Oregon Cycling Magazine

by Tom Baldinger

BMX cruisers have a long and colored history. They have been around for almost as long as regular 20-inch wheel bikes. They have 24-inch wheels. The frames are also slightly larger than normal BMX frames, with more relaxed geometry. They are a great alternative to the smaller 20-inch standard for tall people, and older riders looking to return to the sport. Cruiser racing was at its height in the 1980s, largely due to production limitations on the part of manufacturers. At that time most standard frames had very short top tubes, reducing the number of riders who could achieve a proper fit. As a result, many people rode cruisers who might have otherwise used stock 20” bikes. Manufacturers later began lengthening top tubes on frames for the standard wheel size, offering XL and XXL sizes to larger customers. While this has reduced the demand for 24-inch wheel race bikes, they are still a great option for general riding. In this case, ‘general riding’ means dirt jumping, street, skate park riding, etc. They are more versatile than their smaller cousins. For instance, product tests in BMX magazines of the early 80s would rate the high speed descending capabilities of cruisers they rode. That’s something 20-inch wheel bikes aren’t really designed to do. Cruisers can more easily make the transition between that type of riding, and the more typical applications BMX bikes are used for.

There are distinctions between ‘dirt’ and ’street’ or ‘freestyle’ designs among 20-inch bikes, but key differences with cruisers are wheel size and geometry. I have a Haro CL 24-inch cruiser. It has a head angle of 72.5 degrees, and a seat angle of 68 degrees. The top tube is 23.5 inches. The frame height is approximately equal to a 14-inch mountain bike frame. It is taller, longer and a bit more slack than normal 20 inch wheel bikes. I am 6′4”. The position works well for sudden weight shifts, steering changes, standing up, etc. Although I could fit a modern XL or XXL frame with 20-inch wheels, the gryoscopic stability of the 24-inch wheels makes me comfortable for hard riding. In fact the early days of cruiser racing was on bikes with 26-inch wheels. Torker was one of the companies making them and they are collectors items now. A contemporary 26-inch example is the ‘Firemans Texas Cruiser’. They are very functional, elegant machines with a retro influence. However 24-inch wheels became the standard for a good reason. They accelerate faster, turn more sharply, are lighter, and are stronger. Although 24-inch wheels are not as stable, the difference is minimal. An important development in wheel technology was the invention of the mag wheel. ‘Skyway’ was a company that pioneered the use of composite wheels, generating large demand because of their simplicity, strength and durability. They made less than 100 sets of the graphite 24-inch ‘Tuff Wheels’ for factory riders. Spoked wheels were, and are still more common because of their light weight and ease of repair.

Although I don’t expect to gain a large number of converts, I will now unveil my secret agenda.

My agenda is naturally, more cruiser riders on the streets, the race tracks, the skate parks, etc! I love to see other people on them, because I know what fun they are! New models have benefited from mountain bike technology. They have linear pull brakes, sealed cartridge bearings in the rotating parts, stiff oversized hubs and reinforcing gussets at the tube junctions. If your budget is limited, and you are looking for a bike that is easy to maintain, can be ridden hard, and will provide more entertainment than should be legal, I would highly suggest a 24-inch wheel BMX cruiser. I don’t seriously suggest that you attempt long commutes on one, but I used to ride 5 miles a day or so on my Haro to get to work, school, etc. They are not as fast as ‘big wheel’ bikes but if a bike ride is more to you than a utilitarian passage from point A to point B, if you are prone to explore alleys, jump off curbs or look for embankments, cruisers are a great option. They generally cost less than mountain bikes with similar quality components, and due to the simplicity they are relatively durable.

Perhaps the best reason to ride a cruiser is the renegade factor. Mountain bikers chuckle, 20-inch wheel BMX riders scoff, road bikers are bewildered. Cruisers have a kitsch factor that’s hard to beat, they are super practical. Try one out, you’ll be surprised at the amount of saddle time it sees and I guarantee the ride will put a smile on your face.

Possibly Related

• April 2008: Getting paid to ride: the guided tour
• May 2008: Collecting oddball bikes
• September 2008: Track racing at its best: the Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge
• March 2008: Roots Racing
• September 2007: A cool old bike comes back to life