Best Barbie Girls’ Bike

Hi, I’m Chris, and today, we’re going to be assembling
the Barbie 18-inch kids’ bicycle with a handlebar bag.
Before we get started on this cute ride,
you’ll need a few tools.
One or two 15-millimeter wrenches,
an adjustable wrench, a Philips-head screwdriver,
and a standard Schraeder-type tire pump.
Scissors or a box cutter may also be helpful,
as well as some white grease for lubrication.
Open the box and check that all parts are present.
You can check against the list in the assembly manual.
If any parts are missing or damaged,
or if you have any trouble with the assembly,
don’t return to the store.
Call Dynacraft
at 1-800-551-0032.
We strongly recommend reading the manual or watching
this video all the way through before beginning.
If you aren’t comfortable with the assembly,
you should bring your new ride to your local bike shop
to have a qualified mechanic put it together for you.
In any event, you need to read the entire Owner’s Manual
that came with the bike
before you ride it or let anyone else ride it.
This video is not a substitute for the manual,
which contains very important information
for the safe use of your new bike.
As we assemble the bike, it’s a good idea to place a little
white grease or anti-seize compound on the seat post,
stem and thread of the bolts to prevent rusting.
Got your tools?
Let’s get started!
You’ll see that the frame, handlebars, front wheel,
and other components are attached with zip ties.
Lift everything out in one piece, and set it down,
with the chain facing upwards.
Cut the zip ties, and remove any padding or packaging.
First, align the fork.
Rotate it, making sure the fork is pointing
in the right direction, with the fork blade facing forward.
On to the pedals!
Remember the old saying “righty tighty, lefty loosy?”
Well, for bicycle pedals, that’s only half true.
Fortunately, the side that turns right is on the right!
The left pedal is reverse threaded,
so make sure you choose the correct pedal for each side.
A red sticker should indicate the right side,
and a green sticker is for the left.
Place the pedal into the crank,
and use your fingers to get it started.
Threading it in can be tricky,
so make sure to do it correctly.
Regardless of which side you’re working on,
the top of the thread will rotate
towards the front of the bike to tighten the bolts.
Once you’ve finger tightened the pedals,
use your 15-millimeter wrench to snug them down.
They are properly tightened when the pedal spindle,
which is the axle that the pedal platform spins around,
begins to bite into the metal on the crank.
Your Barbie bike has a quick-release seat post,
so installing the saddle is very easy.
Just add a little white grease inside the seat tube
and slide the post into the seat tube,
estimate the placement while making sure
the minimum-insertion mark is hidden,
and tighten the quick-release lever.
Rotating it clockwise with the lever open will tighten
the clamp, and you lock it into place like this.
It should take some effort to close it,
but if you have to force it, loosen the lever one rotation.
Again, we will set this bike up for you later on.
Next, take a look at the handlebar assembly,
which already has brake levers installed.
Remove the plastic protector on the bottom of the stem,
and add a little white grease into the steerer tube.
Lift the handlebar assembly to the steerer tube,
making sure this wedge is loose.
Slide the stem down into the steerer tube,
making sure any cables track smoothly along either side.
Check for the minimum insertion mark.
For safe riding, the minimum insertion mark
should never be showing.
Align the stem by looking down at the fork.
The handlebars should be perpendicular to the fork.
Use your adjustable wrench to fasten it in place.
We will set it up later.
Now we’ll install the front wheel.
The front brake will have to be loosened
to allow the tire to fit through.
With your adjustable wrench, loosen the bolt here.
Check the tire sidewall
for the correct direction of rotation.
If you can’t find that symbol,
it means the tire can be installed in either direction.
To install the front wheel, place it on the ground,
and set the fork onto the gaps
between the hub and retaining washers.
If there isn’t enough room,
just open the nuts a little farther.
Install the two retaining washers
with the raised lip pointed towards the fork,
and insert into the small hole in the fork blade.
Use your fingers to tighten the wheel nuts evenly.
We want the wheel to be in the middle of the fork.
If it’s not even, adjust the placement with the wheel nuts
by loosening and tightening either side.
Use your 15-millimeter wrench to tighten the wheel.
This is where that second wrench can be helpful.
We need to tighten the front brake back up
by squeezing the brakes together,
pulling the cable taut
and tightening the bolt with the adjustable wrench.
