Inspired by French bikes from the 50s-60s, Linus bikes are what most people consider modern classics. These vintage bicycles target urban riders, especially commuters and fun riders. But are Linus bikes good?
Linus bikes are good because they come in stylish, timeless designs, are lightweight and high quality, and feature lots of comfort elements. The bikes are also multipurpose and come in several series and styles at pocket-friendly prices.
Whether you want a kids’ bike or a gender-specific adult bike that you can have fun riding, you cannot go wrong with Linus.
The only issues are their short warranties, and the bikes are only best for urban cycling. Other than that, it’s almost criminal trying to fault Linus.
Let me review the brand in detail to help you understand what it is all about. But before that, let me share its journey briefly.
In a rush? Find some of the best Linus bicycles on the hotlist below:
5 Best Linus Bikes
- Roadster Classic: Best Linus Heritage Bike
- Rover 9: Best Linus Transit Bike
- Cesta 7: Best Linus Comfort Bike
- Felix e6100: Best Linus Electric Bike
- Fox Rider: Best Linus Kids’ Bike
About Linus
Founded by Adam McDermott in 2007, Linus is a bike brand hailing from Venice, California. Interestingly, the company was established to solve issues like carbon emissions and high bike prices, and they seem to be doing well.
According to the manufacturer, Linus bicycles minimize carbon emissions and offer a convenient and affordable way of getting around town. The manufacturer, therefore, extensively invests in bike innovation to ensure the bikes convey their mission.
Linus prioritizes riding comfort and bike durability above everything, making Linus bicycles among the most comfortable and durable on the market.
While at it, Linus draws inspiration from the 50s to the 60s, delivering modern classics. Since its founding in 2007, they have sold over 100,000 bicycles.
But other than bicycles, Linus specializes in cycling accessories. While the Linus bike bag is among the most popular accessories, other Linus bike accessories include rear baskets, chain guards, handlebars, bike bells, saddles, grips, bike lights, and helmets.
Linus Bikes Review – Good Vs. Drawbacks
Let’s review what makes Linus bicycles good and the drawbacks to help you decide if to get a Linus bicycle or not.
7 Reasons Linus Bikes Are Good.
Here are seven reasons why Linus bicycles are worth getting:
1. Stylish ‘Timeless’ Design
Linus bicycles are inspired by French bike designs from the 50s to the 60s. So, they come in retro designs, but that’s not all.
The manufacturer adds a few attractive modern details to promote classic elements. You’ll find them in vibrant frames featuring reflective tires that promote a sporty look.
Everything about their design indicates a brand that’s never going out of fashion, what we call timeless. So, if you want a bicycle to ride for decades and feel trendy, then you should go for Linus.
2. Lightweight Bikes
Linus employs aluminum alloy, hi-ten steel, and Chromoly steel on its bike frames. While steel is slightly heavy, aluminum alloy frames are exceptionally lightweight and form a considerable fraction of the bikes’ production.
Overall, Linus aluminum bicycles average 26-30 pounds, making them lightweight. The aim is to make them as portable as possible, even to the extent of carrying them on the shoulders over a short distance.
And since these bikes are lightweight, their advantage goes beyond portability. They are more comfortable to ride, and that makes them faster. You generally need that from your urban bicycle.
3. High-Quality Bikes
The choice of frame material speaks volumes about the quality of Linus bikes. These bicycles come in aluminum alloy, hi-ten steel, and Chromoly steel options, which promise fatigue resistance, weight tolerance, and durability.
However, the frames are not the only high-quality elements that come with Linus. The manufacturer carefully selects handgrips, brakes, tires, and drivetrain. They also feature quality accessories to enable a better ride experience.
4. Comfortable Choices
This is probably Linus’s strongest selling point. Linus bicycles are all about comfort, and it starts from their lightweight frames. The low weight aside, their frames come in step-thru and diamond options to make them rider-friendly.
Their handlebars promote an upright posture, saving you from bending too much and hurting your back. What is more, the handlebar features ergonomic grips that offer your hands extra comfort.
Most of these bikes also have a shorter standover height, making them easy to access and comfortable. Plus, they come with ergonomic gender-specific saddles to encourage optimum seating comfort.
The best part is that the bikes come in multiple frames. So, you only need to look at the Linus bike sizing guide that the manufacturer provides for the cycle you are interested in to find your match.
5. Multipurpose Advantage
Let’s get one thing clear; Linus doesn’t make multi-terrain bikes. No! They make urban bikes, which can tackle a variety of urban terrains. These bikes are pretty versatile to ride for different reasons on urban roads.
While their primary targets are commuters, the bikes are also suitable for cruising around town, running errands, and fitness cycling. So long as you don’t plan to ride off-road, Linus will serve the purpose.
6. Wide Range (Multiple Series and Styles)
Linus doesn’t shy off from producing many bicycles for different target markets. Currently, they make five different series in different styles as shared below (which I’ll also discuss later):
| Linus Series | Bike Styles |
| Heritage Bikes | Dutchi, Mixte, and Roadster |
| Transit Bikes | Rover, Altore, and Pronto |
| Comfort Bikes | Cesta and Ero |
| Electric Bikes | Cesta, Ember, Ero, and Felix |
| Kids’ Bikes | Fox Rider, Lil Roadster, and Lil Dutchi |
7. Pocket-Friendly Prices
Linus markets itself as a budget bicycle brand, and you can agree with the manufacturer when you consider its bike prices. Below is a price chart indicating the price ranges of the various Linus bicycle series.
