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If you’ve wanted to make your heart and soul happy, then shopping for the best bikes for cruising has been your eureka moment.
If you tell people you are looking for a bike to cruise with, they’ll often point you towards endurance bikes or less aggressive road bikes. This is usually because people only think about maintaining an upright position as you ride, but there’s an entire industry of bikes specially engineered for cruising.
The best bikes for cruising are:
- Schwinn Meridian Tricycle
- Micargi 26 Vancouver
- Heybike Cityscape Electric
- Tuesday June 7 Low-Step
- Schwinn Sanctuary 7
- SixThreeZero EVRY Journey
- Priority Coast
- Detroit Bikes B-Type
- Izip Simi Step-Thru
- Micargi Bronco 3.0
- Sole Harambe
- Firmstrong Urban
Handlebar style and setup, saddle construction, frame preference, and several other points should always be considered when shopping for a cruiser-style bike. Unfortunately, since this side of the moon is so little explored, manufacturers often mask the glaring deficiencies of their product with just aesthetics. Read on to discern which bike is best for you properly.
I once stayed in a charming little town that offered year-long leases on beach cruiser bicycles to discourage the use of cars to get around. That was my first affair with these types of bikes, and ever since, I find myself drawn to cruising bike reviews from dot-com sites like Bicycling and TheCoolist. So I was just my usual self as I surveyed customer and expert reviews.
12 Best Bikes For Unwinding And Cruising
When going through this list, it's essential to take note of the number of gears on the bikes and the estimated weight. That’s because I quickly learned that this nook of the cycling is unregulated and because the bikes aren’t built for performance, they end up being heavy and single speed (fixie).
You can choose a fixie cruiser on the heavier side if you don’t have to contend with steep hills and stairs. Fortunately, these aesthetic and comfort-focused cruisers are usually much cheaper than the other tailored leisure machines.
1. Schwinn Meridian Tricycle
Although unconventional for adult riders, tricycles are still a thing, and the Schwinn Meridian proves why. The bike's massive weight is a drawback that this beautiful step-through frame cruiser faces, but the bike is not deterred.
The weight and vast space on the bike make it a dud for people living in apartments. It should not deter people with ground-level garages because the weight is almost negated. You won’t need to pick up the bike.
The massive rear basket also makes using the bike for groceries and other errands a no-brainer. Choosing different speeds for the bike also helps reduce paddling strain caused by weight and helps you focus more on taking in your surroundings without worrying about toppling over and falling because of some small pebble.
The Meridian is made primarily of aluminum and some suspicious grade material; the bike is susceptible to rust and requires regular maintenance, but the low-rider feel does provide lots of cruising fun.
2. Micargi 26 Vancouver
This chopper-style beach cruiser is made from hi-tensile steel with a stretch frame that rides with a Harley Davidson gusto. You can look, but you won’t easily find a beach cruiser that looks this custom-built for under a thousand dollars.
Firstly, the unique long tube frame is made from steel for the best strength, and it, along with the low seat with a spring, gives the bike its distinctive stretch and chopper style. The synthetic leather-wrapped seat is cushioned and wide for the best riding comfort.
Although the fat tires have knobs for grips, the sparse knobs look like they will wear down quicker than other premium tires. The wide tires provide more stability and smooth rides even over patches of roads in disrepair.
The chainguard is also solid and doesn’t distract from the “beaching” fashion of the ride. Like most bikes under the Micargi brand, this is a decent quality bike, but it also can’t seem to escape being labeled a Dyno cruiser counterfeit–which it most probably is.
3. Heybike Cityscape Electric
The Cityscape is a beautiful marriage of a beach cruiser and an electric commuter. The large seat is cushioned and laid on two springs that seem like they will stand the test of many tushies. You don’t need to worry about your fitness, or lack, with the 350 W motor on the bike. The Cityscape can effortlessly take you to a range of 40 miles, especially if you are riding on relatively flat terrain.
This electric bike is Class 2 and goes up to 20 miles per hour. The Shimano 7-speed gears aren’t top-end, but they are fluid and easy to forgive the little skimp on cost. The bike has a lot of nifty amenities like the robust kickstand, a sturdy rear rack, responsive disc brakes, reflectors, and front light.
The step-through frame has a standover height of 19 inches which supports the recommended range of 5’5” to 6’5” rider heights. The front suspension also complements road-bike tires in providing a fast and plush ride all the way through.
The 26-inch wheelbase is a tad too compact for people near-maximum rider height, but it makes the reach better for shorter riders and doesn’t stretch you out like other cruisers. This manageable wheelbase is excellent for bike stability and does not disappoint with steering the ride.
The bike is IPX4 certified, which means its removable battery is splash-resistant. That alone improves the e-bike experience. There are only a few notable things against this bike. Heybike seems to have two versions of this bike, but it's not clear which version is advertised and what it improves on if it is the latest version.
