20 Best Road Bike Under $700 (Jan 2023 Update)

Excellent bike. Very smooth riding with a comfortable riding position. Quality parts from Shimano make for fast shifts with good gear range. I ride primary for aerobic exercise and find the bike gives me a great workout while providing a smooth, solid ride. I assembled it myself but needed to have a bike shop to fine tune the front disc brake and true the front wheel in order for the front wheel to spin freely. (Although the bike comes with all the necessary assembly tools (hex wrenches and pedal wrench), the included assembly instructions are not very good w respect to the front wheel / disc brake assembly). But as it turns out Vilano explains that you need to have a bike shop check the assembly in order for the warranty to be valid … not something I knew going in, but the bike shop’s assembly review and front wheel / disc brake tuning ($80) gives me added peace of mind. I should add that Vilano customer service is outstanding. Their toll free phone automated attendant menu could do for a few more option selections to make things more intuitive, but once you get through to the staff they is great. They give you the sense that they are genuinely interested in helping you solve whatever problem you’ have. They listen well, seem to be very knowledgeable about the product and follow up as promised. Overall I’m very pleased with the bike … smooth and solid with good quality parts. Would I recommend and buy again – Yes!Michael L.

We ordered this bike for our teenage son. We added the Pro Build, since we don’t have any close bike shops and we knew he would ride it right away. The bike came on time and packaged neatly. Our son put it together in about 15 minutes and took it out for a ride. So nice that it worked perfectly! Totally worth the slight up charge. The bike looks and feels great for the price point; matte finish, lightweight frame, responsive components. Our kiddo is very happy!James K.

I researched bikes in order to find a hybrid bike that delivered more road performance than trail, at a reasonable cost. This one fit the bill and I believe is a clear winner in the price range $300. It does take a while to set up, and you should understand bikes or bring it to a shop to handle that for you. I understand bikes and I still became tripped up on the front derailleur, and it took me a couple days of working on it and reviewing video to first see where I messed up in attempting to fine tune it and then figuring out where to set it back to where it originally was set and then fine tuning it from that point again once I realized that's all it needed. The back derailleur and the disc brakes also needed adjustment and I did fine on them though but again, you need to understand bikes and also to comprehend videos on the subject matter. Took the bike for my first ride recently, so this is a maiden voyage review of approximately 7 to 8 miles on steep hills. It performs admirably on hills, where the 24 gears are a must! The bike is a performer for the price! Tires felt strong, frame is solid, disc brakes are great. The seat may need to be changed out for comfort, however, they are cheap enough and for the price of the bike, should not be considered a deterrent. It is better to NOT have a front shock for more road use, as that absorbs energy going up steep hills and that's what I needed this for. Had the bike pushing 40 m.p.h. or over and was very stable. Be sure to check the wheel hub and brakes prior to doing that though. Five stars for the quality on price point and the outlet shipped it fast and delivery time is reasonable. Remember, assembly IS required. The bike is solid but will need some adjustment once assembled though, so your call on how you do it, yourself or professionally, as it can be quite frustrating. If you were worried about quality, don't, it will get the job done for leisure to intermediate riding endeavors I believe based on my first take. I will update this if I have any major issues.Alphonse I.

Wheels are perectly true(purchased pro build). Very quiet ride and frame and spokes seem to absorb most road road irregularitys well. Slight chain noise easily eliminated by fine tunning of front derailer. Tires look a litle questionable, I don't think I'll get life that I was getting with my Vittoria Zaffiro V tires on my previous bike. Time will tellAmato B.

Price was really good. The bike had a few issues mainly due to someone assembling that didnt know what they were doing. Some minor scratches too but those look like they were from how it was returned. The rear derailleur hanger was bent and needed replaced. Got one for $10 and it was as good as new. Someone tried to put the peddles on backwards and damaged the starting threads a bit. Also had to do a lot of spoke adjustments to true the wheels. Basically good as new after a few hours of work and $10.je_vajef_b0zku3

The bike arrived on time like it said it would. The packaging was good. No damages and all the places that needed be protected are all cover with cardboard and foam pieces. Assembling the bike was a breeze no real headache there, whew! Thank god for that because the assembling instructions that came with the bike wasn’t really much help either way. Everything else about the bike was great I like the way it feels. The quality isn’t the best but it’s also not the worst…it’s definitely you get what you paid for. If you’re planning on doing any long-distanced riding with this bike I’d the first thing you want to do is change the tires. I wish I didn’t have to return the bike but I guess I’m going to. The bike height is taller than I expected. I went off of the sizing chart that the original website recommended to me. I bought a medium and I’m 5’7”. I’m going to try and get the smaller size and hopefully the fitment will be more comfortable.Brandon

