Price: $700

Weight: 41.8 lb. (L)

Style: Do-everything utility bike

Groupset: 8-speed Shimano Acera

Tire size(s): 20x2.4-inch (front), 26x2.4-inch (rear)

The right bike for: Someone who wants one bike for commuting, errand running, and cruising

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Cycling is filled with cliques that people identify with. You’ve got the roadies, the mountain bikers, the enduro junkies, the track racers, the commuters, the fitness enthusiasts, the warm-weather-only crew, the e-bike fanatics, the cargo carriers, the bikepackers, and more. Each group corresponds with a specific style of bike and gear, but what is available for the riders who want a bike solely for its utility and not as a form of membership to a subgroup? While it’s certainly true that several styles of bikes could work for such people, a specific bike comes to mind when considering what might best work for a city-living utilitarian: the Raleigh Lorry.

Its look is unconventional, but so is what it comes stock with for only $700: a front rack, front and rear fenders, a 1x drivetrain, five bottle mounts, 2.4-inch wide tires, a dual-legged kick stand, and mechanical disc brakes. And the goodness doesn’t stop with a list of components. Despite a unique appearance—largely due to a 20-inch front wheel and a 26-inch rear wheel—this bike soared across the local corporate park for lunch and coffee outings, accelerating and maintaining speed with such ease that my midday riding partners took notice of the pace I’d comfortably settled into on it.

The Raleigh Lorry isn’t the bike you buy if you’re trying to do a single, specific type of riding; it’s what you buy if you want one affordable bike that will work for all of your commutes, errands, and cargo-filled adventures across town.

5 Things We Love About the Raleigh Lorry

Raleigh Lorry Detail Gallery Comfortable Saddle A Raleigh weather-resistant saddle helps you stay comfortable through your ride. Trusty Kickstand A dual-legged kickstand keeps the Lorry in place while you run your errands. Sturdy Fenders Front and rear fenders keep water and wintry slush off of you as you cruise. Classic Bell A classic metal bell looks sleek and allows you to alert others that you’re approaching. 1x Crank A 1x drivetrain keeps shifting simple and allows for smooth pedaling.

The Best Part

My favorite thing about the Raleigh Lorry is that for only $700 you get a bike that doesn’t need any upgrades to perform as an all-weather commuter; it’s outfitted to ride well and comfortably carry your day-to-day cargo. With beefy 2.4-inch tires, metal fenders, Tektro mechanical disc brakes, and a front rack, this bike cruises over potholes, keeps water and wintry slush off of your clothes, and can hold an extra bag as you pedal your way around town. Even the pedals warrant mentioning, as they are the sort of sturdy metal ones that many less-expensive hybrids and commuters need but don’t come with off the sales floor.

This isn’t a love-at-first-sight sort of bike, but it is a love-at-first-use one—offering a surprisingly smooth ride, even when accelerating to speeds near 20mph, and a host of accessories that are ready for midtown rides.

Raleigh Lorry, $500 SHOP NOW raleighusa.com 1x drivetrain keeps shifting simple

Double kickstand for better stability when parked Front rack limits what you can carry

Componentry & Family

The Raleigh Lorry is loaded with a bunch of reliable, impressive components that make riding around town an enjoyable process. That starts with its steel frame and fork, 20-inch front wheel, and 26-inch rear wheel, all of which come together to create a comfortable ride feel that’s easy to control and maneuver through city streets. Then you have Tektro mechanical disc brakes, a 1x8-speed Shimano drivetrain, an Acera rear derailleur, a front rack that matches the frame, front and rear fenders, five bottle mounts, rear rack mounts, hardy aluminum pedals, and a classic bell.

While the Lorry is the only one of its kind in the Raleigh lineup, it is one of two models categorized as “utility” bikes by the brand. The second is the Tristar 3-speed, a $600, adult-sized tricycle that comes with a front fender, rear basket, and a 3-speed Sturmey Archer shifter.

A sturdy front rack comes stock on the Lorry. Trevor Raab

Ride Impressions

I rode the Raleigh Lorry to and from lunch on various occasions through and around the Eastern Pennsylvania corporate area in which Bicycling and Runner’s World are currently based. Frankly, I wasn’t excited to use it initially; its nontraditional frame and smaller front wheel made me fear that it would feel heavy and hard to handle on the road. However, within 30 seconds of riding the Lorry for the first time, those fears went away.

On that first ride, I found myself comfortably cruising next to our staff photographer who was riding an e-bike. The pace was such that he even pointed out I was riding fast for not also being on an e-bike, which speaks to how smooth this thing is to ride because I wasn’t trying to go fast. I was, and remain, surprised by how easy it is to move at a respectable pace on this bike. But riding this bike is not only great because it’s easy to accelerate and maintain speed, it’s equally enjoyable because of how comfortable it is—making it a fast commuter that keeps you in an upright position on top of mountain-bike width tires.

Don’t judge this bike—like I did—by how it looks. It’s worthy of any level rider and every sort of commuter.