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The modern-day cruiser bike takes the classic to a whole new level. Folding Bicycles
If you need some two-wheeled therapy, a beach cruiser might be your saving grace. These simple machines are often the cheapest options in the cycling world (though there are some pricier models on our list, including e-cruisers), and many of them can be ordered online—even customized to your liking—and delivered right to your doorstep. Grab one of these rides for a leisurely roll around town, on a trail, or, if you so desire, on the beach.
Doll up your next ride. Check our picks for the best bike lights, saddle bags, and bike jerseys.
To some, a cruiser is just a singlespeed bicycle with balloon tires, a comfy saddle, a coaster brake, and a wide, sweeping handlebar. When you’re on one, you’re not constricted by Lycra or expected to keep pace. There’s a good chance you’re wearing flip-flops—and maybe even a bathing suit. Hopefully you’re near a beach, but you don’t have to be. A leisurely cruise downtown to grab lunch can be as pleasant as an early-morning roll on a boardwalk. But not every beach cruiser settles for simplicity. Most modern-day models take it to the next level or beyond (think more gears, bigger wheels, cleaner belt drives, internal gearing, mounts for racks, even motors). Knowing how and where you want to use your new cruiser bike will help you determine what else, if anything, you want from it.
That depends. For riding the length of a boardwalk or ambling along Main Street, one gear is all you need—and it frees up a hand to hold a soft-serve twist. But if your rides are a little more challenging than the flat, coastal roads around your favorite seaside town, consider a beach cruiser with multiple gears. The bikes on this list range from singlespeed to 9-speed.
Even though the idea of the beach cruiser is to slow down your fast-paced life, there’s nothing wrong with speeding up your laid-back life. Pedal assist can do wonders for your downtime by letting you get to the beach sooner and cut your departure time closer, ultimately extending your day and bringing you home in time for early-evening beers and BBQ. Most e-cruisers are class 1, which means they top out at 20 mph, but some go as high as 28 mph (class 3).
We’ve ridden as many of these cruisers as we could get our hands on. The ones that haven’t been tested have been carefully chosen based on what they offer. We know from experience what makes a beach cruiser desirable, so we’ve based our list on value, quality of parts (most of which have been tested separately), user reviews, comfort, our positive experience with the brand, and overall aesthetics. These are the 15 beach cruisers we recommend for laid-back bike rides—no matter where you are.
It’s no wonder the Brighton 7 is out of stock as often as it’s in. Every person who hopped onto our test model to take it for a spin had the same first impression: “This is the most comfortable bike I’ve ever been on.” Its incredibly relaxed geometry lets the rider—even one particular tester who has really long arms and legs—stretch out to the point of not having to bend elbows or knees when cruising on momentum. Coupled with the cushy seat, soft grips, barefoot-friendly pedals, and smooth-rolling balloon tires, we’re lucky we didn’t doze off midride. But this bike’s relaxed attitude doesn’t discount it as a capable utilitarian ride. Front and rear-carrier braze-ons let you outfit it with racks and bags so you can carry essentials to the beach or grab a six-pack and sandwiches on the way home. You also get a bottle-cage mount and internally routed cables. Choose from six refreshing colors (with matching fenders, rims, and chainguard), including beach-inspired sea glass and matte coral.
The aptly named June 7 lives for carefree summer days and sandy surfaces. Its huge, sweeping Big Bend Cruiser handlebar and textured rubber grips need nothing more than a light touch and relaxed arms to keep the front wheel on course. When your feet aren’t on the barefoot-friendly, rubber-coated pedals cranking forward, they can easily touch down for a quick stop to grab a shot of the sunset. Like any capable cruiser, the June 7 comes with 2.35-inch balloon tires, ideal for mixed surfaces. A seven-speed drivetrain with a 44t chainring and 14-34t cassette opens this bike up to more variety of exploring in areas that aren’t mostly flat. Want more hauling capability? Add a rear rack. This one from Tuesday costs $45 and has a spring clip to hold valuables in place.
