The 8 Best Commuter Bikes

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Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike at Amazon

"Features a built-in rear rack to attach panniers for carrying your work bag and extra gear."

Best Budget:

Retrospec Harper Urban Commuter Bike at Amazon

"The bike features a KMC chain, VP freestyle pedals, and Kendal commuter tires."

Best Folding:

Schwinn Loop Adult Folding Bike at Amazon

"The Schwinn bike can fold up in just a few steps—small enough to fit under a desk."

Best Electric-Assisted:

ANCHEER Electric Mountain Bike at Amazon

"The battery has a 15- to 30-mile range."

Most Versatile:

GT Virage Elite Hybrid Bike at Dick's

"Has hydraulic disc brakes and 27 speeds for an excellent ride."

Best for Cities:

6KU Fixie Urban Track Bike at Amazon

"This bike is perfectly simple to ride as well as to fix."

Best for Carrying Your Bag:

RALEIGH Carlton 8 City Bike at Amazon

"Sports a strong built-in front basket with understated metal siding and a wooden bottom."

Best Cruiser:

sixthreezero EVRYjourney 3-Speed Step at Amazon

"This cruiser is among the best commuting bikes with its attached rear rack."

Depending on your personal needs, a commuter bike needs to offer the right amount of versatility to its rider. Do you need the bike to carry your things to and from work? Is your riding path flat or uphill? How do you plan to store your bike once you reach your destination? Aside from meeting these types of demands, a commuter bike should also provide you with the utmost comfort and durability. Fortunately, there are many types on the market that are perfect for the daily commuter or someone who just wants to ride their bike for a quick trip to the store.

Here are the best commuter bikes on the market for all your needs.

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Commuter bikes don’t have nearly as many complicated pieces as great mountain bikes or road bikes. The best ones contain strong, reliable component parts from the gears to the shifters. The Schwinn Discover 700c Hybrid bike fits the bill.

This bike features a built-in rear rack to attach panniers for carrying your work bag and extra gear. The bike is strong, lightweight, and easy-to-use. You can hop on, toss your gear on the back, and have a great ride to and from work.

Available in men’s or women’s frames, it's is made with aluminum in a hybrid design. The wheels are 700c size with a hybrid tire width range. The 21-speed bike includes SRAM shifters, a Schwinn suspension fork, an alloy crank, Promax alloy linear pull brakes, and upright handlebars.

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The Retrospec Harper Single-Speed Fixed Gear Commuter Bike is a great and inexpensive option that has become a particularly popular urban commuting bike. This affordable pick comes in dozens of designs with various colors so you can find the right one for your style.

This bike has a simple design with upright handlebars and thin, colorful hybrid wheels with deep v-rims. It sports a strong steel frame and a single gear “fixie” design. Fixies aren’t for every commuter, but they can be a fun and easy option, especially in flat cities. The bike features a KMC chain, VP freestyle pedals, and Kendal commuter tires. The one downside of this budget bicycle is that the weight capacity maxes out at 220 pounds for people and gear.

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Folding bikes are ideal for a number of work environments from high-rise offices to busy warehouses. A foldable bike is exactly what it sounds like—a full-size bicycle that can fold into something easy to store—and it allows you to ride to work without any headaches about where to lock up. The Schwinn Loop bike is an excellent folding commuter bike for just about anyone.

Although it may look a bit unusual with its low crossbar and 20-inch wheels, it can accommodate any rider up to about six feet in height and rides as smooth as a traditional bicycle. The Schwinn bike can fold up into a compact object in just a few steps—small enough to fit under a desk. It comes with a concealing bag and weighs about 33 pounds. The seven-speed bike has Shimano parts and has a built-in rear rack for easy carrying.

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Commuting on a bicycle is a fun and convenient way to get to work. However, a strenuous route to work can lead to you being tired, winded, and sweaty by the time you get to the office. That’s where electric commuter bikes come into the picture. The ANCHEER Electric bike is a great hybrid way to get around with a little electric help.

With 21 speeds, disc brakes, and 26-inch wheels, this bicycle has the look and features of a typical mountain bike. ANCHEER’s bike also includes a 250-watt stable motor and a 36-volt, 8aH lithium-ion battery to help you get where you need to go. The battery has a 15- to 30-mile range and the motor can reach speeds as high as 15 miles per hour—both perfect for commuting.

Of course, this isn’t a motorcycle. With the ANCHEER electric bike, you have an array of pedal-assist options with this bike—you can get a speed burst from a stop or an assist on hills or a full eBike.