I bought this bike for road treks and I have been happy. There are two sets of hand brakes, so you can comfortably ride low or high and be able to break. It shifts easily and is great going up hill. It is a sturdy bike and lightweight.Bkdavis89

It’s fast it’s amazing, love the change in the gears. It’s like a mountain bike, I use it to go hiking. Rt now I’m using it every morning it’s amazing love it.sana.k

This is a pretty good bike for the most part. It is really for a casual bike rider not so much a long distance rider. It's a bit heavy for long distance but seems to be pretty good quality with the exception of the tires. I think we'll probably replace them with some good quality ones since my husband does ride quite a bit. He generally rides somewhat long distances (more than 10-15 miles) but because he's risen professionally, he can handle the weight at least semi regularly. Thank you Influenster!heather.h

Solid frame and what I would consider a really good beginner bike. However, the disc breaks on my are cannot be adjusted to where they do not rub constantly. I've taken it into a shop to get it tuned and they cannot help either. The spacing on the wheel and the frame are off. I guess I need to spend some more money and convert it. I'm sure this is a 5 star bike with the right brakes or a better inspection from the factory.Joshua C.

I ordered a Vilano TUONO T20 2.0 Aluminum Road Bike 21 speed 54 cm. The picture of the bike on your website was misleading because the bike I received is some other Vilano aluminum road bike 21 speed 54 cm. I actually liked the one you sent me, even though it arrived pretty banged up… Like the rear derailleur and hanger were bent and scratched and the chainguard and other areas on the frame wereSteven W.

Easy to assemble. Rides great. Excellent manual. Quality parts. But… No center stem to raise handle bars so had to get a bike shop to add a stem adjuster and lengthen cables. This ran about $80 with quick install. I love the bike and it fits a 6 foot guy well. Overall a great buy. Quick delivery too!Michael C.

Bought this for my husband for his birthday. He is just getting into biking and this is a great bike to get started with! I also ordered the pro tune bicycle assembly which was a great add-on. Very simple to put together after that. Very happy with my purchase!! Thank you!Michelle D.

The bike looks beautiful and light weighted just as what I expected. But after assembling it and trying it on the road for the first day, I found that the front wheel tire went flat. I had to return it immediately to save the trouble of exchanging the tire. All the bike shops are fully booked for services. I don’t want to wait any more time just to change the tire. I want to get a bike NOW!Estereggmmm

I am very pleased with this bicycle. You get a lot for your money. This is a fast and light and well put together bicycle excellent for fitness. I would recommend that anybody over 5' 8" ,looking to get into cycling, to take a good look at this.RonCS

im in search or hunt i should say of a good road bike for beginners,ive set myself some short term goals for this year start with few miles and eventually build strenght to pedal harder but didnt want to spend a fortune so this just might be the rite one,open for all suggestions from the experienced fellas that will guide me in the rite direction havent road a bike since i was a kid im 52 so imagine ,thank you.

MikeMAMadera

Bought this bike under some recommendations of online cycle reviewers, so far I'm really pleased. The bike came in great shape, only had to put together a few key items (handle bars, front wheel, and seat). I was ready to go in about 1hr. I've taken it on a few 30 minute rides, the seat is definitely firm but more forgiving than other road bikes. I think the shifters on the brakes and the overall feel of the bike are very high end compared to the cost. I like the styling and look forward to riding it to work on a regular basis. If there is one thing to complain about it's that the shimano claris derailleurs have recommended combinations front-to-back, so they suggest not using the lowest front gear with the top two highest rear gears and vice versa. The front derailleur offers a "half shift" if your chain rubs, which really comes in handy when you want to break the shimano rules! Next steps: trying the bike with a baby carrier on it! Note: it came with a lot of warning/warranty/branding stickers. They all came off (some easier than others) with some good fingernail picking. No glue residue left behind – really happy about that.CarlFS

Love the Vilano Gravel bike, just did a quick test after setting it, up, shipping was fast, and everything arrived in good condition. Beautiful bike i love it, can't wait to test it out more in a few weeks time.Andy W.

