20 Best Street Bike For Beginners (Feb 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.

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

The cutest bike that ever was. The olive green color is awesome. It's great for quick rides around town and I love the step through design (skirts and heels to dinner are doable!). My boyfriend assembled the bike for me and said it was fairly easy to put together. The metal chain cover arrived bent causing the chain to catch on it. We had to bend and pound the metal piece to fit. Overall the bike is best in my opinion for flat commutes. If I lived somewhere with more hills I'd be bummed because first gear is sometimes not low enough for steeper roads (which compared to other places I've lived are still pretty mellow considering) and I'm not sure the 8 speed would fix that issue. I'm also 5'5" and find the handle bars a tad too far away from the seat, by about an inch. My body position is in this awkward not-leaning-forward-not-sitting upright position, which gets a bit annoying after awhile. That said, for a price tag of under $500 including tax and shipping, I can't complain. It's great for what I wanted and I get compliments everywhere I go 'cause it's cute af.Brittany D.

A very solid bike for the price point. Is it trying to do anything fancy? No, but it is a great option for someone looking to get from A to B without breaking the bank. When I was researching this as a gift for my girlfriend, I noticed a few complaints about the weight and the build quality. To those points, I would say the following: Weight: overall, the bike is not super light, so it can be a little unwieldy when trying to load it into a vehicle. That said, it is not too heavy, and rides fairly smoothly. The bigger factor is how the weight is distributed across the bike (center of gravity, in essence). Most of the weight feels like it sits between the rider and the rear wheel, with the front feeling very light in comparison. This is not an issue in any way, but it does create a bit of a learning curve for cornering, as well as for stopping on down-slopes. Just be aware that it will take some getting used to. Build quality: lined up with what I would expect for the price point. The frame and primary components seem solid, and while some of the smaller nuts and bolts for things like the fenders are a little on the soft side, they didn't present any issue for me on install. As a side note, I did the initial assembly of the bike upon receipt just to make sure nothing was missing or obviously damaged, but I took it to a shop for final alignment, tightening, and tuning setup. There were no issues to be found, and it was pretty intuitive to assemble, to the point where I almost didn't need the instructions. What I will say is that the brakes needed significant adjustment out of the box, which is part of the reason I entrusted the initial setup to professionals. My GF and I have ridden the bike several times now on variable length trips (1 mile – 20 miles), and the bike performed reasonably well for all use cases. The seat did get a touch uncomfortable toward the end of the 20 mile trip, but not to the point of being unbearable (I should also mention that this is coming from the stance of someone who is not used to sitting on bike seats for any length of time). It rides and shifts well through the midrange gears, but gets a bit noisy in the lowest gear, and the highest gear is feels like it really only wants to be used when going down a pretty steep hill to try to build speed. The weight in the tail is also very noticeable when climbing steep grades, encouraging the rider to lean forward more than usual, but not to an uncomfortable degree. Overall, this is a very usable and well priced bike. It isn't perfect, but it exceeded my expectations. I have not had it long enough to comment on long term reliability/ serviceability. P.S. I would strongly consider upgrading the brakes if planning to use this bike in hilly environments or as a daily rider, just for a bit of extra stopping power and response. The rear brakes in particular can feel a bit soft, especially when traveling with loads such as groceries.Colin R.

Firstly, the parcel was sent in the thinnest, least-protective box imaginable. I've gotten Amazon boxes of cotton balls more fortified. It was also shipped via FedEx Home Delivery, which means it was subject to a contractor's whims and handled roughly. It not only came late, but the box had several large holes and I'm pretty sure some of the hardware fell out in the process because it was missing two bolts. The derailleur hanger was bent upon receipt as a result of banging around for days and days in transit. Now I have to spend additional money and time having it repaired. They quoted us $100. Retrospec did refund just under that, so they did make it right in that regard, but it's now been two weeks and I haven't gotten to ride my bicycle once. I can't review the actual bike yet, but I wanted to call out the shoddy box and the choice to use FedEx instead of UPS, which is consistently better for packages like this. Just a bit of extra padding, especially for models with a delicate derailleur, and I would have been singing its praises and having fun on my vacation instead of feeling sad every time I see someone else enjoying a bike. That said, the color is beautiful. The saddle and grips are rather cheap-looking, but those can be replaced.Jessica M.

