With a grease-free belt drive a three-geared internal hub, the essentially maintenance-free Priority Classic is the perfect bike for getting out and riding with the family. Learn about the Classic’s unique mix of simplicity and technical features in our review.
Priority Classic Plus Overview
RATING: Exceptional
MSRP: $599
BEST FOR: The average rider needing a quality, comfortable, and reliable bike for riding around town.
WEIGHT: 25 lb.
GEARS: 3-speed/Internal Geared Hub
BRAKES: Dual Hand Brakes
TIRE SIZE: 700c
PROS:
- Comfortable to ride – lightweight and upright body positioning
- Requires little or no maintenance – grease-free belt drive (no chain!), internally-geared hub, and even comes with a tire pump!
- Just three gears keeps things simple
- Super easy to use with child bike seats
- NEW – Dual hand brakes with no coaster brake
CONS:
Priority Classic Bike Review – Results of Our Test Rides
So your son or daughter (or grandchild, niece, etc.) has an awesome bike, but what about you? Shopping for a bike as an adult, is as tricky and complicated as shopping for shoes. Size, fit, use, gender and purpose are all determining factors in finding the best bike for you. In addition, once you buy a bike, in many ways your adventures are just beginning. Tires go flat, gears stop working, chains need cleaning (and greasing), seats (saddle in the bike work) are uncomfortable and your arms quickly learn to dread picking the bike up to store or move it. Bikes can be a real pain, but they don’t have to be. Meet the Priority Classic.
Comfortable, durable, reliable, lightweight, affordable and essentially maintenance-free, the Priority Bicycles Classic is classic simplicity made possible through modern engineering. It won’t take you over or down steep mountain passes or be your guide through Red-Bull-worthy helicopter mountain bike rides, but it will comfortably and easily take you to the park across town or the ice cream shop down the street. It won’t fold up or use its battery to propel you up a hill, but it will require little or no maintenance for years to come.
Dedicated “to taking the stress out of buying, owning and maintaining a bicycle”, Priority bikes are built with grease-free belts instead of chains and internally-geared hubs instead of derailleurs. Available in two frame sizes and two frame designs (diamond and step-through), the Classic is the bike you never knew you wanted, but have always needed. To ensure every bike is truly maintenance-free out of the box, every bike is also shipped with a bike pump.
Priority Bicycles is the brainchild of Dave Weiner, a father, businessman and bike industry professional. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Priority Bicycles launched their first product in July 2014. Since then they have continued to expand and even added a children’s line (which is how we came to know them).
But how do they ride? After riding mainly mountain bikes, I admit the Priority took some getting used to. But with every ride, I came to enjoy the bike more and more. Curious fingers no longer leave the garage with greasy fingers and the lightweight frame made it easy to lift for hanging storage. The upright position meant less neck strain while keeping track of the kids and with only three gears, shifting is a breeze. All in all, it was just as promised, easy, simple and fun.
In addition, the Priority Classic is hands-down the easiest bike to use with child bike seats, which are notorious for poor fit. With a pile of seats at our disposal, we and yet to come across a seat that doesn’t fit on the Classic. The upright position of the rider also provided more room for front-mounted bike seats compared to other bikes, but on their smaller S/M frame (we tested out the M/L), it will probably be a tight fit. Plus, if you do plan on using the Classic for bike seats, the step-through frame would be best to allow for easier entries and exits while your child is in their bike seat.
If you love the idea of the Priority Classic, but are interested in a bike with more beach cruiser styling, check out our review of the Priority Coast.
Bottom Line
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” – John F. Kennedy
Like Kennedy, Priority Bicycles got it right. Easy to use, reliable, durable and a pure joy to ride.
For those with little ones riding on their own, be sure to check out Priority’s Start kids line. Featuring the same essentially maintenance-free belt drive and internally-geared hubs of the Classic, but with kid-specific sizing, the Start line is are amazing bikes for young riders. Be sure to check out our reviews of the Start 16 (for ages 4 to 6), Start 20 (ages 6 to 8) and Start 24 (ages 8 to 12). The Priority Classic is also a great bike for kids who have outgrown the Priority Start 24.
FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review. No monetary compensation was provided for this review, however, the reviewed product was supplied by the manufacturer or distributor to help facilitate this review. All opinions and images are that of Two Wheeling Tots LLC. All content and images are copyrighted and should not be used or replicated in any way. View our Terms of Use.
