The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (2024)

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The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (1)

Beach cruiser bikes epitomize the saying that the journey is the destination. “A cruiser bike is for when comfort, not speed, is the goal,” says Jeff Shyman, founder and owner of Confederacy of Cruisers, a New Orleans bike tour company.

Functional differences exist between these bikes and others, with their (often) single-speed operation, balloon tires, comfortable seats, and coaster breaks. Andre Batista, director of operations for web retailer Bikes Online, observes, “The seating position [is] 90 degrees to the ground, so the rider’s back is upright, contrary to road and mountain bikes where the rider leans down towards the handlebars for aerodynamic benefits.”

These bikes also have a great deal of style with their low profiles and wide, sweeping handlebars. “Styling is a traditional consideration when shopping for a cruiser, and it is a personal choice that’s fun to make,” says Josh Arnold, co-owner of Routes Bicycle Tours and Rentals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Just ask yourself what type of bike fits your taste, and know that—these days—the sky is truly the limit.” Although often ridden at the beach, cruiser bikes are fitting for cross-town commutes, Sunday rides, and even resort vacations. Before buying, consider the cost, comfort features, and if you need gears.

Table of contents

  • Our Picks

  • What to Look For

  • FAQ

  • Why Trust TripSavvy

Best Overall

Schwinn Men’s Cruiser Bike

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (2)

This beach cruiser is tops when it comes to all-around features for men. It comes in various frame sizes to fit riders with larger frames. For example, the 21-inch frame fits riders up to 6 feet 6 inches. The steel frame is also incredibly durable, making this bike heavier than those with aluminum frames. It features a seven-speed drivetrain with a Shimano Revoshift twist shifter and a Shimano rear derailleur for easy shifting across various terrains. Plus, with its classic American-era design, this stylish bike is eye-catching.

Frame Size: 18 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 42 pounds

Best Overall Women's Cruiser

sixthreezero EVRYjourney Hybrid Cruiser Bike

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (3)

What We Like

  • Available in multiple speeds

  • Multiple color options

What We Don't Like

  • Assembly required

This seven-speed hybrid cruiser delivers excellent versatility. Although its stylish colors (navy, yellow, mint green, and teal) and white-side-walled tires make it perfect for cruising at the beach, the sixthreezero EVRYjourney can tackle plenty of other terrains as riders shift up hills and speed through work commutes. Though attractive, this bike doesn’t place style over function. With 2-inch-thick tires and a cushioned, wide saddle, this bike is made for a comfortable, stable ride, even along bumpy streets or boardwalks.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 38.1 pounds

Best Value

Huffy Women's Cruiser Bike

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (4)

What We Like

  • Affordable

  • Comfy seat

  • Has a nice aesthetic

What We Don't Like

  • Basic breaking not ideal for all terrain

  • Single gear

Riders looking for a stylish, simple, and affordable bike have found their match in the Huffy 26-Inch Women's Cranbrook Cruiser Bike. Its eye-catching white frame features pops of periwinkle blue along the tires' sidewalls, pedals, seat, and handlebars. The bike is a single-speed and has an easy-to-use coaster brake (which means that riders pedal backward to stop). This bike is a match for the everyday rider who doesn't want to bust their budget with an over-priced, over-accessorized bike. It's recommended for riders who are 60 inches or taller and are at least 13 years old.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 42 pounds

Best for Beginners

Firmstrong Urban Single Speed Beach Cruiser Bicycle

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (5)

What We Like

  • Durable

  • Easy to ride

  • Minimal set up

What We Don't Like

  • Not good for tall riders

  • Coaster breaks inconvenient for some terrain

Cruiser bikes are inherently beginner-friendly, so beginners won't easily go wrong in their selections. The 26-inch Firmstrong Urban Lady Single Speed offers easy-going, single-speed riding that can reach 3 to 15 miles per hour. It features a durable 15-inch steel frame with aluminum wheels. The wheels are outfitted in attractive, retro white-wall balloon tires that offer a cushioned ride. Although sized for women up to 5 feet 6 inches, the bike can hold any rider up to 300 pounds.Plus, this model is a breeze to set up since it's shipped mostly pre-assembled.

Frame Size: 15 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 38 pounds

What We Like

  • Durable

  • Rear rack included

  • Stylish

What We Don't Like

  • Single speed

  • Basic breaking system

Single-speed cruisers make up most of the market, so it’s easy to find good choices in this competitive category. Single-speed bikes are matches for casual riders who plan on cruising flat roads and paths. The sixthreezero Around The Block Women’s Single-Speed balances design and performance in a laid-back ride that won’t leave you fussing with gears and cables. This bike delivers smooth riding with a springy saddle, foam grips on the handlebars, and waffle-tread tires. Stopping is equally stress-free with its pedal-backward coaster breaks. Sixthreezero also makes a men’s version of this beach cruiser.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 10 pounds

The 10 Best Places to Buy Bikes

Best Electric

Sohoo Electric Beach Cruiser Bicycle

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (7)

What We Like

  • Easy riding

  • Detachable luggage rack

  • Multiple modes

What We Don't Like

  • Expensive

  • Needs to be charged

Although riding a cruiser bike is all about cruising, some bikes now come with electronic assistance to ease the pedaling difficulty and increase speed. Most e-cruisers top out at around 20 miles per hour; however, a few go faster. The core components of the Sohoo electric cruiser bike easily help riders reach 25 miles per hour.

