Children grow quickly. Their bike shouldn't have to become too small before parents start thinking about the next size, and they shouldn't need to ride a bike that's too large today simply because it might last longer.
YOMO BikeTrade is designed to make that progression easier. Eligible YOMO owners can return an outgrown bike and receive up to 50% credit, subject to inspection, towards a larger YOMO.
That means parents can concentrate on choosing the best fit now, knowing there is a route to the next size when their child grows.
Here's how YOMO BikeTrade works, how the credit is calculated and what you should know before relying on it for your child's next bike.
What is YOMO BikeTrade?
BikeTrade is YOMO's trade-in programme for eligible YOMO children's bikes.
When your child outgrows their current YOMO, the programme allows you to move to a larger YOMO and return the smaller bike for assessment.
If the returned bike meets the eligibility requirements, you can receive a credit based on its original purchase price, age, condition and completeness.
The final amount is confirmed only after the bike has been physically inspected.
How much BikeTrade credit can you receive?
Eligible bikes can receive up to 50% of the original bike price excluding VAT, delivery and accessories.
“Up to 50%” is important. It is the maximum rather than a guaranteed value.
The final credit depends on factors including:
- the YOMO model;
- the bike's age;
- its condition;
- whether the bike is complete;
- any significant damage or modifications; and
- the final physical inspection.
Normal signs of family use are expected. BikeTrade is not based on an unrealistic expectation that a child's bike should return looking untouched.
How is YOMO BikeTrade credit calculated?
The calculation starts with the original bike purchase price excluding VAT.
The current BikeTrade guidance gives the example of a YOMO 14 originally purchased for £320 including VAT.
| Example | Calculation | Illustrative credit |
|---|---|---|
| Original YOMO 14 price | £320 including VAT | — |
| Price excluding VAT | £320 ÷ 1.20 | £266.67 |
| Excellent-condition example | 50% of £266.67 | £133.34 |
| Good-condition example | 40% of £266.67 | £106.67 |
These are illustrative examples, not guaranteed trade-in values. Your final credit is confirmed after YOMO has checked eligibility and inspected the returned bike.
Why is the credit based on the price excluding VAT?
The current BikeTrade policy calculates the potential credit from the original bike price excluding VAT.
Delivery charges, helmets and other accessories are not included in the eligible value.
For example, if a bike was bought together with a helmet, the helmet's value isn't added to the BikeTrade calculation.
When is a YOMO bike eligible for BikeTrade?
The current BikeTrade programme is designed for eligible YOMO bikes being traded in within 24 months of their original purchase date.
The bike should also be complete, structurally sound and honestly described when the BikeTrade request is submitted.
Normal wear and tear is expected. However, serious damage, missing components or substantial modifications can reduce the final value or make a bike ineligible.
Always check the current BikeTrade guidance before purchasing a new bike on the assumption that a particular trade-in value will be available.
How does the BikeTrade process work?
The process begins by choosing the correct next YOMO for your child.
1. Find the right next size
Measure your child's inside leg and height and consider how confidently they currently ride.
Use the YOMO Perfect Size Finder to identify the best fit now and, where appropriate, an option that safely offers more room to grow.
2. Check BikeTrade eligibility
Before assuming your existing bike qualifies, check its purchase date, condition and completeness against the current BikeTrade requirements.
3. Submit your BikeTrade request
Provide the requested purchase information, bike details and clear photographs so YOMO can review the initial request.
4. Return the bike for inspection
Follow the return instructions provided by YOMO. Where possible, the current programme asks customers to reuse the box from their new YOMO when returning the outgrown bike.
5. Final credit is confirmed
The returned bike is inspected against the BikeTrade criteria. Only then is the final credit confirmed.
The online estimate or initial assessment should therefore be treated as guidance rather than a guaranteed payment.
Why BikeTrade matters when choosing between two sizes
One of the most common questions parents ask is:
“Should I buy the bigger bike so my child gets longer out of it?”
Sometimes a child genuinely fits two YOMO sizes. When that happens, the larger bike may be a sensible choice for a confident rider whose measurements already place them safely within its fit range.
