The Straight Eight is a great machine for late-night rides to the pool hall, tattoo parlor and around the pits at the local track. It features Shimano 3-speed gearing, a wide cruiser saddle and a rugged triple-clamp fork.
Strengths: Smooth and the most comfortable ride that I ever had. Big fatti-o tires that cushion the worst of bumpy roads. The reclined ride with smooth 3 speeds.
Weaknesses: Probably the coaster brakes -- they squeak a bit too much. May need to be greased or broke in more.
Bottom Line:
A super, comfortable ride. I had an Electra Cruiser 3i and it was nice, but after I saw the straight 8, I had to have one - and after I rode it, I immediately wanted to buy it. It's better looking in person than in a photograph. It's a smooth ride and the gearing is wonderful. I have been riding it every night and it works out muscles I thought I never had because of it's reclined, recumbent style.
Strengths: Build quality, style, and comfort. The motorcycle style forks are great and are not offered on the new '07 Straight 8. (Electra has gone to regular front fork and will sell you the chrome front end for about $150 extra!) Try to find an earlier model if you can.
Weaknesses: While the Nexus hub is easy to operate, there is some slop to it that would not adjust out. (After coasting, when you resume pedaling, the crank sort of "freewheels" for a bit before grabbing.) This bothered me some at first, but I've since tuned it out.
Keep in mind that this is a cruiser. You will be disappointed if you expect it to climb hills well.
As for price: The cost didn't phase me too much because after seeing the bike, I just had to have it. After owning it for a while, I have never even thought about the cost. (I'm only mentioning it under "weaknesses" because the others have.) The good things in life cost money, and if you like cool bikes, this Electra is definately one of the good things in life! Just buy it! You won't be sorry.
Bottom Line:
This is by far the coolest bike I have ever owned! (I currently own four) I have described my Electra Straight 8 as a piece of rolling art, and as a bike that you cannot ride without smiling. The finish on the bike is outstanding! Great lines, deep black shiny paint, beautiful red spokes, cool fat tires, perfect handlebars, etc, etc, etc. It is funky, without being tacky. Just right... and almost everyone you meet will tell you so. (Even hard-core guys - One guy was walking his $8000 carbon road bike into the shop, took one look, and said "Cool bike Man!") I still find myself staring at it in the garage, even after owning it for over a year. I LOVE this cruiser!!!
The comfortable seat and the Fatty-O tires eliminate the need for any kind of suspension and makes cruising easy. I have ridden the "8" on an 8-10 mile "pub crawl" and felt great. (Maybe it was the beer!) Even when riding with guys on custom cruisers and chopper bikes, the "8" always seems to draw the most compliments. Simply awesome...
Similar Products Used: Because I love this bike so much, and have discovered that cruising is so much fun, I'm about to part with another $600 and buy an Electra Boney Finger, which is basically a Straight 8 in different colors. (I'm going to put WHITEWALL Fatto-O's on that one!)
Bike Setup: This bike looks so good that I didn't want to junk it up with too many options. I've kept it stock except for a small tailight, custom "motorcycle style" handlebar bag, and black Electra streamers. Not wanting to put a water bottle on the "8" either, I ride with a black Camelbak "Mayhem" backpack that holds all my stuff.
Bike Rack: I bought a new bike rack for my truck when I bought this bike - the hitch-mount Rackster. The Fatty-O tires will just fit in the tire channels and the Rackster has worked great for all my other bikes too. (That's another $300... but more great gear.)
Strengths: Build quality, style, and comfort. The motorcycle style forks are great and are not offered on the new '07 Straight 8. (Electra has gone to regular front fork and will sell you the chrome front end for about $150 extra!) Try to find an earlier model if you can.
Weaknesses: While the Nexus hub is easy to operate, there is some slop to it that would not adjust out. (After coasting, when you resume pedaling, the crank sort of "freewheels" for a bit before grabbing.) This bothered me some at first, but I've since tuned it out.
Keep in mind that this is a cruiser. You will be disappointed if you expect it to climb hills well.