Hi I m David King and my bike is so great its explosive on the road and on trails I love my bike so much im taking it on a dirt road also bye 🙂Dayday

I was surprised at how good the quality of this bike, specially for the price. The parts and the build is very good. So far no issues with the bike after riding it every day for two weeks. It feels like my old Jamis road bike except the bar is straight and the bike is meant for comfort but also does have the speed if you need to. If you are looking for a daily bike for your daily commute or maybe fitness, this bike is worth checking.MSG21

I have broken multiple personal bests for distance traveled after I began riding this bike. It has taken me to many places with ease and the posture I maintain on this well-designed bike makes every ride relaxing. The gears are very smooth and the wheels give me a great feel for the road. The suspension is top class and the powder-coated frame still looks like new after my rides through all kinds of weather.Camryn Brown

I received This Amazing Takara Oni Bike Complimentary from Influenster and Kent Bicycles Free in exchange for my honest Review and I LOVE �� This bike , The Handlebars, The Brakes and The way it Rides also . I have had other bikes before But , This one really did outperform The others. Thank you soo much foe this Amazing Bike That You've blessed me with and I'm very Grateful �jennifer.i

It’s a great solid bike! I don’t have a ton of experience with bikes and I’m not an avid rider, but this seems to be on par with other brands! My husband enjoyed riding it and I think it will last for years to come.taylor .r

I received these bike for free from Influenster and Kent brand in exchange for my honest review. I had my husband trying the bike he states that is very easy to use and very light so far he really likes it and enjoyed it he went around our neighborhood. This bike looks stylish and has all the much-needed features for a smooth ride! The bike seat is well cushioned and really comfortable. Brakes on the handle act much quicker and stronger than the paddle ones. I’m pretty sure he’ll continue using it.he loves bikes!sherley.m

Not only was I impressed, just about every one that has seen it, felt the same! I belong to a circle of old serious riders who have had numerous bikes and have been riding for years! The bicycle fits and rides well. For the price, its hard to beat,and all riders agree with me!.thanks!ralphieboy561

Purchased this bike even after checking lackluster reviews. I rode it in the parking lot to make sure it was ok and immediately noted the rubbing sound as I peddled. Shifted the gears so I could see if it was intermittent but found it to be noticeable at every one. Took it right back inside and the salesman took it to the back and he advised the assembler was there. He came back and explained that the gears needed to be broken in a bit and the rubbing/ scraping would settle down. I made sure it was returnable and then agreed to try. I don’t know why I fell for that. Son came over to my house to check it it out. He noticed it and after we both rode it, found it still rubbing noticeably. Son advised it was improperly assembled or just poor quality. Disc brakes also were not tight. Pretty heavy for a hybrid, but sturdy. I’m surprised the Professional assembler” didn’t ride it and adjust before handing it over to anyone! I expected more from Schwinn and especially from Academy. Took it back! Surprised at the poor quality. It was a very pretty color, though.New Smyrna gal

I bought this bike a few days ago. I plan on biking 3-5 days per week in the spring, summer, and fall. I did some research and decided to purchase a hybrid since I will be using the bike on roads and light trails/paths. I am 5'4" woman and wasn't sure if a men's bike frame would be too much for me to handle, but I tried out many women's bikes and found men's bikes to be more comfortable. The Schwinn GTX2 700c men's hybrid bike was in my price point and was very comfortable. When I got home and went on my first ride, I noticed some issues with the gears. When I was in a lower gear, there was a persistent grinding sound that didn't subside. When I was in higher gears, there was no grinding sound. I brought the bike to my father-in-law, who used to build bicycles, and he said the bike required a few adjustments in the gears and chain. Thankfully, he was able to make the adjustments without any cost to me. My first time riding the bike, I noticed how uncomfortable the seat was. I know there is a period of getting used to riding a bike, but the seat was so uncomfortable that I figured it would deter me from going on rides. I went back to CT and bought the Schwinn Ultra Air Pump Bike Seat. What a difference! The new seat is much wider and much more padded and comfortable. I tried buying a rear bike rack but none would fit the bike. The holes in the bike frame to attach the rack didn't allow enough clearance for the screw between the frame and the gears. And the type of racks that attach just under the seat didn't work either. There wasn't enough room between the frame and the seat to attach this type. So instead, I purchased a removable basket for the front of the bike. I also purchased a water bottle holder, a bell, a lock with word combination, helmet, and trunk rack. While I have only biked twice since I bought the bike 6 days ago, I am very excited about the bike. I have owned a few bikes in my life and find this to be the most comfortable. And it looks great also! The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars is that I had to purchase a new seat since the seat that came with the bike was so uncomfortable. I definitely recommend this bike!TinaMarie

It is a good (was red) bike, I did on it more thet 5.000 km. Changed transmission, brakes and tires, changed handlebar and cables, changed seat and pedals. The issues: heavy in general, front suspension is heavy, pedals can harm you and scratch your skin, cheap wheel parts, cheap brakes, cheap transmission, expensive for him parts. This bike is good only for fitness during two seasosns. After two seasons you should change transmission and fix other issues.Radu

I’m a talk gal. Long legs. The large frame fits me perfectly. The seat adjusts front to back by a lot do I found my perfect position. The shifter shifts so smoothly. I live in west coast florida so fairly flat. 7 speeds is sufficient. The pedals are wide and my feet are very comfortable on them. I really like this bike and for me that’s saying a lot. I’m a Giant rode bike owner and a Raleigh all terrain bike owner. Both of which I love. This is a nice addition.Jeanne P.

