Once upon a time, most of the bikes sold in the U.S. were American-made; these days, most bicycles and bike components come from China. But there are still plenty of small companies dedicated to building bikes here at home. Most cater to serious athletes and dedicated riders, and their bicycles are priced accordingly, but you’ll also find kids’ bikes, tandem bicycles, and tricycles for kids and grownups, including one American company that assembles bikes for Walmart. Take a spin with Cheapism as we look at some of the folks still building bicycles in the United States.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
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Bicycle Corp. of America | Clarendon County, South Carolina
Kent International, which has been building and selling bikes for more than 50 years, launched BCA in 2014 with the intention of reviving the American bike industry. It doesn’t build bikes from scratch, but does assemble them — about 320,000 annually, most sold at Walmart stores nationwide. You’ll find bicycle models for kids and adults, including beach cruisers and mountain bikes.
Bike We Like: 26″ Adult Charleston Beach Cruiser Bike ($199)
Dirt King U.S.A. | WaKeeney, Kansas
Best known for its kids’ tricycles, Dirt King has been cranking out three-wheeled wonders since 1989 in the nation’s heartland. Today, it manufactures seven different trikes for kids and grownups, plus a kids’ play wagon.
Bike We Like: Dirt King Adult Dually Tricycle ($439)
Detroit Bikes | Detroit
The Motor City has seen a renaissance in small manufacturing thanks to small companies such as Detroit Bikes. Since 2011, it’s been building steel-frame commuter bikes sold under its own brand and on a contract basis for others. If you’re in Detroit, you may even be able to schedule a visit to its 50,000-square-foot factory.
Bike We Like: U.S. Chromoly Cortello Commuter Bike ($1,099)
Milwaukee Bicycle Co. | Wisconsin
After selling bikes since 1928, Ben’s Cycle founded Milwaukee Bicycle in 2002 to keep the bike-building tradition alive in the Badger State. Today, it sells nearly a dozen models, from fixed-gear commuters and racers to road bikes, many (though not all) Wisconsin-made by Waterford Precision Cycles.
Bike We Like: Beltline ($1,275 and up)
Chumba Bikes | Austin, Texas
Austin is the gateway to Texas Hill Country, which lures trail riders and road racers from all over. Chumba builds its titanium- and steel-framed cycles for mountain, gravel, and road riding. You can find its bikes at a handful of shops or order your own set of wheels online.
Bike We Like: Terlingua Steel ($1,895 and up)
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Worksman Cycles | Ozone Park, New York
Brooklynites love their bikes, and Worksman Cycles caters to their commuting needs with custom-designed bicycles for easy riding. Cruiser bikes? Check. Comfort bikes? Check. Tricycles for adults? Check. Tandem trikes? Double check. Workman also sells folding bikes as well as cycles for businesses (check out its delivery bikes) and electric models.
Bike We Like: Team Dual Trike ($1,829 and up)
Spot Bikes | Golden, Colorado
The family behind Spot Bikes has been in the bicycle-building business since 1991 and knows a thing or two when it comes to building bikes for hardcore racing and riding. Spot specializes in carbon- and steel-framed mountain and road bikes that use unique belt drives instead of the usual chain drives.
Bike We Like: Acme ($1,899 and up)
Wyatt Bicycles | Bangor, Wisconsin
Owner Wyatt Hrudka has been building bikes for some 20 years. His custom-built, aluminum-framed Maverick fat bikes are designed for go-anywhere riding, while the Vista mountain bikes can tackle everything from suburban trails to hair-raising pump tracks.
Bike We Like: Maverick ($2,399 and up)
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Co-Motion Cycles | Eugene, Oregon
Want a bicycle built for two? Co-Motion has been building them — along with single-passenger bikes — in Oregon for three decades. Among the 30 or so models it produces, you’ll find bikes for roads, trails, and touring, including a couple triple-seaters. Tandems have aluminum frames; singles use steel.
Bike We Like: Bluebird Tandem ($3,195 and up)
REEB Cycles | Lyons, Colorado
No matter whether you seek a mountain bike for high-altitude trail riding, a road bike for city streets, or a trail bike for your youngster, REEB probably builds it. And if you happen to be in its home state, you can visit the factory or have a beer in the showroom while drooling over its steel-framed bikes.
Bike We Like: The Sam’s Pants ($5,550 and up)
Related: Where Your State Ranks for Bicycle Safety
Litespeed Bicycles | Chattanooga, Tennessee
This hilly haven in southeastern Tennessee is a treat for cyclists seeking a challenge along with breathtaking views. In business for more than 30 years, Litespeed produces titanium-frame road, gravel, and mountain bikes for serious athletes and weekend warriors alike.
Bike We Like: Nolichucky ($5,375 and up)
Alchemy Bikes | Denver
Colorado is a cyclist’s paradise for mountain trails and urban routes, so little wonder that the state is home to some serious bike manufacturers. Based in Denver, Alchemy began by building a single road bike model in 2008. These days, it crafts a range of bicycles, including road, gravel, mountain, and custom models with hand-built carbon and titanium frames.
Bike We Like: Atlas Carbon ($8,999 and up)
Related: 20 Spectacular Trails That Used to Be Railroads
Independent Fabrication | Newmarket, New Hampshire
Independent Fabrication has been building bikes for 25 years. Housed in a century-old mill building, it manufactures steel-, carbon-, and titanium-framed bikes for road and trail, as well as cyclocross models.
Bike We Like: Custom Build a Bike
Allied Cycle Works | Bentonville and Rogers, Arkansas
Founded in 2016, Allied builds carbon-frame bikes for aggressive pavement riding (the Alfa Disc) as well as dirt track and trail riding (the Allroad and the Able). Feeling creative? It also sells a model geared to riders who want to execute their own custom detail job (such as this one).
Bike We Like: Allroad Red Axs Complete Bike ($11,055 and up)
Kinn Bikes | Portland, Oregon
Kinn Bikes makes just one model, the Cascade Flyer. With a frame that’s 6 inches longer than average, you can think of it as the stretch-limo version of a commuter bike. Those extra inches in the rear leave room for a generous bamboo platform that’s big enough to haul cargo (the base rotates 90 degrees to support bulky items) or carry a youngster (thanks to a second set of handlebars and foot pegs).
Bike We Like: The Kinn Cascade Flyer ($2,350)