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A commuter bike doesn’t have to only be used for going to and from work. A blend between road and mountain bikes, a hybrid bike gives you a mix of durability, speed, and multi-terrain riding. Available in a range of frame sizes from 13 to 21 inches, the GT Virage Elite Hybrid Bike is a great commuter bike for any purpose.

The 700c GT Virage Elite Hybrid Bike has hydraulic disc brakes and 27 speeds for an excellent ride whether you’re pedaling to work or training for a triathlon. The bike also features Shimano shifters, derailleurs, brackets, cranks, brake levers, and cogs as well as a GT saddle and pillars. The bike uses 700x32c tires and has a smooth-welded alloy GT Virage Triple Triangle bike frame.

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Commuting is particularly popular in cities, and many cities are investing in their cycling infrastructure, from bike lanes to dedicated paths, to make commuting even more attractive. Cheaper, greener, and often quicker, bike commuting is perfect for urban workers. The 6KU Aluminum Fixed Gear Single-Speed Urban Bike is a simple and fun option for commuting in the city.

This bicycle is made with 6061 double-butted alloy welding, a 1 and one-eighth inch alloy fork, 30-millimeter deep V double-wall alloy wheels, and 700x25c tires. Pedal forward to move and backward to stop. This bike is perfectly simple to ride as well as to fix—there are no messy derailleurs or complicated brakes. The simplicity makes fixing and storing this bike a breeze.

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One of the only downsides of commuting by bike is having to worry about where to put your things. While many people opt for professional style rear rack panniers and others use backpacks, few options are better than the built-in storage of the Raleigh Carlton Mixte City Bike.

Available in a range of sizes for just about any height, the purple or green Raleigh bikes are ideal for commuters. Built with a steel frame, Shimano shifters, colorful fenders, and divot brakes, the Carlton Mixte is a good bike by any standards. However, this bicycle also sports a strong, built-in front basket with understated metal siding and a wooden bottom. You can toss in a few books for class, a messenger bag for work, or a bag of groceries on your way home. This bicycle is a stylish and convenient way to commute.

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The old-school cruiser design has become a popular biking option for commuters. The high handlebars make cycling a less strenuous activity on your way to the office. Additionally, this cruiser is among the best commuting bikes with its attached rear rack.

This hybrid cruiser features two-tone tires and comes in ten color designs including mint, navy, and cream. You can get this bike as a 1-, 3-, 7- or 21-speed, all made with a lightweight aluminum step-through frame. The bike sports matching fenders and a dual-spring saddle designed for comfort and made to match the handlebars. This bike is a fashionable option for getting to work each day.

What to Look for in a Commuter Bike

Size

For a comfortable ride, you always need to consider the size of your bike. You'll want to make sure that you're comfortable standing over your bike, when you're sitting down on the seat, and when you're holding the handlebars. If you feel cramped or have to reach in any of these positions, you won't have a smooth ride. Also, consider the material of your seat, handlebars, and pedals. You want them to be comfortable to sit on and grip for long periods of time.

Gears

Many commuter bikes offer a various amount of gears to help travel different terrains. If you will be commuting uphill or on rougher terrain, it's best to find a bike with multiple gears. However, if you're mainly traveling on flat ground, you could opt for a single-speed option. Also, consider your tires. You'll need to make sure they will provide enough traction on your terrain in both dry and wet conditions.

Breaks

There are two different types of breaks found on commuter bikes: rim and disc. Rim breaks are reliable and often the most common breaks on commuter bikes. They're less expensive and easier to maintain or replace if something goes wrong. On the other hand, disc breaks offer more precise stopping and are great for breaking in emergency and wet conditions. They tend to be a little more expensive and can be harder to replace if anything goes wrong. Which type of break you want will largely depend on your terrain, how often you plan to commute, and your personal preferences.

Carrying Compartments

If you need to carry something with you such as a bag or textbooks while you ride your bike, look for one that comes with a carrying compartment. Many commuter bikes will come with a rack or basket on the front or back of the bike where you can secure whatever you need to carry. If the bike you're looking at doesn't have a rack included, see if it has mounting holes to install one.

Portability

Once you've reached your destination, you'll likely need a place to store your bike. While it's common to buy a bike lock to secure it to a bike rack, some bikes are made to fold up so you can store them in your office. A foldable bike is a great option if you have the space to keep it near you, so you never have to worry about finding a spot at a rack or your bike being stolen.

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