Kids bike: Back pedal brake caliper and lever.

[Davie]

My little boy (3yrs) has a 12" Specialized Hotrock. Great little bike however it comes with a back pedal brake built into the rear hub and he's struggling... I want to remove it / disable it and fit a caliper instead.

I'm struggling.

I can't seem to find out if it's possible to remove said rear brake as many threads fizzle out saying "Don't bother, it's easier than using a lever" but he's fine with the front brake and so I want him to unlearn to use two.

Plus, he was really not liking the back pedal... I got him moved up from a balance bike and pedalling but he managed to lock the rear wheel twice and that was him. I've since removed the pedals and he uses it like a balance bike, throws it about the woods no bother.

So...

1) Removing / disabling the rear hub brake.

2) Retro fitting a caliper and lever (frame is equipped to take one) but just can't seem to find a matching set up or the details for the original... it's non branded.

Any ideas?

[cml24]

When I was looking at bikes of this wheel size, all the decent ones have a specific tektro brake. Make sure you check the handlebar diameter, I think they're smaller than normal bars.

Probably easier to just swap the rear wheel, suspect they'll be a few quid second hand if you can find one.

[IJWS15]

Process described here.

Having ridden one, underground (long story), you get used to one. You just make sure the pedals are slowly rotating forwards unless you are braking.

https://www.bikejar.com/how-to-remove-coaster-brak...

[IroningMan]

I was a bit older - 8 or 9 - when I got a bike with a back-pedal brake: at that age it was awesome - the skids I could do were miles longer than my mates.

[74merc]

I would not want any of my children on a bike with a back pedal brake. I rode a beach cruiser in the US with a back pedal brake and no front brake. All was well until the chain came off and I was left with no brakes whatsoever. Bit of a brown trouser moment and that was on a flat beach path!