Alt Bike Culture - Looking for a cruiser

I'm looking to start riding a bike for recreation, no long distances only a few miles on the weekend back and forth to the river or the park and no hills; I would like a cruiser but there are so many different types and prices I need some advice. Keep in mind I am 6'3 about 240lbs, I play a little tennis and basketball also run/walk a few miles a week and 46 years old. Any suggestions I can look for at my local bike shop?

Being 6'-3" rules out most of the cheapo cruisers. Visit your local store and see what they have that fits you in way of a cruiser, and I suspect you won't have many to choose from. Road bikes, mountain bikes, etc.- that's a different story.

Here's one option that comes in a larger frame size, but I've never seen one in person:
http://www.islandsportshop.com/Caloi.htm
Scroll down to "Men's Pan AM Stl Frm 1 Spd", specifically.

A stretch cruiser with a bananna seat might be a good fit for ya.


http://www.choppersus.com/store/content/37/2008-Super-Fat-Chopper/

or a non-stretch would work too probably.

http://www.kustomkruiser.com/catalog/glidedeluxe.php

Well, I'm 6'4" with long legs and I don't have a problem with cruiser sizing, because on a cruiser I don't care about full leg extension, etc. But some new cheap cruisers are not of the best quality, so I wouldn't recommend those for someone of your weight. Also, some of the really swept-back handlebars can be an issue for someone with long legs, those are also the ones that can be really weak. But basically what you get from a bike shop would be good, but you may want to ask for a handle-bar swap, as long as it's just a coaster (no levers) and you don't need to switch out the stem, it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask them to do it at no charge, considering you just bought a bike there.

Here are the bars that I have on my cruiser, I have since changed out the wheels for a balloon tire coaster set. they're a set of risers (with the bends pretty far apart and a cross-brace on it, I believe from a motorcycle, I like the look of it.
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/5109/im001318fd4.th.jpg (http://img396.imageshack.us/my.php?image=im001318fd4.jpg)

Check out Electras line of cruisers http://www.electrabike.com

Their townies seem to be popular and they also have a line of cruisers.

Below is a photo of the '06 Ratrod with a 3-spd internal hub. It's my fun bike so I take it easy when I ride it. I tend to also use it on the fun 16-18 mile family rides like the Worst Day and the Hottest Day rides that are annual occurances here in Portland.


http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/gambrinus97223/IMG_0971r.jpg

Electra bikes are one size fits most. I'm 6'0", 190lbs and am comfortable riding the Ratrod.

Thanks for the responses everyone they are helpful. I saw a sweet looking cruiser that was streched, it was a GT Dyno Kustom Kruiser Roadster. Does anyone know about these cruisers?

I ride one. :thumb:
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=79603&stc=1&d=1219869891

I love it.

Its a Kustom Kruiser (made by GT) this is the "slick daddy" model. It had been sitting in my LBS for about 2 years so they were happy to get it out the door for 200 bux. :D

The only mod I've done to it was to replace the stock orange shorty fenders with full length Black Streetsweeper fenders from Nirve. Its got a 3 speed Nexus Internal Geared hub and coaster brakes...that rear tire is 3" wide and It leaves awesome skids.


Its comfy as hell, I used to commute 5 miles each way on it in Back in April and May until I got an actual commuter frame and it was fun and comfy all the time. I get lots of looks and comments anytime I take it out...girls really seem to think its cool so its a great conversation starter. I take it to go pick up chinese food and do little grocery runs all the time.


I want a big Tan colored sprung brooks saddle for it and maybe some ape hangers.

I'm 6'4", 300 lbs. and I have no problems at all with my Townie Balloon 3 (of course I'm not taking it off any sweet jumps). With the tires at about 55-60 PSI weight is not really an issue (these are Schwalbe Fat Franks, max 60 PSI, but if you inflate your tires to their recommended max or slightly below you shouldn't have any rim damage issues). I highly recommend Electra bikes! Their cruisers and Townies are extremely well built and coooool looking! I'm giving mine the neo-retro treatment - the water bottle and cage are from http://www.velo-orange.com/waboandca.html . I'm dying for a Brooks B33 saddle and an Electra Townie Frame bag when they are done redesigning them.
The steel bar on the handlebars is a modified moped mirror that I use as a bow mount - more details and pictures of that in this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=444390

The Townie Balloon and Ratrod pictures up there, to me, illustrate exactly what's wrong with the cruisers they are making. The frame curves down towards the back, and on some of these, they're actually accentuating that drop. Result is that you have to raise the seat way high to get a comfortable ride. Meanwhile, you'll notice that cruiser pictures usually show the seat down low because they look better that way. The ideal approach is to just make two or three different frame sizes so you don't have to raise the seat a foot, but the manufacturers have trouble grasping that idea.

The Townie Balloon and Ratrod pictures up there, to me, illustrate exactly what's wrong with the cruisers they are making. The frame curves down towards the back, and on some of these, they're actually accentuating that drop. Result is that you have to raise the seat way high to get a comfortable ride. Meanwhile, you'll notice that cruiser pictures usually show the seat down low because they look better that way. The ideal approach is to just make two or three different frame sizes so you don't have to raise the seat a foot, but the manufacturers have trouble grasping that idea.

It's a matter of taste, really. I think they are beautiful! The Electra bikes are semi-recumbent with a pedal-forward design. They are a dream to ride! To each his own, though - there are plenty of other cruisers out there. For an old tech cruiser try: http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/cruisers.html (http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/cruisers.html)

I think you are looking for a chopper or stretch cruiser, lots of those out there too.
(http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/cruisers.html)

Worksman has some cool bikes on that site.

They don't mention on the site anywhere but I assume the "Classic American Cruisers" are 26" wheel'd

I could totally see one of those tricked out

The Townie Balloon and Ratrod pictures up there, to me, illustrate exactly what's wrong with the cruisers they are making. The frame curves down towards the back, and on some of these, they're actually accentuating that drop. Result is that you have to raise the seat way high to get a comfortable ride. Meanwhile, you'll notice that cruiser pictures usually show the seat down low because they look better that way. The ideal approach is to just make two or three different frame sizes so you don't have to raise the seat a foot, but the manufacturers have trouble grasping that idea.

yeah - I have this 350mm post out as far as I can safely go, and it's still about 2" too short -- ordered a 400mm, but I think I'm gonna just sell the bike and get something else to replace it - I'm 6'4", but with only a 32" inseam, and still have to ride 2 feet above the TT

I love the looks, but I'm coming to grips with the fact that cruisers just may not be for me :(


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/jjpistols/bike/bike2/PICT0693.jpg

maybe not that particular style.

I've got a 32" inseam too (although you are a good bit taller than me) and I have the same issue with many frames. I gotta crank the seat waaaay up.

Perhaps the answer is to move yourself away from the pedals using a layback seat post, adjusting the seat further back and changing the handlebars for something that brings em back towards you more.

FYI, the Worksman cruiser is in fact what I ride. Specifically, the straight-bar version which actually makes it a slightly bigger frame measurement than the curved-bar version. But even there, a frame 3" taller, 3" longer would be great, but for whatever reason, they don't do it. And yes, the Worksman is 26" with 26x2.125" tires.