Firmstrong Urban Man

I had this bike on my wishlist for while and finally broke down and purchased it. Now I don't no why I waited as long as I did! This bike is well worth the price considering all you get. It is comfortable to ride, the seat is nice and bouncy, the shifter is easy to operate, and it has coaster brakes! I did order the fenders to install along with the initial installation. As far as assembly, well, that went very smoothly and quickly. It took me about an hour to assemble and to put on the fenders, but I also took a couple of breaks. I have already recommended this bike to several co-workers and am very happy that I made the purchase. I will admit that I haven't found a use for the first gear on this bike as I live in a relatively flat area. The second gear is good for slow, enjoyable rides, and third gear is great for cardio activity and to really get going...I have topped out at 20MPH. This isn't a racing bike, it is designed for comfort and fun. Personally, I think it looks great and it rides really well. Again, if you are looking for a nice, comfortable, fun bike, this is it.

I am a 71 year old male & I have been riding bicycles for many years. I have a Townie 21 speed which I absolutely love & I have put many miles on it. I have a one mile loop dirt road in my neighborhood & I have always wanted a 1 speed or 3 speed bike to ride this loop because I wanted something that would give me a good workout. The 1 mile loop is mostly uphill with about a 15 degree grade. I purchased the Urban Man 3 Speed Beach Cruiser with the intent of eventually being able to complete 10 miles on this 1 mile loop. I thought that this would provide me with a good cardio-vascular workout & provide more of a challenge than my 21 speed Townie, which I still use on longer rides. My Beach Cruiser arrived on schedule & very well packaged. The bike was very easy to put together(its almost all assembled) & I road it the same afternoon. There is a very slight front wheel wobble but I got the wheel trued at my local bike shop for a minimal fee. I have ridden my new Urban Man on the 1 mile loop & now & up to 5 miles & it gives my 71 year old body a great workout! I have also ridden my new Urban Man many miles on mostly level streets & I am very impressed with how smooth & easy the ride is! This is a very well made bike & is priced very reasonably! I would recommend this bike to any serious or leisure bike enthusiast!

I purchased the 3-speed cruiser in orange, and I think this is a great bike. I find the design and coloring pleasing to look at. When I ride it, it seems like other people are looking and appreciate it too. Maybe they just enjoy me enjoying it.I had a little problem because I ordered the fenders too and came up missing a nut (don't laugh). Firmstrong sent a set of replacement nuts and bolts as soon as they could, so I absolutely recommend the company and commend the service. Assembly is relatively straightforward but might be a challenge if you aren't familiar with the tools you might need. I had to flatten the rear tire to allow the wrench enough room to tighten a fender bolt. The directions indicate removal of the tire might be necessary, but I thought that might lead to a whole bunch of complications considering the gearing. The fenders by themselves are a little delicate and the paint scratched easily. I recommend binding your wrench handles with electrical tape (if they aren't already rubber coated) and using a cloth barrier to protect surfaces near the nuts as you work (if you can).The ride was a little stiff on the first go on the street. However, I adjusted the air pressure in the tires, and it smoothed out some. I'm currently deciding whether to mess with the seat springs or if it's worth it. I really want to use it on the beach. I think that is where it will be most comfortable.

This bike is gorgeous. Make no mistake, this was one of the primary reasons I selected it. The retro cruiser frame with its smooth lines and curves in a shiny black finish definitely draws attention, especially with the bright chrome accents and the white-wall tires. Everywhere I go people stop to comment on this bike. I wanted a bike that functions well but also had character and elegance, and that's what I got with this bike. It really is a beauty.Note: to really spruce up the bike, as well as to help protect against splashes, I invested in a pair of chrome fenders. I was not disappointed. They completed the bike's look, and help minimize mess during/after rains. The set I purchased: B002KVOV2AThe other reason I purchased the bike, besides its cool look, was for riding. Shocking, I know. I had previously used a similar bike, an old '67 Huffy Corvair. I was reluctant to replace the old bike because of its style, its smooth ride, and its reliability. I bike a couple times a week in an urban setting, (Chicago) and while liked how balloon-tire cruisers handle potholes and irregularities in streets, the fixed gear and back-pedal breaks of the old bike weren't very good for fast starts/stops in a city in traffic, and was tiring to keep up with traffic with for long street rides. I wanted a bike with similar comfort, but more breaking control and faster speeds with less pedaling for extended rides. It was difficult to find a cruiser with shifters and hand breaks, but this bike was the perfect match, particularly for comfort.The balloon tires are even fatter than those of my old bike, lending even better cushion against the ever-present potholes in Chicago's streets. The speeds adjust to match the preference of the rider, so I do not have to pedal non-stop as I did on the fixed gear cruiser. The size is a nice step up for me as well...at 6'1" my old bike, even at highest seat position, did not allow for my legs to extend properly during pedaling. Not so with this bike. Make no mistake, this bike is BIG. This is a good thing, particularly for riders of the long-limbed variety. This is a great bike for smooth, comfortable riding and control.The downsides:The biggest downside, which was easily corrected, was that the ring washer for tightening the pedal shaft was not properly tightened. This meant that ball-bearings that kept the pedals smoothly, but tightly rotating were slowly falling out if the bike was jostled. I caught it in time, tightening the ring with a screwdriver, and though with a few bearings missing the pedal housing is a little loose, it's certainly still fully functional.The bike is of the heavier variety, so if you have to carry it you'll have a workout. I added a rack, fenders, and baskets so I am aware mine is heavier for that, but just bear in mind this will be something to think of if you need to lift the bike often. I haven't weighed mine, but if you are looking for a light bike for fast rides, thus might not be the bike for you. It never is too much of an issue keeping a good speed, but this is more geared toward comfortable rides than fast ones.The chain guard brackets are not very rigid or strong, so if it is bumped the guard can rub on the chain during riding. so be careful about the chain guard, and be prepared to carefully bend it back into proper position should it be bumped at all.The bike seat is very comfortable, but oil the springs on the mount, as the seat was creaking as much as my old '67 within weeks of my purchase.The shifters work decently, but do not always 'catch' as you change speeds, so it requires a quick switch/switch back for the gear shift to 'take' at times. It doesn't affect performance, just a minor nuisance.Though minor, the sticker accents are very obviously just that. Stickers on an otherwise VERY classy bike.All in all, I have been very pleased with this bike. It is extremely comfortable and capable, and works well for riding about town in an urban setting. (And looks darned good while doing so.) I affixed a basket rack and three baskets for grocery runs, and fenders for other weather situations, and have been quite happy with the bike. Getting it where I wanted it took some tuning here and there, but now that it's where I want it to be, the bike is a joy to ride. The price point for such a bike is also very affordable. I got more than my money's worth on this purchase. Will this be the last bike I purchase? No. I can tell the quality, though good, won't be able to stand up to decades of wear like my previous cruiser, but for this price and for the added comfort and convenience, this is well worth the money spent.Edit July 18th, 2015: Two years of use, and the bike itself held up far better than I expected. I was contemplating adjusting my review to five stars, when the bike seat broke as I was riding it. The seat was easily replaced, but for simple street biking at my weight (175 lbs) I would not have expected the seat to be the first part to go.