Browsing through a Scandinavian bicycle brand’s website, I noticed a model named “Brooklyn,” which brought Brooklyn Bicycle Co. to mind. It’s amusing how European brands are now using American city names, mirroring the trend of American companies adopting European city names for their bikes in recent years. This got me thinking about what qualities these names evoke. Perhaps a casual style, simple design, agile handling, and a vibrant color scheme? This combination of features immediately made me think of Brooklyn Bicycle Co., a company not just named after Brooklyn, but based there. Having encountered them at Interbike years ago and test-ridden their bikes, I realized I’d never properly written about them – a fact I’m remedying today.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
What’s particularly interesting about Brooklyn Bicycle Co. is their ability to strike a balance. At first glance, their bikes appear to be well-made, reasonably priced, and equipped with decent components, essentially modern takes on the classic 3-speed bicycle. While similar bikes in terms of style, build, and price often elicit strong opinions – both positive and negative – Brooklyn Bicycle Co. bikes generally receive positive, or at least neutral, responses. Could it be that they’ve found a sweet spot in the market? After test riding several Willow and Franklin models, I can certainly understand their appeal.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
My favorite aspect of the Willow and Franklin step-through models – which share identical geometry, differing primarily in that the Willow is designed for hub gears and the Franklin for derailleurs – is their exceptional ride quality. This characteristic stands out even more than their construction details or overall appearance. The $599 Willow, in particular, feels like a much more expensive bike to ride. Its performance on rough roads is impressive, the handling is wonderfully stable, and the responsiveness to pedaling is immediately noticeable. The components feel robust and quiet. In many ways, it reminds me of a smaller, more agile version of the Xtracycle Radish, a bike I truly loved. This similarity is not surprising, as both the Willow and the Radish benefited from the design input of Grant Petersen of Rivendell Bicycles, whose expertise clearly lies in urban and transportation bike design. They also share similar design elements.
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. Test Ride
These shared characteristics include a low bottom bracket, long chainstays, a mid-to-high trail front end, semi-relaxed frame angles (71° head and seat tube), a generous cockpit, and wide, swept-back handlebars. This combination results in a riding position that is both slightly forward-leaning and open, feeling simultaneously active and relaxed.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
The frames are constructed from cro-moly steel, manufactured in Taiwan and China, and feature tidy welds. Willow frames come with cast crown forks, while Franklin frames use unicrown forks. Depending on the frame size, the bikes are built around either 700C or 26″ wheels, ensuring proportional fit and minimizing toe overlap with the front wheel.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
All Brooklyn Bicycle Co. bikes are equipped with front and rear rim brakes, color-matched fenders, rear racks, fat cream tires, modest chain guards, kickstands, “toothy” silver pedals, and “vegan leather” saddles and grips.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
For detailed specifications of the Willow model shown, you can visit its product page, where you’ll also find the geometry chart under “sizing guide”. The hub-geared models weigh approximately 28lbs.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
One of the most visually striking features of these bikes is the large, handmade wooden crate on the rear rack. This crate, available as an accessory, has been redesigned by Brooklyn Bicycle Co. to be lighter than the version I tested. They also now offer a front crate.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
I found the size and depth of the crate perfect for securely carrying my bag and other items, and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. I believe this accessory would be even more popular if customization options, like engraving, were available. Crates are incredibly practical for anyone who, like me, tends to carry a lot of gear, keeping everything accessible yet neatly contained.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
Speaking of unseen features, I recall a conversation with Ryan Zagata of Brooklyn Bicycle Co. When I praised the bikes’ ride quality, he was pleased and mentioned, almost modestly, “There is a lot we put into these bikes that may not be visible, but makes a difference when you ride them.” He was referring to their use of higher-quality internal components, prioritizing better wheels over purely cosmetic enhancements, and the extra steps taken to ensure the frames are rust-resistant, even when stored outdoors during winter. “I know that you don’t love the way our bicycles look,” he added, “but I appreciate that you notice the other stuff and appreciate them despite that.”
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
Interestingly, I had never actually told Ryan I disliked their bikes’ aesthetics! However, he must have sensed my feelings accurately. It’s not any specific design element; I’m perfectly fine with the straight step-through frames, the welded construction, and the utilitarian style. For some reason, the overall aesthetic of these bikes just doesn’t personally resonate with me. But honestly, so what? My taste is subjective, and I often appreciate the look of bikes that others might not.
Brooklyn Bicycle Willow
The bottom line is that Brooklyn Bicycle Co. bikes offer a fantastic riding experience, are priced very competitively (step-through models start at $399), and many people find them visually appealing. Reader feedback suggests they are also quite durable. (If you own one, please share your experiences in the comments!). Are they the quintessential American urban bike, embodying the essence of Brooklyn? Perhaps that’s a question best posed to Europeans! In any case, it’s encouraging to see this global exchange and the increasing availability of excellent, rideable, and affordable bikes on both sides of the Atlantic.
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. bikes and accessories are available online and through local retailers. Special thanks to Bicycle Belle in Boston for providing the test bikes! You can view the full set of Willow photos here.
