December 10, 2025 – A recent incident report highlights a critical safety concern regarding the Hiboy BK1 E-bike, specifically its brake system being disproportionately large for young riders. A consumer reported that the handle thickness and handbrake size on their 5-year-old’s Hiboy BK1 E-bike were designed for adults, rendering the brake inoperable for a child of that age, despite the bike’s ability to reach speeds of up to 9 MPH. This design flaw presents a severe safety risk, raising questions about product suitability for its intended user group.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On October 20, 2025, an incident report was filed concerning a Hiboy BK1 E-bike purchased for a 5-year-old child. The consumer immediately identified a critical design flaw: the handle thickness and handbrake were sized for an adult, making it impossible for a toddler’s hand to properly grasp and operate the brake lever. Given that the e-bike can reach speeds of up to 9 MPH, this inability to brake effectively was deemed an extreme safety concern, with potential consequences including death if the child is unable to stop the bike at critical moments, such as at a traffic light or pedestrian crossing. The report explicitly states that a child of this age, unless in the upper 95% percentile for hand size, would be unable to operate the brake. The only way the child was able to stop the bike was by using their feet, a method entirely unsuitable and unsafe for an e-balance bike that should be equipped with properly sized, functional brakes. The consumer cited [REDACTED] bikes as an example of manufacturers that correctly size handle diameters and brakes for children.
Safety Concerns
The reported incident reveals several serious safety concerns associated with the Hiboy BK1 E-bike when used by young children:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary and most severe danger is the inability of a child to effectively stop the e-bike. At speeds up to 9 MPH, an uncontrolled bike can lead to collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, or stationary objects. Such collisions carry a high risk of serious injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and internal injuries, with the potential for fatalities, especially in traffic-dense areas or near roads.
- Design Flaw and Misrepresentation: Marketing an e-bike to young children while incorporating adult-sized braking components represents a critical design flaw. It implies suitability for a user group that cannot safely operate the product as intended. This discrepancy between presumed age appropriateness and actual operational capability creates a hazardous situation.
- Vulnerability of Child Riders: Young children lack the same judgment, reaction time, and physical strength as adults. Their inability to stop the bike due to oversized brakes places them in an extremely vulnerable position, increasing the likelihood of preventable accidents.
- Ineffective Emergency Braking: Relying on feet to stop an e-bike, especially one with significant momentum, is inefficient and can lead to loss of balance, falls, and further injuries, besides not being effective for emergency stops.
- Psychological Impact: Beyond physical injury, a child involved in an incident due to an inability to control their bike could suffer psychological distress, fear, and a reluctance to engage in similar activities in the future.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own a Hiboy BK1 E-bike or a similar child’s e-bike:
- Immediate Cessation of Use: Do not allow your child to ride the Hiboy BK1 E-bike if they cannot comfortably and effectively operate the handbrake. Prioritize your child’s safety above all else.
- Check Product Suitability: Before allowing any child to ride an e-bike, physically check that they can comfortably grip the handlebars and, critically, fully actuate the brake levers with sufficient force to stop the bike quickly and safely. Their fingers should be able to wrap securely around the lever.
- Supervised Testing: If you are unsure, test the bike in a safe, open, and controlled environment (e.g., a grassy field away from any obstacles or traffic) while closely supervising your child to observe their ability to brake effectively.
- Research Age-Appropriate Products: When purchasing bikes for children, thoroughly research products that explicitly state age and size recommendations, paying close attention to component sizing, especially brakes and handlebars, to ensure they are proportionate to a child’s anatomy.
- Report Incidents: If you or your child have experienced similar issues with the Hiboy BK1 E-bike or any other product, please report the incident to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Your reports are vital in identifying hazards and prompting necessary safety actions.
Manufacturer’s Response
The manufacturer, HIBOY INTELLIGENT INC, provided a response of “Yes” to the incident report. The specific context or details of this response are not available in the provided incident report information.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
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Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.