The Best Electric Beach Cruisers, Reviewed: Around the Block 500W vs. EvryJourney

Two classically styled electric cruisers, two different comfort philosophies — here is how to choose the one that fits the way you actually ride.

There is a reason the beach cruiser never really goes out of style. Long before carbon frames and gear counts became bragging rights, the cruiser was the bike people simply enjoyed: upright, unhurried, and built for the pleasure of the ride rather than the punishment of it. Add a quiet electric motor to that formula and something interesting happens. The cruiser keeps every ounce of its easygoing charm, but the hills flatten out, the headwinds disappear, and the range of a casual afternoon suddenly stretches from a few blocks to the far end of town.

Electric beach cruisers have quietly become one of the most popular ways for new and returning riders to get back in the saddle, and it is easy to see why. They ask nothing of you physically that you are not willing to give, they look wonderful, and they make the whole experience feel effortless. In this guide we take a close look at two standout models from the sixthreezero electric beach cruiser collection: the Around the Block 500W and the EvryJourney electric cruiser. Both are comfortable, both are beautiful, and both are genuinely easy to ride — but they solve the comfort problem in slightly different ways, and that difference is exactly what will help you decide.

What Sets an Electric Beach Cruiser Apart

Before we get into the individual bikes, it helps to understand what a beach cruiser is trying to do, because the electric version inherits all of it. A cruiser is defined less by a single component than by an attitude toward the ride. The frame places you upright rather than hunched forward. The handlebars sweep back toward your body so your wrists and shoulders stay relaxed. The saddle is wide and generously padded. The tires are fat and forgiving, soaking up cracks and curbs instead of transmitting every bump straight into your spine. Nothing about the bike is asking you to work harder than you want to.

People also talk about cruisers in terms of how they look, and that is fair. A cruiser almost always has that aesthetic edge — the curved lines, the clean silhouette, the sense that it belongs on a boardwalk at golden hour. Where a lot of bikes are boxy and utilitarian, a good cruiser is unmistakably a cruiser from across the street. That visual appeal is a real part of why people ride them more often, and a bike you actually want to look at is a bike you actually use.

The electric part changes the equation without changing the character. A rear hub motor and a removable battery give you the option of assistance whenever you want it, whether that means flattening a long climb, keeping pace with faster traffic, or simply arriving somewhere without breaking a sweat. Crucially, the assistance is optional. You can pedal an electric cruiser exactly like a traditional bike, engage the motor only when you pedal, or let the throttle do all the work. If you want to see how this style compares to the rest of the range, the full electric bike lineup spans everything from step-through commuters to fat-tire models, but the cruiser remains the most approachable entry point for most riders.

The Around the Block 500W Electric Beach Cruiser

The Around the Block is a 500-watt electric beach cruiser, and its defining quality is how classically it is styled. This is a bike that hides its technology well. The motor, battery, and cabling are integrated cleanly enough that a passerby would be forgiven for not realizing it is electric at all — you get the timeless look of a traditional cruiser with a modern drivetrain quietly doing the heavy lifting underneath.

Two Frames, Several Colorways

The Around the Block comes in two frame styles. There is a higher top-tube frame, sometimes described as the men’s style, and a lower step-through frame, often described as the women’s style, that is far easier to swing a leg over. The choice is less about gender than about how you like to mount and dismount; many riders simply prefer the low step-through for the convenience of it. You can explore both cuts within the men’s electric bikes and women’s electric bikes collections, or browse the step-through options directly if easy mounting is your priority.

The color range is part of the appeal. The Around the Block is offered in matte black, a soft steel cloud, teal, mint green, and lilac, and the details are thoughtfully done. Several frames feature offset colored rims, a couple are paired with black rims, and the steel cloud gets cream rims that give it a particularly vintage feel. The rear rack picks up the colorway as well, so the whole bike reads as a considered design rather than a motor bolted onto a generic frame.

