Looking For A Beach Cruiser Bike. Advice

[RogerThat99]

I would put this in the bike section, but....Oh forget it.

I am looking for a beach cruiser bike. I'm not looking to spend a fortune on it. I would like your advice on my options:

1) New Schwin

2) New Elecktra - I have never heard of this brand, but the guy at the bike shop said it is owned by Trek.

3) Buy an old Schwin and fix it up. This is what I am leaning towards, except finding the time to find the bike and fix it up.

What are your thoughts and has anyone owned an Elecktra bike?

 

[boatnam2]

I would look for a big tire bike, 31" to 33"...I bought a couple used electric pedego's few years back for 900 bucks each, only way to roll at the beach with all the wind, cruise 20 miles and never even really pedal.

 

[nowski]

Look here for a cheap beach cruiser... http://bikebuyers.com/

 

[FreeBird236]

Not quite a true beach cruiser, but Elecktra Townie's are nice...:thumbup:

 

[fishing fool]

Craigs list, there are tons under $100

 

[lash]

I have an Electra, and it is a cool bike. Although If I was to do it again, I would fix up a garage sale bike with my own mods...

 

[RogerThat99]

I have an Electra, and it is a cool bike. Although If I was to do it again, I would fix up a garage sale bike with my own mods...

I just found one on Craigslist. An original 70's Schwinn. The seller must think it is made of gold...he wanted $500 for a rust bucket that needs a lot of work. This is what I would like to find, but not for $500. LOL.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Old school 70s to 80s Chicago Schwinn is the way to go. I'd expect to pay $150-250.......then you can pimp it out. Those are the coolest IMO.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

I just found one on Craigslist. An original 70's Schwinn. The seller must think it is made of gold...he wanted $500 for a rust bucket that needs a lot of work. This is what I would like to find, but not for $500. LOL.

Bs......that thing better be tits and fully restored for that much. Pick one up for a decent price and do it your way.

 

[pronstar]

Craigs list, there are tons under $100

Cheap Electra knock-offs. I got one, decent bike.

I had a Nirve, another good brand. Someone stole it off my porch, and left their crappy bike in its place. Who does that???

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

Cheap Electra knock-offs. I got one, decent bike.

I had a Nirve, another good brand. Someone stole it off my porch, and left their crappy bike in its place. Who does that???

A person with a crappy bike and no scruples.

Of course, now they're a person with a nice bike and no scruples.

 

[Motor Boater]

FELT!!!

 

[Motor Boater]

My FIL just got one of these..

http://www.sikkinc.com/our-bikes/sikk-ufo

 

[HavaToon]

We love our Electra's.

 

[CampbellCarl]

Cheap Electra knock-offs. I got one, decent bike.

I had a Nirve, another good brand. Someone stole it off my porch, and left their crappy bike in its place. Who does that???

At least you got a replacement.....unlike a certain Havasu kid that had an RD encounter.....

 

[napanutt]

I would put this in the bike section, but....Oh forget it.

I am looking for a beach cruiser bike. I'm not looking to spend a fortune on it. I would like your advice on my options:

1) New Schwin

2) New Elecktra - I have never heard of this brand, but the guy at the bike shop said it is owned by Trek.

3) Buy an old Schwin and fix it up. This is what I am leaning towards, except finding the time to find the bike and fix it up.

What are your thoughts and has anyone owned an Elecktra bike?

You're friends with Chris and Katya, right? They do a lot of bicycling with their peeps down town Sac. I'm sure they would be a wealth of info for you.

 

[Rvrluvr]

I have 5 electras. One for each of us. Kids ride the hell out of them. Never an issue. Id buy another in a heartbeat

 

[79schiada]

Ebay for a cool old Schwinn that won't take more than 10 hours to make nice. I've got about $500 in this one, and left the OG paint and CLR'd away the rust. Painted clear over the frame after CLR.

 

[Ziggy]

Elektra...hands down. We have two of the aluminum ones, the weight difference becomes noticable.

 

[elcajones]

Ride an Electra Townie before you buy. My friend has one. The are super comfortable. I love the idea of restoring....but Electra put the pedals forward, seat low and it's super comfortable. The three speed is a perfect cruiser IMO.

 

[Boat 405]

Just picked up a new Electra coaster 3i. I love it. The gears are awesome for places anything steeper that flat ground. it's all aluminum and a heck of a lot lighter than it's steel counterpart

 

[ka0tyk]

if anyone is looking for bikes my buddy has his own store/shop in signal hill. he's a stand up dude. http://www.plentyofbikes.com

 

[LB247XS]

FELT!!!

View attachment 341484

X2

 

[the510]

Buy a Hampton delux. All aluminum. Lighter and doesn't rust. Plus they have the best seat.

 

[boatpi]

I an e an Electra, great an all aluminum ! Old Schwinn is cool but real heavy.

 

[boatnam2]

This is what i roll on, ride from sunset to newport and back in a 20 mph wind when everyone is walking their bikes.