probably have to tinker with it a little to get it just so, the seat… probably needs a better one… if u value your assets, tighten ALL the fitting on it with the appropriate size wrench (u do have tools, yes? ) I will probably get a CHEAP/WIDE $5 inner tube, cut the valve stem out of it and use it as a tread/tube liner so that thorns do not puncture the tire/tube; put it between the inner tube that is in there and the BACK tire… as I wud any bike as thorns are prevalent here and fixing 7 flats in 3 days because I was CHEAP and didn't get the HEVI WATE INNER TUBES on my last NEW bike was …. and education to do IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME so I didn't have to do it again… and again and again. SLIME is hard to get into the tires through the NARROW hole in the air thingy even with the Schrader valve removed. LOCKS, U LOCKS AND HEVI WATE CHAIN… if u want to keep the bike; as sometimes they ride off by themselves if left anywhere. cable "locks" are ornaments (don't ask how I KNOW this) and not worth throwing out. some gearheads have taken the bearings apart and greased them and have said they are tightened TOO TIGHT from the factory, but DO NOT LOSE THE BEARINGS!!! carpet catches bearings, hard floors=scattered bearings=bad. tires are said to be HEAVY compared to after market, but that is not all bad as once get the tires rolling… INERTIA KEEPS THEM ROLLING with a little effort so that is good. like kicking the clutch out on a BIG TRUCK on the highway… it will coast a LONG WAY with all that weigh/inertia built up in its mass/wheels/tires.18LiterDETROITDIESEL

First of all, it sure is a slap in the face to see the price drop $17 just two weeks after I got it. Now then, my experience has been much the same as other reviews. It is a barely "OK" bike, I guess for the money nowadays. It is built and billed as a "Mountain Bike" which is the furthest thing I intend to use it for. From what I gather, you would have to add another zero to the price to get a genuine, usable mountain bike. I am 68 years old wanting to get some exercise. And when I saw this Fat Tire bike, I had to have it. It is the closest I have seen to the old (even then) bike I had as a kid in the fifties and sixties. I will probably end up spending as much extra to make the bike marginally usable, as the bike cost to start with. It is in the shop right now and I'm not doing that much yet. The seat if terrible. The brakes, we'll have to see after they are adjusted right. I have a new seat ready to put on when I get it back. I had the shop put on a steering riser (probably not right term) to raise the handlebars. Keeping original bar for now but may have to replace that too. And replacing the brake levers. If the brakes don't improve (a lot!!) I'll either replace them, or sell the whole bike and get something else. I even got new pedals. The reflectors on the original pedals break off easily. The shifter is a PITA because it wants to change as you are gripping the bar. It should have been a lever or something. And high gear is not even as high as my old single speed. What good is THAT? I guess what it boils down to is that it is impossible to buy a Fat Tire Mountain Bike for $200 that is not a joke even for just plain riding down the street, let alone riding in the mountains.Tinman98

Due to its tubular steel frame, the 26 inch Mongoose Dolomite seven speed fat bicycle is heavier than 26 inch fat bicycles constructed of aluminium or carbon fiber. However, a new aluminium fat bicycle frames will cost no less than $900.00; carbon fiber fat bicycle frames prices start at about $2,000. As a direct result of the enormous price difference I decided to purchase the Dolomite just to try out a fat bicycle with the full entention of purchasing a far more expensive model if I enjoyed the larger design. I was surprisingly blown away! The Dolomite had arrived at my front door in only two days. I discovered assembly to be rather simple, but as a safety measure I walked the Dolomite ten blocks to my neighbourhood bicycle repair store for an overall examination; at the bicycle shop both disc brakes were properly calibrated, grease was added to the handle bar support collar, a water bottle cage was placed onto the frame, tires were inflated to proper pressure and then were placed in their recommended rotational direction. Finally, the seat pole was adjusted to a safe and comfortable height. I paid my service charge, quickly place my helmet on and then brought my bicycle onto the New York City streets. The ride was so comfortable due to the large amount of inflated rubber between the road bed and the large 4 inch rims. In addition, at slow speeds and at accelerated speeds the tires are constantly providing exceptional traction; I remained in full control of the bicycle as I effortlessly floated above the New York City man hole covers, large steel plate covers, pot holes and the ubiquitous sewer drainage grids. The weight of the bicycle is an attribute when descending steep hills, but when ascending hills be prepared to pump vigorously. The gears do shift rather accurately to their corresponding numbers, but not the smoothest shift. Due to its price, aesthetics, quality of design and durability I strongly recommend the Mongoose Dolomite Men's 7 Speed Bicycle.JNemorin

