When talking about cruiser bikes, most people tend to bring up their comfort and style. However, one question that most people don’t ask is how fast can a cruiser bike go!
No one really associates cruiser bikes with speed, and for a good reason. Their heavy design and comfort-oriented geometry don’t inspire much confidence in their performance. A cruiser bike encourages cyclists to enjoy an upright sitting position and ride comfortably.
Regardless of their design and obvious weight, some people still ask are cruiser bikes fast? Here’s all the information you need to know about cruiser bike speed and how to make them faster.
How fast can a cruiser bike go?
The average speed of a cruiser bike ranges between 5 – 20 mph. There are plenty of different types of cruiser bikes on the market. However, the one thing that you’ll find common among all of them is that none of them are very fast!
It’s not easy to reach the top speed on a cruiser bike. The heavyweight makes it quite a challenge. However, if you’re a strong pedaller, it’s possible to reach speeds of around 20 mph.
But to reach the top speed on a cruiser bike, it’ll require a significant amount of effort. It’s much easier to go faster on other bikes. A road bike on the same terrain as a cruiser bike can manage an average speed between 25 – 40 mph!
While they might require significantly more amounts of effort to reach their top speed, the lack of speed comes with a benefit. Riding a cruiser bike will build up your leg muscles and allow you to strengthen them. The more time you spend riding a cruiser bike, the stronger your legs will become.
Although they might be among the slowest bikes on the market, cruiser bikes are still immensely popular. While the answer to how fast can a cruiser bike go won’t please those that are looking to reach the fastest possible speeds, it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost.
There are several techniques that you can use to improve how fast can a cruiser bike go! Here’s everything that you need to know about how to make a beach cruiser faster!
Top tips to improve the speed of your cruiser bike
As is the case with all the other bikes on the market, there are some changes you can make to improve the overall speed of your bike. However, your cruiser bike isn’t going to turn into a tesla anytime soon. It’s important to understand these tips will only help you slightly increase the speed of your cruiser bikes.
With that out of the way, here are some top tips to help you get the most speed out of your cruiser bike.
Buy the lightest option
One of the main reasons cruiser bikes tend to lag behind other bikes in terms of speed is their weight. Generally, all cruiser bikes are heavier than other types of bikes on the market. However, there are some lightweight options that cyclists can choose between.
If you want to achieve the fastest speed possible on a cruiser bike, it’s important that you pay particular attention to buying a lightweight option. Most manufacturers will provide cyclists with accurate information regarding the bike’s weight.
You can find the lightest available option by taking your time and assessing the different products on the market.
Go for Multi-speed Cruiser Bikes
The answer to how fast can a cruiser bike go depends on several different factors. One of those factors is whether you’re going for a single-speed or a multi-speed option. It’s significantly more challenging to reach high speeds on a single-speed cruiser than it is on the multi-speed version.
On a multi-speed cruiser, all you need to do to reach high speeds is changing the gears. It’ll become significantly more straightforward for you to reach the fastest possible speed in the correct gear.
Go for Electric Cruiser Bikes
Alternatively, instead of going for a multi-speed cruiser bike, users can choose to buy an electric cruiser. Unlike the standard cruiser bikes, electric cruiser bikes feature a motor. Some electric cruiser bikes on the market are even capable of reaching a speed of around 25 mph!
While it might not present the same training opportunities as a standard cruiser bike, an electric cruiser bike is an excellent option for cyclists who want the cruiser bike experience and speed.
Perform Regular Maintenance
One of the best ways to significantly improve your comfort bike’s performance is performing regular maintenance. If any sort of debris gets stuck in the chain or the drivetrain, it can cause the overall speed of the cruiser bike to drop significantly.
It’s not difficult to ensure that your bike remains clean and in optimal condition. All you need to do is take some time to clean the bike properly after every ride. You can either choose to get a proper bike cleaning kit or go for a standard brush and cloth.
When you finish cleaning your cruiser bike, it’s a good idea to lubricate the bike chain and drivetrain. The less friction in the drivetrain, the easier it’ll become for you to reach your top speed.
Once you’re down applying bike lube to the chain, ensure that you wipe away any potential excess.
Maintain the Correct Seat Position
An experienced cyclist will already be fully aware of the impact that maintaining the proper seating position can have on your pedaling efficiency.
If the bike seat is too high or too low, you won’t be able to fully extend your legs and pedal to your maximum potential. You need to ensure that the seat is in a position that allows you to fully extend your legs and pedal effectively.
Additionally, by adjusting the seat, you can also have an impact on the geometry of the cruiser bikes. Cruiser bike geometry favors a more upright sitting position. While this might improve visibility and comfort, it has a negative impact on the overall aerodynamics.
Maintain Optimal Tire Pressure
Tire pressure can have a major impact on how a bike behaves. Depending on the kind of wheels you’re running, each type will have its optimal tire pressure.
Generally, cruiser bikes tend to feature thick and wide tires. The optimal pressure ranges between 30 – 40 PSI for cruiser bike tires!
For heavier cyclists, maintaining a tire pressure of 40 PSI is the way to go! When there isn’t an adequate amount of pressure in the tire, it’ll significantly increase the level of rolling resistance. As the rolling resistance increases, getting your cruiser bike to a high speed becomes significantly more challenging.
Properly Position the Brakes
Most people won’t pay attention to their brakes when trying to improve the overall speed of their cruiser bike. However, that’s a mistake as the positioning of the brakes can have a negative impact on the speed.
If your brakes aren’t in the proper position, they may rub up against the tires and make it harder for you to accelerate. Not only will the brakes hold you back from reaching the speeds that you desire, but they’ll also accelerate the degradation of both your tires and the brakes.
Invest in Slick Tires
Another option that’s available and will help you significantly improve how fast your cruiser bike can perform is investing in slicker tires. Cruiser bikes tend to feature all-terrain tires that provide a significant amount of grip.
On the other hand, if you want to improve the on-road performance of a cruiser bike, you can invest in slick tires. Slick tires have to deal with significantly lower amounts of friction so they can reach higher speeds easily.
However, while investing in slick tires will increase the speed, it’ll reduce the functionality of the cruiser bike. You won’t be able to ride on the beach or rough terrain after investing in slick tires.
Final Word
Cruiser bikes are known for being super comfortable and providing a leisurely ride. They aren’t the fastest, but there are some tips that you can use to improve the speed.
However, if you’re looking for some speed from your bike, a road bike is a much better option. Cruisers are designed for leisurely strolling around your favorite commutes!
