Beach Cruiser
Cruiser Vintage Bicycles, also known as beach cruisers, combine balloon tires, upright seating posture, single-speed drivetrains, and straightforward steel construction with expressive styling. The bikes, noted for their durability and heavy weight, were the most popular bicycle in the United States from the early 1930s through the 1950s — and enjoyed renewed popularity since the late 1990s.
Development
Schwinn developed the cruiser at a time when U.S. bicycle sales had declined sharply due to the Great Depression; adults purchased few bicycles, which were seen as luxury products intended largely for sport or recreation. In response, Schwinn conceived a sturdier, affordable bicycle designed for the more resilient youth market — originally marketing the Schwinn B-10E Motorbike — which resembled a motorcycle but carried no motor — in 1933. Schwinn adapted features from the Henderson and Excelsior motorcycles his company had built during the 1920s, including a heavy “cantilevered” frame with two top tubes and 2.125-inch-wide (54.0 mm) “balloon” tires from Germany. The resulting bicycle could endure abuse that could damage other bicycles. Within two years, other bicycle manufacturer in the USA introduced competing balloon-tire bikes.[3]
In 1934, Schwinn successfully re-styled the B-10E, renaming it the Aero Cycle. While the Aero Cycle featured no technical improvements over the original B-10E, its streamlined frame, faux gas tank, and battery-powered headlight came to define the cruiser 'look'.[4] Modern cruiser bicycles retain these design elements.
1950s heyday
Cruisers were popular throughout the 1930s and 40s and gained greater postwar success. Their combination of substantial weight (some models weighing over 50 pounds), single speed mechanicals, and wide tires made the bicycles primarily suited to flat terrain — and were popular with paperboys and bicycle couriers.
Competing firms including Roadmaster, Columbia, Shelby, Monark, and Huffy used styling features and distinctive models to attract buyers — including a Donald Duck bike with quacking horn, 'cowboy' models named after Gene Autry or Hopalong Cassidy, and details such as fringed saddlebags, capgun holsters springer fork suspensions, motorcycle-style horn tanks, and extensive chrome plating. The Huffy Radiobike featured a large integral AM radio
Decline of the cruiser
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, bicycles imported from Great Britain and Continental Europe became popular, especially lighter and more nimble sports roadster models or 'English racer'. These models featured three-speed gearing, taller wheels, narrower tires and lighter weight (35-40 pounds) and greater hill-climbing ability. By the late 1950s, U.S. manufacturers such as Schwinn began producing their own version of the English racer.
The cruiser also ceded market share to muscle and lowrider bikes featuring banana seats, oversized shift levers, and ape-hanger bars inspired by West coast motorcycle customizers — which in turn gave birth to the modern BMX bike, while the cruiser went into a steep sales decline.
By 1972, a new wave of lightweight derailleur-equipped bicycles led a wave of new consumer interest in recreational bicycling, resulting in the bike boom. Derailleur-equipped sport bikes or ten speeds inspired by European racing bicycles soon dominated the adult market.
While largely obsolete by the late 1960s, the cruiser remained popular for utility and recreational use at the beach, where they soon earned the title of “beach cruisers.” The term "beach cruiser" started in 1976 at Recycled Cycles in Newport Beach when Larry McNeely coined the phrase and used it as their Trade Mark for the production of the modern Beach Cruiser. Secondhand cruisers found new life on America's coastlines as practical transportation for beach bums and surfers.
Cruiser bikes today
An orange tiger-stripe beach cruiser mod with automobile headlights, enhanced bicycle saddle, computer speakers for sound system and other custom amenities.
Cruisers’ comfort, style, and affordability (compared to mountain and racing bikes) have led to renewed popularity in recent years In the mid-1990s, a series of reproductions of classic cruiser bikes hit the market. The magazine Kickstand, devoted to the resurgence of the cruiser lifestyle, hit the market in 2009. Schwinn started the resurgence in 1995, when it reissued the Black Phantom to celebrate the company’s 100th birthday. Soon, similar offerings appeared from Columbia and Roadmaster. Harley-Davidson even licensed a cruiser bike with their logo and trademark styling.These helped stir up interest in cruisers, which brought them to the attention of aging Baby Boomers, who remembered the originals from their youth and now were reaching an age where a comfortable bike was more exciting than a fast bike, and who also had the money to buy whatever they wanted. The classic “retro” looks, reliable mechanical performance, comfortable ride, and relatively low price of cruisers (compared to mountain bikes or road racers) also appealed to young Gen Xers. Soon, new manufacturers appeared, specializing in cruisers, such as Electra Bicycle Company, Phat Cycles, Nirve, Shire Bicycles, Johnny Loco Bicycles, GreenLine Bicycles, Kustom Kruiser, Copacabana Bikes, sixthreezero, and Aero-Fast. Nearly every major bike manufacturer now offers at least one cruiser model, if not an entire line. Cruiser sales have continued to rise over the past decade and today many towns have clubs sponsoring regular cruiser rides as a way to promote the low-tech, high fun aspect of cycling.