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

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

The first time I test rode this bike, I told the guy at the bike shop I'd just "take it around the block really quick" as I'd already taken a longer ride on a different bike and didn't want to take up too much of his time. When I got back to the shop, he told me he thought he was going to have to send someone out looking for me, I was gone so long. I didn't even realize it. I instantly fell in love with this bike. It was a little expensive, though, so I wanted to sleep on it, and came back the next day to watch someone buying the exact bike I test rode, which happened to be the last in the shop. That was about 17 months ago. I have searched high and low, near and far, looking for this bike in my size. Insane manufacturing and shipping delays have impacted most of the world's products, but somehow this bike is one of the hardest to get your hands on (especially in your size). I don't know exactly why. So with that out of the way, let me tell you about the bike itself. I don't know how to describe it any better than it feels like there is no bike there. It feels like I am riding nothing, and speeding down the road through some form of magic. I'm not saying it feels like a cloud, or like air, more that it somehow melds into neither my body nor the road but somehow both at once, or neither. It is my dream bicycle. I don't really remember my rides on it, just like I lost track of time when test riding it. I seem to just disappear when I leave the house on it and after a pleasant teleportation process, arrive at my destination. Shifting is instant and confident. The wheels and tires are chunky enough that I'll never slip into the train tracks (I live in San Francisco) but thin enough that I don't feel like I'm riding a monster truck. They're soft and fast. The bars are flared, but not enough that you would notice without looking at them directly. The frame is quite light for steel, especially compared to my buddy's Nicasio+, and absorbs vibration comfortably. If you can't tell, I love this bike. I didn't know it was possible to love a bike this much. I deeply hope you can find one in stock and in your size, because I think everyone deserves to have an experience with a bike like I have with this one.Anthony A.

Contacted Jenson originally about the availability of the MARIN NICASIO+ 650B BIKE 2022 in 50 cm. They mentioned that it was on back order but date of delivery was TBD. I asked about the Marin Nicasio 700C bike in a 50 cm, and it was available. The frame was identical with exception of color, I decided to buy it. Jenson worked with me on shipping the bike later as I was on vacation. Shipped out on a Thursday and arrived the following Thursday morning. I opened the box to find a bike that was professionally packed with blow in foam bags protecting the wheels, cassette, crank. The box was a little worse for wear but that's expected with UPS. I took it for a test ride and found that the shifting was off and needed some adjustment. I chock that to UPS rough handling as they don't know what handle with care or fragile means. Overall, I'm happy with the bike. Jenson gave me a great price as a returning customer, they upgraded the brakes to Tektro mechanical as opposed to the advertised Promax. It's a great ride for someone that used to road bikes and wanting to move to a gravel formatValentine

I bought a Silver 52cm not a black 50cm. The bike is fine, everything you would expect for less than a thousand dollars. I had no expectations at this price point, so I am satisfied with my purchase.Nick

Only had this a couple of weeks now but so far really REALLY pleased with it. I was warned off getting a hybrid by a lot of bike snobs but wanted something all-round for mostly road with some path / light trail / woodland and to take a child seat on the back and it's done superbly in all settings so far. The suspension would likely suffer under any really heavy trail riding but guessing if that's what you're after, you'd get a MTB so for everything mentioned above this is great. I'm also 6'5" so was a bit worried about sizing / comfort but there is room to spare on this for me and it's really comfortable, great reach / height and feels very secure with my weight on it. No doubt you could go faster on a road bike but for the versatility, comfort, cost and build quality here I think it's really excellent – gears, brakes etc all seem to be up to the job, I don't know much about available gear but would assume the component parts probably aren't 'top shelf' so might need some upgrading at some point but for now seems to be very capable of racking up the miles.bikingbig