4. Tuesday June 7 Low-Step
Tuesday has several beautifully crafted cruiser bikes on its inventory. The June line is some of their cheaper, but it's not because they cheat these bikes out of their beach cruiser aesthetics. The June 7 Low Step is the direct sibling of the buffier, June 7 and the high tensile steel low step frame injects all the beach feels you can ever desire.
The closed bottom bracket provides security for the bike’s longevity, just like the Kraton rubber paddle provides barefoot comfort. The 7-speed Shimano Revo Twist gears are robust and provide a smooth transition with that retro clicking sound on every shift. Even on steeper roads, the gears hold without you having to lift your hand off of thandlebar.
Instead of the 14-28t Shimano Tourney, the bike has the 14-34t cassette of the Shimano Tourney mega range, which is one of the reasons why the bike can handle roads of different steepness without faltering for a second. The more comprehensive gearing option makes exploring carefree.
The 26-inch by 2.35-inch balloon tires are incredibly comfortable and, combined with a large saddle and rubber grips, make longer rides more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the June 7 LS doesn’t come with as many extras as its competing cruiser bikes. There are no fenders, racks, lights, or reflectors.
5. Schwinn Sanctuary 7
The Sanctuary 7 sits in the middle of the Grease-reminiscent Classic Deluxe 7 and the understated Mikko. Schwinn once again delivers with the stoutly-built Sanctuary 7. The seamless 17-inch frame has everything attached using good-quality screws instead of quick-release levers.
Not using quick-release levers, even on the oversized cushioned saddle, makes the bike less prone to being stripped or stolen. The rims are manufactured from unspecified alloy material instead of steel which could lead to a rusted set.
Although the Shimano Revo shifters aren’t the flagship of the Shimano range, their shortcomings seem to glare a bit more on this bike. The gear shifting sometimes feels quite resistive, with the riding experience further marred by the 2.1-inch wide tires, which appear to struggle to hold air at higher pressure.
Other customers buying the bike off Amazon also experienced some quality-control issues like the bike coming with bent frames or arriving and having the chain just pop off mid-ride. Buying the bike straight from Schwinn seems to help address some of these issues.
6. SixThreeZero EVRY Journey
The EVRY Journey is one of the most classic cruiser bikes out today. The pastel colors you can choose from complement the sea-side horizon. Brown faux leather grips and saddle are a beautiful detraction from the typical black theme of other bikes. Although the grips are smooth, they aren’t slippery and don’t cause hand callouses like textured grips tend to do.
The 21-inch standover height and 46-inch wheelbase open up the bike past its women-marketed gendered to all. The upright riding position is comfortable, with ample knee space and a responsive steering mechanism.
Unlike the regular balloon tires on cruisers, the thinner tires allow for dirt and road riding, but comfort takes punches from road pebbles. The Shimano Index Revo shifters are a unique spin from twister shifters and clear up the handlebars for the front and rear V-brake levers.
The Shimano Tourney cassette also comes in different teeth count up to 28t, which isn’t that great of a ratio if you fall in love with the 21-speed version bike. The Shimano derailers are simple but quality and don’t seem like they will falter over the long run.
7. Priority Coast
The Priority Coast adds some of the best modern spins on an old classic cruiser. Their diamond and step-through aluminum frames have front and rear sealed bearing cartridge hubs. The rear hub comes in either the coaster hub or the Shimano Nexus 3 and uses a 122t Gates Carbon drive CDN belt instead of a chain, which is a fantastic addition for $599.
The belt drive system offers one of the smoothest rides on any bike, not just a cruiser bike. The double leg alloy kickstand complements the pedals with a sealed bearing alloy platform. What makes the purchase more premium isn’t only the drivetrain system but also the Kenda puncture-resistant tires.
Like a sealed, nickel-plated bottom bracket, the bike is built to be as rust-resistant as possible while riding beside the seafront. The bike has a single front rim brake which isn’t ideal for all weather conditions but is also forged alloy.
Priority bikes charge an extra $80 for the 3-speed version, but they don’t have an option to add rear brakes, which can be strainful to your forearm. You also can’t make sudden stops with the front brakes because of the fear of being tossed over the handlebars.
8. Detroit Bikes B-Type
The Detroit B-Type cruiser bike has a lower step-through bar than the A-Type. The Chromoly frame comes in two sizes that comfortably fit a range of rider sizes. Although small and medium frames are recommended to fit people 4’10” to 5’11”, they can comfortably cater to people with longer legs.
Detroit Bikes is the only large-scale US-built and assembled cruiser bike manufacturer. Assembled in Detroit, the bike comes 99% assembled, which is pretty much fully built.
