Best Cruiser Bikes

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 27, 2023
Riding a bike is so exciting! You can travel on it admiring the scenery and at the same time keeping fit, strengthening your nervous ...Read more
PROS
This cruiser bike model is available in a variety of colors. Its protector is equipped with large spikes for better grip with the road surface.
CONS
The bike comes with no set of tools for assembling.
OUR VERDICT
It's an excellent classic bike for women that shows high quality of all construction details. It is suitable for a comfortable, leisurely ride on a street paved road.
detailed parameters
RIDERS
Women 5’ - 6’ tall
FRAME
15” Steel frame
WHEELS / TIRES
26” Aluminum rims; 2.125” Wide white-wall tires
SEAT
Dual spring oversized seat
HANDLEBARS
28.5” Wide cruiser bike handlebars with hi-density foam grips
BRAKE SYSTEM
Rear pedal brake
SPEEDS
1
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Front / Rear / Wheel reflectors, Protective chain cover, Kickstand
WARRANTY
Lifetime on the frame; 6 months on parts and assemblies
PROS
The bicycle is designed in a way to keep your back straight when you ride, thereby allowing long trips without feeling tired.
CONS
Additional original accessories are rather pricey.
OUR VERDICT
This is a bike for men which will be an excellent option for urban street rides and trips to the beach for teenagers and short adults. It is easy for learning and using.
detailed parameters
RIDERS
Men 4’ - 5’2” tall
FRAME
13.5” Steel frame
WHEELS / TIRES
24” Aluminum rims; 2.125” Wide white-wall tires
SEAT
Dual spring oversized seat
HANDLEBARS
28.5” Wide cruiser bike handlebars with hi-density foam grips
BRAKE SYSTEM
Rear pedal brake
SPEEDS
1
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Front / Rear /Pedal / Wheel reflectors, Protective chain cover, Kickstand
WARRANTY
Lifetime on frame; 6 months on parts and assemblies
PROS
The seat height can be adjusted with a special clamp without using any tools. Another benefit here is the ability to set the length of the rear luggage rack.
CONS
The handlebar is in a very low position and may need some adjustment.
OUR VERDICT
It's a decent cruiser bike model of a stylish retro design, a great solution for trips to the grocery store or just for daily rides around the city.
detailed parameters
RIDERS
Women ~ up to 5’ tall
FRAME
Steel frame
WHEELS / TIRES
26” Alloy rims; 2.35” Creme cruiser tires
SEAT
Dual spring seat
HANDLEBARS
Cruiser handlebars with dual-density grips
BRAKE SYSTEM
Rear pedal brake
SPEEDS
1
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Net basket, Beverage holder, Protective chain cover, Rear reflectors, Rear rack, Classic fenders, Kickstand
WARRANTY
10 years on the frame; 1 year on the fork; 6 months on other details
PROS
The Shimano system is used to shift gears, the brakes and gear system come completely assembled and do not require any adjustment.
CONS
It is a heavy bike.
OUR VERDICT
It's a good bike for women that will give you a comfortable ride. A gear shift will be of use for climbing up steep slopes and for high-speed riding.
detailed parameters
RIDERS
Women ~ 5’4” - 5’6” tall
FRAME
16” Steel frame
WHEELS / TIRES
26” Alloy rims; 2.125” Tires
SEAT
Padded saddle with large springs
HANDLEBARS
Steel bike handlebars with rubber grips and switch gear
BRAKE SYSTEM
Rear and front pedal brakes
SPEEDS
7
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Rear rack, Classic fenders, Rear / Pedal reflectors, Protective chain cover
WARRANTY
Lifetime on the frame; 30 days on other details
PROS
This bicycle is notable for its easy setting up and a relatively low weight; the handlebar and the seat are extremely comfortable to use.
CONS
The soft grips on the handlebar wear quickly.
OUR VERDICT
This is a real bicycle for men, with a broad steel frame that gives it strength and durability, as well as contributes to a better buffering when riding on a rough surface.
detailed parameters
RIDERS
Men 5’ - 6’4” tall
FRAME
Steel frame
WHEELS / TIRES
26” Alloy rims; 2.25” Wanda tires
SEAT
Coastal comfort wide saddle
HANDLEBARS
Critical cycles swingback bars with soft foam grips
BRAKE SYSTEM
Rear pedal brake
SPEEDS
1
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Pedal reflectors, Protective chain cover, Kickstand
WARRANTY
Lifetime on the frame; 30 days on other details

