City Bike - The Black & Tan (3 Speed)

Always drawn to the elegance of classic city bikes, my desire for one intensified after a trip to Copenhagen. State Bicycle Co.'s Elliston, with its timeless design and affordable price, immediately caught my eye. The sleek black frame and minimalist aesthetic promised a stylish and enjoyable ride.

I snagged one at a bargain price through a warehouse deal, paying around $310 for the bike and a rear rack. Initially, I planned to use it as a secondary bike for errands and short trips where I needed to lock up outside. However, the Elliston quickly became my go-to choice for almost everything – commuting, running errands, and even longer recreational rides.

To make the Elliston truly my own, I personalized it with a few upgrades. For a more comfortable ride, I swapped the stock handlebars for ones with more rise and replaced the seat with a Brooks leather saddle. I also upgraded the pedals and grips and tires to improve performance and aesthetics. While the original components were functional, they lacked the refined look and feel I desired.

My riding primarily consists of a 5-mile round trip commute on city streets in the Pacific Northwest. I've also enjoyed plenty of longer rides, including an 80-mile day trip. The Elliston's gear ratio is perfect for flat city riding, and the steel frame provides a comfortable and stable ride on paved roads.

Unfortunately, my experience hasn't been without its hiccups. I had to true the front wheel early on, which was a minor inconvenience. However, after about 8 months, the crank arm started to wear out, rounding out where they connect to the bottom bracket. To ensure reliability, I upgraded to a Sugino crankset and bottom bracket, which necessitated removing the chain guard – a disappointing compromise.

Shortly after, I began experiencing a recurring issue with broken spokes on the rear wheel. I've been replacing them with higher quality DT Swiss spokes as they break, I continue to break the older spokes at a rate of about one a month. This ongoing problem has been frustrating, and I've considered rebuilding the entire wheel with new spokes. For context, I weigh 180 lbs and typically carry a couple of panniers with gym clothes and food, occasionally exceeding the rack's 30 lb weight limit when carrying groceries.

Despite these setbacks, the rest of the bike has held up well. The steel frame feels durable and comfortable. The fenders effectively keep road spray at bay and accommodate the 700x38 tires I added, though they can rub if not perfectly centered. The rack and chrome fender supports have developed some surface rust from being stored outside year-round. The headset and coaster brake are still functioning as expected, though the braking power could be stronger.

Overall, I'm happy with the Elliston in its current state. It's a head-turner, and I've received numerous compliments on its classic style. I especially love the clean lines of the frame, uninterrupted by shifter cables or brake lines. However, considering the unexpected costs of upgrades and repairs, I'm not sure I would purchase this bike again. While I appreciate its stylish appearance and comfortable ride, the Elliston required more maintenance than I anticipated. If you're seeking a truly low-maintenance city bike, you might want to explore other options.

I really like the bike overall - it looks great and has been trouble free since assembly. During assembly, I did find that some hardware was missing for the front basket (really bad instructions) and that the frame threads for the beer opener prohibit the seat from being lowered all the way without cutting the seat post 3 or 4 inches. This wasn't difficult but I would imagine some people may not be comfortable or able to do this due to lack of tools.

I’ve been looking for a 3 speed similar to my Raleigh I had back in the late 70’s early 80’s which were probably the best 3 speed bikes of its time and beyond. At last ! I came across State Bicycle Co. who produced a 3 speed comparable to the old Raleigh minus the hand brakes and click shifter which I prefer but definitely not a deal breaker. This bike, besides its attractive look rides like a Cadillac. If you’re looking for a 3 speed of yesterday, this is the one.
Cheers 🍻 for the bottle opener on the down tube.

Beautiful Bike! Clean and well built. Great bike to commute with

I am a bicycle commuter. Sun, rain, snow, and wind. My usual ride is a fixed gear, but for this upcoming winter I decided to get something with a bit more of a utility driven punch, enter : The Elliston.
My winter commuter needed a few key elements; Full fenders, front and rear. Check. A chain guard to help prevent slush and rock salt. Check. An internally geared hub with at least 3 speed options. Check. Swept back townie bars. Check. Steel. Check. Coaster brake for even more ease of maintenance. Check.
With this build I opted for a few upgrades. Adding the rear rack, Brookes B17, and the front rack/basket (huge bonus for having a cup holder built in!). Additionally I swapped the stock stem for a slightly longer touring stem.
This beast is built to get the job done, and it does so with style and grace. I'm a fixie kid to my core, but I'm also an everyday, every season, commuter cyclist and I firmly believe there is no better "out of the box" rig more prepared for common sense utility than this State 3 speed Elliston. (Especially when the elements of a New England winter are targeting your more prized components on your flashy builds.)
Add this to cart, add it to your stable, and feel the joy of a laid back, embrace-the-pace, commute.
Thanks for another rock solid riding experience, State!

