Both coaster and handbrakes allowed young ones to train slowly.
The solid Hi-Ten steel frame seemed sturdy to new owners.
Early riders found the basket handy and fun to put toys in.
Tassels finished off the Iris’s playful look.
A number of parents found assembly to be easy.
Parents reported that little ones found the Iris easy to ride.
A chainguard kept the drivetrain and grease away from kids’ fingers.
Several parents said this bike had plenty of room for growing riders.
The Iris presented as colorful and cute in a way that appealed to kids.
Parents were pleased that the Iris was not based on a popular character.
The Iris struck some parents as cheaper than offerings from bigger department stores.

7 reasons not to buy

At 28 lbs, it can be hard for kids to pick up a fallen Iris.
Two buyers did not receive a basket, one did not get a stem.
A decent number of buyers found instructions difficult to follow.
The tassels fell out of one owner’s Iris, who was unable to reattach them.
One parent said the handbrake lever was too big for their daughter’s hand.
One owner received a used product, with dirty tires, scratches and no basket.
Buyers complained that the basket didn’t stay on. It sometimes arrived warped and was deemed poor quality. Owners said that it quickly sagged and required attachment with zip-ties.

Bottom line

A number of parents preferred the Iris to other character-themed options, which often didn’t hold the interest of childrens’ changing interests. Parents of girls aged 3 to 6 reported that the bike was a good fit. Although the frame seems to be of solid construction, this comes at a price. At 28lbs, it’s heavier than some adult bikes, making it difficult for kids to pick up if it were to topple over. If you’re after something that’s retro, colorful and adaptable to fast-growing tots, the Iris is worth considering.

By Owen Jesse

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Littlelulutoys

Level 1 expert

Kids Schwinn Iris 16″ Bike

Level 1 expert

It grows with your child… it’ll last you for a while… This one has a handbrake. It’s more like a bigger kids’ bike… Overall, I think it’s not bad, it’s a pretty good quality bike.

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Wirecutter

Level 1 expert

The Best First Pedal Bike

Level 1 expert

The BMX-style Schwinn Scorch and Iris are solid, coaster brake-equipped bikes that our testers genuinely enjoyed riding. However, they were 4 to 6 pounds heavier than our runner-up picks (without training wheels), making them tougher for our tykes to maneuver without help.

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