Power, Throttle, and Pedal Assist

At the heart of the Around the Block is a 500-watt rear hub motor. That is enough power to reach a top speed of up to 20 miles per hour under full throttle, with pedal assist allowing a stronger rider to push a little beyond that on the right terrain. Because the exact figures depend on your weight, the surface, and how you ride, it is best to think of 20 miles per hour as the comfortable, dependable cruising ceiling rather than a number to chase.

There are two ways to call on the motor, and you can mix them freely. On the left grip sits a thumb throttle: press it and the bike moves entirely under motor power, no pedaling required. Alternatively, pedal assist engages the motor only when you are pedaling, adding a smooth push to your own effort. Between the two, you always have a choice — full electric when you want to coast, pedal assist when you want to contribute, and the motor switched off entirely when you feel like riding it as a plain bicycle.

Battery and Range

The Around the Block carries a 10.4 amp-hour lithium-ion battery mounted at the rear. Depending on how heavily you lean on the throttle versus pedal assist, a single charge can take you up to roughly 50 miles per ride, which is far more than most people cover in a casual outing. The battery is removable with a key, so you can slide it out and bring it indoors to charge rather than needing an outlet near where the bike is stored. A full charge takes somewhere in the region of four to six hours from a standard wall outlet, which comfortably fits an overnight routine.

A Real Seven-Speed Drivetrain

One detail that separates the Around the Block from simpler electric bikes is that it has a genuine seven-speed derailleur, exactly like a conventional bicycle. This matters more than it might first appear. If you enjoy pedaling without the motor, or you prefer to run the assistance at a lower level to stretch your battery, having seven gears gives you real control. Shift into a lower gear to spin comfortably up a hill, or shift up to carry more speed on flat ground. Changing gears is simple — a twist shifter at the grip handles it — and the range keeps the bike versatile whether the motor is doing everything or nothing at all.

The Riding Position and Adjustability

Mounted on the Around the Block, your back stays upright, your arms stay relaxed, and you settle into that classic cruiser posture that makes the bike so easy to ride for long stretches. Everything at the front is adjustable: the handlebars tilt and can be raised or lowered, and the seat raises and lowers to suit your body. That adjustability means the same frame can be dialed in to fit a range of riders comfortably, which is a large part of why cruisers feel so accessible to newcomers.

Braking is handled by front and rear disc brakes, giving you confident, predictable stopping power in all conditions — a reassuring feature on any bike carrying the extra speed of a motor. Taken together, the Around the Block is one of the most approachable ways into electric riding, and it sits comfortably alongside the brand’s broader comfort electric bikes for riders who prioritize an easy, upright experience above all else.

The EvryJourney Electric Cruiser

If the Around the Block is the classic cruiser electrified, the EvryJourney is the comfort-focused cruiser taken a step further. It shares the same relaxed spirit but introduces a distinctive frame geometry that changes how the bike feels the moment you stop at an intersection — and for a lot of riders, that single difference is decisive.

Colors and a Cleaner Silhouette

The EvryJourney leans into the idea that cruisers are, in part, about how they look. It is offered in roughly six colors, including a teal, a cream, a navy, a black, a gray with orange accents, a camel, and a periwinkle, so there is a shade to suit most tastes. The frame itself is built around gentle curves and clean lines rather than boxy, square tubing, and the result is a bike that simply looks good standing still — which, as any honest rider will tell you, is a meaningful part of the appeal.

The Forward-Pedaling Design

The real distinguishing feature of the EvryJourney is something called forward-pedaling design. On a typical bike, the pedals sit more or less directly below the seat. On the EvryJourney, they are shifted forward by roughly four to five inches. That small change of geometry does something clever: it allows the seat to sit lower to the ground while still giving your legs a full, efficient extension as you pedal.

The practical payoff is significant. Because the seat is lower, you can plant both feet flat on the ground whenever you come to a stop, without having to slide forward off the saddle or tiptoe for balance. That is a genuine safety and confidence benefit — you can always steady yourself instantly — and it gives the rider a lower center of gravity, which makes the whole bike feel more stable and reassuring. For anyone who has ever felt a little uneasy at a stoplight on a taller bike, this design tends to be a revelation.

