Cruiser bicycles have existed since the 1930s when bicycles were considered a luxury to own because of the high cost. The price has significantly lowered since then. Today, the typical cruiser bicycle (also called a beach cruiser bike) maintains its luxury status because of its style. It is an easy-to-ride bike, with comfortable seating and a style that allows you to sit back and enjoy the ride.
While many were single-speed, these are not ideal for long rides or riding uphill. For that reason, multiple-speed beach cruiser bikes were created. Now, let’s talk about the best cruiser bicycles for men and women so that you can ride in luxury.
The 6 Best Beach Cruisers Bicycles:
With cruiser bikes for men or women, these best beach cruisers will give you a smooth, comfortable ride every time. We’ve split the list into the three best cruiser bicycles for women, followed by the three best cruiser bikes for men.
1. SixThreeZero EVRYjourney Women’s Step-Through Cruiser Bike
This EVRYjourney cruiser for women is designed to let riders of all sizes ride in luxury. It features a low, swooping frame that makes stepping over the frame and sitting down a breeze. Once sitting, you will notice the soft, wide cushion that lowers the impact on your back while riding and keeps your bottom comfortable. In addition to comfort, this bike offers style. You will turn heads with this glossy, retro-style bike.
Unlike more traditional models that are more for luxury than practical riding, this bike features a 7-speed external derailleur from Shimano, accompanied by handbrakes for the front and rear of the cycle. This makes it ideal for luxury rides, both short and long, as well as commute to and from work or the store or rides through the city. It has also been designed as a ‘foot-forward’ cruiser bike. This simply means that this one-size-fits-all bike lets cyclists of any height quickly dismount the bike once it comes to a stop.
When you feel the aluminum frame, this bike does seem heavy. Fortunately, the 26-inch wheels are 2-inches in diameter, and they cruise smoothly everywhere that you go. Once you are cruising, the bike does not feel so heavy anymore. One thing that you should know before making your purchase is that it does require assembly. While it is not too difficult to assemble, most owners report that it takes about an hour to get ready.
2. Firmstrong Urban Lady Beach Cruiser Bike
This women’s bicycle for beach cruising is designed so that women from 5-feet to 6-feet can ride it. The frame is constructed of durable steel in the classic cruiser design for relaxed and easy riding. The mint green color makes the bike stand out, without being too feminine and wide, white-walled tires add vintage style to the bike while ensuring that your ride is smooth.
If you do want to go more feminine, there are many other colors available including army green, baby blue, black, brown, chrome, cream, charcoal, orange, pink, purple, red, vanilla, white, and yellow. The wide array lets you ensure that your cruiser bike reflects your personal style.
This bike stays traditional in style, offering a single-speed and coaster brakes. The good news is that if you are in riding again for the sake of nostalgia, this bike will take you back to that special place. You can also get there quickly if you choose, with a range of 3-15 mph speed.
Though it is more traditional in style, the company did not skimp on comfort. An extra-large, padded seat makes anyone’s ride comfortable. The seat also has springs built-in, so you no longer have to worry about the damage caused by hitting a bumpy patch in the road.
While one of the great things about this bike is its color, the downside is its durability of the color. While the steel frame is solid, the paint may chip off in some places. The paint is also not resistant to scratching and other damage. Finding a bike that fits your height is very important, as you can see from this video.
3. Schwinn Ladies Perla 7 Speed Cruiser Bicycle
The pink model of this bike has a glossy, classy sheen. It is styled with a step-through frame, making it easy for women to mount and ride the bike easily, without the risk of damage to the back. This bike is enhanced from a traditional beach cruiser style because it has 7-speed twist shifters.
Additionally, the included rear derailleur makes shifting a breeze. In addition to shifts, this bike features alloy pull breaks that let you know you will never have to worry about coming to a gentle and quick stop every time.
The seat and thick, 26-inch wheels also add to your comfort. The padded seat is spring-loaded, so you don’t come down on the seat hard after a bump. It also can be positioned higher or lower and tilts forward and back, depending on your needs. Additionally, the thick, 26-inch wheels have superior gripping on the pavement that makes riding the bike incredibly easy.
Two features that this beach cruiser has that sets it apart from the other two women’s bikes on this list are its full-wrap fenders and a convenient rear rack. This means that you can stay clean and dry, even when riding on wet terrain. You can also easily carry some of your belongings with you.
There are two minor issues with this bike. First, the brakes are incredibly squeaky at first. Most consumers report, however, that this squeaking went away with use. There is also a large turn radius on this bike, but otherwise, it offers the perfect ride.
4. Firmstrong Urban Man Beach Cruiser Bicycle
This bike is designed with men that are 5’ 5” or taller in mind, for casual rides around town or by the beach. Smooth sailing and relaxation are what you will feel as you cruise. A dual-spring-loaded, extra-wide seat ensures that you don’t get sore on your ride. The 2.25” tires are a little wider than the standard 2-inch variety, but this only offers a smoother ride, as you can ride over pebbles without even feeling them.
This is a good bike for people of any personality because you can choose between basic colors like matte gray, black, and brown, as well as more colorful bikes like green, orange, and blue. There are even more colors available than those listed on the site.
This is a casual riding bike because it is designed with no-frills and no cables. It has a single-speed and uses coaster breaks. These safely bring you to a stop every time. These features are great for the rider who does not plan to commute or travel over rough terrain with their bike, especially if they favor simplicity over dozens of speeds.
Even though it is a single-speed bike, you can achieve and maintain a steady speed between 3 and 15 m.p.h. Since there are no gears to play around with, you can accelerate and decelerate with ease.
The assembly of this cruiser bike should be easy since it comes 80% assembled. However, most people do not have the bike tools required to put it together. This is something that most manufacturers would include in the box, but it is not included in this Firmstrong model.