Designed with a classic moto style, Ride1Up's Cafe Cruiser has a casual ride feel. And it's also practical with a built-in rack and light. The zippy 750W motor powers the Cruiser to 28mph (20mph using the throttle) with a suspension fork and 3-inch wide tires to smooth out the ride. Ride the Cafe Cruiser to the bar, along the boardwalk, or to Sunday morning brunch. Add an optional passenger kit for $125 with a padded seat for the rack, footpegs, and wheel guards.
Beach cruisers are part of the quintessential summer experience. Usually, though, they’re heavy, clunky, rust-prone, and hard to ride anywhere but on the boardwalk. Priority’s E-Coast cast those notions aside. This beach bike has everything needed for summer days at the beach (or riding around town or the campground). The E-Coast’s aluminum frame and fork will not rust like on old steel beach cruisers and the Gates belt drive never needs chain lube. 26-inch diameter x 3-inch wide tires helps the bike float over sand and soak up the cracked pavement. The 500W rear hub motor gets the E-Coast up to a 28mph top speed and hydraulic disc brakes ensure stopping power.
This beachy-looking cruiser has a rear-hub motor that lets you zip along at 20mph, and a down tube-mounted battery that will last up to 62 miles in the slowest setting. In the highest pedal-assist mode, that range drops to 15 miles, making the Simi better suited to slow-speed rolls than high-speed commutes. The step-thru frame makes the Simi suitable for everyone, especially those who are just getting into—or back into—riding. You get quite a few extras with this bike (extras that are often left off other bikes that cost as much or more), such as a kickstand, fenders, lights, a rear rack, and a bottle-cage mount. With a 7-speed drivetrain and a 12-28 cassette—not to mention the bonus boost you get from the motor—this is one beach bike that can do more than just hit the flat boardwalk for an out-and-back morning jaunt.
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Inspired by the lines of vintage Italian scooters and classic German cars, the eJoy 10D Active Plus (its predecessor was named one of Bicycling’s Best Bikes of 2020) can easily be your zip-around-town-at-20mph e-bike. Notable features include: a frame-mounted lock, oversize rear rack, optional front tray, integrated lights, and a max claimed range of 95 miles—imagine all the stuff you can haul to the beach. With an absolutely silent Bosch Active Line Plus motor, a low standover for riders of all heights, a wheelbase similar to that of a typical townie, roll-over-anything balloon tires, and one of the easiest-to-operate computers, the eJoy is an e-bike for everyone.
For her 61st birthday last year, Ellen DeGeneres surprised her guests with several giveaways, including the 3-speed Schwinn Mikko (for the women) and the 3-speed Schwinn Huron (for the guys). This cruiser is as classic as they come: steel frame, 26-inch wheels, rear coaster brake, classic cruiser handlebar, matching fenders and chainguard, and a cushy seat on springs. Both models come in a variety of colors as well as 3- and 7-speed options (in addition to the singlespeed shown here). Before the curtain opened on Ellen to reveal the bikes, Ellen told her audience, “I love this next gift. In fact, I have one here. I ride it every day.”
With one of the lowest step-through frames in the business, the Roll 2.0 Low-Entry is ideal for anyone who’s ever been apprehensive about swinging a leg over a top tube or being able to touch their feet to the ground at the last second. Beefy 650b x 2.3-inch tires roll smoothly on the road, but come to your rescue when the pavement gets sketchy or a sandy shortcut starts calling your name. Its upright geometry puts you in a position that takes strain off your neck and back and lets you take in the sights around you, but isn’t ideal for steep climbs up winding mountains. Nor is the Shimano Altus 7-speed drivetrain, but that’s not what this bike is for. It’s also not for going fast. But for what it is, a $800 cruiser bike with mounts to add a rear rack, and a head tube tall enough to hang a pretty deep basket off the BMX-style handlebar, the Roll 2.0 Low-Entry can double as a daily cruiser and around-town grocery-getter.
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Available in both men’s and women’s models and in speeds of 1, 3, 7, and 21, plus two electric versions (250W and 500W), there’s an EVRYjourney for everyone. The one you’re looking at here—the 7-speed women’s model—gives you an alloy frame and steel fork, Shimano Tourney 7-speed drivetrain with Revo twist shifter, 1.95-inch semi-slick tires on 26-inch rims, fenders, and a rear rack. Comfort features include soft grips, a cushy seat, and geometry that puts the rider closer to the ground and moves the pedals forward so you still have proper leg extension. Snap-on attachment points let you easily add accessories like racks, baskets, child seats, and more. And a 365-day test ride and lifetime warranty means you can decide now and change your mind later. But we don’t think you will.