Other than the e-bikes, the other series are pretty affordable.
| Bike Series | Price Range |
| Kids Bikes | $259-$389 |
| Heritage Bikes | $489-$949 |
| Transit Bikes | $599-$949 |
| Electric Bikes | $2,499-$3,999 |
| Comfort Bikes | $649 |
The Drawbacks
They include:
- Shorter warranty – Linus steel frames only have a 5-year warranty while alloy frames have a 3-year coverage
- Not best for long trails – Linus bikes are only best for urban riding. They are predominantly city bikes.
1. Are Linus Heritage Bikes Good?
Linus heritage bikes borrow from classic European bicycles but have a contemporary Californian flavor. So, the cycles bring both worlds together.
Currently, Linus heritage bicycles come in three different styles:
- Dutchi
- Mixte
- Roadster
Linus Dutchi is elegant, comfortable, and feminine, befitting modern women. You can tell that from any Linus Dutchi 3i review.
On the other hand, Linus Mixte is more masculine, characterized by a touring saddle, internal gearing, and a fatigue-resistant steel frame.
The darling of them all, however, is the Linus Roadster. An option like Roadster Classic embodies the Italian and French flavors from the 50s-60s.
It comes in a unisex frame and enjoys a timeless profile. Not only is it a perfect commuter but also a practical urban tourer.
2. Are Linus Transit Bikes Good?
Transit bikes are Linus’ most lightweight, agile, and fastest bikes. These bikes are designed for cross-town adventures, and they come in these three styles:
- Rover
- Altore
- Pronto
Linus Altore is an all-around bike that you can use for commuting, fun riding, fitness riding, name it, while Linus Pronto is best for longer commutes on urban roads.
On the other hand, the Linus Rover is an all-terrain urban cruiser – a rare model by Linus.
One of the best Linus cruiser bikes in this category is the Rover 9. It enjoys a 9-speed micro-shift system for fast riding and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes for quick stopping.
3. Are Linus Comfort Bikes Good?
Linus only makes two comfort bike styles; Ero and Cesta. Both styles come at a budget but promise more value to urban commuters and recreational cyclists.
These comfort bikes are best for all-around town cruising and boardwalks owing to their relaxed geometry, gel saddle, and lightweight frames.
The only difference is that Linus Cesta has a shorter standover height, making it more accessible and suitable for older kids. That is the case with the Cesta 7.
But overall, you can tackle a variety of terrains with a Linus Ero or Cesta. The bikes are easy to ride, powerful, and uniquely stylish. For bikes going for under $650, these comfort bikes are worth it.
3. Are Linus Electric Bikes Good?
Linus doesn’t make a lot of electric bikes, but the existing options are perfect for commuting and cruising around town. These bikes allow you to go further and carry more, and they are available in the following styles:
- Cesta
- Ember
- Ero
- Felix
The Ember e-bike is a classic electrical bike that demonstrates minimal elegance, while the Ero e-bike is a comfort e-bike that is best for day and night commuting. The Linus Cesta E-Bike is Linus entry-level comfort e-bike.
On the other hand, the Felix e-bike is Linus’s most high-end electric bike. An option like Felix e6100 embodies the best specs and promises more speed and comfort. You’ll get a powerful motor, easy-to-view display, wireless communication, comfort saddle, to name a few.
3. Are Linus Kids’ Bikes Good?
Linus stocks three styles of kids’ bikes:
- Fox Rider
- Lil Roadster
- Lil Dutchi
The Lil Roadster and Lil Dutchi offer the same experience as their adult siblings. The bikes are all about comfort, elegance, and performance, and they are available in 16-inch and 20-inch wheel options.
However, the most suitable choice for smaller kids is the Fox Rider. The toddler bike comes in an elegant tricycle design to quickly introduce your toddler to cycling.
It has minimal parts for easy maintenance, featuring steel, wood, and plastic parts. Plus, it’s available in 7 palettes to inspire your youngster.
People Also Ask
1. Where Are Linus Bicycles Made?
Linus bicycles are designed at the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles, California, but the final assembly and the components buildup happen in China.
2. Are Linus Bikes Heavy or Lightweight?
Linus bikes are not heavy. Most alloy frame Linus bicycles average 26-30 pounds. Only a few steel and electric options weigh over 30 pounds.
3. Do Linus Bikes Have Gears?
The original Linus bicycles were single-geared. Nowadays, Linus bicycles come with gears, some with nine gears. Three-speed options, however, are the commonest on the market.
4. What Are Linus Bikes Made of?
Linus bicycles mostly feature alloy aluminum frames because the frames are lightweight. However, there are still Chromoly steel and hi-ten steel frame options.
5. Who Manufacturers Linus?
Though the company that makes Linus bicycles is not clear, the company is owned by its founder Adam McDermott and its current CEO, Chad Kushner.
In Conclusion, Are Linus Bikes Good?
Generally, if you are looking for a decently priced urban bike for commuting or fun riding, you cannot go wrong with Linus. The bike brand suffices in the urban bike sector, offering men, women, and kids good options.
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