A few years back, I wrote a guide about some quality bikes that were “affordable” (realizing this is a relative term). Here is my 2023 edition. Bikes are listed from low to high in terms of pricing, and I am using the ceiling of $1500 as the pricing maximum. These are all bikes we can order for you and have ready to roll in a week (and sometimes less!), depending on availability. Pricing shown is MSRP, please add sales tax (8.875) and 1/3 shipping (generally around $35).

See the rest of our 2023 Bike Guides below:

• Part 1 “Bikes Within Reach (under $1500)
• Part 2 “Mid-Range Bikes” ($1500-$2500)
• Part 3 “Higher End Bikes” (over $2500)
• Part 4 “ Cargo Bikes and E-Bikes”
• Part 5 “Mountain Bikes”

Please note there are some great bikes under $1500 (and even $1000) in our Mountain Bike Guide

I know there are many cheaper options available online. however, buying through a bike shop has many advantages including bike quality, brand integrity, cost of ownership (repairs, warranty, etc), and the safety of having the bike professionally assembled. With bikes, almost more than anything else, you get what you pay for.

Email, call (347 457 5760) or just stop by to check availability, timeframe or to place an order.

Bike Selector: Not too interested in heading to a bike shop that has 100’s of bikes lined up, aisle after aisle? Lets cut to the chase with our one-on-one Bike Selector experience. It’s me (Joe, owner of 718) and you (you) figuring this out, real-time and responsive (I’ve built my business on being responsive to my customers). Free-to-use and no obligation.

Fyxation Bikes

Fyxation was started in 2009 by two brothers from Milwaukee, WI. At the time, one of the founders had been living in Taiwan for more than four years working as the chief engineer for a big US based bike component company. After years riding the streets of Milwaukee and Taiwan he saw a need for a durable yet stylish urban focused bicycle tire. He took the idea to paper, then to CAD, and before long steel was being cut on the first Session tire mold.

State Bicycles

State Bicycles. Rider-Developed means never losing sight of why we ride bikes: the fun of it. It also means that your bicycle, gear, accessories and clothing were expertly crafted with the quality of your ride at the forefront of it all. At State Bicycle Co., we strive to bring smooth-riding and premiere fixed gear, single speed, city and off-road bikes to all styles of riders.

Marin Fairfax $499-$989

Marin Fairfax 1, built for the flat-bar road/fitness/hybrid rider. Named "Best Hybrid" by Wirecutter, built around a lightweight Series 1 aluminum frame, stout chromoly fork, and a dependable Shimano drivetrain.

Marin Presidio $579-$1149

The Presidio is our dedicated commuting range, designed with low maintenance and adaptability in mind. Disc brakes, puncture resistant tires and high performance belt drives or corrosion-resistant chains are built tough for city streets, while the lightweight aluminum frames feature all of the attachment points and braze-ons that commuters demand.

Kona Dew, $659

The Dew is Kona’s classic all-around commuter/townie option for someone looking for an affordable, comfortable ride. The Dew is an efficient bike that features a drivetrain with a broad gear range and integrated brake and shifter levers. It’s available in a few colors so you can pick the bike that best suits your style. Equal parts functional and fun, the Dew is at home whether you’re hopping curbs on urban rides, cruising the bike paths, or rallying to the local pub (konaworld.com/dew)

Jamis Coda S2, S1, $769-$1049

Our Codas have been some of our most popular bikes for decades, and for good reason. There’s the smooth-riding Reynolds chromoly frames, the well-thought-out geometry, the heads-up riding position and the smart component selections, from the super-wide gearing range to the easy-adjust stems: these bikes are simply some of the best and most versatile around (Jamis.com/coda)

Kona Dew Plus, $829

When riding your bike, you want a few simple things. Comfort, function, and control are at the top of the list, so we built the Dew Plus with all three in mind. The Dew Plus features a 10-speed drivetrain for smooth shifting and a broad gear range. Hydraulic disc brakes keep the bike in control in tricky conditions. With geometry that keeps the rider comfortable on rides long or short and a kickstand, it’s a great choice for commutes. (kona.com/dewplus)

Kona Coco, $829

Style points matter. The Coco pays homage to the classic European step-through bicycle. Internal shift cable routing helps keeps the lines clean and sleek, and puncture-resistant tires help keep the ride stress-free. This is the bike that makes neighborhood cruising more fun, so we don’t blame you if you “forgot the milk/beer/wine” and need to ride back to the store to pick it up. Don’t be surprised if you turn a few heads on this bike!

