What To Look For
Look for sturdy bikes with round aesthetics and curvy designs. Look for balloon type tires with little or no tread at all. Most cruisers also come with white-wall tires and handlebars that are higher than the seat and swept back toward the rider. Cruisers also have trick paint jobs in fluorescent and pastel hues. Look for designer decals and plush amenities like soft hand grips and baskets. True cruiser bikes only have one gear in front and one in back.
Common Pitfalls
Common problems with cruisers are weight. Cruisers need to be sturdy, but if the bike weighs above 30 pounds, it will be hard to pedal down the road for any distance. Another pitfall is seat width. Super-wide seats might look comfy, but seats that are too wide lead to soft tissue irritation on your upper thigh and rear end. Consider the bike size as well. Make sure that the bike has enough seat height for a full extension of your leg at the bottom of your pedal stroke.
Where To Buy
Nationwide, REI is the best place to buy cruisers. They have the best selection and good prices. Warehouse bike shops are also good. Avoid high-end racing bike shops that specialize in performance bikes. Mom-and-Pop bike shops are a good place to buy cruisers because they also specialize in family products. Any bike shop on the coast where there is beach riding is also a good place to purchase a cruiser.
Cost
Basic cruisers can be bought as low as $150. Beach cruisers will run about $200. Designer and company logo cruisers will run about $300 to $400. Custom cruisers with an extra wide back tire, high-rise handlebars, lots of chrome and metal flake paint jobs can cost $1,200 or more depending on the amount of customization. With cruisers, you pay more for aesthetics than performance.
Comparison Shopping
Beach cruisers are what started it all and have stayed the same in design since about 1940. They have extra wide tires that run with low pressure for riding on the beach. They do not perform well on pavement or sidewalks but excel on sand. Street cruisers have slightly narrower tires that run with higher pressure making them far more efficient on pavement.
Accessories
Cruisers can be equipped with lots of items like baskets, fenders or cargo carriers that go above the rear tire. Other options are child seats that attach to the bike's rear wheel axle and seat post. Another accessory that is good for families is a tow bar that attaches to the seat post of the cruiser. The other end attaches to any child's bike and substitutes for the front wheel on the child's bike. This is great for teaching children to ride safely.
Insider Tips
Unless you plan on riding very little, don't buy a cruiser that is steel. With the larger diameter tubing on cruisers, steel frames are just too heavy. Also watch out for the motorcycle designs. Cruisers that are made to look like motorcycles with the large slick tire in back are hard to ride. Cruisers are gender-specific. For elderly riders, it's a good idea to stick with women's cruisers. They have the easy-on, easy-off design that lets the rider step through without swinging their leg over the seat. This is good for low-speed riding and safety.
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