Three other contemporary bike trends are related to cruisers. For decades, Latino car enthusiasts have been lowering the suspension on older American cars to build “lowriders.” Their younger siblings have begun building their own custom “lowrider bikes.” Lowrider bicycles are usually built on old Schwinn Stingray or other “muscle bike” frames, but the entire lowrider look of “old school” accessories such as springer forks and bullet headlights is in the cruiser tradition. Lowrider bike magazines and catalogs also feature cruisers and are a great source of accessories for cruiser owners. A similar trend is the sudden appearance of “chopper” bicycles over the past couple of years, in response to the surge of interest in custom motorcycles. Several manufacturers, such as Schwinn, Phat Cycles, and Electra, offer “chopper” style bikes in their cruiser range. These bikes usually feature a lower center of gravity, suspension forks, hot rod paint jobs, and large rear tires. Finally, manufacturers have also introduced the “comfort bike” category, to combine the soft ride and upright posture of cruisers with a more conventionally styled bike. Comfort bikes have such features as fenders, suspension seatposts and forks, and large padded saddles with giant springs. All of these features are copied from cruisers, but redesigned to look more like regular road or hybrid bikes.
 Huffy Cranbrook 26 Ladies Beach Cruiser Bike Bicycle Aqua White  US $119.88
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 Fito CF seat Extra Padded Comfort saddle beach cruiser bicycle bike BROWN US $19.99
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 Electra Super Deluxe 3i Mens Cruiser Bicycle New Ridden Once US $625.00
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 Dimension Classic Cruiser Grips White NEW US $7.99
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 26 Lady Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike Woman Blue Metallic US $189.55
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 26 Stretch beach cruiser bike W 140 Spokes bicycle US $299.99
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 35 Aluminum Alloy Drink Cup Holder beach Bike mountain BMX Road Bicycle US $8.99
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 Last one Fito Modena 26 Shimano Nexus 3 SPEED beach cruiser bike women EGG US $209.99
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 New 26 Chrome Classic Beach Cruiser BENT SPRINGER FORK US $34.98
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruiser bicyclesingle speed US $7.30
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 Kustom Kruiser Slick Daddy Stretched Beach Cruiser Bicycle Dyno Bike Lowrider US $500.00
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 Schwinn 26 Ladies Womens Delmar Beach Cruiser Bike Bicycle Purple Orange US $164.44
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed White US $7.30
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 Last one Fito Modena 26 Shimano 3 SPEED beach cruiser bike men MGY US $219.99
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 26 Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike Large Size Forward Crank US $169.99
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 Only 1 LED Headlight rack Fito Modena Army Comfort 26 Beach Cruiser Bike men US $179.99
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 Fito Modena ALLOY Shimano 7 speed Beach Cruiser Bike men GBK US $229.99
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 STINGRAY SPRINGER FORK 26 Beach Cruiser Bike Bicycle US $34.99
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Yellow US $7.30
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 Extra Large 14 Wide Lycra Bike Seat Beach Cruiser Bicycle Extrem Comfort Saddle US $49.95
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 New 26 Crome Classic Beach Cruiser SPRINGER FORK US $34.98
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 BICYCLE STEM 222MM CHROME 2 SCREWS CRUISER LOWRIDER US $19.99
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 BICYCLE 26 SPRINGER FORK 1 1 8 THREADED BLACK BEACH CRUISER LOWRIDER CHOPPER US $59.99
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Red US $7.30
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 26 Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike Purple Lady US $139.99
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 Velo Large 11 Beach Cruiser Bike Comfort Seat Brown US $29.95
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 26 Lady Beach Cruiser Bicycle Woman Caramel Metallic Bike US $162.95
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 Schwinn Wayfarer 700C Mens Retro Bicycle City Bike | S4032A US $227.00
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 Rusty Spokes womens beach cruiser Lightly USED US $230.00
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 TAN BROWN BICYCLE SADDLE SEAT BEACH CRUISER BMX MTB CHOPPER COMFORT BIKES US $24.99
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 Schwinn Bicycle BEACH CRUISER handlebar GRIPS and pads US $11.99
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 Huffy Panama Jack 26 Womens Ladies Beach Cruiser Bike Bicycle White Brown Aqua US $212.88
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 SMASHBALL REPLACEMENT BALLS PACK OF 3 BEACH CRUISER US $6.99
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Orange US $7.30
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 Schwinn 26 Womens Windwood Upright Cruiser Bike w Spring Seat Pink S5113KM US $144.95
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 Schwinn 26 Lakeshore Womens 7 Speed Cruiser Bike US $239.00
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 WHITE BICYCLE SADDLE SEAT BEACH CRUISER BMX MTB CHOPPER COMFORT BIKES US $24.99
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 NEW 20 Lowrider Complete W 68 spoke Bike Bicycle US $199.99
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 BICYCLE CUSTOM STICKER PINK FLAME BEACH CRUISER LOWRIDER CHOPPER BMX MTB FIXED US $14.99
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 NIB MISSONI FOR TARGET COPPER COLORE ZIGZAG BICYCLE BIKE BEACH CRUISER US $799.99
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Pink US $7.30
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Black US $7.30