But buying bigger simply to save money later can work against the child.
An oversized bike may make it harder to:
- reach the ground confidently;
- start independently;
- control the bike at low speed;
- reach the brakes comfortably; and
- stop without feeling intimidated by the bike's size.
BikeTrade gives parents another way to think about that decision.
Instead of automatically choosing the bike that will theoretically last longest, you can prioritise the best fit now and consider BikeTrade when the rider is genuinely ready for the next size.
The YOMO size progression
YOMO's current pedal-bike range includes six sizes:
| Model | Wheel size | Approx. age | Published inside-leg range |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOMO 14 | 14 inch | 3–5 years | 41–53 cm |
| YOMO 16 | 16 inch | 4–6 years | 46–57 cm |
| YOMO 18 | 18 inch | 5–7 years | 49–60 cm |
| YOMO 20 | 20 inch | 6–9 years | 53–67 cm |
| YOMO 24 | 24 inch | 8–12 years | 62–78 cm |
| YOMO 26 | 26 inch | 10–14 years | 68–85 cm |
The ranges overlap deliberately. A child doesn't necessarily need every wheel size, and they shouldn't automatically progress simply because they have reached a particular birthday.
Inside leg matters most. Age is only a guide.
Use the Perfect Size Finder each time your child approaches a size change.
Do you need to buy every YOMO size?
No.
BikeTrade doesn't mean a child needs to follow a fixed 14 → 16 → 18 → 20 → 24 → 26 progression.
Children grow at different rates. Depending on their measurements, riding ability and how long they use each bike, they may move through the range differently.
For example, one child may benefit greatly from the YOMO 18 as a bridge between a 16-inch bike and their first geared 20-inch bike. Another child may grow differently and follow another suitable progression.
The correct next size should always be determined from the child's measurements and confidence, not from a predetermined purchasing schedule.
Does BikeTrade guarantee 50% back?
No.
The programme offers up to 50% credit, subject to inspection.
The maximum is intended for eligible bikes meeting the appropriate condition criteria. The actual value can be lower depending on age, condition, completeness and the physical inspection.
This distinction is important when budgeting for the next bike.
Does normal wear make a bike ineligible?
Not automatically.
YOMO's current guidance explicitly recognises that children's bikes are made to be ridden and that normal signs of use should be expected.
The bike still needs to be structurally sound, complete and suitable for the programme.
Major damage, missing parts or significant modifications may reduce the credit or affect eligibility.
Can I trade in another brand of children's bike?
The current YOMO BikeTrade programme is designed for eligible YOMO bikes.
Do not assume another manufacturer's bike qualifies unless YOMO's published policy is changed in future.
Can BikeTrade be used through a YOMO dealer?
Selected participating YOMO dealers may support BikeTrade, but availability and the exact process can vary.
If you intend to complete the trade through a bike shop, confirm participation and the process with the dealer before travelling or making a purchase decision.
What happens to bikes returned through BikeTrade?
A useful part of BikeTrade is that an outgrown children's bike can potentially continue its life with another family.
According to YOMO's current programme, returned bikes are passed to an authorised partner for inspection and, where suitable, refurbishment.
They can then be leased or sold to other families rather than a perfectly usable children's bike simply being left unused after it has been outgrown.
Is BikeTrade worth considering?
BikeTrade isn't a promise that every YOMO purchase will return half of its value, and it shouldn't be treated that way.
Its value is simpler: it gives families a structured way to recover some value from an eligible outgrown YOMO while moving their child onto a bike that fits properly.
That can make it easier to prioritise fit, confidence and control today instead of deliberately buying an oversized bike in an attempt to make it last longer.
Ready for the next size?
First, check whether your child genuinely needs to move up.
Use their inside-leg measurement, height and current riding ability rather than age alone.
Use the YOMO Perfect Size Finder to check their next size, then review the current YOMO BikeTrade eligibility and credit guidance before starting a trade-in request.
You can also explore the full YOMO children's bike range.