A Step-Through Frame for Easy Mounting

The EvryJourney pairs its forward-pedaling geometry with a step-through frame, so there is no high top tube to climb over when you get on or off. Combined with the flat-foot design, mounting and dismounting becomes about as simple as it gets on two wheels. This makes the EvryJourney a natural fit for riders who want maximum ease of access, and it shares that quality with the wider step-through electric bike range built around the same principle.

Balloon Tires and All-Day Comfort

True to its cruiser roots, the EvryJourney rolls on fatter balloon tires, and they do more than look the part. Wider tires absorb a great deal of the shock from bumps, cracks, and rough patches, so your body simply does not feel the road the way it would on a skinny-tired bike. Add the upright riding position — back straight, arms relaxed, handlebars sweeping back into your body — and the strain on your back, shoulders, and wrists drops away. The bike is engineered so that comfort comes from several sources at once: the frame geometry, the pedal position, the tires, the saddle, and the grips all working together.

Power and Range

The EvryJourney is built around a 500-watt motor, enough to carry you up to 20 miles per hour on throttle alone, with pedal assist allowing a capable rider to push beyond that on suitable ground. As with any electric bike, real-world speed depends on the rider and the terrain, so treat these as comfortable targets rather than fixed guarantees. On range, a single charge can carry you up to roughly 50 miles depending on how you balance throttle and pedal assist — plenty for a long, meandering ride with distance to spare.

Four Adjustment Points and a Simple Display

Fit on the EvryJourney is highly customizable thanks to four adjustment points. The seat raises and lowers, the seat tilts, the handlebars raise and lower, and the handlebars tilt, so you can dial in a riding position that suits your exact proportions and preferences. That degree of adjustability is a big reason the bike works for such a wide range of body types.

The EvryJourney comes equipped with both a throttle and pedal assist, so you can push the throttle and skip pedaling entirely, or add motor power to your own effort — your choice, adjusted on the fly. A clear display up top shows the essentials at a glance: your current speed, your remaining battery life, and how far you have ridden. Disc brakes front and rear handle stopping, the motor sits at the rear, and the battery is removable with a key so you can charge it indoors or out. It adds up to one of the most comfortable and genuinely easy-to-ride electric cruisers on the market.

Forward-Pedaling vs. Standard Cruiser Geometry

Because the forward-pedaling design is the clearest point of difference between these two bikes, it is worth understanding in a little more depth. The question it answers is a common frustration among casual riders: how do you get a comfortable, full leg extension while pedaling and still be able to touch the ground easily when you stop?

On a conventional frame, those two goals pull against each other. To get proper leg extension, the seat needs to be high enough that your leg nearly straightens at the bottom of each pedal stroke. But a seat set that high often leaves shorter riders — and plenty of taller ones — reaching for the ground with their toes when they stop, which can feel precarious. The usual workaround is to lower the seat for confidence at stops, but that cramps your legs and makes pedaling less efficient and more tiring.

Forward-pedaling geometry sidesteps the compromise. By moving the pedals forward four to five inches, the EvryJourney lets you keep the seat low enough to plant your feet flat on the ground at a stop, while the forward pedal position still delivers the long, efficient leg extension you want while riding. You get the confidence of a low seat and the efficiency of a properly extended pedal stroke at the same time. The lower center of gravity that comes with the lower seat is a welcome bonus, adding a feeling of planted stability that many riders find reassuring.

None of this makes the standard cruiser geometry on the Around the Block a lesser choice — it simply serves a slightly different rider. Some people prefer the familiar feel of a traditional cruiser and have no trouble with a standard seat position. Others feel markedly more secure with flat-foot capability. If you are unsure which camp you fall into, the brand’s bike fitting tool can help match your proportions to the right frame before you buy.

