Best $1,000 Bikes for Work and Play

Marin Lombard

Price: $999
Weight:24.8 pounds
Frame/fork material: Aluminum
Drivetrain:Shimano Sora 3×9
Brakes: Promax Render R mechanical disc brakes, 160mm rotors
Tires: 700x35c Schwalbe Road Cruiser

The Lombard is a listed as a “cyclocross utility” bike on Marin’s website, and is a great way to categorize this bike. An aluminum frame and fork keeps the weight down, while reflective decals and rack and fender mounts should make this bike a willing companion on local commutes or long tours.

Marin-Lombard-2


Specialized Diverge A1

Price: $1,100
Weight: 24.2 pounds
Frame/fork material: Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum frame with Specialized FACT carbon fork w/ Zertz
Drivetrain: Shimano Claris 2400 STI, with SunRace 11-32 8-speed cassette, KMC chain, and Shimano Claris 50/34T, 175mm crankset
Brakes: Tektro Spyre mechanical disc
Tires: Specialized Espoir Sport 700x30c

The Diverge line is new for Specialized, and illustrates the diffuclting of finding the correct way to label modern drop bar bikes. Disc brake road bike? Utility cyclocross? light touring? Adventure bike? We are slotting this in the disc brake road bike category, with its compact road crank and 30mm tires.

SpecializedDiverge_2


Yuba-boda-boda-4

Yuba Boda-Boda

Price: $999
Weight: 39.4 pounds
Frame/fork material: Aluminum
Drivetrain: SRAM 1×8
Brakes: Mechanical disc brake front, V-brake rear
Tires: 26×2.0 WTB Freedom Cruz

As far as we know, this is the least expensive, complete, long-tail cargo bike on the market today. This is a pretty stripped down bike at this price, and will need accessories to really take advantage of the cargo capacity. Yes that is a lot of seat post. Our reviewer has a lot of leg, and Yuba offers the Boda Boda in only two sizes: one a step-through, and the step-over pictured here.


Raleigh-Clubman-disc-5

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    Raleigh Clubman Disc

    Price: $1,100
    Weight:27.4 pounds
    Frame/fork material: 4130 butted chromoly
    Drivetrain: Shimano Tiagra 10-speed, 50/34 crank,
    Brakes: Shimano BR-R317
    Tires: Kenda Karv 700×28

    The Clubman is a long standing model for Raleigh, and we were glad to see it move to disc brakes for the 2015 model. The full Tiagra 10-speed drivetrain and Shimano discs are a great spec at this price point. And those painted to match metal fenders give the bike a whiff of NAHBS.


    Breezer-Greenway-6

    Breezer Greenway Elite

    Price: $1,049
    Weight: 31.5 pounds
    Frame/fork material: aluminum
    Drivetrain:SRAM VIA Centro 2×10 speed
    Brakes: Shimano M355 hydraulic disc
    Tires: Vittoria Adventure 700×32

    The Greenway Elite from Breezer comes stock with a solid year round commuting set up: fenders, rack, bell and even a kickstand. The best part? A set of front and rear Trelock lights running off the Shimano dynamo front hub.


    Framed Minnesota 2.0-7

    Framed Minnesota 2.0

    Price: $900
    Weight: 34 pounds
    Frame/fork material: aluminum
    Drivetrain: SRAM X7/X5 2×9
    Brakes: Avid BB5 mechanical disc
    Tires: Framed 26×4

    Framed is a newer bike company, and besides the a full range of fat bikes, bmx and urban bikes, it is also first to market with a women’s specific model, and sells a kid’s 24-inch fat bike as well. It seems fat bikes are becoming more and more popular as a second or third bike, and not just for snow and sand. The big tires seem to strike a chord with a wide range of riders, for a wide range of uses.


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    Best $1,000 Bikes for Work and Play — Bike Hacks