Choose Your Favorite Color

Surely, it is important to take into account the bike speed characteristics, strength, quality of materials, etc. But what should you do if you do not find your favorite color? After all, won't you be happy when you are riding down the street and everyone pays attention to you and says you have a nice bike? Taking into account the individual preferences, the manufacturers of the women's bicycle models provide us with a lot of different colors of both the frame and the wheel rim. The colors of the frame and wheels may be different, but at the same time complementary. We have seen that at the moment the Firmstrong Urban Lady Beach Cruiser Bicycle is available for purchasing in such colours as Army Green with Pink Rims, Mint Green, Baby Blue, Purple, Pink, Vanilla, Red, Black with Pink Rims, Orange, White, Yellow, Black, White with Pink Rims, Chrome, Matte Black, Brown and Metallic Charcoal. Thus, choosing a bike, you can easily choose the most appropriate and optimal color showing your character and mood.

Interesting Fact

Do you know that the first world tour by bike around the world had taken place in 1884? The man who first accomplished the feat was an Englishman, Thomas Stevens. Since his childhood, Thomas read a lot about the travels and adventures. He was thrilled. In 1872, he left his home and went to America, where he began working as a miner in Colorado. The traveler started from San Francisco on the old bike model called "penny-farthing". It is noteworthy that the bicycle had a five times bigger front wheel than the rear one. He took with him only a pair of socks, his shirt, and a revolver. Then Thomas set off and after covering 3700 miles he reached Boston. So it was the first transcontinental journey by bicycle. The traveler spent winter in New York and then continued his riding through England, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, Kurdistan, Iraq, and Iran. It's interesting that the traveler wasn't allowed to travel through Siberia, so his route was changed and he continued across Afghanistan. Then the hero rode to India, from Calcutta to Hong Kong, southern China, and Japan. His historical world tour ended in December 1886, when Stevens came back to San Francisco from Yokohama by ship.

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Nantucket Bike Basket Co. Classic Lightship Basket is a bike basket made of natural materials. It is intended for an effortless transportation of small bags or even pets, for example.

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Small All-Purpose Bike

Among our reviews, the Firmstrong Urban Man Beach Cruiser Bicycle is distinguished by its compact size. This model has a bit smaller 24" wheels, making it lower than bicycles with the wheels of 26". The peculiar thing is that both teenagers and men whose height is between 4' and 5'2 can use it, but the manufacturer offers this model for taller men too. It should be noted that this model is also perfect for girls, whose height does not allow them to feel comfortable when riding on small women's models with 20" wheels, and at the same time, it is difficult to use bikes with 26" wheels. We are also convinced that this bike is ideal for children who have outgrown their kids' bike but haven't been ready for adult models yet. Thus, we can say that this cruiser bicycle is a kind of universal model that can be used by several members of your family.

Not Only a Transport

As we all know, the bicycle is not only a means of transportation but also a sports trainer. In fact, cycling is proved to improve sleeping. That's because the stress hormone cortisol, which prevents us from sleeping, leaves the body during the riding. Another important advantage of cycling that you can lose weight faster: 1 hour of active cycling and you can burn up to 600 calories! Also, cycling enhances stamina, so you'll feel more energetic throughout the day. Moreover, cycling does wonders to your digestion, since the metabolism increases when you are riding, and it improves your appetite. Also, the great advantage of cycling is strengthening muscle tone. If you ride a bike regularly, you will be able to tone muscles of your legs, chest, back, and arms.

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Riding with a helmet on is a convenient way of traveling. Go choose a helmet with vents to stay cool on the go and keep your head protected, if anything happens. The helmets we've chosen for the review are all thoroughly tested and been approved by US CPSC.

