I picked up an Electra Rat Rod a few months back and I've been upgrading it. So far I've been impressed by the steel frame but disappointed in the seat post (which bent) and the back rim (which also bent). I've upgraded to an alloy seat post and sun rear rim. The chain seems to be loose too much, which makes me suspect it's too long and needs to have a link out. But other than that it's been pretty good and I'm using it every day as a commuter and on the weekends. I've logged several hundred miles on it already.

But I've been out of the bike community for over a decade and I don't really know the conventional wisdom on these matters. Is Electra seen as a fad brand, and are there other heavy cruisers and three speeds out there which would be better for utility riding?