There are many great brands of bicycles. They can be grouped into several categories according to quality: budget consumer, mid-range, serious, and high-end. Even within these levels there are ranges of quality. However, we want to keep it as simple as possible because you also need to consider the type of bike you need. So below is a table summarizing the most popular bicycle makers with their most popular bike styles and niche.
The list is arranged by popularity.
Trek is currently the most popular bicycle brand. Makes bikes in every category, including children's. Trek is the bike of choice for many pro riders in mountain and road categories.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Trek | Road, Mountain, Town |
Excels in Multiple Categories | $400-$12,000 | Mid-range, Serious, Pro and High-end |
Schwinn bicycles have been a part of American culture for more than 100 years, even with stressful ups and downs in the biking industry. As such, there are thousands of old Schwinn bikes still out there, with many of the older bikes becoming collector's items. Even parts for older Schwinn bikes are still traded today. If you have found an old Schwinn bike at an estate sale and you want to restore it, finding parts will be a long term adventure. Sheldon Brown's bicycle site is probably a good place to start. |
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Schwinn | Leisure, Family |
Cruiser | $60 - $2,500 | Low to Mid-range. Can be bought from big box retailers. |
Claims first mass produced mountain bike. Has expanded into all the other categories including road, racing, hybrid, touring, and electric assist bicycles.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Specialized | Road, Mountain, Commuter, Kids |
Mountain | $400-$12,000 | Mid-range, Serious, and High-end |
GT Bicycles is the nation's leading supplier of dirt-track racing, or bicycle motocross "BMX," bicycles and one of the nation's biggest sellers of adult mountain bikes, as well as over 4,500 different parts and accessories. With eadquarters located in Santa Ana, California, the company designs, manufactures, and markets 143 mid- to premium-priced bicycle models. A Brand of Pacific Cycle who is owned by Dorel Industries.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
GT | Mountain, Road, BMX |
Mountain | $150 - $4,000 | Low to Mid-range. |
A spin-off of BMX Products, focuses on mountain, downhill, and free-style riding. It is now a brand of Pacific Cycle who is owned by Dorel Industries.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mongoose | BMX, Downhill, Free ride, All Mountain, Hardtail, Dirt Jump, Commuter |
BMX | $80 - $2,300 | Low to Mid-range. |
With a long history originating in Great Britain, Raleigh has long been considered a USA company. Raleigh's most popoular bike is road. However, they now produce bicycles in just about every category.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Raleigh | Road, Mountain, Performance Hybrid, Hybrid, Comfort, Cruiser, Women |
Road, Hybrid | $130 - $1,500 | Low to Mid-range. |
A division of Raleigh, Diamondback's emphasis has been mountain bikes. But now makes a full range of cycles in just about every category.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diamondback | Full Suspension, Moutain Hardtail, Road, Performance Hybrid, Hybrid, Dual Sport, Comfort, Cruiser, Women's, Youth, BMX |
Full Suspension, Moutain Hardtail | $120 - $1,500 | Low to Mid-range. |
Company focused on cruiser bikes when they found in 1993 that there was a void in the supply, pent pent up demand. Electra bikes stress comport rather than speed.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Electra | Cruiser, Comfort, Hybrid |
Cruiser Bicycles | $200 - $300 | Low. |
Fuji mainly focused on road bikes. It had many famous models and was at one time the most popular bicycle brand. However, changes in market demand forced the company to produce other types of bicycles, such as mountain bikes. The market shift devastated the original company, which was later bought out by Advanced Sport, an American company that was later purchased by a Taiwan investor. The Fuji brand name still exists today with many models in the road, comfort, and mountain categories.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fuji | Road, Mountain, Comfort |
Road | $200 - $5,000 | Low to Mid-range. |
An Italian Company with exclusive division in the USA. Excels at road and race bicycles.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bianchi | Road, Racing, Comfort, Track, Mountain, Comfort/Cruiser |
Racing | $200 - $12,000 | Mid-range, Serious, and High-end |
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Felt | Road, Track, Triathlon, Fixie, Mountain, Cyclocross |
Racing | $500 - $12,000 | Mid-range, Serious, Pro and High-end |
Low end consumer brand of marginal quality. Mostly children's bicycles.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Huffy | Children's bikes, Scooters, Women's bikes, Comfort, Cruiser, Tricycles |
Child | $35 - $200 | Low end, found in big box retailers (Target, Walmart) |
Focus mainly on Mountain bikes and ski equipment, but also makes road, hybrid, and women's bicycles. Tries to stay ahead with cutting edge technology such as lightest weight bike frames.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Scott Sports | Mountain, Road, Hybrid, Women's, Junior's, Mountain Frames, Road Frames, Clothing |
Mountain | $300 - $6,000 | Low to Mid-range. |
Cannondale pioneered light weight Bicycle frames using Aluminium and Carbon. Cannondale brand is also owned by Dorel Industries, which primarily manufactures bicycles in Taiwan and China.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cannondale | Road, Mountain, Recreation/Urban, Women's, Headshok Forks |
Mountain | $500 - $10,000 (Most priced in $1,500 - $2,500 range.) |
Mid to High-End |
Jamis started in Florida as a beach cruiser bicycle producer. Later, they expanded into road racing and mountain bikes. Won 2003 "Best All Mountain Bike" and "Bike of the Year" from Mountain Biking magazine.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jamis | Mountain Full Suspension and Hardtail, Road/Triathlon, Street/Commuting, Bike Path/Comfort, Femme (Women's), Youth |