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Fabulous Comfort

Notwithstanding the stylish retro design of the women's Huffy Nel Lusso bike, we would like to draw your attention to a large number of accessories that come with it. Unlike competitive models, where you often need to buy all additional accessories such as fenders, a rack, etc. separately, this model includes all the most necessary equipment that can enhance your comfort when riding a bicycle. See for yourself: when you buy this bike, you also get a rear luggage rack with a length adjustment feature, a special front basket for easy transportation of small packages or pets. Also, we would like to mention that there is a special cup holder mounted on the handlebar. So you can always have a drink to satisfy your thirst when riding on hot sunny days. With everything listed, we can say that you will hardly ever have issues with comfort riding this bike.

The Most Expensive One

There are some costly items and models in the world of bicycles as well as in the world of other vehicles. For now, the most expensive in the world of cycling is the Butterfly Trek Madone bicycle, which was created by the famous British artist Damien Hirst. It's interesting to know that the artist used over 100 live butterflies he himself raised for the decoration of the bicycle design. The author decorated the frame and rims with these beautiful insects. But in addition to the elegant design, this decoration caused criticism from various organizations involved in the animals protection. This unique bike was manufactured specifically for the famous cyclist Lance Armstrong, who took part in the Tour de France cycle race in 2009 riding the Butterfly Trek Madone. After the competition, they planned to sell the bike at an auction for $1.3 million, but the highest offer was only $500 thousand. Nevertheless, it is still the highest price that has ever been paid for a bike.

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To protect your bike from being stolen when navigating around the town, having a special bike lock is crucial. 

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Choose Speed and Brakes

Perhaps one of the most important advantages that distinguishes this model is its 7 speeds, whereas the majority of cruisers have only 1 speed. The selection of speeds will allow you to overcome steep hills more comfortably, as well as to speed up when riding on a smooth road. All you need is just to choose the best speed and shift them with a special grip on the handlebar located near the grips. Also, there is both front and rear rim brake systems, which significantly increase the efficiency of a sudden stop and braking. As a result, we can assure that this bike is the perfect solution if you live in the area with steep hills or if you want to choose the optimum speed depending on the road conditions.

Cruiser Bike History

The history of the cruiser bike dates back to 1895 when the first sample of this bike type was manufactured. The first company that released a cruiser bike was the Schwinn, owned by a German bike developer Ignaz Schwinn, who founded the company in the United States. The interesting fact is that the founder had died before the first cruiser bicycle appeared. This type of bike gained a great popularity in 1933, during the Great Depression that America experienced at that time due to the severe economic and social crisis. The first popular and recognized model was the Schwinn B-10E, which all the Americans liked because of its comfort and excellent riding dynamics. Initially, these bikes were supposed to be used mainly by young people, but because of their amazing features, everyone was interested. After a while, these bikes began to be associated with the paperboys who used them in their job. The popularity peak of cruiser bikes was during the 1930s and 1940s. But it is worth noting that even nowadays it is also one of the best solutions for a leisurely ride to the beach or just along the streets, in the parks, etc.

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In order to ride tracks out of the town, you still need to drive their first, carrying your bike along with you. With a bike rack onboard, though, this wouldn't an issue and you will be able to do it much more often. 

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Strong Frame

Reviewing more expensive cruiser bikes with a number of advantages, we couldn't help noticing the Critical Cycles Chatham-1 Men's Beach Cruiser. This model has a very strong steel frame not every bike of this type can boast. If you put the model along with other bikes of this type, the difference in the frame thickness will be noticeable at a glance. This fact indicates that the bicycle frame is very durable and can withstand almost any load. It is also important to note that this frame configuration gives the bike a certain solidity and manliness. In addition, we've found out that when riding over rough surfaces, the vibrations are felt less due to the thicker frame. To sum up, we can say that this model is a bike for real men, herewith it provides with a high level of comfort during the riding.

Speed Record

From the very beginning of a bicycle history, people rushed to set various records, ranging from world travel to the riding speed. Let us now mention the record speed achieved on the bike. Today, an absolute record for speed when riding a bicycle is a 268 km/h. This truly stunning result was set in 1995 by a Dutch cyclist Fred Rompelberg. He gained the maximum speed riding behind a specially equipped racing car with a special dome for minimum air resistance. An interesting fact is also that at the time of Fred's record he was already 50.