The Comfort Engineering: Five Points of Contact

Comfort on a bike is not the product of any single component. It is the sum of every place your body meets the machine, and on a well-designed cruiser each of those points is addressed deliberately. It is worth walking through them, because this is where an electric cruiser earns its reputation as the most comfortable way to ride.

The first is the riding position itself. Both of these bikes place you upright, with your spine in a natural posture rather than folded forward over the bars. The handlebars sweep back toward your body, which means your arms stay relaxed and there is less tension on your back, your shoulders, and your wrists. Over a short ride the difference is pleasant; over a long one it is the difference between arriving refreshed and arriving sore.

The second is the pedal position. On the EvryJourney in particular, the forward-set pedals are engineered to give you full leg extension, which prevents the cramped, knee-forward posture that leads to soreness in the hips, knees, and ankles over time. Proper extension keeps your joints moving through their natural range instead of grinding through a shortened one.

The third is the tires. The fatter balloon tires found on a cruiser act as a first line of suspension, absorbing shock from the road before it ever reaches your body. Bumps and bruises that a narrow tire would pass straight through to your spine are instead soaked up by the extra air volume, smoothing out the ride considerably.

The fourth and fifth are the saddle and the grips. A cruiser saddle is wide and heavily padded, designed to cradle rather than perch, and soft synthetic-leather grips keep your hands comfortable and secure. Every one of these elements is chosen to reduce strain, and together they explain why so many riders describe cruisers as the bikes they can stay on the longest. For riders who value this above everything, the dedicated comfort electric bike range is built entirely around this philosophy.

Three Ways to Ride: Throttle, Pedal Assist, and Manual

One of the most appealing things about a modern electric cruiser is that it does not force a single style of riding on you. Both the Around the Block and the EvryJourney give you three distinct modes, and understanding them is the key to getting the most out of the bike.

In full-electric mode, the thumb throttle does everything. Press it and the motor propels the bike forward with no pedaling required at all. This is the mode for arriving somewhere without any effort, for resting your legs on the way home, or for anyone who simply wants the ease of a twist-and-go ride. It is the most effortless way to travel and a large part of what makes these bikes so approachable for people returning to cycling after a long time away.

In pedal-assist mode, the motor engages only when you pedal, adding a smooth boost to your own effort. You still get exercise and the satisfying rhythm of pedaling, but every push is amplified, so hills shrink and headwinds lose their bite. Because you can set the level of assistance, you control exactly how much help the motor provides — a light touch to extend your range, or a strong push to keep the ride truly effortless.

Finally, you can switch the motor off entirely and ride either bike as a traditional bicycle, using the seven-speed gearing to manage hills and speed on your own. This is where a genuine derailleur pays off, and it means the bike is never dead weight if the battery runs low — you can always pedal home. The freedom to move between these three modes at will, mid-ride, is what makes an electric cruiser feel less like a gadget and more like a bike that simply meets you wherever your energy is that day.

Battery, Charging, and Real-World Range

Range anxiety is the first thing many new electric-bike owners worry about, and the good news is that a casual cruiser rider rarely comes close to the limit. Both of these bikes are built to deliver up to roughly 50 miles on a charge, and while the exact number depends heavily on how you ride, that ceiling comfortably exceeds what most people cover in an afternoon of cruising.

The single biggest factor in how far you go is the balance between throttle and pedal assist. Leaning entirely on the throttle draws the most power, since the motor is doing all the work; using pedal assist, and contributing your own effort, stretches the battery considerably further. Terrain, rider weight, wind, and tire pressure all play a part too, so it is wise to treat the headline range as a best case and plan your first few longer rides with a little margin while you learn how your own riding drains the battery.

Charging is refreshingly straightforward. On both bikes the battery locks in place with a key and slides out easily, so you can carry it inside and plug it into a normal wall outlet rather than parking the whole bike next to a socket. A full charge takes in the region of four to six hours, which means an overnight charge leaves you ready to ride each morning. Being able to remove the battery also makes it easy to store safely and to keep it at a moderate temperature, both of which help preserve its health over the long term.

