The story of Huffy, from Dayton sewing machine makers to world force in bicycles

At this price point there are always compromises and on the Allez Sport these come in the form of the own-brand Axis 1.0 rim brakes. On review we found their performance to be lacklustre and took downhills carefully. That said, the brake pads or even the entire callipers can be easily upgraded and it’s a change that the superb Allez frameset warrants. In mid-1968, Huffman released the Flaming Stack chain guard, which was designed to look like the distinctive side exhaust pipe covers on the Corvette sports car. Later that same year, Huffman released a new Slingshot model with 16″ front dragster wheel, and 20″ rear. The new 1969 models where the last year for the three-bar Rail frame style.

From their seat posts to the handlebars, everything offers a comfortable ergonomic position. Today, Huffy bikes are designed with comfort and value in mind, with well-padded saddles, big tires, and comfort-focused designs throughout their range. The competitive pricing of Huffy’s sale models can be a very appealing choice for those looking to start their electric bicycle journey. However, be aware that budget bikes are only suitable for light use and may require more maintenance than higher-priced models.

huffy bikes

While slower than Class 3 e-bikes, which can reach 28mph, the lower max speed is suitable for the needs of most urban riders. Huffy is a bike manufacturer and used to have its own factories in the United States up until the late 1990s. However, huffy cruiser bike due to rising costs of labor, like all other major bike brands, it moved its manufacturing to Asia to stay financially viable. Keep reading our Huffy electric bike review to find out if a Huffy e-bike is the right choice for you.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but something to be aware of. The lowest price bikes may use 7-speed Shimano Tourney or derailleurs from Microshift. There are even fenders / mudguard and rack mounts if you want to use the Brand X road bike for commuting or all-weather duties. Designed with ‘balanced’ geometry, its ride position is comfortable enough but you can slam the stem for a more aggressive ride.

You might occasionally find a steel frame, while pushing the price tag up further may introduce carbon fibre. The 2×8-speed Shimano Claris groupset works well, although the jumps between ratios are quite large. At 10.1kg for a size L, it’s not an excessively heavy bike for its price. Five sizes mean that there should be a bike to fit most riders. This model doesn’t include a rack but has fenders, a kickstand, and mechanical disc brakes.

If there’s one thing the bike trade loves, it’s a bit of ‘trickle down technology’. This simply means that features found on top end bikes will be available on mid-range models the next year, and eventually on cheap bikes. In 1970, the Huffy Corporation was founded as an umbrella company to house the Huffy Bicycle division, as well as Huffman Manufacturing Company’s emerging sporting goods line. Huffy saw the rise of high-volume retailers before any other company, which was the main reason for its downfall. They fell prey to Walmart and that is when their decline started. That is when they shifted their production line to China and Mexico.

This means that’s it ready to serve as your commute bike as well as handle light touring duties too. If you’re looking to buy a road bike for the first time, or don’t have the space to have more than bike in your home, then these humble mounts can make a real difference to a bike’s versatility. Certainly your winter riding companions will thank you for the installation of mudguards, as will your bike’s drivechain. But if your budget prohibits this at the time of purchase you know that you’ll have a frame that’s ready for a few tweaks when the money’s there. Elsewhere you have Shimano’s tried-and-tested 9-speed Sora groupset sitting in a threaded bottom bracket shell. The compact chainset is paired with an 11-32t cassette, which provides a nice wide range.

Premium RDO carbon fiber and a full feature set forms the most compliant, lightweight, and versatile gravel bike ever made. Representatives from large corporations like Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us and Disney come to Huffy’s headquarters to work with the bike brand. Huffy bikes are sold at more than 10,000 retail locations shipping 5 million bicycles annually throughout the U.S., as well as more than 50 countries. The company’s plan was to import bikes from Asia and Mexico to cover lost production. Even though there was still some supply issues, the company was back to producing a “balloon” style bike.