Guardian Bikes
Dealchildren's bicycles with an improved braking system
Guardian Bikes, the children's bicycles with an improved braking system, landed on the national radar after pitching the sharks in Season 8, and convinced Mark Cuban to invest.
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From the show
The Shark Tank pitch
- $500K
- Asked for
- 10%
- Offered equity
- $5M
- Sought valuation
- $500K
- Deal amount
- 15%
- Deal equity
- $3.3M
- Deal valuation
The entrepreneurs faced the sharks in Season 8, Episode 21 in the episode that aired April 14, 2017. Guardian Bikes, the children's bicycles with an improved braking system, pitched in the Sports & Outdoors category, one of 154 sports & outdoors businesses to brave the Tank across all 17 seasons.
They came in asking $500,000 in exchange for 10% equity, putting a $5M valuation on the business.
Mark Cuban made the deal at $500,000 for 15% equity. That priced the company at $3.3M, a haircut from the $5M the founders walked in asking for, which is how negotiations in the Tank usually go.
Across Season 8, 59 of 96 pitches ended in a handshake. In the Sports & Outdoors category overall, roughly 64% of pitches have landed a shark across the show's history.
The full story
Everything to know about Guardian Bikes
Guardian Bikes makes children's bicycles built around a safety-first braking design called SureStop. A single brake lever controls both wheels and automatically balances the braking force, which is meant to stop kids from flying over the handlebars when they grab the front brake too hard. The company was founded by Brian Riley and Kyle Jansen, Cal Poly graduates. Riley was driven by a family accident, a relative seriously hurt after an over-the-handlebar crash, which pointed him toward safer braking for young riders.
Guardian came into Season 8 asking for 500,000 dollars for 10 percent. The founders pitched the safety technology and their pivot from selling the brake system to bike makers toward building their own complete kids' bikes sold directly to families. Mark Cuban connected with the direct-to-consumer model and the safety mission and made the deal, investing the full 500,000 dollars for a 15 percent stake.
What made the pitch land was a concrete safety problem with a measurable fix, plus founders who had already learned a hard market lesson: most kids' bikes are sold in mass retail, not specialty shops, so owning the whole product and the customer relationship made more sense than licensing a part. That clarity, paired with Cuban's mentorship, set up everything that followed.
Where Guardian Bikes is now
Guardian leaned into its direct-to-consumer approach and grew steadily, selling tens of thousands of bikes in the years after the episode and building a strong safety-focused reputation through customer reviews. It became one of the more durable Season 8 success stories rather than a one-time sales bump.
By 2026 Guardian Bikes is a substantial company and notable for moving bicycle production into the United States. It has invested in an automated factory in Seymour, Indiana, including domestic frame manufacturing, positioning itself as a rare US-based maker doing scaled bike frame production. The brand operates a healthy direct-to-consumer business, and its growth has been profiled as a meaningful American manufacturing story.
Where to buy Guardian Bikes
Guardian Bikes sells directly through its official website, guardianbikes.com, which is the primary place to buy. The lineup covers balance bikes and pedal bikes across kids' sizes, all using the SureStop single-lever braking system. Buying direct typically gets you the bike mostly assembled with a straightforward setup, plus the company's safety guarantees and support. For parents focused on stopping power and crash prevention for new riders, it remains one of the stronger specialized options and is clearly still worth it.
Is Guardian Bikes still in business?
Read our 2026 update on where the company is now.
Sold on Guardian Bikes?
Check today's price and availability before it swims away.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Guardian Bikes?
Check current price and availability on Amazon. Note that some Shark Tank products are discontinued or sold under a new name.
Did Guardian Bikes get a deal on Shark Tank?
Yes. Guardian Bikes closed a deal for $500,000 in exchange for 15% equity, with Mark Cuban.
Which shark invested in Guardian Bikes?
Mark Cuban invested in Guardian Bikes ($500,000 total as aired).
What season of Shark Tank was Guardian Bikes on?
Guardian Bikes appeared in Season 8, Episode 21, which aired April 14, 2017.
How much was Guardian Bikes asking for on Shark Tank?
The founders asked for $500,000 for 10% of the company, a $5M valuation.
What makes Guardian Bikes different?
They use a SureStop braking system: one brake lever controls both wheels and automatically distributes braking force, which helps prevent young riders from going over the handlebars.
Are Guardian Bikes made in the USA?
Guardian has been onshoring production, investing in an automated factory in Seymour, Indiana that includes domestic frame manufacturing, making it a rare scaled US bike frame producer.
Which shark invested in Guardian Bikes?
Mark Cuban made the deal on Season 8, investing 500,000 dollars for 15 percent. His mentorship is often credited as part of the company's later growth.
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