Trek Dual Sport2 is a good hybrid bike. Excellent value for money, light and looks good. But if I had to do it again, I would much rather buy it from a store rather than online. You have to self-assemble if you buy online. I rang the local store to find out if they would give me an appointment for assembling. Apparently that’s not how it works. They wouldn’t give me an appointment. I had assumed incorrectly that it makes no difference whether you buy the bike online or from the store. So if you can, buy from the store, not online. No other complaints!SW19RK

Hi all. I’d like to tell you about my new Trek DS2 First off, there is a load of snobbishness in many bike reviews I have read… as far as I am concerned the DS 2 is not an Entry Level, Budget or first bike……. I am never going to be a pro cyclist but, what I am is a regular dude that is sick of tubes and trains and a few years ago decided to ‘get into’ cycling on the ‘Danger of Death Streets’ that are London…. So I went from my first bike, a nice armchair like Dawes so what I am told was a aggressive road bike – a Cannondale – don’t ask, not a great idea….. To the DS 2 Enough rambling. I ordered on line and Evans delivered to me just one day late from their anticipated delivery date. A large brown box appeared on Friday morning and the DS 2 was here. All in pretty easy enough to order – bit miffed about paying delivery charges and zero incentives like a fiver off vouchers… but I paid up and took my chances. So out of the Box The bike was very well packed up and had lots of bubble wrap and stuff around the frame. In theory, all I had to do was bolt of the pedals, tighten up the handlebars and I was good to go. There was a very handy little multi tool of allen keys and a pedal spanner included. Alas not that easy. I opted for the equipped model which came with mud guards, kick stand and lights – not dynamo powered as I have seen on other websites by the way. First off, mudguards were put on too tightly. There is no mention of them in the Evans manual you get with an on-line bike so just check them out. The front derailer was put on at a very very odd angle meaning that out of the box I could only select the lowest gears but a bit of fiddling and a few you-tube vids later I more or less got is sorted out. I have been trying to call my local Evans shop for four days for some help but I can never get through. There were a few different fittings for the lights none of which worked, so I am reverting to my old set of Cats Eyes In my experience the lesson here is do not buy on line. I’d never spend £675 again this way. The Ride All aside from what I completely blame on Evans putting pounds over service. I think my DS2 is amazing. What I love. Comfortable ride, great disc brakes, brilliant gear range – eventually and the front suspension is amazing. I ride to work via canal tow paths so suspension is a great idea! I am not a super fit bloke!!! But I can maintain 14 – 15 MPH on my DS2. I totally trust the bike in traffic too which is blessed relief when riding into central London. Ignore what you read about entry level, beginners hybrid and all the other stiff on bike websites. The DS2 is a strong well-made bit of kit which I can highly recommend. I would certainly recommend it but in person sale not on line! Happy cycling and ride safeFat lad at the back

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.

This is a great starter bike, the main reason I choose This bike was the Awesome Look! Then the great Price! It comes 85 % assembled, I just took it to the local bike shop so Couid finish the job. Highly recommend bike!raytronprime

Great investment almost a steal! As described 85% assembled. Took approximately 15 minutes to assemble the remaining parts. Only thing left is to order accessories..atiyjaharashid_0

Overall bike is ok, stickers on wheels and bike were all coming off. Had to rewrap handle bars. Honestly I could have went to Walmart and got bikes for 1/2 the costzleg42

THe first bike did come in damaged and they replaced it without questions. I needed to wait about 7 days for new bike and all was perfect this time. The bike is nice and light enough to carry up the stairs at condo in Florida and the 7 speeds are great for longer rides too. I waited over a year before writting this review as I wanted to see how the bike works first. I am about 230 lbs and 6'.1" tall and the bike operates perfect for me so anyone less than this should have no troubles. I do get some funny looks as the bike has smaller wheels/tires and had a policeman ask if I was a bear on a bike in the circus, I am hairy. The bike does not have much of a suspension so I would recommend a comfortable seat with suspension is a good purchase. This bike gets rides about 5 days a week for about 12-15 miles each time I ride it. Other things that are a good idea are a bell that is loud as I ride this bike in Florida and many on trail in park cannot hear me or have their headphones pumped up to 10, just dumb, as they do not know I am coming past them, even when I yell out, on your left. Try it and I think you will enjoy this bike as it does all I ask of it and more.Evil667

Bough this second hand even though i didnt like the shape i wanted to give it a try as my 1st folding bike without upgrades saddle is very stiff, grips no good unless you wear gloves, folding takes some time and you need a bungee cord and yes its heavy riding with original crankset 42t you have to pedal faster while you hurt your knees with that being said not good for long distance ride or commute.

