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This update of the old Big Wheel style "Green Machine" is made to handle the height, weight and wear and tear of big boys (and girls, up to the latter 30s have even been caught on it), yet the seat is easily adjusted so that the average 5-year-old can reach its pedals. The main cool feature is the dual lever steering. Just like with the original hollow model plastic version, pulling on the steering levers in opposite directions sends the machine into a wicked spin-out that kids just can't get enough of. Yet under the usage of some pretty crazy 6, 9 and 12 year olds on a steep downhill driveway, the machine has almost always remained three wheels on the ground.

So first, I am amazed at the staying play value of this toy. For two years now, it has been the first toy out of the garage every time the door opens. And second, I am amazed at its durability. The 9 year old who uses it reguarly is an Evel Kneivel who is notorious for breaking my children's toys left and right, and so far, it has held up without a squeak.

This was a million times better value for our hundred spot, than the darn motorized motorcycle we bought a couple years prior for twice that amount which only lasted a year before the gears stripped. Definitely consider this for your 5-10 year old boy, even if he already has a two-wheeler. It's a whole different kind of fun.

***** all the way!

I purchased this toy for my 12 year old son. I do have to say myself that this toy is quite alot fun. I have enjoyed it myself. I would not recommend this to a child under 8 as the manufacturer states because it can throw you off really easy if you are not coordinated. This toy brought back alot of memories for me from my childhood when I had the old Big Wheel with the pull handle so you could spin out. Wonderful Product and I highly recommend it for your children and yourself as well. It is really alot of fun.

We thought we were ordering this Green Machine a few weeks back. It arrived today. Unfortunately, the one we got is NOT the one pictured here. It is a Green Machine Mini, 16" front wheel, black with green. We chose the one pictured here because it has a higher back than the newer versions. The Mini has a seat back that does come up higher than the other new versions, but does not look to be as high as the one pictured here. It also has a hand brake (a plus, in my opinion) and is more black in color than green. Overall it is still a very cool Machine and we will not be returning it since my boys love it. I just want everyone to be clear that you will probably not get the one pictured here if you order it from here!

I'm 40 years old, and I was in the Big Wheel market back in the 1970's. I didn't have a Big Wheel (the trademark brand name for Marx's cool plastic rider), but rode some sort of dragon-looking knock-off that would be the equivalent, in today's terms, of the Kia of the sidewalk highway. Big Wheels were the stuff back then, and anything other than a Big Wheel brand was just a poor imitation. Then along came the Green Machine (also from Marx), and everything changed. Like a big swirling mantis of plastic and stickers, the Green Machine redefined sidewalk cool - and I had one! The schitck was the unique steering mechanism - two levers that rotated the rear axle. Big Wheels suddenly looked like the tricycles that they were.
And they're back. My son has one of these new copies, and it is even better than the original (I, for one, have ridden them both - this is a test drive 30 years in the making). The new machine is essentially the same in all important ways, with three specific improvements. First and foremost, the front tire is inflated rubber. The traction difference is of course night and day. The rear wheels are still hard plastic, but that's what you want. These not only preserve that hallmark sound of rolling hollow plastic over gravel, but permit the whipping spin-outs that the Green Machine design is noted for. Second, the new Machine has a hand brake (bicycle style calipers that grip the front rim). Third, the front axle allows free-spinning - so when we, I mean my son, let's this baby coast down a hill, he can leave his feet on the pedals without trying to spin them at 4,000 rpm - that's a huge improvement.
Whether you remember these from your own childhood or just curious, let me give you my strong endorsement - I loved mine back then, adn my son loves his now. This is a winner of a toy.

We love this. I had one as a kid. This is the talk of the neighborhood and my son loves it. He is 5 and mastered the "controls" immediately. We have a great time watching him. His 3 year old brother can ride it for short while but can't turn it well. Great for a slightly older kid.

i just got this green machine today and i put it together and the instructions were hard to follow. the fun thing is that you go real fast and pull the lever back and you go flying in spins but you tend to fall off once in a while.The bad thing is when i was putting it together i was short a nut so i tried without the nut and it worked for about 5 times and the screw came off so the left steering went out but it was an easy fix.so this is really fun oh yeah i forgot to tell the shipping box is the green machines box so it reveals what it is.

