- Specialized just launched an all-carbon balance bike that weighs just 4.63 pounds.
- The Hotwalk Carbon, designed for kids, has a full-carbon frame, rims, and cockpit—and retails for $1,000.
- The tiny bike was designed by the same product team who designed the Tarmac SL7, and features much of the same material technology.
One of the cardinal rules of being a cyclist parent is “start ’em young”—and Specialized just took that sentiment to the next level.
The brand just released a full-carbon balance bike called the Hotwalk Carbon. While the bike only weighs 4.63 pounds, it’s priced at a cool $1,000—more than five times the standard Hotwalk, which retails for $175.
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Okay, so who is really going to buy this bike? Is this simply a marketing exercise? Don’t worry, we share your confusion.
“We have so much R&D horsepower at Specialized, and this was a cool way to utilize that potential,” Specialized product manager Eric Fischer said. “The coolest part for me was breaking the norms of established bike standards. Making a tiny carbon handlebar and special saddle shape was really exciting.”
Regardless of why, what they created is, without a doubt, impressive. The tiny speed machine was designed by the same product team who designed the Tarmac SL7, and features much of the same material technology, but at a much smaller size, of course.
This includes a frame made of Specialized’s second-tier carbon fiber, a low-friction saddle, and little 12-inch carbon rims. The two-inch lightweight tires are just grippy enough to be ideal for cruising down pavement or dirt, and the cockpit, consisting of a 35mm stem and 40cm handlebar, are full carbon. The bike also features a handle below the seat that allows for easier carrying by parents.
Unlike the standard Hotwalk, the bike doesn’t feature the platforms on either side of the frame for kids to prop their feet on when they’re coasting—presumably dropped in the name of weight savings and to give them more room to kick off.
Don’t forget a helmet!
Joovy Noodle Helmet
Specialized Mio MIPS Helmet
The Hotwalk Carbon comes in one size and is designed to fit little shredders as young as 18-months. The seatpost length is adjustable by hex wrench, and extends to fit kids up to 35 inches tall—on average, kids hit that heigh around four years old.
In theory, it’s totally smart: A 23-pound kid trying to maneuver a seven-pound bike (the weight of less expensive bikes designed for the same age range) would be like a full-grown adult trying to ride a 50-pound bike (oof). Taking the weight down to less than five pounds is a huge help to a toddler.
But could that help be the difference between loving bikes or not—and is it really worth the price? We’ll have to see. Developing such expensive taste so early on could be dangerous—Specialized better be making a carbon Riprock next.
Not ready to invest $1,000 in a balance bike for your kid? Then try out some of these
Riley is a writer and outdoor adventure guide currently based in Tucson, Arizona where she leads mountain bike rides, rock climbing, and hiking trips. In her spare time, she writes stories and reviews outdoor and fitness gear. Find her writing in publications including Outside, Lonely Planet, SHAPE, Bicycling, Runner’s World, and others. When she’s not playing in the mountains, she’s probably laying down somewhere or eating (or both).