Riders can choose their own adventures, with modes for regular biking, which turns the bike into a standard one; pedal-assistance, which allows you to get some exercise; and throttle mode, which doesn’t need you to pedal at all. This e-bike also incorporates some of the best features of a mountain bike, with a fork shock at the front of the bike and a seat shock. Together, these deliver smooth riding even on bumpy surfaces. It can hold up to 290 pounds, and the removable lithium battery lasts up to 65 miles before needing to be recharged.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 66 pounds

The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack Can Handle Any Bike

Best for Commuting

Schwinn Beach Cruiser Bike

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (8)

What We Like

  • Available in multiple colors

  • Fenders keep riders dry

  • Sturdy

What We Don't Like

  • Simple breaking not ideal for all terrain

Cruiser bikes aren’t a popular choice for long distances, like on bikepacking trips. However, for shorter trips around town, like commuting to work, they can fit the bill. With a seven-speed drivetrain, the Schwinn Huron Adult Beach Cruiser Bike is ready to conquer any hills on your urban commute or to accelerate around traffic. Twist shifters help gear changes easy to make on the fly, while front and rear linear-pull brakes offer confident stopping power. The steel-framed cruiser provides durability and stability—it’s suggested for riders up to 6 feet 2 inches tall.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 pounds

Best Vintage Style

Huffy Beach Cruiser Bike

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (9)

What We Like

  • Has a nice aesthetic

  • Generous storage features

  • Smooth ride

What We Don't Like

  • Some assembly required

  • Single speed

Shoppers purely looking for style will find it in spades with the Huffy Panama Jack Beach Cruiser Bike. Flower detailing across the bike's frame, chain guard, and included cup holder feel straight out of a movie set in Polynesia—in all the best ways possible. White-side-walled tires and a front wicker basket add to the vintage appeal. The bike has six retro styles, from creamy white to sky blue.

Not one to compromise on comfort, Huffy also delivers its Perfect Fit frame, allowing upright riding and full leg extensions typical of cruisers. The lightweight aluminum frame is a perfect match for salty beach-side conditions. A dual-spring padded seat; and soft, cork handlebar grips complete the comfort features.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 44 pounds

Best for the Beach

Priority Coast Bicycle

The 9 Best Beach Cruiser Bikes of 2024 (10)

What We Like

  • Sturdy

  • Smooth ride

  • Handles well on sand

What We Don't Like

  • Simple breaking system

  • Assembly required

Many coastal cruisers on the market don't actually handle well on beaches—the water, salt, and sand are often too much, and seaside corrosion deteriorates the vehicle. Not for this Priority Coast, though. The ultralight frame is rustproof, making this bike extra durable. It comes with the option of single-speed or 3-speed. You can also have a custom-built surfboard rack attached at an extra cost.

Frame Size: 17 inches | Tire Size: 26 inches | Weight: 44 pounds

What to Look for in a Beach Cruiser Bike

Cost

If you're looking to replace your existing bike or car and use this as the primary mode of transit around town, then it might be worth spending a little more to ensure your purchase is right for you. If you only plan to ride your bike a couple of times a year, getting something a little cheaper might not be a bad idea.

Comfort

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.

Gears

Beach cruisers are one of the few types of bikes that commonly come in single-speed models, but if you live in an area that has plenty of hills (or just isn’t that flat), you might want to look at a bike that has more than one gear to help you navigate the terrain. Otherwise, getting where you're going will be a lot of work. “If you plan to ride on hilly roads and bike lanes, a cruiser bike might not be the right option for you,” Batista says. However, if you’re sure a cruiser is right for you, Josh Arnold of Routes Bicycles Tours recommends selecting a bike with at least three speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you know what size bike to get?

    “Cruiser bikes usually come in very few frame sizes, so make sure you check the size chart to ensure the bike will fit you accordingly,” says Andre Batista, director of operations for web retailer Bikes Online.

  • Is more than one gear necessary?

    Cruiser bikes generally have a single-speed or a limited range of gears. “If you plan to ride on hilly roads and bike lanes, a cruiser bike might not the right option for you,” Batista says. However, if you’re sure a cruiser is right for you, Josh Arnold, ofRoutes Bicycles Tours, recommends selecting a bike with at least three speeds.

  • What materials should you look for?

    Cruisers are often ridden at the beach and in humid climates. These conditions can cause wear over time, in particular a rusting frame. “Ensuring that most components are made of aluminum will prevent rust from settling in,” Batista says.

  • What frame configuration is best?

    Cruisers generally have two configurations: step-thru (Dutch) or top-tube style. “Today, this is a very personal choice, and both types are unisex,” Arnold says. “I recommend trying both styles in an appropriate size (based on height and leg length) and choosing what feels best to you.”

  • What are the different wheel sizes and how do they affect ride?

    There are three standard adult cruiser wheel sizes: 26 inches, 27.5 inches, and 29 inches in diameter. Various tire widths are available as well, ranging between 1.95 and 4.0 inches. “In general, smaller wheel diameters offer more nimble handling—but slightly less balance and stability–while larger wheels require less force to turn at a given speed (i.e. less effort to ride) and are a bit more stable, but are heavier and accelerate more slowly,” Arnold says.

Why Trust TripSavvy

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. She interviewed three bike experts for this article. While researching beach cruiser bikes, we spoke with Arnold, Josh Arnold, co-owner of Routes Bicycle Rentals and Tours, Jeff Shyman, founder and owner of Confederacy of Cruisers, and Andre Batista, director of operations for web retailer Bikes Online.

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