As for price: The cost didn't phase me too much because after seeing the bike, I just had to have it. After owning it for a while, I have never even thought about the cost. (I'm only mentioning it under "weaknesses" because the others have.) The good things in life cost money, and if you like cool bikes, this Electra is definately one of the good things in life! Just buy it! You won't be sorry.
Bottom Line:
This is by far the coolest bike I have ever owned! (I currently own four) I have described my Electra Straight 8 as a piece of rolling art, and as a bike that you cannot ride without smiling. The finish on the bike is outstanding! Great lines, deep black shiny paint, beautiful red spokes, cool fat tires, perfect handlebars, etc, etc, etc. It is funky, without being tacky. Just right... and almost everyone you meet will tell you so. (Even hard-core guys - One guy was walking his $8000 carbon road bike into the shop, took one look, and said "Cool bike Man!") I still find myself staring at it in the garage, even after owning it for over a year. I LOVE this cruiser!!!
The comfortable seat and the Fatty-O tires eliminate the need for any kind of suspension and makes cruising easy. I have ridden the "8" on an 8-10 mile "pub crawl" and felt great. (Maybe it was the beer!) Even when riding with guys on custom cruisers and chopper bikes, the "8" always seems to draw the most compliments. Simply awesome...
Similar Products Used: Because I love this bike so much, and have discovered that cruising is so much fun, I'm about to part with another $600 and buy an Electra Boney Finger, which is basically a Straight 8 in different colors. (I'm going to put WHITEWALL Fatto-O's on that one!)
Bike Setup: This bike looks so good that I didn't want to junk it up with too many options. I've kept it stock except for a small tailight, custom "motorcycle style" handlebar bag, and black Electra streamers. Not wanting to put a water bottle on the "8" either, I ride with a black Camelbak "Mayhem" backpack that holds all my stuff.
Bike Rack: I bought a new bike rack for my truck when I bought this bike - the hitch-mount Rackster. The Fatty-O tires will just fit in the tire channels and the Rackster has worked great for all my other bikes too. (That's another $300... but more great gear.)
Strengths: The "chopper cool" look,"headturner" factor:the reactions you get,upright riding position: no fatigue whatsoever,surprisingly fast on level ground for a 3-speed,smooth as silk ride,internal gearing is flawless,not "busy":one small cable and nothing else but a sharp looking bike.
Weaknesses: None so far.If you run into a hill by mistake you may have to walk it. A 7 or 8 speed internal would be nice and i thought about it, but it would cost maybe $300 or $400 to do it.
Bottom Line:
Saw an add for this bike in a magazine about a year and a half ago while taking my kids to the dentist.First thought: coolest bike iv'e ever seen, 2nd:gotta have one,3rd:$600 bucks! No way! Luckily though after a few months of looking i found one for sale close by on craislist for $400 that was only a few months old.Came with 2 exrta tubes which was good because i got a flat pretty quick and from what reviews iv'e read, the stock Electra tubes aren't that good.So i changed them both and slimed them. No problems since. I LOVE THIS BIKE! Rides great,super comfortable, could ride all day with no aches,pains, stiffness(i'm 43), compliments galore from young & old,"cool bike" being the most common. Ride it as often as i can, which isn't nearly enough.Highly recommend it to anyone who's never owned a bike with an upright riding position.Soooooo much nicer than leaning over. I was never into the "Tour De France" bikes or riding, still love to mountain bike...on DIRT, not pavement.Never owned or really saw to many "cruisers". Still don't,surprisingly. I'm looking to get a couple more different Electras so i'm check craigslist everyday.
Similar Products Used: 10 year old Trek Calypso cruiser (which is also a nice bike) that my wife now rides.
Bike Setup: I accessorized the hell out of this bike.Rear rack & mud flap(not the chick one, bell, light, lock & handlebar cup holders, tank bag for "stuff".Will keep it simple on my next one, lock & cup holders only.
Would like to hear what you guys have to say. Yeah yeah I know the marketing brochures of big guys always highlight tapered headtube like it'll give you steroid like power up the h Read More »
