Breezer Town Bikes

[Elkhound]

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm

My LBS does not carry these, but will order them.

What I like is that they have many of the features that attract me to the Dutch bikes, but are more affordable.

1. Fenders and racks included.
2. Chainguard
3. Hub gearing (3-speed or 8-speed)
4. Built-in generator lighting
5. Upright seating posture.

I am given a little pause that they are aluminum rather than steel. I'm a big, heavy guy--on the lower end of Clyde territory--and am not sure if they are strong enough.

[donnamb]

I've been riding one as my primary form of transportation for over 2 years now. I wouldn't worry about the frame - even the step-through is pretty strong. I overload it with stuff on a regular basis. I've replaced the seat post, the saddle, and the pedals. I did not like the suspension seatpost and it hurt my knees, and the saddle was too narrow for my sitbones. I replaced it with a B-67. The plastic-y pedals were too slippery in the rain for me and I wanted a set that could run PowerGrips.

FYI - I have ridden Azor Dutch bikes as well, and you should be aware that the geometry is different. Riding a Breezer puts more weight on your hands, arms, shoulders, and upper back. It is not as upright as a Dutch frame. I have modified my bike by replacing the stem with a taller, shorter stem made for Dutch bikes. I also replaced the handlebars with Nitto North Roads. To give me more setback than any seat post can give, I got this thing meant for Brompton folders to put the saddle back further. This gives me a geometry that is more like a Dutch bike, but it's still not the same.

Two years ago I had no access to Dutch bikes so I bought a Breezer. It was a good decision based on what was available to me at the time. Knowing what I know now, I would have purchased a Dutch bike had it been possible - regardless of the greater expense. YMMV.

[Sirrus Rider]

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm

My LBS does not carry these, but will order them.

What I like is that they have many of the features that attract me to the Dutch bikes, but are more affordable.

1. Fenders and racks included.
2. Chainguard
3. Hub gearing (3-speed or 8-speed)
4. Built-in generator lighting
5. Upright seating posture.

I am given a little pause that they are aluminum rather than steel. I'm a big, heavy guy--on the lower end of Clyde territory--and am not sure if they are strong enough.

If I didn't already have a mountain bike which was a starting point for building a 26" Wheeled commuter and Breezer bikes where around back in '89 (and I had known about them) I would have bought either a Breezer or a Specialized Globe City which is roughly the same thing.

I'm no fly weight either at 200lbs

[Torrilin]

[url]I am given a little pause that they are aluminum rather than steel. I'm a big, heavy guy--on the lower end of Clyde territory--and am not sure if they are strong enough.

I just got my Breezer, also in a stepthrough. I absolutely needed a bike that I could carry up and down stairs since my apartment building has bike storage in the basement. So far, it seems very sturdy. The wheels seem to be a sensible spec for handling cargo. Me + cargo will easily hit the low end of clyde territory, but I don't expect to start breaking spokes.

The geometry is a bit different from Batavus's, but I can't carry a Batavus. Some of them I can't even lift. The Breezer is not as upright, and the handlebars don't have a lot of sweep. I'm not sure it's flat out cheaper than a Batavus - the LBS I bought mine from carries both, and they seem comparably priced. It is cheaper than Azor and probably cheaper than Gazelle, but neither one of those is available for test rides here.

I don't anticipate swapping the seatpost. Like donnamb, I swapped the saddle, but for a B-17S. The pedals do seem a trifle slippery, but I want to see how they do in real rain. Squeezing the money for MKS touring pedals out of the grocery budget would not be hard if it turns out the stock ones are a problem. My wrists are much happier with the Breezer's bars, tho they *may* want something shaped more like Nitto's mustache bars.

[surfimp]

My wife has a Breezer Uptown and loves it. They are really nicely put together bikes and well worth the cost.

On that subject, if you compare the cost of building up a frame with comparable components, or the cost of purchasing a "true" Dutch bike, the value the Breezer bikes represent becomes self-evident.

My wife's bike is a size Small with the diamond (not step-thru) frame and I've ridden it a few times, just to check it out. I'm 6'3" and 240lbs. and found it to very sturdy, not flexy at all. I think they are very good quality.

Strongly recommend! :)

Steve

[wahoonc]

Check out the Redline R530 (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/R530.html) it doesn't come quite as well equipped as a Breezer but it costs a bit less. It is an aluminum frame. I am 6'-2" and tip the scales at a tad over the 200# mark. So far the Redline has impressed me. It has a fairly upright riding position, as best I can tell it is more upright than the Breezer.

I put a review in the Utility forum (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=421235).

Aaron:)

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/42239/2590987330066886751S500x500Q85.jpg