 

[SJP]

FELT

 

[boatnam2]

FELT

View attachment 341506

Nice bike, how does that seat ride?

 

[SJP]

Nice bike, how does that seat ride?

Thanks, they are comfortable. The bikes are super solid.

 

[Wicky]

Never buy a used one from Portland, Oregon!!

 

[Ryphraph]

I like these 3G cruisers...
http://www.3gbikes.com/bikes/cruisers/menscruisers/mensnewportsdlx3spd/

But all I have a re a few beaters I get from a local police auction for around $20 each.

Ryph

 

[MOUZER]

I just found one on Craigslist. An original 70's Schwinn. The seller must think it is made of gold...he wanted $500 for a rust bucket that needs a lot of work. This is what I would like to find, but not for $500. LOL.

wish i new you were looking..i just sold a tandom schwinn beach cruiser with 2 flat tires for 100 bucks it was old school...i know the guy who bought it said he was gonna put 2 new tires and paint and ask a grand...

 

[Boschma]

I have an all aluminum Electra. So much easier to ride than the steel one I had before.

 

[RogerThat99]

As much as buying an old single speed sounds great to me, the reality is that I dont have much free time (at least free time that I want to spend in the garage working on a bike. LOL). I needed a bike now and decided on an new Elecktra ( 4 to be exact) and I will look for a old school bike to restore over the Winter.

I bought one for everyone in the family. I went for a longer bike with gears and hand brakes...like I said I will find a single speed later.

Mine


Mrs RogerThat


My Daughters




Thanks for the input.

 

[RogerThat99]

Damn tapatalk wouldn't post the pictures correctly.

 

[capo1]

Nice fleet of bikes you got for the family. When you're ready to start building this site will give you plenty of inspiration and is a good source for used parts too.

http://www.ratrodbikes.com

 

[mbrown2]

Felt X3....have 4 of them...great crusiers.

 

[Willie B]

...I would recomend something with a motor and some horsepower... ...What I believe to be a broken leg doesnt hurt as bad now and there is only a minor v shape to my small shin bone...(insert smiley face here)

 

[yz450mm]

Where do you ride? We like doing the HB / NB bike (bar) tour...

 

[LB247XS]

FELT
Here's mine this bike rides like a Cadillac. The big tires are really smooth

 

[RogerThat99]

Where do you ride? We like doing the HB / NB bike (bar) tour...

I live in NorCal. We go to Santa Cruz & Tahoe fairly frequently, so will will ride there. Probably mostly just go for rides with the kids.

FELT
Here's mine this bike rides like a Cadillac. The big tires are really smooth View attachment 341665 View attachment 341665

Your bike is very nice!! I will see how much I use the bike. If I do ride it a lot, I will probably get something nicer. Mine is just a starter bike.

 

[hpltree]

i could not find any i liked so i just built my own.. i sat on a 5 gallon bucket put my feet and hands out and a buddy put a tape to me.. then spent about 300 on parts and 50 or so on pipe , started to bend it up and two days later i got this..

 

[spotondl]

Damn you Scott... I forgot how much fun cruising was until this thread. Now I'm eyeballs deep in potential cruiser purchases. Lol

 

[spotondl]

i could not find any i liked so i just built my own.. i sat on a 5 gallon bucket put my feet and hands out and a buddy put a tape to me.. then spent about 300 on parts and 50 or so on pipe , started to bend it up and two days later i got this.. View attachment 342011

Pretty sweet stretch. How is that to pedal? Looks like you'd be folded in half reaching for the pedals & handle bars. I only ask because I'm considering something similar. Would 210 pounds be too much for your stretch?

 

[hpltree]

well i am 6ft 5 and 280 so it holds i do wish we made a few inches shorter as in length .. its kinda hard to get rollin but you cant beat the cool factor lol

 

[Yellowboat]

Go check these out... http://www.laidbackcycles.com/

 

[SJP]

Pretty sweet stretch. How is that to pedal? Looks like you'd be folded in half reaching for the pedals & handle bars. I only ask because I'm considering something similar. Would 210 pounds be too much for your stretch?

That is a really nice bike. My stretched bike is not very comfortable on long rides. I put a 3 speed hub on it and it helped. The one with the motor is cool (until you get a ticket in Newport) .

 

[RogerThat99]

Damn you Scott... I forgot how much fun cruising was until this thread. Now I'm eyeballs deep in potential cruiser purchases. Lol

I feel your pain. I wasn't really in the market, but Hammer bought a bike so blame him. LOL.

Seriously, I needed to buy one for both of my Daughters and just ended up getting everyone a bike. Like I said, mine is just an entry level bike ($299) to make sure I will ride it before I spend a ton of money on the bike. This bike is very solid and very comfortable to ride, it is one of those times where you feel like you got more than your money's worth.

I rode it about 5 miles yesterday and the day before. My kids love going for bike rides.