5. SixThreeZero Men’s in the Barrel Beach Cruiser Bicycle
You can find indications of comfort in the many features of the bike. It comes with a bubble saddle and included dual suspension springs, designed for a light, bouncy ride even on slightly bumpy terrain.
There are also comfort rubber on the grips and the pedals of this bicycle. It also features a slightly large 18-inch frame compared to other bikes, which allows it to accommodate riders as tall as 6’4”. The handlebars and seat post are also adjustable, so you never have to worry about finding your perfect match.
The handlebars on this bike are placed so you can easily sit up and ride, taking the pressure off your lower back. However, since it’s adjustable, you can choose how you sit while you ride. The single-speed allows a 3-15 mph steady speed. The bike also has coaster brakes, eliminating the need for difficult wiring and assembly.
You also come to a quick, but gentle stop every time. It is ideal for casual riding, however, the comfort factor of this bike means that you could ride it long-distance on smooth roads. It could even be used to commute.
A minor drawback of this bike is the chain. The chain of the bike is not very sturdy and may even break. Since this is a trivial piece that can easily be replaced, the better features outweigh this small downside.
6. SixThreeZero Around the Block Men’s Cruiser Bike
A curvy design, wide handlebars, and a wide, spring-loaded seat make this bike comfortable to ride for many bike enthusiasts. Thick, white-walled tires with a waffle-like design make gripping the terrain and pushing forward easily. The tires are also extra thick, featuring double-walled rims. Additionally, the handlebars and seat posts are adjustable and the grips feature a cover made of high-density foam.
A unique feature of this bike is the rack on the back, designed in traditional beach cruiser style, so you can get your belongings where you need to. It can hold a basket or a bike bag, depending on your preference. There is an attachment for a basket (not included) on the front of the bike.
This bike is one of four in this line by SixZeroThree, called ‘Commuting.’ This is appropriate since the well-designed tires and ability to carry items on the bikes means that you can easily take to work, the store, or on casual rides through the neighborhood or at the beach. It features a single speed and coaster breaks, for easy operation.
The major downside to this bike is that it does not deliver on the height range. This bike is sold as being compatible with riders from 5-feet tall to 6-feet, 2-inches tall. Many consumers state that the bike is not compatible with people on the lower and higher end of this height range.
Beach Cruiser Bike Buyer’s Guide
A quality beach cruiser is going to last for years, especially if you only use it for casual cruising. For this reason, it is critical that you know what you must look for in a great cruiser bicycle. Before you make the purchase, consider the following things.
What You Will Do with the Beach Cruiser
The average beach cruiser bicycle is ideal for casual riding, either along the beach or through your neighborhood. It is not designed for overly rough terrain. Single-speed models are ideal for this use of the bike and sometimes, the bike is durable enough that if you are commuting a few miles, your cruiser should be able to do it with ease.
Some people choose to opt for bikes with speed shifters, especially those who want to tackle long terrain or hills on their ride. Typically, you can expect to find 3-speed and 7-speed cruisers as well.
Height/Weight Compatibility
Bikes will only last if you take care of them as the manufacturer recommends. A huge part of this is being sure that you are height and weight compatible with the bike that you choose. You can usually find information on height and weight recommendations along with the package insert, or on the company’s website. Do not worry if you cannot find the perfect sized bike right away- there are bikes available for any size and shape.
How Comfortable the Ride is
There are three major contributing factors to how comfortable the bike will be. The first thing to consider is the seat of the bicycle. A good bicycle seat often has springs of some sort, a wide surface for you to sit on, and enough padding to make the ride comfortable. However, if you are dissatisfied with the seat and love everything else about the bike, you can replace the seat fairly easily.
The second thing to consider is the grip and width of the wheels. These styles of bikes are meant to have wide, smooth wheels with a design to enhance grip. Wider wheels mean more of the impact of riding is dispersed for a smoother ride. Finally, consider where the bike handles are sitting in ratio to the pedals and seat. Ideally, you should choose a bike that lets you adjust both the handlebars and the seat.
Additional Features
Sometimes, manufacturers set their bikes apart by adding features that you do not find everywhere. One feature that appeared occasionally during this list was hand grips. Great grips are nice because they fit securely in your hand and prevent chafing while you ride.
One bike even featured grippy pedals, designed to keep your feet in place as you ride. Another feature you can find on a cruiser bicycle is a rear rack or attachments for a basket. These are great if you usually carry things with you while you ride, so you can leave the book bag at home.
Conclusion
As you choose the perfect beach cruiser bike, luxury, comfort, and functionality should be the major deciding factors in your purchase. For this reason, we have chosen two winners, one from the women’s category and another from the men’s category.
The Best Cruiser Bicycle for Women: Schwinn Ladies Perla 7 Speed Cruiser Bicycle 26 Inch Wheels
This bike was chosen as the winner because of its comfort rating, with a wide, adjustable spring-loaded seat and wide tires that allow for a comfortable ride. It also features 7-speed shifters so you can choose whether you are hurrying to commute or taking your time and pull brakes that reliably make you stop. While the other bikes had some of these features, this model stood out because of the rear carrying area and wrap-around fenders.
The Best Cruiser Bicycle for Men: SixZeroThree Men’s in the Barrel 26-Inch Beach Cruiser Bicycle
This casual riding bike can be used on the weekends, or to commute to and from work. Its well-positioned handlebars, the design of the frame, and the seat all work together to ensure your ride is great from start to finish. While it is only a single speed, this stays with classical tradition and ensures easy setup. Comfortable grips on the handlebars and pedals also contribute to the easy, comfortable ride.
This article was last updated on December 13, 2022 .
