djkenny

Hi,

I sold my Breezer Uptown 8. Never felt quite comfortable on it. It was aggressive for me. Yep. Odd. I liked my Bridgestone MB5 with Albatross bars and an adjustable stem better. That is my mule now, with kid's seat and freshly built wheels, a generator light, etc.

I rode around on a 8 speed Ticino and really enjoyed it. My wife loves her Amsterdam Royal 8. Granted the orig light failed and the rear skirt guard never stayed on.

Seems Electra has been good at style and has fine ideas, sometimes they don't work as well as one wishes.

It seems the Ticino is getting mostly rave reviews on line.

The lightweight aspect is appealing to me when I just want to clip a bag on the back of the seat to get a few items and mostly ride for fun, commute to work.

The 8 speed seems to have plenty of range. The 20 speed model has Tiagara components and the fancy hubs people salivate over (are they tougher?). Is it lighter too? I am assuming even with the rear rack due to the component upgrade it will be lighter and faster bike. "Electra mentions that there is no expense spared, no detail overlooked". Is there lighter wheels?

The green 8 speed is pretty, and so is the black 20. The price difference is substantial. I do not drive so I am not too concerned about that.

PatrickGSR94

The 8-speed bike seems ridiculously overpriced to have only a Claris rear derailer on it. And cantilever brakes, never been a fan of those. This ain't no 'cross bike! I also wonder why they chose to use bar-end style brake levers. It all seems a bit odd for the price nearly $1000.

I also don't understand the $830 price premium (nearly DOUBLE the price!!!) for the 20sp bike over the 8sp version. The drivetrain difference are a couple hundred dollars maybe, and then different tires, hubs and a rear rack. Way too much IMHO.

djkenny

I was curious about the price difference. Those hubs are $300 retail. I think that is the bulk of it. Well.. I saw different numbers for the type of steel on the front fork.

urbanescapee

Yeah, I've built a few of those in the past. WAY overpriced junk if you ask me.... You're paying for the looks alone on that one, big time. Like buying a 4-cyl mustang.

PatrickGSR94

lol the new Ecoboost 4-cyl Mustang ain't no slouch. Cobb Tuning can put on just an intake, exhaust and new intercooler and get the torque up to 400!

I personally would rather get the frame and build up the bike myself with maybe a different wheelset where I could save some money, and then spend a little more for a better drivetrain.

CrankyOne

Electra's are good bikes to avoid IMO. All style and no substance. And even their styling leaves a bit to be desired. The geometry, particularly those with 'flat foot technology', leaves many people with sore backs. Overall quality is not there. Way overpriced for what you get. I think Breezer is better quality but still falls short when it comes to geometry. Much better to look at something from Workcycles, Batavus, etc. Bikes designed and built for daily transportation instead of bikes designed to look like it.

City Bikes | LocalMile

kc9eog

I have decided mine is too pretty to lock up for hours while I go inside to a movie or something, not tank enough to commute on, and totally unsuitable for riding to the next town over. Basically, I have a bike I love that is most suitable for milk runs and the MUP.

CrankyOne

In Netherlands it's not unusual to buy a new bike and hit it with some spray paint and stuff to make it look old and crusty. Still rides great but much lower theft attraction.

noglider 

My impression of Electra is similar to that of @CrankyOne's.

kickstart

I don't really have any opinion on Electra, but from what I've seen, whenever a manufacturer comes out with a sort of Dutch bike, or a sort of English bike, they may be ok but rarely retain the desirable qualities of the real thing.

canklecat

The Ticino looks pretty much like the sort of thing I'd order from Rivendell, if I could afford it. Looks like a relaxed bike without going to the extremes of the Electra Townie or Breezer Uptown 8, something that might handle riding uphill rather than dismounting and walking.

Based on your preferences you described, it might be right for you. Is there a dealer in your area that might permit an extended trial ride period, maybe a couple of weeks? Even if it involved a reasonable restocking fee for a return it might be worth considering.

Darth Lefty 

Looking at the 20D it has a lot of little flourishes that you don't usually get on a production bike, with a chrome fillet-brazed stem and lugged fork topping the list. It has generally better or classier components all over. I don't know if they add up to $1760.

I'd really like to know what the hub set is and whether it's really a high flange freehub and if so where is it for sale. I haven't seen any cheap ones.

CrankyOne

Very true. I'm not immune to good styling and have once or twice purchased bikes for their styling (most recently a Handsome) but my daily rider has to function properly above all else which means Workcycles, Azor, Batavus, or Gizelle.

Electra and similar companies don't understand the function side and consistently fall short. Particularly with geometry but also in components and other elements.

GamblerGORD53

I agree with all said here. Dutch bikes win hands down. However, around here, those Electras are winning the sales war, no doubt. Along with the artsy SS/ 3 spd Felt cruisers with 13 flavors. These buyers are 95% just Lollygaggers who absolutely want a flat foot stopper. Going anywhere in particular or with a purpose is not on the agenda. Linus does well also with the younger no car generation. But i won't expect to see any of them on a highway either.

Walter S

I wrapped a little duct tape around the top tube etc. Makes it look kind of cruddy. The duct tape can be handy too.

CrankyOne

One problem is that people get these flat foot or cruiser style bikes thinking that these are the the best and most comfortable bike available. When the thought of riding for transportation comes up they think that it wouldn't be very enjoyable because the bike that they think is the most comfortable isn't really very comfortable, makes their back sore, is quite inefficient leg to wheel, etc. so they think that riding a bicycle for transportation isn't for them.

AlTheKiller

You'll almost always spend twice as much by trying to "save money and piecing it together" yourself. Granted, if you'll be unhappy with what it has on it and will swap it out anyways you might save a touch, unless you can sell the old parts.

FrenchFit 

You get what you pay for. My wife has the Electra Ticino 20D, Mixte. She picked it over Riv's Cheviot. Probably about 2500 miles on it so far. Beautiful bike, nice details. She gets compliments on the bike almost everywhere we ride. There are some very small quality issues I've noticed (i wish the paint was thicker), but overall it's been better than I hoped for. I can't even remember a minor adjustment I needed to make on the bike and she's probably managed to run through 7500 potholes. No, she doesn't hammer at 20mph, and never will.

djkenny

I ordered a green regular size Ticino 8 speed. I loved the British Racing Green.. and it was a light bike with plenty of gearing for my needs.

lost_in_endicot

My Loft has held up pretty well. It was over priced for what it is, but I like it.