There’s no need to spend a shitload of money if all you want to do is a simple and comfy bike for daily commute. But a good commuter bike should at least be of fine quality.
There are several affordable bikes on the market that can serve you well on your commute, and even last for years.
By no means will good inexpensive bikes be cutting edge, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t perform and serve you as effectively as more expensive models.
We researched and reviewed tons of cheap commuter bikes available to find the best quality bikes, and put together a list of the best commuter bikes under 300 dollars.
9 Best Commuter Bikes Under 300
- Best durable and efficient urban commuter: 6KU Urban Track
- Best affordable commuter bike for women: Firmstrong Urban Lady
- Best comfortable beach cruiser: Huffy Woodhaven
- Best vintage cruiser bike: Firmstrong Bella Classic
- Best commuter bike for teen: Schwinn Baywood Cruiser Bike
- Best convenient folding commuter bike: Golpus 20” Folding Bike
- Best women’s commuter: Dinling Women’s Cruiser Bike
- Best multipurpose bike for adults: Frike Hybrid bike
- Best for casual rides: Schwinn Mikko cruise bike
6KU Urban Track
Key features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Caliper
- Bike weight: 29.69 lbs
- Warranty: 1 year
- See more on Amazon
The 6KU Urban Track Bike is designed and engineered for high-performance fixed gear riding. It features a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame and front and rear suspension to provide the rider with a comfortable ride even on the bumpiest of terrain.
With a weight capacity of up to 250 lbs and heights of 5ft 2 to 5 ft 4, the 6KU Urban Track Bike can accommodate a variety of riders. Also, it has the ability to carry up to 50lbs of cargo.
This bike also has 19.29 inch deep V double-walled alloy wheels that provide extra support and are fitted with non-slip, puncture-resistant rubber. The elevated saddle is designed for comfort and performance, and features faux leather for a soft feel.
The low 1.25 inch oversized handlebar and stem setup provides the rider with nimble handling and a laid-back, casual riding position.
For precise stopping power, this urban bike is equipped with a front and rear caliper brake system. Additionally, the flip-flop hub allows you to switch between fixed gear and single-speed modes with ease.
With all these features, the 6KU Urban Track Bike is the perfect choice for an enjoyable and comfortable urban riding experience.
Price at time of publication: $249
Firmstrong Urban Lady
Key features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: Coaster brake
- Bike weight: 38 lbs
- Warranty: 30 days
- See more on Amazon
The Urban Lady Cruiser Bike is a great choice for commuting, recreational riding on local roads and beaches. It has a low double coil spring cushioned seat and wide handlebars to maintain an upright riding position.
The single speed variant is suitable for leisurely rides on flat terrain, and is equipped with a rear coaster brake that stops the bike when pedaling backwards.
The 3 speed variant has the Shimano Internal Hub with Nexus Shifter for more gears to climb hills, and also uses the rear coaster brake system, and is good for up to 20 miles at speeds of 15 mph.
The 7 speed variant has an external dynamo hub, allowing for more riding options, from short trips to long commutes, and is great for up to 40 miles at speeds of up to 30mph. It’s a cheap, reliable bike, with a solid steel frame and a 30-day warranty.
With its range of options, the Urban Lady Cruiser Bike is perfect for anyone who needs an affordable cruiser bike.
Price at time of publication: $299
Huffy Woodhaven
Key features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: Coaster
- Bike weight: 52 lbs
- Warranty: N/A
- See more on Amazon
The Huffy Woodhaven is a popular beach cruiser bicycle that comes in two variants – a 26” wheel bike for men, and a smaller 24” model for women. The steel frame is designed to be tough and durable, and can carry up to 250 lbs of weight.
With a cantilever cruiser frame style, the Huffy Woodhaven is easy to mount and dismount. It is a rigid bike that has no suspension, but the 26” or 24” tires are rugged and help to absorb shock.
Also, the dual density adjustable padded seat with dual springs will absorb bumps more efficiently, and the swept back handlebars contribute to an upright riding position.
