To the best of our knowledge, neither Schwinn nor Cannondale have ever seen fit to build a car. But for some reason, carmakers like to put their names on bicycles. Perhaps in this age of lifestyle marketing, there's no better way to attract those active outdoorsy-types to your car lineup than to slap your name on outdoorsy-type products. Or maybe it's the other way around — owners are so in love with their cars that they want every piece of equipment in their garage to bear their favorite marque. (If you fit into the latter camp, we've got a sweet AMG leaf blower to sell you. Only $14,000.)
Some carmakers will co-brand with a major bike builder to offer special-edition bicycles through their accessory catalogs. Sometimes this relationship extends even further, as when Volkswagen and Trek paired up in 1997 to offer Trek Edition Golfs and Jettas, each of which included a special Trek bike and a roof rack with a bike carrier.
More commonly, though, carmakers such as Hummer simply license their names and logos to mass-market bike builders for the general consumer market. The resultant products usually stand out among the Huffys and Mongooses that fill the aisles at Sports Authority or Wal-Mart, easing the decision-making process for certain consumers who may aspire to own, say, an actual Hummer. This is also pretty decent brand advertising.
The selection of car-branded bikes seemingly changes with the seasons. In the recent past, Porsche, BMW, and Audi have offered numerous road bikes through their lifestyle catalogs, but currently their racks are bare. Herewith, some current offerings:
There is something sacred about the Cadillac name, and the crew at Cadillac Bicycles seems to understand that. They build an entire lineup of road, dirt, and cruising bikes that honor the tradition of great American automotive design. Built by Kent International and licensed by General Motors, these bikes are available through selected cycle stores throughout the country.
Some models carry familiar names like Eldorado, Fleetwood, and CTS, while others are blessed with more bike-like names — AVS, ERT2, and AM2.4, to name a few. And while each series has its own style, all of them bear the Cadillac script logo on their frames. Sorry, no chrome wheels or Vogue tires, but there is a pink Cadillac for Springsteen fans. Prices range from about $200 for a kid's 20-inch cruiser to around $1800 for the 17-pound, aluminum-framed ERT2 road bike, of which only 30 are being produced.
Shop: http://www.cadillacbikestore.com
Civic Si: check. Odyssey minivan: check. Honda lawn mower: check. Honda snow thrower: check. Honda backup generator: check. Honda robot: um, check. Honda bicycle? Hmmm. In case your garage still has space for one more thing with a Honda badge, there is a mountain bike just for you. And chances are it will be the least expensive piece of Honda gear you'll buy.
The 21-speed, 26-inch Honda Dual Suspension Mountain Bike looks tech-y in its red and white racing colors, but uses a steel frame and conventional hardware. For the tuner crowd, the wheels are painted black with red stripes. It's not quite as advanced as VTEC, but then again you don't ever need to worry about derailleurs kickin' in, yo. And hey, what more do you want for a hundred and thirty bucks?
Shop: http://www.sportsauthority.com
Some of the most incredible bike trails are in Moab, Utah. But they're also some of the most inaccessible. What to do? How about throwing your Hummer mountain bike in the back of your H1 and hitting the trails hardcore? Built by Montague, the Hummer LX mountain bike folds for easy storage inside your vehicle, because really, no one likes loading a roof rack on an H-series anything.
Like its namesake, the Hummer LX bike was designed for military use, originally intended for Paratroopers. We're not sure how they land 'em, but perhaps that's why they feature "mil spec" extra-wide pedals. The 24-speed bike uses Shimano components and folds to a flat three-foot by three-foot package.
At around $800, it's the one of the cheapest Hummers — of the wheeled variety — you can buy.
Shop: http://www.westmarine.com
Not to be outdone by Hummer, Jeep also puts its name on a line of bikes for the general consumer. Sold through sporting-goods retailers, the lineup ranges from the fairly basic 21-speed Wrangler (about $185) with front suspension and Shimano gearing, to the $1500 Rubicon, which features all-wheel drive. That's right, both wheels get leg power thanks to a cable drive that transfers torque from the rear to the front. Built by Philadelphia-based Christini Technologies, the Rubicon also features suspension and disc brakes at both (alloy) wheels, further upholding the off-road reputation of its four-wheel-drive inspiration.
Shop: http://www.sportsauthority.com
Though BMW typically offers a collection of two-wheeled options in its lifestyle catalog, its current offerings are only for the kiddies. But building brand loyalty from an early age is important, so there is the Kids BMW Bike. In the get-'em-started-early department, this BMW bike is designed to start toddlers on their way, thanks to the option of going pedal-less. Diaper-donners can get the hang of balancing and leaning for turns without the added confusion of trying to coordinate pedal movements. When Junior has figured out the basics of gyroscopic maneuvers, simply bolt the pedal kit on and he can master yet another new skill.
The lightweight aluminum frame makes the learning process easier. There is even a front handbrake. At $325, it's not a cheap toy, but the fact that it is designed for kids between the ages of 2 and 6 means it will probably get lots of use.
Braggadocio roundels are kept to a minimum so as not to utterly corrupt your little Bimmer-brat. Still, don't be surprised if the neighbor's kid with the Hummer bike tries to run him of the sidewalk just for looking like a dick. After all, you are preparing him for the future.
Shop: http://www.bmw-online.com/Index.asp