Love this city bike in blue with brown leather, the cute look of a beach cruiser but with the lightweight and speed of a city bike. It shipped so fast, got here in 5 days before Xmas!!!! Love the slim tires, pretty easy to put together, I did I myself in about an hour. So far I took it for a couple of 5 mile rides and it’s riding great. Looking forward to doing a longer 25 miles trail, let’s see how it holds up. Overall very happy, after saying I wanna get a bike for two years, I finally did it and love it! Thanks Retrospect!Amanda M.

I was looking to begin commuting via bike and for something to cruise around with my partner. I legit do not know how to ride a bike, so I did not want to spend a bunch of money on something. I also didn’t want to have a vintage bike bc the shifters seem confusing to me. I’m 5’4” but for some reason I have a shorter inseam than I thought, and the diamond bikes are all just a tiny bit too big. I don’t like the curvy lines of most step-through bikes. The mixte was a good option for that. However, it says it fits people 5’ & I don’t think it would be a comfortable ride for anyone smaller than I am. I love the aesthetic of this bike and it’s a nice ride and fit. I had my partner take it for a spin because I have no experience for comparison. Others say it’s heavy, but I can lift it with moderate effort. Though i do not have to move it up or down any stairs. I docked a star because the gear shifter handle bar is really tiny. I like that my hand rests on the shifter and that the handle including the shifter is similar in size to the other handle, but it still somehow seems too small. Also, the outward angle of the handle bars make it impossible to read which gear I’m in. Not a big deal once I get more comfortable, but I live in a hilly area, so I’d like to have a sense which gear I’m in and which gear I prefer for various grades. The shifting did need quite a bit of tuning and tweaking. My partner took care of it because she likes to help and it was a quick refresher for her to learn (she rides a fixie), but others may have to pay someone for that work and should be aware that would be an additional cost, though I understand it’s to be expected of a mail delivery bike. One more tiny bummer is that the basket I ordered was confirmed then retracted for being out of stock. But the bike arrived really quickly, so it’s okay to wait for the basket to come back into stock. Overall, good bike for price.Tori L.

I wanted a single-speed bike for ease of riding and maintenance, and I wanted one that was inexpensive enough to not worry about theft. This bike has been perfect in that regard. The only significant weakness for me is that the bike does not have eyelets for mounting a substantial rear rack. Instead I have settled for a relatively weak rack which can only carry a few groceries. As visible in the photo, the handlebars are relatively straight, which means that you’ll be leaning forward while riding instead of sitting upright. Riding with an upright posture feels (and probably is) safer, especially if you ride without a helmet.Kyle

This is the best bike I have ever owned that will get me around; smooth riding at a medium to fast pace, the breaks work great. If you decide this kind of bike would also be right for you I would definetly reccomend using lights and have protection with at least a helmet; especially for long distance riding, if you can manage to use gloves with both elbow and knee pads thats even better. Having this bike is really worth it long as you stay safe while following local traffic laws while being mindful of others. What I also like about this bike is that its great for riding around to explore natural sceanary; so if you love nature photogragraphy or just happen to be into listening to music while enjoying the health benefits then wonderful! 🙂Frank

This piece of useless trash should not be considered a bicycle. The tires are so fragile my front one was tearing apart within a week of having it. The brakes do not ever adjust correctly or stay adjusted. This along with these wheels being so terribly poorly made that you will keep stopping your ride to try to figure out what broke on the pseudo-cycle. Nothing broke, it was built this terrible and worthless. I have written a complaint to Kent bicycles because of this assault against function and use being called a bicycle. I will never buy another bicycle from Kent Bicycles and depending on Kent's response to my complaint, this current piece of trash will most likely be thrown in dumpster.Gordon

I'm not a cyclist. I moved to CHI and needed a better way to commute. I am in LOVE with my bike and couldn't be happier with my purchase. Smooth ride, lots of compliments from other bikers, all-in-all VERY happy.Ryan

