In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a convergence of styles regarding kids’ bikes.
The hot-rod- and dragster-inspired lines of the Schwinn Krate Sting-Ray came together with the growing BMX dirt bike movement for a reinvented Schwinn “Tornado” that brought racing style to neighborhoods across the country.
Now, 40 years after the last Tornado spun its way off the assembly line, a new Tornado is back on the scene, and it’s ready to kick up some dust from coast to coast as one of the coolest bikes on the block!
At the Toy Insider‘s Sweet Suite event this summer, Schwinn dropped the curtain on the reinvented Tornado Krate EVO — a 20-inch bike that doubles-down hard on the BMX influence of its predecessor. It looks fast just standing still, and the balance between “modern” and “retro” is really cool.
On the one hand, it’s got all the features that parents want in a bike for their kids, like a comfortable BMX seat on a quick-adjust tube (great for growing not-so-little ones), knobby tires for great traction and a smooth ride, a rear coaster brake (aka a pedal brake) for maximum stopping power, and a redesigned frame that makes it sturdy and comfortable for all kids. On the other hand, it’s infused with retro styling cues, like a racing-style number plate on the handlebars and stylish fenders and a chain guard that carry the yellow-and-black accents of the old-school bikes.
So of course, I had to see this bike in action, and my youngest daughter was more than happy to saddle up as its rider, especially because we got a smaller Schwinn Krate EVO for one of her cousins last summer.
Quite simply, the bike is, indeed, rad.
And while you’d think that a new generation of kids might not “get” the retro lineage, they just might. Thanks to Stranger Things, the BMX bikes of the ’80s are cool again, and my own kids think that this one looks like something Max might ride on the show. Coincidentally, Schwinn made a limited-run of Stranger Things-inspired bikes last year.
The Schwinn 20-inch Tornado Krate EVO is quite a bike, and a worthy ride that could fit kids in the 7-13 age range, depending on their height. If you don’t know how to properly size a bike, Schwinn has a great resource on its website to help guide you. And, while kids of the ’70s and ’80s didn’t really do helmets, we know better now. Schwinn also offers a helmet guide to help parents choose the right style and fit for their kids.
Now, can we get a Tornado in REALLY BIG kid size for dad?
