Searching For The Best Bicycle Brands
Tired of public transportation? Annoyed by the car? Do you think walking is only for the common people? We feel for you, and that’s why we have the best alternative for you: why not ride your bike?
Cycling is a phenomenal way to engage with your body and nature1. With the best bike brands, you can do both while reducing your environmental footprint.
Read our list of the best bike manufacturers to find out which brands to look out for, what makes them special and what they have in store (or online) for you.
10 Best Bicycle Brands
1. Trek Bikes
The first entry in our list of the best bike brands is Trek Bikes. If you live in North America, you’ve probably seen one of their bikes, and it was probably the first bike you ever rode. Trek Bikes is the most popular bicycle manufacturer in the United States.
Popularity doesn’t always equate to success, but it does for this Wisconsin-based company. Since their founding in 1975, they have constantly expanded their repertoire. The brand is great for people who aren’t particularly knowledgeable about bicycles because they offer so many different types of bikes.
Here are just a few of the types of bikes to give you an overview of what Trek Bikes has to offer:
- Mountain bikes
- Racing bikes
- Electric bikes
- Cross country bikes
- Downhill bikes
And that doesn’t even include all of Trek Bikes’ subsidiaries. The Electra Bicycle Company and the German brand Diamant Bikes operate under the watchful eye of Trek Bikes.
So this brand has the easy access, wide product selection and affordable prices to earn its place on our list.
Highlights
- Extensive collection of bikes sold across many brands
- Available in almost 100 countries worldwide
- You can order a personally customized bike
2. Cannondale
The funny thing about Cannondale is that the company got into the bicycle industry not by making bicycles, but by building transportation for bicycles.
Cannondale was founded in Connecticut in 1971 and began by making bicycle trailers, which were basically hitches for your bike.
Over time, Cannondale slowly became one of the best bicycle brands through consistent innovation. In the 1980s, they introduced aluminum fiber into their bikes. This material gave larger bikes more stability.
By integrating carbon into their road bikes in 2004, Cannondale was able to further expand its dominance in the market. Cannondale’s technological leaps mean that their bikes have an unrivaled ride feel.
Their impeccable quality comes at a higher price, but just as some people spend an entire month’s salary on an engagement ring, Cannondale’s road bikes, mountain bikes and electric bikes are worth the commitment.
Highlights
- One of the most original bicycle brands of today
- Their bikes are widely distributed by local bike stores
- The bikes are manufactured in Taiwan, one of the best cycling countries in Asia
3. Santa Cruz
Call us conspiracy theorists, but we think the 2006 video game Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam was more than a little inspired by Santa Cruz bikes. Just look at the similarities: Both are the product of professional skateboarders, both focus on sloping terrain, and both exude the sublime energy of the ’90s.
Santa Cruz Bicycles was founded in 1993 by former professional skateboarder Rob Roskopp, who was thought to have had enough of four wheels and wanted to see how far he could get on two. It turned out that he could go pretty damn far, because Santa Cruz is considered a sensational mountain bike brand.
Their catalog is narrow and expensive. The Santa Cruz Nomad, for example, costs 5,149 dollars. This is a company for dedicated mountain bikers who want the best vehicles for unpredictable weather and rough rides.
Highlights
- Some of the best mountain bikes on the market
- Bikes can be customized to customer specifications
- The bikes are built in Santa Cruz
4. Marin Bikes
Our fondness for California mountain bike companies is evident in the inclusion of Marin Bikes after talking about Santa Cruz. Maybe there’s just something in the water on the West Coast (and we hope it’s not bike chain oil).
Marin Bikes has been a staple in the mountain bike industry since 1986. Their catalog includes hybrid bikes, road bikes, and their highly regarded full-suspension mountain bikes.
Here are some of their most popular mountain bikes and their prices:
- Marin Bikes Alpine Carbon Trail 2: $4,499
- Marin Bikes Alpine Trail XR: $3,999
- Marin Bikes Rift Zone 29 Carbon XR: $4,859
Marin Bikes is one of the best bike brands when it comes to being environmentally conscious. Their Green Bear initiative is the company’s way of keeping their packaging as eco-friendly as possible by using recycled materials.