Now with upgrades much better saddle, palm grips, crankset 48t with that i can pedal faster and gained 3-6mph and travel longer depending on the road while only hurting my thighs and not my knees.

This bike is best suited for elders 60+ unisexChema Espinal

The Bike has a wonderfully low body so that people with disabilities can mount and dismount easily. It would be perfect but the brakes keep breaking. I cannot yet ride a bike and I purchased this one because I'm trying to learn. I did nothing to cause the brakes to break. I replaced the bicycle once and now I'm having the same issue again only I cannot return the product because the window for returns has closed. I don't recommend purchasing this bike. The low body is nice but imagine what would happen if I had been riding and the break cables snapped.Setsuna

I’ve had my Marlin 8 for about a month now and finally got a chance to take it on the trail today. This thing is a beast! It handles rough terrain better than any hardtail I’ve ever been on. The gear ratios are perfect and it shifts quickly and accurately. It’s a blast on downhills, very stable at speed. I was concerned that the 29 inch wheels might be a liability in tight spots, but it handles really well. I never really felt like there was much compromise in maneuverability to get the improved terrain handling of the 29 inch wheels. I was cruising over big roots and rocks that my buddy struggled with, and he’s a much stronger rider than me!

Before today, I had taken it on the road a few times. It’s really smooth on asphalt and crushed gravel trails. Very comfortable ride. Easy to acccessorize and customize. I’ve usually been one to upgrade the saddles on my bikes, but this one is really comfortable and I have no plans to do so at this point. I did swap out the pedals; I’m a cage guy myself. And I put on the Bruntrager aluminum rear rack and kickstand for grocery store runs. Both installed easily and solidly and the weight gain is negligible.

The Trek Marlin 8 is a fantastic bike at a really good price point.Tyler Wadsworth

Used for commuting and a little bit of trails it has performed well once I got rid of the saddle and put new pedals on but took a bit of getting used to the bikes xc geometry. The gearing is smooth but the hub engagement is awful probably the worst I've ever used and is arguably dangerous on technical trails if you are not used to it. As I also intended this bike to lend to friends when we go mountain biking I will probably have to change the rear hub.Roy

You can’t go wrong with trek. Most defiantly worth paying the money for a good quality bike with great components. Well done bailfes and trekMark E.

As a previous road and mountain bike racer in my younger days, I retrofitting my Soltera 7 slightly. I switched out the stock bars for a straight bar in part because it gives the bike more stability, added 700 x 40 trail tires as I live on a dirt road and the bikes paths near me are all dirt, threw on my SPD peddles and got rid of the kickstand. Yesterday, I rode up Chuchara Pass (with battery to spare) in Southern Colorado which was something I could not have done prior to the Soltera 7. I try to only use the assist when I really need it and the weight of the bike is such that I can ride it without assist a lot of the time, but just knowing it is there allows me to increase my distance on rides where before my body would have made that determination. One important factor in my choosing this electric bike was the weight; I had to be able to lift it ( I am 5’1) in and out of my car as I don’t have a rack yet. I can do that with the Soltera 7. It doesn’t weigh that much more than my Juliana dual suspension mountain bike I recently sold this year. And as someone who purchased an electric car last year, the absolute fun of this bike reminds me of those feelings I had when I first drove my EV….laughter and joy out on the road and feeling like a kid again! I do also have solar panels so I can charge the EV and the Soltera and feel pretty darn great that it is powered from start to finish with clean energy (mine and the sun!). The world is a tough place these days and finding joy can sometimes be difficult, but the Soltera 7 has brought many moments of joy and for that I am grateful. It is a little slow to kick in once you request the assist and some front suspension would be nice (which would make it heavier and more expensive ), the brakes are quite squeaky which is kind of annoying but can be taken care of, but life is about tradeoffs and there are not many things this bike asks you to look past. It is strangely funny that I have returned to the hardtail bikes of the early 90’s, but I am okay with that; what I get in return is worth some moments of numbing hands! I do love this bike and it has brought me a lot of joy. It reminds me of the strength I had as a racer in my 20’s and that is priceless!Eileen, C.7.f.

