Best American Bicycle Brands: 101 Manufacturers in the USA

The USA is owed a huge debt of thanks from anyone who loves cycling. A band of rebellious punks, focused on the west coast around the Marin hills of California, worked and welded in their parents’ garages from the early 1970s onwards to turn traditional ways of cycling on its head.

Pioneers like Gary Fisher, Keith Bontrager and Tom Ritchey started out forging their own wheels and frames and supplying local racers used to beat-up rides with innovative designs.

We at least owe BMX bikes and mountain bikes to this US manufacturing spirit and invention.

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Their designs, drawings and specialisms were snapped up by larger manufacturers and they were retained as consultants. Their enthusiasm has not dimmed. 

Their version of the American dream, allied to US marketing and manufacturing, has given the world two huge leading US brands in Trek and Specialized.

In the same way that British and German brands built their own heritage, design and manufacturing traditions, the American tropes of refusing to compromise, the Californian lifestyle of open roads and mountain passes had mass-market appeal on this side of the pond.

The USA bike market is full of innovation and diversity. It might be because of the geographic size of the country, the multitude of terrains or weather conditions, or possibly the refusal to be tied to tradition or a cycling scene. 

These conditions created dozens of companies willing to manufacture bikes for any occasion. An advanced online buying and shipping process will whisk these machines to your door.

Let’s have a look at some of the key players on the scene, how many US-produced bikes find their way into the world and some of the best brands and why they stand out.

Are Many Bikes Made in the USA?

According to market research, 364,000 bicycles are produced per day. The bicycle industry in the States is thought to be worth over $6 billion annually and should grow by 6.2% on a compound basis between now and 2027. Top US brands like Trek, Scott and Cannondale do well in their home market.

This research highlights the strength of competing globalisation for consumers’ dollars but predicts a bright future for home grown brands. Trek has nearly a quarter share of the US market and those brands which branch out into retailing clothing and bike accessories are set to grow.

Millions of new bike riders are turning pedals in the USA, which means more innovation and investment. E-bikes are set to take up more of a share of the market. New and existing electric bike manufacturers will play a crucial part in the growth in this area.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the location of frame manufacture. China, or Asia are that herd of elephants. More bicycle frames are made outside of the USA than at home – but designed and often constructed domestically. 

Quality control and tight production values and integrity should ensure that American hallmarks of manufacturing stand up to scrutiny.

American Bike Brands and Manufacturers

Best American Bicycle Brands: Top 6

One-hundred and one manufacturers and brands is where we’ve stopped and it was difficult to know when to pull the plug. We’ve chosen six we’d suggest you take a closer look at.

1. Trek 

Trek was born in 1976. They are still family-owned, starting out life from a small barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin. In their first full year of production, they machined 900 bikes. That barn is just around the corner from their HQ.

They now have revenues which exceed $1bn per annum and are established as a global brand with main dealerships the world over. 

Trek has judiciously acquired other US brands like Bontrager over the years to do what they do – just better. 

This leading brand produces every kind of conceivable bike you can think of. Take a look at their Madone road bike range for cutting-edge aero tech and their Electra models for bringing your best self to the beach. They’ve got the lot.

2. Specialized

Specialized should have a place in the hearts of most bike owners. They’ve played a significant part in the evolution of cycling since their inception in 1974. They brought us closer to the Californian hills near their designers’ homes with the first mass-produced mountain bike – 1981’s Stumpjumper.

Today, they produce rides at the cutting edge of modern technology to win professional road and mountain bike races, but they are also capable of producing daily rides for kids and adults who wish to choose any terrain. Their S-works range of road and mountain bikes ooze quality, R&D and speed.

They have a worldwide network of stores and a tip-top warranty and quality control programme. Specialized feels like a company you’ll adopt for your whole life on the roads.

3. Public Bikes 

Public Bikes has transported the simplicity of egalitarian bike use from the streets of the Netherlands’ capital over to the States, via a base in San Francisco.

Amsterdam style shook founder Rob Forbes who appreciated the independence and freedom of cycling without lycra with a smile – the bicycle as a mode of transportation – pure and simple. 

Their no-fuss approach to design and styling reflect that doing the simple things well is crucial to great frame and fork design. Steel tubes are strong and stable. That means comfort and that means more miles will be ridden. 

Take a look at the R18 Drop Bar or M7i for the epitome of grace and style at a great price. They offer commuters, city bikes, hub-gears, hybrids, step throughs and cruisers.

4. State Bicycle Co.

State Bicycle Co. is fuelled by rider passion. There’s something extra special about buying a product from a company which enjoys what they do. State wants to transfer that fun through the bars and wheels of one of their bikes.

They’ve chalked up more than a decade of bike manufacture after forming a road bike race team. They give a nod to US bike culture by including ‘Klunkers’ in their range of rides.

Fixies, 1x steel framed gravel bikes and road bikes complement a fine range of messenger style fixies, 650b mountain bikes and city bikes which add a pinch of sophistication.

The 6061 eBike Commuter marries design aesthetics to the essential engineering needed for 21st century urban riding.

5. Priority Bicycles

Priority launched in 2014 via a Kickstarter crowd fund. Their ethos is to make a simple bike and let the riders live their dreams. Being based in New York would make you think differently than if you were in Boulder, Colorado, or on the Palisade Trails of Northern California. 

Priority’s belt-drive systems are clean, low maintenance and work well with their simple frame colourways. They offer alloy/chromoly frames and equally lightweight forks to pick up the pace. We like that they offer flip-flop hubs for more diverse riding of the same bike.

You can pick up rack bikes, e-bikes, step throughs, hybrids and stealth commuters.

Their Priority Continuum Onyx commuting bike with internal gears, all the in-built accessories you could want and has been tastefully designed for an aesthetic ride through the NYC metro area.

6. sixthreezero

Sixthreezero – started in a garage in Hermosa Beach, California in 2005, and wearing a sunshine smile 365 days of each year ever since.

They have adopted the straightforward cruiser bike style which has sent the coolest people up and down the beach boulevards of the west coast.

Comfortable seats, wide tyres, thoughtful rear racks for hampers or body boards go well with an upright riding position and kick back coaster brakes on their lifestyle range. You can taste their eye for the easy lifestyle in bike names like AroundtheBlock and RideInThePark.

Bicycles Made in the USA

The USA is stocked full of bike manufacturers who have kept the cottage industry that is bike design fully in-house. Frame and forks that are designed and built in the USA. Many of these are custom-bike fitters with decades of experience and craft under their belts.

• 313 Bicycle Works
• Alchemy Bikes
• Bilenky Cycle Works
• Capitol Bicycles
• David Kirk
• Funk Cycles
• Guerilla Gravity
• Holland Cycles
• Lenz Sport
• Litespeed Cycles
• Milwaukee Bicycle Co.
• Nobilette
• Quiring Cycles
• Renovo by Pure Timber
• S&M Bikes
• Turner Bikes
• Vassago 
• Wyatt Bicycles

American E-Bike Brands