The stitched synthetic leather grips are reminiscent of the EVRY Journey cruiser, and the synthetic leather is also used on the broad saddle. The woven cover is riveted and waterproof, but it lacks extra padding for that premium comfort you want for more extended cruising.
Detroit Bikes went more road bike for this cruiser with their thinner road-like tires. The rims have a decent spoke count with the spokes made from stainless steel and nickel-plated brass nipples.
The spoke count simply means that the bike can take larger weights without rims waning. The rims are also rust-resistant because of the first-class material Detroit bikes use.
Its gear system is one of the few things that can fault the bike. The 3-speed version of the bike is not much better than a single-speed, which is perfectly fine for chasing sunsets but not great if you want to multitask and commute through town.
9. Izip Simi Step-Thru
The Simi Step-thru has some comfortable sweptback handlebars that suit an upright riding position. The drive motor is part of the frame and evenly distributed weight along the chainstay length. The bike’s overall weight doesn’t feel unbalanced with the battery snuggly mounted on the frame's downtube.
The hub motor isn’t the best for hilly terrain, but its the ability to push you along on relatively flat roads without being too inefficient. This better balance of power helps the SR Suntour Lithium-Ion 410Wh battery hold its power more efficiently.
Izip also kitted out the bike with some Tekro mechanical disc brakes on 180mm rotors, ensuring adequate braking power over different weather conditions.
Unfortunately, for an e-bike that’s $1,750, the bike is a class 1 eclectic bike, meaning it can only be an electric bike with pedal assistance. This classification is a significant knock on the bike’s recommendation when there are more affordable and decent e-bikes on this list that’re class 2.
The 12-28t Shimano HG-200 cogset also doesn’t help the bike’s power credibility. When not used along a flat coastal line, you feel the bike’s limiting gearing ratio, and it struggles when you attempt to transition it into a city commuter.
However, don’t misconstrue because the Simi Step-thru is on this list for valid reasoning. The pristine engineering wed with Izip’s commitment to staying true to the cruiser bike aesthetic produces one of a classic's most lovely modern renditions.
10. Micargi Bronco 3.0
The Bronco 3.0 is another valiant attempt at another unique bruiser of a cruiser. The throwback 15-inch high-rise handlebars, low rider saddle, and chopper geometry make riding the Bronco fun. The 26-inch front wheel and 24-inch rear wheel are 3.0-inches wide for one of the smoothest and motorcycle-like rides on this list.
The coaster brakes add another fun facet to the ride and clear out any rim-brake lines that would clutter the high-tensile steel frame. Unfortunately, the Bronco’s flare is tamed by similar pitfalls that the rest of the Micargi line is reeled in by.
The hi-ten frame feels less like steel and more like some cheaper aluminum alloy, and the rest of the bike also feels less custom-premium for the $699 price. Although steel handlebars feel solid when the bike is assembled correctly, there’s a fear that things could go wrong quickly from an assembly mishap.
The chainguard does its job, and your shins feel safe while paddling or using the coaster brakes. Adjusting the brakes is intuitive, but the bike's geometry could make it less comfortable for shorter riders.
11. Sole Harambe
Although born from a meme, the Harambe is no dutch cruiser to laugh at. The step-through, high tensile steel frame is tig welded for rust-free solid bonds. The distinctive dutch-cruiser style sets this bike apart from other beach cruisers and any road bikes out on the streets.
The 28.25-inch inseam comfortably suits riders from 5’11” and over. It is one of the few one-size-fits-all rides on the market because of its clean step-through frame for shorter riders and generous knee space for taller folks.
The laidback geometry makes riding this bike a joy, and the Kenda tires are not only cheap to replace down the line, but they perform pretty admirably. The weight of the Hi-tensile steel doesn’t help the weight situation, but the frame does feel durable and steady during rides.
The bike comes in several attractive colors, but the $399 price tag often feels more for the looks than specs. The Kick-Back coaster brake situation doesn’t help the company’s case for quality over quantity.
However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find owners of this bike that aren’t happy with their purchase.
12. Firmstrong Urban
The Urban beach cruiser comes in to steal your mind away from everyday stressors with some soft foam grips and its smooth one-piece 24 TPI bottom bracket. The mostly-steel bike does sit at the upper limits of how heavy a beach cruiser can get.
However, with the added weight comes some very sick design. The frame has some hunchback of Notre Dame vibes and will always be the most unique-looking cruiser for miles around. Although some people might find the frame extra, it doesn’t negatively affect the ride's comfort.
The knobbly Kenda White Wall tires grip the ground without sticking to it, and the ample width complements the plushness of the padded, dual-spring saddle.
The bike also has more options than some of our other entries, as multi-speed versions are available and ship with actual rim brakes. I never thought I’d miss rim brakes so much.
The KT coaster brakes are fine and keep the spirit of what a cruiser should be, but come on now. For being only $330, there’s little else to complain about since riding this cruiser is so fun.
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