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Blue US $7.30
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 BICYCLE RIM SET F R 16 W 68 SPOKES CHROME BEACH CRUISER LOWRIDER BMX MTB CYCLIN US $119.99
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Green US $7.30
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 BROWN BICYCLE SEAT W BACK REST BEACH CRUISER TRICYCLE LOWRIDER BMX MTB CHOPPER US $59.99
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 26 Lady Beach Cruiser Bicycle Woman Oceanside Light Blue Bike US $169.95
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 BICYCLE CUSTOM GRIPS PINK BEACH CRUISER LOWRIDER BMX MTB CHOPPER COMFORT BIKES US $8.99
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 BICYCLE BEACH CRUISER HUB FRONT MX 36H 105G CHROME US $24.99
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 Diamondback Drifter 3 Mens Beach Cruiser Bike 26 LPU US $212.49
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 NEW HUFFY SHAMU COW PATTERN BLACK AND WHITE BICYCLE BEACH CRUISER CHOPPER BIKE US $299.95
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 26 Beach Cruisers Carrier Chrome Bicycle Bike Cycling US $38.45
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 26 Beach Cruisers Carrier Black Bicycle Bike Cycling US $38.45
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 FLAME CRUISER SEAT CHOPPERLOWRIDER BICYCLE BIKE US $39.99
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 Pacific Shorewood Womens Cruiser Bike Bicycle 26Wheel US $189.99
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 Urban 26 Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike for lady Pink US $139.98
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 NEW 26 Aluminum Frame Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike US $169.99
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 NEW 26 Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike Firmstrong Diva US $169.99
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 BMX 26 Beach Cruiser Fork BicycleRat RodFreestyle US $26.62
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 Schwinn Womens Delmar 26 Inch Cruiser Bike Bicycle NEW Steel Frame US $169.99
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 BEACH CRUISER COMPLETE BIKE QUALITY BICYCLE blue US $179.00
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 BEACH CRUISER COMPLETE BIKE QUALITY BICYCLE BLACK US $189.00
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 BEACH CRUISER COMPLETE BIKE QUALITY BICYCLE RED US $179.00
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 New 26 3 SPEED beach cruiser bicycle bike Urban 3spd US $199.99
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 3 WHEEL BEACH CRUISER US $329.00
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 Polaris IQ 26 Mens Cruiser Bicycle US $159.99
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 26 Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike Bella Classic Baby Blue US $159.98
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 Pacific Oceanside 26 Mens Cruiser Comfort Bicycle Bike | 264164PA US $134.99
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 Schwinn Wayfarer 700C Womens Retro 7 Speed Bicycle City Bike | S4023A US $227.00
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 NEW 24 Beach Cruiser Bicycle Bike Urban Vanilla US $139.97
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 Schwinn 26 Pink Windwood Womens Cruiser Bicycle Bike US $229.00
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 DUO Bicycle Parts Beach Cruiser Handle Bar 222MM X 254MM US $32.77
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 Beach Cruiser Saddle Seat Bicycle Bike Cruiser US $44.19
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 Sunlite Bicycle Barefoot Cruiser Pedals 9 16 in Black 1 pair US $24.97
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 2010 Electra Super Deluxe 3i City Bike US $687.69
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 why buy used 26 inch mens blue road cruiser bike bicycle US $89.99
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 womens girls ladies white why buy used 26 inch road cruiser bike bicycle US $89.99
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 GreenLine BC 7406 Women BurgundyPremium 24 7 Speed Womens Beach Cruiser bike US $188.77
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 Schwinn Southport Womens 26 Cruiser Bike US $195.99
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 Schwinn Windwood 26 Womens Cruiser Bike US $193.99
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 Chrome 26 Springer Fork for Beach Cruiser Steel Spring Action Suspension US $39.95
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 New Pacific Cycle Mens Oceanside Bicycle Charcoal Red Speed Beach Cruiser 26 US $212.99
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 Schwinn Exit Freewheel Loop 7 Speed Folding Bike bicycle space saving city bike US $316.00
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 Schwinn Womens Lakeshore 26 Bike Outfitted with a ladies cruiser bicycle US $241.79
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 CRUISER SEAT CHOPPERLOWRIDER BICYCLEBIKECYCLING US $38.87
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 GreenLine BC 7406 Women Vanilla brown 24 7 Speed Womens Beach Cruiser bike US $188.77
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 Huffy Cranbrook 26 Ladies Cruiser Bike Aqua White Great for the Beach US $119.00
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 JL Vintage HandleBar Grips for Fixed Gearbeach cruisersingle speed Silver US $7.30
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 BEACH CRUISER Saddle Seat CruiserChopperBicycleBike US $65.91
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 New 26 Crome Classic Beach Cruiser SPRINGER FORK for Schwinn Huffy Ect US $34.98
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 Schwinn 26 Sanctuary Mens Cruiser Bicycle Bike US $219.00
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 Firmstrong Urban 26 Womens 1 speed RED Beach Cruiser Bicycle bike Alloy Wheels US $139.95
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 26 Lady Beach Cruiser Bicycle Woman Good Vibrations Red Bike US $159.55
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