Why Seven Speeds Still Matter on an Electric Bike

It is a fair question: if the motor is doing the work, why does an electric cruiser need gears at all? The answer is that gears and a motor solve different problems, and having both makes the bike far more flexible than either alone.

Gears manage the relationship between how fast you pedal and how fast the wheel turns. On flat ground, a higher gear lets you carry more speed with each pedal stroke. On a climb, a lower gear lets you spin comfortably instead of straining. When you are running the motor at a low assist level to conserve battery, or riding with the motor off entirely, that range becomes genuinely useful — you can settle into an easy cadence uphill and open things up on the flats, exactly as you would on a traditional bike.

The seven-speed derailleur on these cruisers is a proper bicycle drivetrain, shifted with a simple twist at the grip. It comes into its own on hilly routes and for riders who like to pedal for the exercise, and it ensures the bike remains a capable, enjoyable machine even with the battery depleted. A motor gives you power; gears give you control over how you use it.

Fit and Sizing: Matching the Cruiser to Your Body

A comfortable bike is, above all, a bike that fits, and both of these cruisers are designed with adjustability in mind so that a single frame can suit a wide range of riders. The Around the Block offers adjustable handlebars that tilt and raise, plus a seat that raises and lowers, letting you fine-tune the cockpit to your reach and height. The EvryJourney goes further with four adjustment points — seat height, seat tilt, handlebar height, and handlebar tilt — so you can shape the riding position around your exact proportions.

Frame choice matters too. The step-through option, available on both models in different forms, makes getting on and off dramatically easier and is worth choosing if mounting a high top tube gives you any pause. For riders who are unsure where they land, taking a few minutes with the fitting tool removes the guesswork by matching your measurements to the frame and setup most likely to feel right from the first ride. Getting the fit correct at the start is the single most reliable way to guarantee the bike stays comfortable over the long haul.

Which Electric Cruiser Is Right for You?

Both of these bikes are excellent, and for many riders either one would be a fine choice. Still, their differences point toward slightly different owners, and it is worth being honest about who each one suits best.

The Around the Block is the pick for the rider drawn to a genuinely classic cruiser look — the kind of bike that hides its motor so well nobody realizes it is electric. Its integrated design, wide colorway selection, and traditional cruiser geometry make it ideal for someone who wants the timeless aesthetic first and the electric convenience as a quiet bonus. If you are comfortable with a standard seat position and you love the idea of a discreet, elegant e-bike, this is your bike.

The EvryJourney is the pick for the rider who wants the most confidence-inspiring, easiest-to-manage ride possible. Its forward-pedaling design and flat-foot capability make it especially reassuring for anyone who values being able to plant both feet firmly at every stop, and for anyone who has felt uneasy on a taller bike. If stability, easy mounting, and a lower center of gravity rank at the top of your list, the EvryJourney was built with you in mind.

Beyond these two, it is worth knowing that the electric cruiser is only one branch of a much larger family. Riders with particular needs are well served elsewhere in the range: the electric bikes for seniors collection focuses on stability and ease, the fat-tire electric bikes handle sand and rough terrain with ease, and the folding electric bikes suit anyone tight on storage space or carrying a bike in a car or RV.

Where the Electric Cruiser Fits in the Bigger Picture

An electric cruiser is, for a lot of people, the perfect first electric bike — comfortable, forgiving, and easy to love. But it is not the only shape a great ride can take, and part of choosing well is knowing what else is out there. If three wheels sound more secure than two, the electric tricycle range offers the same easygoing spirit with the added stability of a trike, which is a popular choice for riders who want to eliminate balance from the equation entirely.

If you are not sure you want a motor at all, the traditional beach cruiser bikes deliver the same comfortable, upright ride without the battery, and they remain a wonderful way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. And for those who mainly ride to get somewhere, the commuter bike options are tuned for daily practicality. The point is that comfort comes in many forms, and the cruiser is simply the most relaxed and classic of them.