*Bonus review of State Customer Service* -- UPS must've attempted to play soccer with my box that held the front rack/basket because it was holier than swiss cheese and more dented than your grandmother's '95 Caprice. I was dismayed to find all the hardware to mount this pack rat was M.I.A. I contacted State (during a holiday weekend!) to let them know. Someone contacted me within an hour and I had tracking for my replacement hardware, free of charge. These folks are so friendly, responsive, and also give excellent tips and advice. Another 5 stars to your CS team. You guys are killin' it! **

Swift delivery with everything carefully packaged. The look and finish is clean and polished. Everything I wanted for a simple neighborhood ride. It rides smooth and the three speeds are all that is required. I just love the color and makes me smile every time I see it. Easy process to submit warranty paperwork/proof of professional assembly. Basket is too heavy.

I’m getting older now (65) and it’s getting to the point where I’m looking for comfort more than any other aspect aspect from my bike. I have two fast road bikes with 700X21C tires on both. The racers place the rider in the forward sitting position that all road racing bikes create for the rider. I love both of these bikes and have spent years making them into what they are today BUT, I need more comfort and convenience now. I gave one on my racers to my grandson and the other I plan to equip with standard pedals that don’t require locking into. I’ll ride it occasionally.

I looked hard for a street cruiser and had a difficult time finding one that I liked and one that wasn’t made like crap. I went to the local bike shop that I’ve gone to for over 30-years and I liked a beach cruiser but I just couldn’t pull the trigger on it. I kept going back to this 3-speed City Cruiser from State Bicycles. I loved the classic look and the 3-speed without a derailure. I took a chance and ordered it. It arrived in a couple of days and it was in perfect condition inside the package. I built it myself against the recommendations of the manufacturer mainly because the bike was mostly assembled when it arrived and I’ve had so many bikes down to the bearings in the past. This voided the warranty (perhaps my only negative I’n this transaction) but I knew that with my experience I would not regret the decision. The build was fast and easy if you have any experience working on bikes at all. The final product was beautiful, sturdy, and reliable and it will be for many years to come. This bike will require very little maintenance compared to my race bikes and I know that I’m going to love it. The bike seems much safer and more sturdy for my older body. The 700X35C wheels inflated to 80 lbs is a real nice compromise for me after using the 21C tires for so many years. The tires feel fast, with very little road resistance and the bike handles great. I was worried that it would clink and clang going over road imperfections because of the fenders, the kick-stand, and the rear rack but this was not the case. The bike is solid. I sit nearly upright and it’s a real comfortable ride. My rear end was screaming after 12 miles but that’s getting better already and I have purchased a new seat with (don’t laugh) springs that looks just like the one that came with it. If this doesn’t help, the next step will be a gel seat with springs, a true “old man” seat but I’m not there yet.

State Bicycle is wonderful and I’m so glad that I took a chance on them. It paid off with a beautiful and comfort bike that I plan on using until I can no longer ride.

While taking the Black and Tan City Bike out for it's "maiden voyage", it was eerie just how much the ride reminded me of my Dutch-made city bike. The geometry and ergonomics are so close to identical, with one's eyes closed, one might be fooled into believing they were, indeed, cruising on a European machine! I do not, however recommend riding ANY bicycle with your eyes shut, for reasons no one should have to explain.
The similarities end there, however. The State Black and Tan is a MUCH PRETTIER and less utilitarian two-wheeler than its Dutch counterpart. This is one gorgeous bike! The classic look really turns heads (and gets compliments from those more discerning, refined and aesthetically inclined, but I may be a bit biased)! Love it!!! I ring the bell and find myself transported to the busy streets of Amsterdam...:)

The title says it all. Bought the bike for my wife to cruise the streets the flat roads by the beach. It’s a nice bike for easy rides but as an experienced rider, former racer, an at home mechanic, I found the instructions lacking some details especially for the accessories like the front basket

A gift for my wife to enjoy some quiet neighborhood ride time as all we have is a road tandem. Bike is beautiful, well finished and rides great. She just loves the old school retro look and coaster brake. Could not be happier!