Instead of rating E Toys, how about rating the toy? I would like to buy one, but out of seven reviews, all I know is not to buy from E Toys. And this product now has a hugely negative rating when the supplier is the problem. I appreciate hearing about a bad store, but please use this format for rating the product.

Update 9/11/08:

I purchased this for my soon to be 7-year old from Target (thanks for Etoys reviews--I purchased locally.) We purchased this because my son is very timid on a traditional bike. He just loves the low center of gravity. He has ridden this toy for more hours and has had more fun than in the two years he has had a two-wheeler. He even does donuts! It has really boosted his confidence. Not to mention the admiring looks and comments from other kids and adults. One more detail: he is 51" tall and is using the seat in the first position, so if your child is shorter than Ian, he/she might not be able to pedal.

This product is offered in two sizes, 16" & 20". We bought the larger 20" Green Machine for our son's 5th birthday, which is tomorrow, thinking we would leverage our investment for the future. The packaging states that it is designed for 5-yr-olds and up, with a max of 180 pounds. No local retailers had it on display, so we had to go by what the box states.

We gave it to him a bit early last night, but sadly he could NOT operate it, mainly because his feet could not reach the far pedal when it was in the fully extended portion of the stroke.

Admittedly, he is just turning five this weekend. I think he is at least an average size for a 5-yr-old now though. When I see him with other kids his age or even older, he is never the smallest; he is around 44" tall. I measured the leg length needed for a full pedal stroke to the back of the wheel housing, and a child would need at least a 22" reach to ride comfortably, with the seat in the full-forward position. His standing inseam is around 18", though kids normally pedal with the ball of the foot, which gives a little more length. Perhaps he will be ready for it in a year, I don't know.

I even tried to fashion some pedal blocks out of wood for it, but it is just not going to work. He can't generate enough power with his reach to get it moving. It is a heavy, solid bike (the frame is made of metal) which requires some real power to operate. You can find lots of videos online with teenagers riding this model, for example.

The only other downside I see to this trike is its large turning radius. This thing is really cool, but the rear-wheel steering requires a lot of room to maneuver. I don't think our driveway is wide enough for him to really ride this model easily. It would be fine for the street or a parking area.

To be clear, there's nothing wrong with the trike; the packaging may need some adjustment though - a recommended age of six and up may be more accurate, IMO. But we were satisfied with the build quality and features of the unit.

However, we will be returning this one and buying the smaller 16" "H2O" model for him from Amazon. I hope he doesn't outgrow this model too quickly. Unfortunately, no local retailers seem to carry the smaller model in our area, so he won't have it on his birthday.

I had a Green Machine when I was little and never forgot about it. Now that my son just turned 5yrs old, I suprised him for his birthday and he loves it as much as I did. Adults can ride it too as I found out due to the machine can hold up to 180 LBS. My son and I now take turns

I bought this at Toys R Us. A lot of fun but putting it together required two ratchets with the same size socket to put the rear wheels on. Also needed two different sized allen wrenches. I only had one so used a flat head screw driver for the other. After playing with it for 3 hours, the seat adjusting knobs broke, one of the preassembled parts of the steering linkage fell off, and the front axle came lose. Taking off the wheel covering looked daunting so I exchanged it. Just put the second one together (much easier the second time around). The tire came flat so had to pump it up. There is a little door on the wheel cover to open to get to the valve stem. Well, my pump didn't fit so I had to completely loosen the wheel cover. Having said all that, it is A LOT of fun. My son loves the thing and I love watching him on it. I just hope it will make it through the summer!!

Update June 13th 2008: My son still has it, plays with it, and hasn't broken!