Marin Larkspur $869-$1149

Adventure mixte. Veteran urban riders have been building and cruising bikes like the Larkspur for years, making bikes that are just as functional as they are fun. Picking the best from the mountain bike world and blending it with commuter sensibility, the Larkspur is ready to take you most places worth riding to.

Surly Preamble, $899-$1199

The challenge was thus: Build a serious steel bike and give it only the attributes that matter most. Make it quick and comfortable on pavement, as well as confident and compliant on degraded surfaces. What the Enginerds put forth is Preamble, a pavement and gravel utility worker that proves you don’t need to cut corners or clip coupons to make a more affordable steel bike. You just need to keep shit simple.

Preamble can run racks and fenders and carry a couple water bottles. Surly was raised on stealing basic cable, after all. Smooth and efficient on asphalt, Preamble’s double-butted main triangle provides a resplendent ride feel and withstands abuse from life’s inevitable potholes. Make it your own with flat bars, drop bars, a basket, or bags. On the road to steel euphoria, Preamble is the gateway drug.

State 4130 All-Road, $899

The 4130 All-Road offers the benefits of advanced-gravel technology at an accessible price. Featuring a rugged 4130 Chromoly Steel Frame / Fork w/ plenty of cargo mounts, the choice wheels (thru-axle): 700c with “slick” tires or 650b with knobby tires, 11speed drive-train, and disc-brakes. This is our most capable bike ever!

Marin Muir Woods, $899

Get on bike. Hit the pedals. Drop the curb. Sprint. Up the bank. Pump for speed. Nail the turn. Left/right. Back onto road. Spin the legs. Lights. Breathe. On the power. A breeze. Wave to the person with the nice bike. Tuck for speed. A waft of coffee. Freewheel the long hill. Stop, pedestrian. Likes your bike. Smile. Pedal. Cruise the s-bends. Big phat skid. What a blast. Repeat?

Travel the fun way with the new Marin Muirwoods.

Modern transport for the urban jungle and countryside adventures.

Marin Nicasio, $899-$1099

The Nicasio is for the rider looking for something different and modern, yet with traditional steel construction. Classic lines and CrMo frame tubes have the soul of a classic bike, with a reliable 1x9 drivetrain, and the geometry and 650B x 47mm tires to let riders handle any surface.

Kona Dew Deluxe, $949

The Dew Deluxe is the workhorse of choice for commuters from all around the world, whether riding to work or to the grocery store. A reliable, easy-to-ride bike ensures a safe and efficient ride every time you’re on it. With upright and comfortable geometry, a reliable 11-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, fast-rolling, puncture-resistant 650x47c tires, and fenders with mud flaps, the Dew Deluxe will get you there in no time at all. (www.kona.com/dewdeluxe)

Fairdale Weekender Archer/Nomad, $999-$1499

One of the first Fairdales that we ever made was the Weekender. We envisioned a “light-tourer” that would work as a weekday commuter and a weekend getaway machine.

Over the years we have refined the Weekender, but its focus has stayed the same. The riding position is comfortable for the long haul or an evening ride. The shifting is wonderfully simple to use, and the disc brakes get a nice power-boost from our own Linear Slic Kables, made for us by Odyssey®.

The Weekender has a redesigned geometry to work with 27.5 x 2.1" tires, and also leaves plenty of space for compatibility with 700c wheels if you ever feel like changing it up.*

Marin Gestalt $999-$1299

The Gestalt is for the drop bar rider that doesn’t want to stick to pavement, and can’t help but get dirty no matter the route. Long distance commuters and all-weather riders will appreciate the fender and rack mounts and the sure stopping disc brakes, and the larger volume tires are right at home on that unexpected detour.

Salsa Journeyer $1029-$1499

Journeyer is Salsa’s workhorse all-road adventure machine. Its versatility and confidence-inspiring ride are the perfect gateway to all-road riding—Journeyer can be your 700c or 650b gravel bike; your drop bar or flat bar gravel bike; your do-anything all-road bike.