Now we need to make sure everything is tight.
Standing in front of the bike,
grab the wheel between your knees,
and try to move the handlebar from side to side.
It should not move.
If it does, tighten the stem
a little more until it’s secure.
The training wheels are easy.
Lay the bike down on one side.
Remove the outer nut on the rear axle,
but make sure you leave the square plate
and inner nut in place.
Then slide the training-wheel support into place.
Tighten the nut back up.
Do the same for the other side.
Now it’s time to pump up the tires.
Check the sidewall of the tires for the correct
inflation range, which will be a number followed by PSI.
Our bike is built, but it’s not time to ride, yet.
Before hopping on, we need to set up the bike for the rider.
Let’s start with the seat.
Have your little girl stand to the left of the bike,
open the quick release, then raise or lower the saddle
so that it’s just below her hips,
making sure the minimum-insertion mark remains hidden.
Tighten it, then have her hop on to see how it feels.
At the bottom of the pedal stroke,
her knee should have a slight bend in it.
To start, she may prefer a somewhat lower seat height.
The saddle should also always be parallel with the ground.
Next, adjust the handlebar height by loosening the bolt
at the top of the stem, and slide it up and down.
Take note of the minimum insertion mark,
and make sure to check that the stem connection is
properly tightened as we did earlier.
To rotate the handlebar, just loosen this bolt,
place the handlebar in a comfortable spot for the rider,
then tighten it up again.
Make sure that the brake levers are adjusted
to a proper angle for the rider.
The brake lever can be adjusted by loosening the bolt here
and rotating the lever into the desired position.
Once the lever is positioned
where you need it, retighten the bolt.
Then, check that the lever is tight.
It should not move on the handlebar when tightened properly.
To attach the handlebar bag, just take these straps
and loop them over the bar.
But there’s more!
The bag can also be used as a backpack
for your little girl’s everyday essentials.
Great, we’re set up!
Now, we need to make sure everything is working properly.
Your bike may require some adjustments
and tuning from a professional bike mechanic.
Holding first the front, then the rear wheel off the ground,
spin the wheel.
Look through the brake pads.
Give the brake handle a squeeze.
The pads should be evenly spaced on either side of the rim,
and they should contact it simultaneously,
stopping the wheel so that it cannot be rotated
with the brake engaged.
If not, check the installation of the wheel.
If your wheel is even, you will need
to adjust the brake caliper.
If one pad is closer to the rim than the other,
loosen the fixing nut at the back of the brake,
apply the brake lever to hold it centered,
and retighten the fixing nut.
For any additional fine-tuning,
just use the barrel adjuster.
This bike is equipped with a coaster brake,
and we need to make sure it’s working.
Hold up the back of the bike and spin the rear wheel.
Now, apply backwards pressure to the pedals.
Your wheel should stop.
If not, please give Dynacraft a call!
If a wheel is wobbling, it may be out of true.
That can be caused by uneven spoke tightness,
or some damage.
In that case, you should go to a bike shop for assistance.
To balance the bike with the training wheels,
set the bike upright perfectly straight,
and loosen the nut on one side.
Leave about a quarter-inch space
between the ground and the training wheel.
Once the training wheel is in place,
tighten the nut back up.
Now do the same for the other side.
The space between the ground and the training wheel
should be exactly the same on both sides.
Before your first ride, it’s a good idea
to go over all of the nuts and bolts,
even those you didn’t work on for this installation.
Make sure they are snug, but don’t over-tighten.
You should also lubricate the chain
using a lube specifically made for bicycles.
Most other common oils will not provide
the required lubrication.
Your bike comes with a doll size bicycle
so Barbie can ride along with you.
To attach, use a Phillips-head screwdriver
to install clamp on the handlebars.
Click the bike onto the clamp and you’re all set.
As the bike is being used, never ignore
unusual sounds and mechanical difficulties,
as these can lead to loss of control,
and never neglect proper maintenance and tire inflation.
Check the tires before every ride,
and of course, always make sure she wears a helmet.
So that’s how we assemble
your Dynacraft Barbie 18-inch bicycle.
Now it’s time for her to head out on a fun ride!
This video is for informational purposes only
and does not replace the owner’s manual
supplied with the product.
Please read the owner’s manual
for complete assembly instructions
and important safety information.
And remember, be safe.