Electra Townie 3 Speed Cruiser

[FreddyS]

My wife is not into the rat rod thing like I am but does ride with me from time to time. She has an old crappy Huffy Verona which is not a very good ride. I have an opportunity to buy a Electra Townie 3 Speed at a decent price. Does any one have any experience with one of them?

 

[raggedjim]

Not the townie but my wife has the 3-speed Amsterdam and she loves it. The Electra's are great bikes, I'd buy another one in an instant.

Good luck, Rg

 

[tonygameboy]

I've rode on one and I highly recommend it! My friend has six, yes six of those Townies. Not sure what deal he got but he bought 3 for the beach house and 3 for here at home (third bike is for guests). I almost bought one but fell in live with the Electra Cruiser the day I went to buy a Townie.

 

[FreddyS]

Thanks. Having a hard time deciding between this bike and a Fuji Del Rey 3 speed cruiser which has an automatic shifter. Not as cool looking as the Townie but it has its advantages as well.

 

[tonygameboy]

Well they love the bikes for one reason is the pedal forward design. They both had back issues riding standard bikes. I always end up back on my Electra regardless how many bikes I have.

 

[FreddyS]

Couldn't close the deal on the Townie so I got my wife this instead. It is a Fuji Del Rey Step-through Automatic 3 Speed Cruiser with the feet forward design. Man, it is nice looking and the ride is excellent. First experience with an automatic shifter and it is a good one.

 

[Bicycle808]

Congrats on the new bike, to you & your special lady....

How does that auto shifter work? I have experience with 2-speed centrifugal ones, and with multi-speed derailer-based systems (not a fan); what controls the shifting on the Fuji 3 speed?

 

[FreddyS]

Man, I really don't know. All I know is it is made of some high end shimano parts. Sold new for $ 699. Bought it for $ 200. Finally learned that bikes are a lot like tennis shoes. Most are crap but if you are willing to pay some money for some good ones, it is definitely worth it. I will never buy crappy bikes from Wal-mart again.

 

[hotrodmex]

Pretty sure that has one of Shimanos short-lived electronic 3-speeds.

 

[FreddyS]

It is. From research that I did, it does not appear that there were any real technical problems with the auto transmissions, but they failed to catch on. It seems that bicycle enthusiasts like the ability to manually shift gears. It is perfect for my wife as she does not like to shift gears and likes a coaster brake.
If nothing else. it will be a collectors item down the road!

 

[hotrodmex]

I'd rock one. I think the only smoother would be a NuVinci with the Harmony controller.

 

[FreddyS]

Not me dude......give me my old skool Dyno any day of the week.

My wife likes it though!

 

[Bicycle808]

It is. From research that I did, it does not appear that there were any real technical problems with the auto transmissions, but they failed to catch on. It seems that bicycle enthusiasts like the ability to manually shift gears. It is perfect for my wife as she does not like to shift gears and likes a coaster brake.
If nothing else. it will be a collectors item down the road!

I've not heard anything, really, about the Shimano electric 3-speeds. However, I can say for sure that the derailer-based autos were absolute turds, invented by Gremlins and assembled by Trolls....

I'd rock one. I think the only smoother would be a NuVinci with the Harmony controller.

I totally want a NuVinci, but hold the Harmony controller, please. I just want the regular inch-worm twist-grip.