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Whenever heading somewhere away from home, it is very important to keep a bike pump with you. You never know what might happen on the road. 

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User Manual

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What is a Cruiser Bike

Nowadays, bike is a popular means of transport, and it can be used for different purposes. In this review, we'll consider the best cruiser bikes, extremely comfortable and designed for a leisurely city riding, rides along the seafront, trips to the beach or parks, etc. As a rule, cruiser bikes have an unconventional frame, longer wheelbase, wider tires and seat, as well as a large curved and comfortable handlebar.

If you're a fan of fast road cycling, then we recommend you to have a look at our review of the best road bikes.

In case if you do not want to pedal but would like to feel the beauty of cycling, maybe consider buying one of our selected electric bikes.

And at last, if you want your riding to be safe, you need to have a good bike helmet.

What Features to Compare

Size

Generally, all cruiser bikes are divided into men and women types. This is justified by the difference in our bodies, so we recommend sticking to the right type. When choosing the model for yourself, please be careful with the size of the bike because it influences the riding comfort. The size of the bike is measured according to the rider's height, where the frame plays an important role. As a rule, the standard frame sizes are set out in inches for approximate understanding whether the bike will be comfortable enough for the rider. For example, the model with the frame of 15" is an excellent choice for a 5'–6' person. It is worth noting that some manufacturers point out the recommended user height itself.

Design Features

The cruiser bike consists of a frame, a fork, wheels, handlebars, and a seat. The frame is the main part of the bike where other structure elements are attached to. Basically, cruiser bikes may have an aluminum or steel frame. Manufacturers often use steel frames, which are heavier but cheaper. Aluminum frames are respectively lighter and have excellent corrosion resistance but the drawback is their high price. Pay attention to the fork. In general, they are also made of steel and can smooth your riding over bumps a bit. When choosing the wheels, take into account their diameter, the rim, and the material quality of the tread. It is better to choose a model with wheels made of aluminum or other alloy materials. As for the size, when you choose a larger wheel diameter, you get the best angle for passing obstacles and roughness. The optimal wheel diameter is considered to be 24"-26". As for the tire width, here they are usually over 2". The tread in most cases is patterned, that is good for riding on the asphalt. Choosing the seat, take into account the springs, and choosing the handlebar, pay attention to the material of grips, they can be either rubber or foam.

Brakes and Speed

The brake system is one of the important things in the bike because you can drop the speed or stop in time when it's necessary. The rear foot (drum) brake or rim brake system is often used in cruiser bikes. One of the advantages of pedal brakes is that they reduce rim wear and are efficient regardless of weather conditions. The downsides are non-efficiency in the case of the chain drop, great weight, and the load on the spokes and the wheel hub. As for the rim brakes, among the advantages there are their low weight, the absence of rim heating and low cost. The downside is the reduction of the effect in bad weather conditions, the brake pads require replacement from time to time. As for the velocity, the bicycle can have 1, 3, or 7 speeds. A single speed will be enough for a regular measured riding on a flat road. Using several speeds, you can go up the mountain comfortably or speed up when riding on a smooth road.

Accessories

Manufacturers can equip their cruiser bike models with additional accessories. Among the useful amendments you really need to pay attention to there is the luggage rack to transport small things, reflectors to reflect light when riding at night, a chain casing to protect the chain from dirt and dust, kickstands for easy bike parking, and also front and rear fenders to protect your bike or clothes from dirt. Some manufacturers may equip the bike with a basket where you can conveniently place a package with products, for example. In addition, the cruisers may have a drink holder that is very convenient and usable.

Sources:

1. Amy Schlinger How to Pick the Best Bicycle for You, DAILY BURN. April 21, 2014.

2. Bikes: How to Choose, REI.

3. Kristin Wong The Beginner's Guide to Picking the Perfect Bicycle, Lifehacker. June 23, 2016.

4. Bike Buying Guide, Consumer Reports. April 2016.

5. Cruiser Bikes, Wikipedia. November 14, 2016.

6. Lana Billings-Smiths Comfort Vs. Cruiser Bicycles. July 3, 2015.

7. Luke Ameen Why Beach Cruiser Bikes Should Have Gears and Brakes. 2016.

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