REV Plus has beefier Plus sized tires for use on basic trails as well as the neighborhood. Those big tires also just look extra cool!
1:05 SOLID QUALITY COMPONENTS.
The REV and REV Plus shine are that they offer pretty solid-quality frames and components for a really reasonable price.
REV:
These bikes are built with a solid-quality aluminum frame, similar in construction to higher-end bikes. In addition to durability, the aluminum frame makes for a much lighter bike than similarly sized bikes with similar features.
Like all other bikes similarly priced to the Co-Op Cycles REV series, the 12″, 16″ and 20″ sizes all come with a coaster brake.
The 20″ REV also comes with a reliable rear Tektro handbrake. We love to see high-quality components that are easy to use! Most low-budget bikes have low-quality and hard-to-adjust braking systems that are often more trouble than they are worth.
A quick note on a few components that fall a little short. The grips on the REV 12 and REV 16 are really small. Too small. The same size handgrip is used on both the 12 & 16.
On the REV 12 the pedals are also oddly tiny. The pedals were so small that our test riders’ feet would fly off of them pretty consistently. We highly recommend buying a larger set of pedals for the Co-op Cycles REV 12.
REV PLUS:
The Rev Plus bikes offer great quality and aesthetics for the price - clean welds, with mechanical disc brakes for extra stopping power, and quality Shimano and Tektro components.
The Shimano shifter and derailleur are entry-level (which is what you should expect at this price point), so they do have some limitations.
The Shimano RevoShift grip shifters have a wide diameter towards the end, which makes it a little difficult for smaller hands to grip and twist, but most riders can manage.
Additionally, the shifting was choppy and a bit challenging compared to our tester’s more high-end bikes.
Built with the lower end Shimano Tourney, the derailleur hangs quite low as compared to a more expensive systems. During our rides, the derailleur was smacked around a couple of times by some rocks, but it survived! Neighborhood riders, however, shouldn’t have any issue with the Plus’s low derailleur.
While we really appreciate the extra stopping power of the REV Plus’ mechanical disc brakes, they are NOT suitable for intermediate and advanced mountain biking, which need the additional stopping power of hydraulic brakes to stop plus size tires at aggressive speeds.
4:05 DIFFERENCES IN GEOMETRY:
The REV and REV Plus have drastically different geometry.
REV PLUS
We LOVE the geometry on this bike.
While mountain bikes often position the rider pretty leaned forward on the bike, we’ve found that for kids just starting to hit the trails, sitting a little more upright can help them gain more confidence as they learn to tackle new obstacles. In fact, the Plus’s geometry is almost identical to the high-end woom OFF.
REV
The awkward geometry is pretty consistent across all sizes of the REV line. We had a lot of riders test these bikes and to compensate and make themselves comfortable on the bike, each rider reacted and compensated differently. When given the choice, none of our riders preferred the REV.
Considering the value the REV line offers, if you happen to have a young grom ready for action and don’t want to blow your budget on a bike, the REV line is the best mid-range quality bike on the market and is certainly worth considering for confident riders.
5:30 Small Cockpit of the 12″ REV
One additional concern we had with just the 12 inch size was its small cockpit. With a much shorter wheelbase compared to 14 inch bikes with similar seat height ranges, our young riders were very cramped on the 12″ REV.
Unfortunately, this is an issue on most 12″ bikes and for this reason, so we typically recommend a balance bike, or a 14″ inch pedal bike instead.
Reviewer: Carrie Wren
Videography & Production: Fressia Eames
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