Jamis Ventura A2, A1, $1049 - $1299

Our Ventura bikes borrow heavily from our race-proven geometry to help keep you in front on the local Saturday ride. But we’ve softened the edges of that geo just a bit for a more comfortable and confident ride so you can head out again on Sunday, still fresh and ready to hammer your buddies one more time (www.jamisbikes.com)

Kona Rove AL 650, $1099

You may ask yourself, “What is this 650b semi-plump tire trend anyway?” Perhaps you’re gravel-curious, but not quite sure of how often you’ll really want to push your limits off the paved road. That, my friend, is what the Rove AL 650 is here for. It’s the road biker’s gravel/touring/do-it-all steed. It welcomes bigger tire clearance and more comfortable geometry. It provides everything you need for a fast, comfortable ride and nothing you don’t. It’s the perfect bike for commuting, partaking in weekend warrior adventures, or diving deeper into longer tours. (kona.com/RoveAL)

Jamis Renegade (A1, S4), $1099-$1399

Since 2014, the Jamis Renegade Series has been defining versatility in modern adventure bikes. The key is a finely tuned frame and fork design that maximizes handling and comfort whether you’re road riding with 28mm tires, adding a rack and fenders for commuting on 32’s or exploring the backcountry wilderness fully loaded up on 37mm rubber. Renegades will accommodate up to a  700c x 50mm/650b x 2.00”. (jamis.com/renegade)

Jamis Sequel (S3 S2), $1099-$1299

Think of the Sequel as an urban Renegade, built to tackle anything midtown can throw at it. Our SSD custom geometry and Reynolds double-butted chromoly frame deliver a comfortable ride with maximum stability in every frame size. While those 650b wheels offer both the security of 12mm thru-axle mounting and the pot-hole-eating capability of high-volume 47c tires. Toss in high-powered hydraulic disc brakes, a no-nonsense 1 x 10 drivetrain and a ton of fender, bottle and rack mounts and the Sequel is clearly ready for urban assault no matter the surface or condition (jamis.com/sequel)

Breezer Radar Cafe/Expert, $1199-$1499

Marin Four Corners, $1199

The Four Corners is built for the adventure rider looking to explore deep off of the beaten path, sleep outdoors, and be ready for whatever pavement, dirt road, or light singletrack is around the next corner. The heads-up bar position and generous braze-ons that make it possible to live on the bike for days at a time are equally at home on the daily commute

All-City Big Block $1249

The Big Block represents All-City's vision of the ideal track bike for everyday life. Take it to the streets or the boards. Wherever you ride it, the Big Block will hold up its end of the deal.

Breezer Doppler Cafe, $1374

Kona Unit, $1399

If the Unit were to put out a wanted ad for its ideal rider it might look something like this: Cromoly, single-speed badass ISO someone to adventure with. Some people call me rigid. I think I’m just classy. I like long rides in the sun (or mud, or snow), will carry all your stuff, will last forever, and promise to be the bike that turns heads wherever you go. I can be converted to a 12-speed if that’s your thing. Like food? I have Bento box mounts too! Let’s party!

State 6061 Black Label All-Road, $1399

The 6061 Black Label All-Road offers a race-ready gravel machine at an accessible price. Featuring a rugged 6061 aluminum frame w/ lightweight carbon fiber fork w/ plenty, the choice wheels (thru-axle): 700c with “slick” tires or 650b with knobby tires, an 11speed drive-train, and disc-brakes.

Surly Bridge Club (700c, 27.5”), $1449-$1499

Bridge Club is for those multi-surface outings — planned or unplanned. We've all run out the clock on a dirt tour and had to add in some paved shortcuts. Conversely, when you’re feeling a little zesty on your next road tour, Bridge Club is ready for reroutes through the woods (surly.com)

State Undefeated Disc Road, $1499

Get off the track and out of the city on the Undefeated Disc Road; featuring new Y9 Alloy tubing, an oversized tapered head tube, and a full-carbon fork that come together to create a stiff, responsive, and fast ride. The Undefeated Disc Road complete build features a simplified 1x11 drivetrain. Paired with an 11-28T Cassette, the Undefeated Road provides a gear range to meet any challenge on the road. Tubeless compatible wheels and strong disc brakes glide over the road ahead.