Comfort/Cruiser | $200 - $9,000 | Low, Mid, and High Range |
Carved a niche selling alternative bicycles, cruisers, kids bikes, unicycles, tandem, tricycles, recumbent, and trailers.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Bicycles | Adult Trike, Bike Path, Comfort, Cruiser, Industrial, Juvenile, Recumbent, Tandem, Trailers, Unicycles |
Tricycles, Recumbent | Under $200 for kids bike. Up to $2,000 for recumbent tricycle. | Low to mid range |
Focus on low cost children's bicycles sold at mass market retailers such as Walmart.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Next | Children's, Family |
Children's | Up to $200 | Low end, found at big box retailers |
The Gary Fisher line ("Gary Fisher Collection") of bicycles is a brand owned and manufactured by Trek Bicycles. The brand honors and is managed by famous mountain bike developer and rider, Gary Fisher.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
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Redline company has a long history being associated with BMX racing. Later expanded into mountain bikes. Now has bicycle offerings on commute and fitness classes, as well.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Red Line | BMX Race, Freestyle, Cyclocross, MTB, Commute, Fitness |
BMX | Up to $600 | Mid range for BMX |
The Hawaii landmark named Washington/Vancouver company primarily focuses on mountain bikes and all its variants. However, also offers bicycles in other categories such as Road, Women's, and Kid's. Kona Company contributes greatly to the Bikes for Africa program.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kona | Dual Suspension, Hardtail, Mountain, MTB, 29er, Cyclocross, Road, Women's, Kid's |
Mountain | $400 - $6,400 | Low to High |
Currently, only new bicycles are sold in Europe. However, used ones can be found in classified ads and auction sites in the USA.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iron Horse | Mountain | Mountain | $70 - $2,600 | Low to mid range. |
Mountain bikes are Rocky Mountain Bicycles' main concentration. They focus on producing bikes for seven sub-disciplines of mountain biking. To this end they sell 29 different mountain bike models and 9 frames.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rocky Mountain | Mountain, Road, Women's |
Mountain | $1,600 - $5,700 | Mid to High |
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Litespeed | Frames, Road, Mountain, Women's, Tandem, Custom |
Frames | $2,000 - $38,000 | Mid-range, Serious, and High-end |
San Francisco Bay Area bike maker primarily focuses on creating mountain bikes that can handle the rigours of the Tamapias Hill in the North Bay. Recently has expanded to offer bicycles in most popular categories.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Marin | Mountain (Full Suspension and Hardtail), Road, Cyclocross, Street, Path, Kids |
Mountain | $200 - $4,500 | Low to mid range. |
Started by former Xerox mechanical engineer. Company specializes in bicycles and Clothing for women, but has grown to make offerings for everyone. Prides customer satisfaction.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Precision Cycling | Performance, Fitness, Hybrid, Custom |
Bikes, clothing, and saddles for Women | $35-$6000 | Mid-range, Serious |
Southern California company specializes in small BMX bikes for stunt riding. Has expanded into mountain and road bikes with BMX theme.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Haro Bikes | BMX, MTB/Asphalt |
BMX | $200-$700 | Above Walmart brands to mid range |
Company started by famous racer Greg Lemond. Specialized in road racing bicycles. Currently sells stationary bikes and coaching services. Although, Lemond no longer makes road bicycles, they can still be found in secondary marketplace.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lemond | Road Racing Bikes, Stationary Bikes |
Stationary Bikes | $300-$1000 | Mid-range |
Company started started by friends interested in single gear bicycles. Company offers frames and bicycles in seven different categories: cyclocross, fixed-gear, touring, 29er hardtail, utility, road, and all terrain. Their all terrain bike is unique, in that it has fork and rear triangle wide enough to accept four inch wide tires, which allows rolling over a wider range of "soft" surfaces. Also, offer a long tail utility bicycle that has a 400 pound load capacity, intended to replace your car for around town trips.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Surly Bikes | Mountain, Trail, Bicycle Messenger, Single-Speed, Long-Tail, Frames, Bicycle Trailers |
Bicycle Frames | $800-$2000 | Mid-range |
Located in Petaluma, California, this company makes passenger and cargo carrying bikes that are light weight but capable of carrying many things. You can even attach a trailer for more stuff. There is even an electric conversion model called the el Mundo.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yuba Mundo Bikes | Urban Load Carrying Bicycles | Complete Urban Transportation Solutions | $900-$3000 | Mid-range |
American marketed Swiss designed lines of racing and mountain bikes. Works closely with professional riders in design projects.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
BMC Switzerland | Racing and Mountain Bicycles | Innovation focused on speed | $1200-$13500 | High End, Pro |
The Southern California owners with business and biking experience started the company in 2009. The bikes are compfortable, colorful, and powerful. The bikes can be placed in assist mode or a throttle can be used for peddle-less propulsion. The bikes are designed to be fun.
Bicycle Brand | Bicycle Types | Main | Price Range | Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pedego Electric Bikes | Cruiser and comfort Style Bikes with electric motors. | Innovation focused on casual urban transportation | $2000-4000 | Competitive for electric bikes. |