The Huffy Woodhaven comes with a front basket and rear rack for carrying light cargo. It’s a great choice for cruising the beach at a leisurely pace, with the comfort and durability of a quality beach cruiser.
Price at time of publication: $244
Firmstrong Bella Classic
Key features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: Coaster
- Bike weight: 43 lbs
- Warranty: 30 days
- See more on Amazon
The Bella Classic is another impressive commuter bike from Firmstrong. It comes in three gear option variants, the single speed, the three speed, and the seven speed variant.
This bike is great for leisurely riding on flat terrain, perfect for climbing hills and has an optimal gear shifting system for speed control. The aluminum wheels feature 2.125-inch wide tires that cushion bumps and provide proper traction on the trail for more enjoyable rides.
The Bella Classic has coaster brakes which you activate by pedaling backwards, and they provide very reliable stopping power. With a 13.5 inch solid steel frame, this classic bike is sure to provide a comfortable ride for any rider between 4 feet to 6 feet tall.
The cantilever cruiser design allows the rider to easily dismount and mount the bike; the low placed dual spring padded seat provides a comfortable feel for long rides and, when coupled with the swept back wide handlebars, it enables the rider to maintain an upright riding posture.
The Bella classic cruiser is an affordable, high quality bike, and it comes with a one-month warranty.
Price at time of publication: $229
Schwinn Baywood Cruiser Bike
Key features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: Rear coaster
- Bike weight: 31 lbs
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- See more on Amazon
The Schwinn Baywood Cruiser bike is the perfect combination of style and function. It features a steel, step-through frame, making it easy to mount and dismount.
The 24-inch wheels and tires provide excellent traction on roads, pavement and trails, with rear suspension to absorb the impact of potholes. The Cruiser also features ergonomic features like a padded seat to prevent pain during long rides, and swept back handlebars to ensure the rider stays in an upright position.
The rear coaster brakes are simple to use, just pedaling backwards to break. Plus, it has a single speed drivetrain and full wrap fenders to protect the rider from water and the drivetrain from mud and road spray.
The bike is suitable for riders between 4 ft 7 to 5 ft 3, and it can hold up to 250 lbs of weight.
With all these features, the Schwinn Baywood Cruiser Bike is the perfect choice for comfortable, reliable rides.
Price at time of publication: $299
Golpus 20” Folding Bike
Key features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: V brakes
- Bike weight: 32 lbs
- Warranty: 3-months warranty
- See more on Amazon
The Golpus 20-inch Folding Bike is ideal for those looking for convenient transportation and storage solutions. Made of high-strength steel and featuring a foldable curved crossbar, this bike is able to easily be carried and stored. And provides a comfortable and efficient biking experience.
The bike also features 20 inch single wall aluminum rims with high-quality, age-resistant rubber to make the bike especially resilient against punctures and skidding on wet terrain. Its adjustable seat and handlebars give the rider an upright position and can be extended from 25 to 36 inches and 40 to 46 inches respectively, depending on your preference.
The bike also has a highly responsive 7 speed drivetrain to handle to switch between different speeds seamlessly, and its front and rear V Braking system improves stopping power and reduces braking distance.
With its folding frame, adjustable components, and powerful brakes, the Golpus 20-inch Folding Bike is perfect for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and convenient bike.
Price at time of publication: $230
Dinling Women’s Cruiser Bike
Key features
- Frame material: Carbon steel
- Brake type: Front and rear mechanical disc
- Bike weight: 35 lbs
- Warranty: N/A
- See more on Amazon
The Dinling Women’s Cruiser Bike provides a good combination of comfort and performance, and perfect for daily commute. It features a carbon cantilever cruiser frame with rear and front suspension, capable of holding up to 330 lbs.
The bike is equipped with strong, double-walled 26-inch aluminum alloy rims, providing extra reinforcement for anti-skid and wear-resistant tires. It also features a thick, padded and wide saddle with spring suspension, swept-back handlebars, and a cantilever cruiser frame design to give the rider a comfortable and upright riding position.
In addition, it uses a front and rear mechanical disc braking system for efficient braking power and precision even at high speeds. It also features a 7-speed rear derailleur and micro-shift twist shifter for easy gear changes. Finally, it comes with a cloth basket in the front for extra cargo.
