Brooklyn Bicycle Co. HQ

"Re-writing my review because the response to the first one was unnecessary. Firstly, I prefer to shop online, so that is what I did when it came to looking for a bike from this company. As I said in my original review, they have great bikes and customer service, minus the fact that one too many of their items showed up as available but were really on back order. And there was no notification of it until after payment is already made. I didn't post this to try and tarnish their reputation - this is just MY honest review of MY user experience. Yes, they explained WHY some of their items show up as unavailable (technical issues with the site) but that doesn't change the user experience and my honest feedback of it. The second part of the response said that they wished I came into the showroom like they "so frequently suggested." 1) I prefer to shop online, like I so frequently responded, and 2) If you have a website, it should be as user friendly as possible. Obviously technical issues happen (I've worked in IT myself), but me leaving an honest review of what happened is just that...an honest review. It's not like I lied. And it would seem that a technical issue like that should come with some type of warning anyway...just a simple text/message on the site saying that some items may show as available even though they're not. So at least the customer knows what they're getting into. The last part of my original review was "They were quick to offer alternatives or a refund, but it's just disappointing to expect to be able to pick up what I paid for sooner, rather than having to wait 2-3 weeks for it. I appreciate the compensation given me for the trouble, as well as the bike itself (Bedford 7, matte black) which is an absolute beauty aesthetically and performance wise. I love how comfortable the saddle is too." I said all of these good things, and the responder chose to focus mostly on the less than stellar parts, regardless of the fact that they were honest and not derogatory."

"The original review was posted without contacting their support team, I've since then updated my review. Original review: Brooklyn Bicycle failed us - my wife bought a Franklin 3 speeds S/M a few months ago, we've had in total 10 rides with this bike. There are two major issues we have with the purchase. 1. The build quality of this bike is terrible - the rear wheel protector does not feel stable and shifts around. The reflector installed on the rear protector also fell off after a light knock against the wall. 2. The "Universal Rear Carrier" that we purchased that's said to be compatible with the Franklin model is not compatible at all! This is quite infuriating and there's no option to refund Universal Rear Carrier. Edit: Update: I've just reached out to customer support with my order number. I've spent an afternoon here trying to "fix" the bike and install the rear carrier to no avail, that's why I'm venting my frustration here in the form of an honest review. Update 2: the customer support asked me for photos and it's been a week and no response. Update 3: The customer support got back to me and sent me a new rear reflector and said they'd refer me to a professional shop for the installation. Overall I think the customer service experience has been good and I've updated my rating. However, they stand by that the universal rear carrier does fit with the model, but I haven't had a chance to try installing it again so I'll take their words for it."

"I bought my Brooklyn Bicycle Co Franklin 8 in December, 2022. I have been riding road bikes since the early 70s and I am switching to something more casual. I looked at many similar bikes but the Franklin had several characteristics and components that made the difference. After 6 months and several hundred miles it has proven to be a great choice. The first thing that caught my eye about the Franklin 8 was the association with Grant Petersen. He has been designing great frames since the 70s and has been a great advocate of the kind of relaxed and comfortable riding I’m doing now. The Franklin 8 follows the general design parameters of some of his later models. Subsequently, It can be ridden for hours without stressing your body. Since my primary goal is now time on my bike rather than speed or distance this has worked out well. The second thing I noticed was that of all the bikes I looked at the Franklin was the only one to come with a quill stem, which allows you to raise or lower your handlebars up to about 5 inches. All the other ones came with threadless stems which cannot be adjusted. All bikes allow for seat height adjustment but handlebar height is equally important. If you raise or lower your seat but cannot adjust your handlebar height you’re in for a lot of frustration, especially on longer rides. The third thing I liked about the Franklin was the 8 speed option. I ride in Miami and we have no hills to climb unless you count the bridges. What we do have is wind. A breeze of 15-20 mph is not uncommon. After pedaling for an hour and a half with the wind on your back, going the other way can get really tiring. Just dropping down to 2nd or 3rd gear can keep you going all day. The shifter is entry level shimano but anything shimano does works very well. The tires were Kenda 700x35. These are an excellent choice. They are comfortable and allow you to go on many surfaces that my road bike’s 700x26 cannot handle. They’re also much more resistant to punctures than narrower ones. The fact that they use Schrader valves is great. One caveat is that the rims are not quick release. This is not a big deal as they come off easily with a 15mm box wrench. The bike was delivered to Revolution Bicycle Services and was assembled by Danny. This was a great choice. Revolution has a great reputation and has been around for a long time. The assembly was quick and very well done. The wheels were true, the brakes well adjusted, no loose parts, the derailleur worked well from the first shift and the fitting was spot on. Other details have been very satisfying. The seat is much more comfortable than I expected. When I buy a bike I usually switch out for a Brooks B-17 but in this instance I haven’t done that and don’t plan to. The fenders have been most welcome. In Miami it rains a lot and it’s nice to keep the “racing stripes” off your back. The step through style is definitely a non-issue and makes getting in and out a little easier. However, to transport it using a car rack you'll probably need an adjustable extension to act as a top tube but these are inexpensive and easily available online.The back reflector works well for night riding. The grips are very comfortable and don't need replacement. The paint work is great and the cream color gets frequent compliments. My only modifications have been to add a mirror on the left side, a handlebar bottle holder and a small canvas handlebar bag. Summarily, If you’d like a well built bike you can ride all day and that will be delivered really “ready to ride” you can’t go wrong with Brooklyn. When you add in the price point it really is a great deal."

"After researching bikes for months my wife and I kept coming back to Brooklyn Bicycle Co. and we are happy we did. Not only did we find the order process easy to navigate but Ryan to be informative and answered our questions promptly. We placed our order on a Friday and were expecting at least two weeks to get our rides here in sunny South Carolina. We were pleasantly surprised that they were shipped, built in less than a week and ready for pick-up at the local partner shop, who was also amazing to deal with. The bikes exceeded expectations, are beautiful and ride extremely smooth. We are looking forward to many bike rides! If looking for a quality bike that turns heads on the road, look no further than Brooklyn Bicycle you will not be disappointed."

"I just bought a Bedford 7 model from Brooklyn Bicycle Co. and I really love the bike. Immediately took it out for a ride into Manhattan. After riding a beat up old schwinn for years, riding this bike is like a dream. It's very stylishly designed with attention to detail. I bought the bike from Ryan who is really great and helped with picking the right bike for me. The showroom I went to is inside the famed Pencil Factory, and it is compact and really nicely laid out. The designs are focused on the city biker, from fixed gears, to internal 3 speeds and up. Highly recommend!"