The salt air is no match for the Coast’s rustproof components, which include stainless-steel spokes, an aluminum frame and fork, and a maintenance-free Gates Carbon Drive belt. Sealed bearings keep out water, and Kenda puncture-resistant tires are hardly fazed by broken glass and clamshells. On boardwalks and level city roads, you’ll likely spend most of your time in the hardest gear, but you’ll be thankful for easier pedaling when the street takes a slight upturn. A double kickstand keeps the bike from tipping when parked, and the traditional cruiser-style handlebar has a 3-speed twist shifter on the right and a front hand brake on the left (though you have the option of using the coaster brake).
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Every Vivélo cruiser is handcrafted in Miami’s Wynwood Art District. As if choosing from 42 standard style and color options—men's, women’s, and kid’s—isn’t hard enough, Vivélo went ahead and made it even more difficult (in a good way) with its customizer tool, which lets you personalize up to 27 parts of the bike. A stock La Donna starts at $799 (3-speed) and $869 (7-speed) but can go as high as $1,150 once you start having fun making it unique—like the wild-looking one shown above (which adds up to $1,124 after customization). It’s one of four adult bikes—along with the Rider, Rider X, and Chopper—that can be made to match your vision. Every part—frame, fenders, chainguard, pedals, grips, rims, even the chain and spokes, can be a different color (though options do vary with each model). You can also add a basket or rear rack and choose between an internally geared 3- or 7-speed. The components are pretty standard fare for a cruiser: aluminum frame and components, steel fork, 26-inch wheels, platform pedals, double-spring saddle, and kickstand. We haven’t gotten one if these to test yet, but our creation is on its way. When it arrives, we’ll report back.
A classic cruiser with classic lines, the Rover 9 has a light 6061 aluminum frame and steel fork, hydraulic disc brakes, and a 1x9-speed drivetrain controlled by a Microshift trigger shifter. Moderately grippy, 45mm-wide Kenda Koast tires (with coffee-colored sidewalls) on 27.5-inch alloy rims roll fast and eat potholes in your path. The open, alloy pedals aren’t the most barefoot-friendly compared to rubber-coated pedals, but that’s an easy and inexpensive swap. The Rover 9 comes in two sizes (medium for 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-9 riders, large for 5-foot-10 and taller), two colors (brushed alloy and matte black), and one frame (there’s no step-through model here). And with nine gears to click through, the Rover 9 crosses over into short-commute territory.
Jamis did something here to make the appropriately named Earth Cruiser an option for anyone who has to haul their bike up flights of steps. It dressed the aluminum frame in lightweight alloy parts wherever possible: rims, crankset, crank arms, seatpost, seat clamp, stem, front hub, and kickstand. It also gave the Earth Cruiser a memory foam saddle (yep, like a mattress) with a synthetic suede top. A Shimano 3-speed internal hub and Revoshift twist shifter keep you going; a coaster brake brings you to a stop.
Kylee McGuigan is an associate commerce editor for Hearst Magazines’s Enthusiast Group. She works with content for brands such as Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Bicycling, and Runner’s World. Kylee graduated from Penn State in May 2020 with a degree in journalism and a minor in French. During her undergraduate career, she spent a majority of her time writing for, and eventually editing, VALLEY Magazine: Penn State’s only student-run fashion and lifestyle magazine. She has produced content ranging from beauty and health, to lifestyle and self-improvement. After spending four years in the happiest of valleys (State College, PA), she moved back home to South Jersey—otherwise known as the famous “outside of Philly” area. Kylee can be found working out of her local Starbucks with her best friend, an iced chai in hand, and endless hours of music playlists to get her through the day. When she’s not working, she is more than likely on her daily walk in her neighborhood, at Orangetheory, binging Sex and the City or Gossip Girl, checking out local coffee shops, or trying new bars and restaurants in the city with friends and family.
Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.
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