What ties the whole range together is a consistent philosophy: the bike should adapt to your body and your life, not the other way around. Whether that means a discreet 500-watt motor tucked into a vintage frame, a forward-pedaling design that lets you touch the ground with confidence, three wheels instead of two, or no motor at all, the goal is always the same — a ride you look forward to.

Getting Started and Caring for Your Bike

Once you have chosen your cruiser, a few simple habits will keep it running beautifully for years. Charge the battery fully before your first ride, and get into a routine of topping it up after longer outings so it is always ready when you are. Because the battery is removable, keep it somewhere moderate in temperature rather than leaving it out in extreme heat or cold, both of which shorten battery life over time.

Spend a little time at the start dialing in your fit. Set the seat height so your legs extend comfortably as you pedal, adjust the handlebars until your arms feel relaxed, and take a short, quiet ride to get a feel for the throttle and the pedal-assist levels before you head into traffic. Practice coming to a stop and planting your feet, especially on the EvryJourney, where the flat-foot design makes this second nature. A few minutes of familiarization turns a new bike into one you trust completely.

Beyond that, the usual bicycle basics apply: keep the tires properly inflated, which improves both comfort and range, check that the disc brakes feel firm, and keep the chain clean. For deeper how-to guidance, maintenance walkthroughs, and riding ideas, the bike advice blog is a genuinely useful resource that grows alongside the bikes themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pedal an electric beach cruiser?

No. Both the Around the Block and the EvryJourney include a thumb throttle that moves the bike entirely under motor power, so you can ride without pedaling at all. You also have the option of pedal assist, where the motor boosts your own pedaling, or you can switch the motor off and ride like a traditional bicycle. The choice is yours, and you can change modes mid-ride.

How far can I go on a single charge?

Depending on how you ride, a single charge can take you up to roughly 50 miles. Relying entirely on the throttle uses more power and shortens that figure, while contributing your own effort through pedal assist stretches it further. Rider weight, terrain, and wind all play a role, so treat the range as a comfortable ceiling rather than a fixed guarantee, and plan your first longer rides with a little margin.

How long does the battery take to charge?

A full charge takes in the region of four to six hours from a standard wall outlet, which fits neatly into an overnight routine. Because the battery is removable with a key, you can slide it out and charge it indoors rather than parking the whole bike beside a socket.

What is forward-pedaling design, and do I need it?

Forward-pedaling design, found on the EvryJourney, shifts the pedals forward by four to five inches so the seat can sit lower while your legs still get full extension. The benefit is that you can plant both feet flat on the ground at a stop while pedaling efficiently while riding. You do not strictly need it — the Around the Block uses a more traditional geometry that many riders love — but it is a real advantage if you value confidence and stability at every stop.

Are these bikes suitable for beginners or returning riders?

Very much so. The upright position, wide comfortable saddle, forgiving balloon tires, and optional motor assistance make electric cruisers one of the most approachable ways to get back on a bike. Riders who want even more stability may also want to look at the electric trike range, which removes balance from the equation altogether.

Final Thoughts

The electric beach cruiser succeeds because it refuses to complicate something that was always meant to be simple. It keeps the upright comfort, the classic looks, and the sheer pleasure of the traditional cruiser, and it quietly removes the one thing that ever held people back — effort, on the days you would rather not spend any. The Around the Block and the EvryJourney both deliver on that promise, and they do it with real craftsmanship: thoughtful colorways, genuine gearing, removable batteries, adjustable fit, and comfort engineered into every point where your body meets the bike.

Choosing between them comes down to a single, honest question about how you like to ride. If you want the most classic, discreet electric cruiser and you are at ease with a traditional seat position, the Around the Block is a beautiful, capable companion. If you want maximum confidence, easy mounting, and the flat-foot security of the forward-pedaling design, the EvryJourney is hard to beat. Either way, you end up with a bike that makes the ride effortless and the destination beside the point.

When you are ready to see the current colors, frames, and pricing, browse the full electric beach cruiser collection and take your time — the best cruiser is the one that fits the way you actually want to ride.