Its lightweight design and array of features, such as a full-suspension frame, disc brakes, and 7-speed rear derailleur, combine to make it an ideal choice for everyday use.
The whole bike weighs just 35lbs, and suitable for riders between 4ft 9 inches and 5ft 9 inches tall.
Price at time of publication: $269
Frike Hybrid bike
Key features
- Frame material: Carbon steel
- Brake type: Dual V brakes
- Bike weight: 37 lbs
- Warranty: N/A
- See more on Amazon
The Frike Hybrid Bike offers a great combination of comfort, reliability and performance for cyclists of all levels. Built with a sturdy high-carbon steel frame, it has a front suspension fork to respond to rough terrain.
The bike also boasts 26-inch by 2.1-inch durable alloy rims with puncture-resistant rubber tires that can handle pavement, gravel and dirt tracks with ease. In addition, it features a slight-rise handlebar that enables the rider to stay in an upright position with minimal back and shoulder strain.
To ensure a smooth ride, the Frike Hybrid Bike comes with a 21-speed Shimano group set. This makes it ideal for conquering hills and traveling long distances with ease. To adjust the saddle height to your preference, the bike comes with an alloy quick-release lever.
All-in-all, the Frike Hybrid Bike is perfect for cyclists of all levels. It is ideal for navigating rough terrain and covering longer distances.
With its urban style and quality components, it’s sure to keep you comfortable and looking stylish during any ride. And it can support up to 330 lbs of weight and up to 6ft tall.
Price at time of publication: $259
[9] Schwinn Mikko Cruiser
Key Features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: Coaster Brake
- Bike weight: 36 lbs
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime warranty
- See more on Amazon
The Schwinn Mikko cruise bike is perfect for casual rides around your neighborhood. It has a sturdy steel frame, lightweight aluminum wheels and a well-cushioned saddle that will keep you completely comfortable.
The Mikko has a single-speed drivetrain, which is great for a cruise bike. And with the intuitive rear coaster brake, you simply pedal backwards to bring it to a stop.
It is a good bike with entire front and rear fenders that helps to keep dirt away from enjoying your trip. This may not be the lightest road bike, but it has a very sturdy build quality. It’s also easy to assemble, and ships in a very secure package.
Price at time of publication: $340
Commuter Bikes Buying Guide
Buying a new bike is an investment that you should not take lightly. And before you decide on what bike to purchase, there are a few things you have to know to help with your decision-making.
We have explained some of the most important features you need in a commuter bike, and how to find the best commuter bike for your budget range.
Style and appearance
A commuter bike is a practical, comfortable bicycle that you may use to get to and from work, the grocery store, and other places in your neighborhood.
But the style and feel of the bike should fit your personal taste because sometimes it’s the little things that matter.
There are so many styles available, you can find really elegant urban-style bikes, classy city bikes, cruiser-style bikes or even hybrid bikes.
While the main point of getting a commuter bike is for its functionality, you shouldn’t be afraid to find something that fits your style.
Style is entirely a matter of personal preference, and you can consider customizing a bike if you struggle to find one that checks all the boxes for you. Bike customization is quite simple, and there are a ton of different parts available to fully make your bike your own.
Bike size and fit
It’s very important that your bike fits you properly, riding a bike that fits well is more fun and enjoyable. A bike that doesn’t fit properly might be uncomfortable and even unsafe.
The bike fitting process can be a bit confusing, but we have a few tips that will help you get the right bike fit for the most comfortable riding position.
When looking for a properly fitted bike, the standover height, saddle height, and reach are the three primary dimensions to consider.
You should also consider working with your neighborhood bike store to find the perfect bike for you, this can be incredibly valuable and save you time, stress, strain, and even potential riding injury.
Read our guide to bike size charts to learn more about important bike measures and what they mean.
Riding comfort
One of the most important features of commuter bikes is that they provide an upright and relaxed riding position for comfortable riding. A bike that is not comfortable enough will be useless for commuting, this is quite obvious because who wants to ride an uncomfortable bike every day.