Great bike. Silky smooth ride and tons of style points. It's not a race bike (obviously) and not a touring bike (maybe not so obvious), but if your interested in looking good while cruising around town, then this is a good choice. I get lots of looks when riding it. And like the other reviewer said, the chain is super quiet. Pure's customer service? Well, it stinks. I submitted a repair question to them — twice — and was ignored both times. Bad on them. REI, on the other hand, is fantastic. Get the bike, just don't expect any help from Pure if there is a problem.sojo

Overall, I was pleased with this bicycle. I very much liked the click gear shifters and the road tires. After hitting a pothole on one of our local, poor-quality Illinois service roads and seeing my first flat, I was surprised. After removing the tire and tube, I noticed a metal shaving from the air valve hole still resting within the wheel! I would not have expected that kind of sloppiness from a Schwinn, even if they are all made in China now. That aside, the bike is a real pleasure, and my travel times have definitely improved against my cheap Wal-Mart Roadmaster! If you don't mind some tinkering with the brakes and a little assembly on arrival, it's hard to beat the overall quality.misterb-13

This is a very good bike for the price. Target card gives you a 5%discount, which is a plus. For a 1st road bike, i would recommend this bike. Only 2 reasons why I do not give it 5 stars is because of the following reason: 1) I cannot give it 4.5 2) some issues with the gears and breaks which need to be tweaked. I would recommend taking it to the bike shop if you can for assembly. I work on cars, and this didn't scare me so I worked it out myself. With the price in mind, you will be hard pressed to get an equivalent bike for the price. If you have $400-500 to spend or want to spend at least that much, then go for something else like a Trek or Specialized.TKam DE

Ok I took a risk in this bike in spite of some negative reviews often about a bent fork. Fortunately for me, everything was in order save for some missing screws. Fortunately, I found them inside the box. The bike was mostly assembled and all you have to do is attach the front wheel, handlebars, seat and pedals. And though there was a manual included, it was pretty much a general manual. Still assembly is a breeze or intuitive to say the least. I haven't owned a bike for over ten years and I was able to put this thing together without much reference to the manual. There was no need for me to bring this to my local Walmart or my LBS. Upon assembly, I took it out for a trial spin and came back to make some fine tuning on the brakes. Truth be told, this is the first time I have encountered disc brakes. All my life I am used to caliper type of brakes. And still assembly and fine tuning is fairly simple. And after adjusting the brakes, the bike is now fully working. Right now I am more concerned in handling the bike and building up my resistance. Now I have more biking to do!mmsumulong

Rode this for 2 months now and put on about 150 miles. If you plan on riding 10mi or less, it does a good job. Any longer than that, then it needs upgrades. I changed out the bar tape, saddle, and added toe cages since all 3 stock makes me go numb for anything more than 10mi. Longest trip i went on is 50mi and bike held up. Tires still look brand new. It gives a very pleasant ride as it absorbs quite a lot of road imperfections. Once i do hit a rock or good size bump though, it reacts very poorly and is a bit erratic to recover. Dont go by me 100%, but i unmounted the tires and it looks like the rims are double walled. The pedaling is smooth, and the whole bike looks great. The aerodynamic wheels work really well too and i have noticed that i roll downhill faster and further than more expensive bikes. Biking in angled crosswind doesnt push me over as much as when im on my mtb. The drivetrain is a bit noisy. Chain drives, but there are dead zones along the power stroke. I thought it was my poor pedaling technique, so i tried a shorter crank, but the same thing happens! Worst thing is there is no bottle holder, or even an option to install one as there are no screws or even taps. My hands were unbearable for my half century, so im planning to upgrade the handlebars. I plan on doing a century one day and have no doubt the bike wont throw any issues, except i'll be needing a better chain and handlebar…..maybe pedals too sinfe the stock ones bearly have any support. Brakes are ok as they stop authoritatively. The discs are low-end, so expect uncorrectable rubbing, and an obvious squeak on engagement. Overall, the stock form should be ok for people who commute 10mi or less, or dont mind going numb for any distance over that. In my case, i want more than what the bike is worth, so i need upgrades.Nguyen5505

For the price, this is a decent bike. I bought it in directly in the store and since I couldn't ride it long enough, I didn't realize the issues. Who ever put the bike together didn't know what they were doing. It had some minor issues with the chain and the shift. I brought it to a bike shop to see what could be done and if it was worth the repair/fixing. The bike shop realigned my stuff and took apart and put back together some of the pieces….once he did this, the bike rode super well! no more clicking noises and he fixed the shift. his words were " the person who put the bike together didn't know how to put a bike together". It cost me $20 for the repairs. knowing the cost of decent gravel bikes compared to this one, an extra $20 wasn't a big deal. Overall i'm happy but this by no means is top quality but a good value for the priceGia