I had only vaguely considered ebikes before my car was stolen, and only then as another hobby for my outdoor lifestyle. I'm more of a hiker/backpacker, for true. When I was presented with the new issue of how to get to work, other methods paled in comparison to the option of an ebike. My roommate's mother bought an Aventon a few years back and loves it. So we decided to shop Aventon's options. I fell in love with the Soltera pretty quickly. The biggest selling points were the sleek typical road bike design and a stealthy battery, perfection. With the hills here on the Front Range, I knew I wanted a multi-gear bike and at the time that limited my options to the regular Soltera in black. Not my first choice of colors for standing out on the road (I particularly liked the blue), but it's grown on me. I absolutely love it, color and all. It rides great, the pedal assist is brilliant for getting to work without breaking a sweat, the throttle is a must for setting off in traffic, and it is pretty comfortable while still looking and acting like a typical road bike. I love that the rear lights act as brake lights. I only have a few asks to consider: turn signal indicator linked to the rear lights, an option to add mirrors or grip extenders to the handlebars, and an option for a GPS locator that is built into the bike (I can't find any that won't stand out or be easily removed if the bike is stolen). All around, best bike for my needs and I'd recommend it to anyone thinking about an ebike.Amy

This review is based on observations from riding my Soltera 7 about 200 miles in the 3 weeks I’ve had it. The Soltera 7 provides what I was looking for in an ebike – it’s relatively lightweight, enabling me ride most of the time without any assist. The riding position is comfortable – somewhat aggressive rather than totally upright. I’ve been riding bikes for over 40 years for transportation, fitness, and touring. At 81 years old, my riding stamina is certainly not what it once was; the Soltera 7 with it’s electric assist enables rides to be both a workout and enjoyable. When hills, headwinds, and high temperatures lower the “fun factor,” a bit of assist puts the fun back into riding. It’s my “Time Machine,” letting me ride like I did 25 years ago. Positive features: • Easy and comfortable to ride without any assist. When assist is used, the bike is like a rocket! • The 7-speed gearing range works well for flat terrain and moderate hills without any assist. • The Selle Royal saddle is very comfortable. This is the only bike I’ve ever purchased that had a saddle comfortable for me. • The Soltera will accommodate wider tires, if desired. Not-so-positive features (which were simple to overcome): • The handlebar grips are uncomfortably hard. I replaced them with softer grips. (The stock grips have a metal collar tightened with a screw; loosening the screw lets the grips slide off.) • The fixed stem did not enable the handlebar to be raised to a height comfortable for me, so I replaced the stem with an adjustable stem. If the Soltera came with an adjustable stem, like the Aventon Pace 500 Next-Gen does, handlebar height could be adjusted. • The tubes’ pesta valves do not have removable cores, which enables tube sealant to be easily added. I live in Arizona, where virtually every plant has thorns, making sealant is very useful. I found a youtube video that shows how sealant can be added to a non-removable core presta valve with a syringe, however, providing removable core valves would make adding sealant easier. I am very happy with my Soltera 7. My wife, who rides less and slower than I, purchased a Soltera 7 at the same time as I. Now we can ride together at the same speed, at efforts that are pleasant for both of us.J.W.

I got this bike on sale and I have been so happy with it. First, the pictures from your phone or PC screen doesn't do the bike justice. The bike is gorgeous and looks much better in person. I got the grey model. Here are the pros. I have been riding a mountain bike with hybrid tires. When I picked this up, I noticed a huge difference in weight. This bike is so light. When I ride it, I feel a huge difference in speed. I dig the Shimano Acera derailers, Shimano EZ Fire shifters, Shimano cog set, etc… Very difficult to find Shimano Acera parts on a hybrid bike for the Dicks sale price I paid. The bike shifts perfectly. It is comfortable with the grip and seat. The tires have a nice tread on them where it grips but still rolls smoothly. I have Kenda tires on my other bike and I am a fan of the brand. The brakes work nicely. My only con is the pedals look pretty cheap compared to my other bike but the pedals work perfectly fine. I am sure they are lighter so that is good. Sometimes I have to ride on some bumpy sidewalk and the bike handles it real well and this surprised me as it doesn't have front suspension and the tires are thin. I highly recommend this bike. This is my first hybrid bike and I am loving it.sirbflo114