An upright and relaxed position is common on hybrid bikes, commuter bikes, vintage bikes, and city bikes. Other bikes, like road bikes, prioritize a more athletic, forward-leaning position during longer rides for better performance and pedaling efficiency.
However, the best balance of comfort and performance for the typical commuter cyclists for a long distance commute is a riding position that lies between a fully upright position and a forward-leaning position. This mid-range riding posture is common on commuter and urban bikes with flat handlebars.
Again, find a bike that you feel is comfortable, because you certainly don’t want a bike that makes you feel achy and sore after every ride.
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and tires are a big part of a bike, they are what the bike rides on and are reasonable for traction.
Wheel and tires come in different sizes, but the most common size found in commuter bikes are 700c or 28-inch wheels. 700c wheels are narrow with smooth thread, which is better for speed on paved roads.
These wheels are the same size as those seen on conventional road bikes because it rolls quickly and handles well. But, urban bikes sometimes have tires that are a little bit wider than those on traditional road bikes. Because wider tires provide better traction, and are typically more puncture-resistant.
Reliable Brakes
Reliable brakes are very important in commuter bikes because you have to be able to stop instantly when riding in a city with traffic.
Most commuter bikes are designed to handle both sidewalks and gravel roads will have either rim brakes or disc brakes.
Rim brakes: When you apply pressure to the brake lever, two rubber pads apply pressure to the bike wheel’s rim, which gradually slows you down until you completely stop. These are the most common type of brakes seen on budget bikes.
Examples of rim brakes include, V-brakes and caliper brakes. These brakes are much cheaper than disc brakes and are easy to maintain.
Disc brakes: these brakes are known for their superb braking performance. Disc brakes are most commonly seen in mountain bikes and expensive bikes. They are very powerful, reliable in all weather, more expensive and require less maintenance than rim brakes.
Gearing system
You may want a commuter bike with at least 3 gears for daily commute, as this will give you the ability to shift up and down. But there is an exception, if you’ll be riding only on flat ground with no inclines, then a single-speed bike (or bike with only one gear) will be enough for you.
Even when they are riding on flat land, some people prefer having multiple gear options, so they can change speed when they want.
If your daily commute takes you through sloppy roads and inclines, then you should definitely get a commuter bike with multiple speed options.
Rack, basket and fenders
The ideal commuter bike should have a couple of commuter-specific features like a rear rack, a front basket and fenders.
These may be optional features for some riders, but they are always good to have. Having a place to put things on your bike is always a good idea. Think of when you go for small grocery shopping, or pickup a few things on your way to home.
Most urban bikes come with a rear rack or front basket, and many others have mounting holes to attach racks. Make sure you check if a bike you want to buy has these accessories, especially if you need them.
You should consider a bike with front and rear fenders if you live in an area with a lot of rain, because they will keep mud out of your clothes during your daily commute. Not all commuter bikes come with fenders, sometimes you may have to buy them and fix yourself.
How Much Should You Spend On The Best Commuter Bikes?
Your budget and personal preferences will determine how much they should spend on a commuter bike. However, most people tend to buy budget-friendly commuter bikes of $200 or below, but there are more expensive options that start from $400 and up.
There are many great options available with a wide range of prices that anyone can easily find a good option that fits their budget.
Wrapping up
So there you have it, our list of the best hybrid bikes under $300. Our top recommendation is the 6KU Urban Track because it’s pretty solid for the price.
This bike frame is sturdy and incredibly light. And the lightweight helps with speed and agility on the road.
For a fast city ride, the wheels and tires are the right size. They are durable enough to roll smoothly on pavement, can handle a good amount of street debris, and have enough traction to be functional on some gravel or loose soil.
The seat is more comfortable and the pedals are standard plastic and very comfortable, but you may want to upgrade it to a better one.
Overall, the 6KU Urban Track Bike is very durable and fun to ride. It has 4.4 stars from over 800 customers on Amazon. Most customers stated that the bike is great value for money, and they are happy with their purchase.
Buy a 6KU Urban Track Bike on Amazon.
