Brooklyn Bicycle Co. Franklin 3 vs Abrihome 26" 7-Speed Beach Cruiser Bike

Buy the Franklin 3 if you want a low-maintenance city bike with a sealed internal hub, standard fenders and a lifetime frame warranty. Buy the Abrihome cruiser if you want more gears for hills, disc brakes and a front basket, and you accept a derailleur drivetrain and home assembly. The Franklin's Shimano Nexus 3-speed shifts while stopped and stays clean in rain; owners praise the ride and finish but report a rattling rear fender, slippery grips in wet weather and a hard-to-adjust seat. The Abrihome's 7 speeds and disc brakes suit hillier routes, but its steel frame, no-name components and required assembly make it the rougher, less proven bike.

• Choose the Franklin 3 Speed if you ride mostly flat city streets, want a step-through frame, fenders and near-zero drivetrain maintenance.
• Choose the Abrihome 26" cruiser if you face hills, want disc brakes and a basket, and are comfortable assembling or having a bike shop assemble it.