They are also a member of Shift Cycling Culture’s Industry Climate Commitment, an industry-wide movement to reduce the carbon footprint.
Highlights
- Eco-friendly packaging
- More affordable prices compared to other boutique mountain bike brands
- Distributors throughout the United States
5. Raleigh
Raleigh is a trusted name and one of the best bicycle brands. Both facts are proven by the company’s long tradition.
The company was founded back in 1885 in Nottingham, England. Its longevity and continued success show that its ability to constantly improve while staying true to its vision has won over many customers.
The company operates on the principle that cycling should be accessible to everyone, regardless of price, age or ability. They make bikes for toddlers, children and adults.
Their bikes are not powerhouses, but they are more than good enough to get you where you want to go.
The biggest attraction of Raleigh bikes is their price. Most Raleigh bikes are less expensive compared to their competitors. Combine that with the commitment to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to ride a bike, and it’s hard not to see the appeal of this brand.
Highlights
- One of the most experienced bike brands in the world
- Large selection of children’s bikes
- The products are reasonably priced
6. GT Bicycles
Mountain bikes are great, road bikes are useful, but there’s nothing better than BMX bikes. GT Bicycles are experts in this field. They come from the capital of extreme sports, California, and are one of the best bike brands in the extreme sports sector.
Their BMX bikes are all about fun, and this is reflected in their design. Their bikes are built to dampen vibrations to make riding and performing tricks easier. Luckily, this concept is also applied to their mountain bikes, road bikes and dirt bikes.
It’s hard not to be enchanted by products like the GT Bicycles Rad Series 29 ($790) or the GT Bicycles Performer 29 ($525), unless your idea of a great bike is more like an adjustable office chair.
Highlights
- Specializes in the production of mountain bikes
- Pioneer of the triangle design
- Distributes bikes all over the world
- Most bikes cost less than $1,000
7. Schwinn Bicycles
Schwinn Bicycles combines German engineering with the hard-working spirit of Chicago. Ignaz Schwinn founded his eponymous company in the windy city in 1895. Almost 100 years later, it was acquired by Pacific Cycle.
Schwinn Bicycles has two separate product lines aimed at different markets. The Schwinn Signature Series is the premium line, although the company also makes more affordable bikes that you can find in big box stores.
The range of bicycles includes all of these variants:
- Electric bikes
- Hybrid bikes
- Cruiser bikes
- mountain bikes
- Road bikes
- Tandem bicycles
- Tricycles for adults
Highlights
- Produces higher quality and more affordable bikes
- Free shipping on all US orders over $49
- You can get a 10% discount when you sign up for their email newsletter.
8. Canyon
Here’s one of the best bike brands for tech nerds (and we mean that affectionately). Canyon is a company that loves making bikes almost as much as it loves giving its customers a distinctive riding experience.
This German brand has stood the test of time since its inception in 2002. Their bikes go through tests so grueling that a STEM student would wish they could go back to their master’s thesis to recover.
The results are clear: their products have won world championships, climbed mountains and come straight to your door. Canyon can deliver their bikes directly to your door, cutting out the middleman and saving you money.
Highlights
- 4/5 star average rating from more than 16,000 customer reviews on Trustpilot
- Can deliver bikes directly to you
- 30 day returns policy
9. Yeti Cycles
Most mountain bikes are built to help you climb a peak. Yeti Cycles literally flips the script. They are considered one of the best bike brands for downhill racers. The company has been intertwined with the sport of mountain biking since its inception in the 1980s.
As the name and product catalog suggest, Yeti Cycles hails from mountainous Colorado. Their understanding of high-risk sports allows them to equip their products with technologies such as the Switch Infinity suspension.
Their products are all tailored to racing. They are categorized by wheel size and rear suspension, so you better know your way around if you want to buy a Yeti Cycles bike.
Highlights
- Great company for serious mountain bikers
- Popular with downhill cyclists
10. Orbea
The final entry in our list of the best bicycle brands is Orbea, a Spanish company that has been active since 1840. Strangely enough, the company started out making handguns, but later shifted production to a more social focus – bicycles!
