Most modern-day models take it to the next level or beyond (with more gears, bigger wheels, cleaner belt drives, internal gearing, mounts for racks, or 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. If you need some two-wheeled therapy, a beach cruiser might be just the vehicle. These simple machines are often among the cheapest options if you’re in the market for a new bike (though there are some pricier models on our list, including e-cruisers). And you can order many of them online—even customized to your liking—and get them delivered right to your doorstep. We recommend you grab one of these rides, which we determined via testing and research, for a leisurely roll around town, on a trail, or, of course, on the beach.
Designed with a classic moto style, Ride1Up’s Cafe Cruiser has a casual ride feel. The zippy 750W motor powers the Cruiser to 28 mph (20 mph using the throttle) with a suspension fork and 3-inch-wide tires to smooth things out when it gets bumpy. Ride the Cafe Cruiser to the bar, along the boardwalk, or to Sunday morning brunch, and add a passenger kit for $125 with a padded seat for the rack, footpegs, and wheel guards. Available in both men’s and women’s models and in speeds of 1, 3, 7, and 21, plus two electric versions (250- and 500-watt), there’s an EVRYjourney for everyone. 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. Multi-speed bikes can accelerate much faster than single-geared ones and offer a much smoother ride.
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. Comparing those to Sixthreezero cruisers, we don’t really dip below a hundred … Our entry-level cruiser is the Around the Block, which currently is at 199, unfortunately due to tariffs it’s gonna have to bump up to 229 here pretty shortly. But that’s the entry level because we’re focused on value, and we wanna build the best bike we can for as low as possible. And we’ve determined that that price of about 229, 199 is the best we can do from the quality we wanna stand behind, to provide the value back to the customer.
Freelance writer Ashley M. Biggers rode her trusty cruiser bike to campus during her graduate studies at Arizona State University. Since then, she’s been back in the cruiser saddle on bike tours in her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and around the globe. Schwinn’s simple laid back elegance is personified in the 1980 Ladies’ Cruiser. With the time-proven dependability of a coasterbrake, wide whitewall balloon tires, a comfortable saddle and wide handlebars. 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 to carry essentials to the beach or grab a six-pack and sandwiches on the way home.
As other brands joined the party, Baby Boomers quickly took to the resurrection of their childhood memories. Providing a comfortable ride, brands launched cruisers like Nirve, Electra, sixthreezero and Kustom Kruiser. If your new bike isn’t comfortable, the chance of you riding it drops exponentially. Be sure to test out your bike before you commit to it to make sure that it fits you from pedal to saddle—the last thing you want is to feel sore for a day or two after a ride. This is easier in a brick-and-mortar shop, but many places to buy bikes are online retailers. In this case, check the type of return or trial policies the retailer has to ensure you get the right product.
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. In the 1970s, cyclists saw a rebirth of the cruiser bike, in the form of makeshift mountain bikes.
As the 80s rolled around, cruiser bikes were considered collectors’ items. Old Schwinn cruisers were sought after to be restored to their original condition. With the help of the 1985 Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure film, the interest in cruiser bikes continued to grow. The name “Schwinn” in front of the schwinn beach cruiser title “Cruiser” means a solid, comfortable ride on a cantilever frame bike that is always instyle. That’s why the words “Schwinn Cruiser” are something special if you agree that first class on white-walled balloons is theonly way to roll. The “Deluxe’s” Spring Fork gives you an extra smooth ride.