Although Orbea also produces mountain bikes and hybrid bikes, the company is best known for its road bikes. Their road bikes are light as a feather and offer excellent performance in all weathers. You can customize their road bikes to your liking.
They make road bikes like the Orbea Orca M20 ($4,699), endurance models like the Orbea Avant H30-D ($3,199), and gravel bikes like the Orbea Terra M21e Team 1X ($7,999).
Highlights
- The largest bike manufacturer in Spain
- The bikes are light and fast
How to Shop for the Best Bicycle
You’ve made it through our deliberations on the best bike brands. Now it’s time to think about which bike will get you where you want to go. We’ve put together a few factors for you to consider when making your decision.
Brand
brand with the practices that are most in line with your expectations is the best brand for you. If you’re all about getting to work, do you really need a majestic European mountain bike?
If you care about your environmental footprint (which you probably do if you care about bikes), then you wouldn’t want to buy from a brand that doesn’t care about the environment. Check out the brands before you look at their products.
Type
As mentioned earlier, what type of bike you should look at depends on your intended use.
If you can’t decide what you want to use your bike for, or if you want a bike that is versatile enough to do everything, then we recommend looking at hybrid or all-terrain bikes.
Size
This is a very important factor, because buying a bike that doesn’t fit you can damage your knees in the long run2.
Check how big the frame of the bike in question is and compare these measurements with your legs and gait.
Durability and construction
Bicycles come in many different shapes and are made of different materials such as carbon, aluminum and steel.
With each of these materials, there are trade-offs in terms of weight and durability. As a rule, heavier materials last longer than lighter materials. You can expect them to be more difficult to maneuver by hand.
Functionality
Some bikes can perform well on different terrains regardless of their brand. A mountain bike, for example, can help you get to work on time. A road bike, on the other hand, might work just as well for weekend trips to the park.
There are bikes that can easily handle many types of terrain. If you know where you will be using your bike, you can choose a specific model or focus your attention on multi-purpose bikes.
Budget
Bicycles have an extremely high price ceiling, with some models costing thousands of dollars. If you’re a regular cyclist, you may not need a bike that big.
However, if you want to win the Tour de France, you need the best bike possible, regardless of the cost.
FAQ
What are the safety regulations for bicycles?
Bicycles exist as vehicles in a sphere of their own. They are not cars, although they are often subject to the same rules as cars, but they are too fast to be equated with pedestrians.
The best safety rules for bicycles are to follow the flow of traffic, signal with your hands that you want to turn, give way to larger vehicles and pedestrians, and obey the rules of the road as if you were driving a car.
How do you use the gears on a bicycle?
Using the gears on a bike is a matter of feel, even if the concepts are easy to understand.
The right gear controls the gears for the rear wheel and is the one you will use most often. The left derailleur is responsible for shifting the front wheel.
Changing the left gear will have a massive effect on the performance of your bike, whereas the right gear is more subtle and therefore has more gears.
The lower the gear, the less force you have to exert when pedaling. This means that it’s best to shift into a lower gear when you’re going up a hill and stay in a higher gear when you’re on the flat.
How We Chose the Best Bicycle Brands
Before we decide on a brand, we scour the internet and all the major e-tailers to make sure we know all the available options on the market. We look at customer reviews, star ratings, brand ethos, process, materials, accessibility and more. We weigh the pros and cons so you don’t have to, and help you make informed buying decisions.
Reference:
- Oja, P., Titze, S., Bauman, A., de Geus, B., Krenn, P., Reger-Nash, B. and Kohlberger, T. (2011). Health benefits of cycling: a systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, [online] 21(4), pp.496-509. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01299.x.
- Johnston, T.E., Baskins, T.A., Koppel, R.V., Oliver, S.A., Stieber, D.J. and Hoglund, L.T. (2017). THE INFLUENCE OF EXTRINSIC FACTORS ON KNEE BIOMECHANICS IN CYCLING: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 12(7), pp.1023-1033. doi:10.26603/ijspt20171023.
