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Brooklyn Bicycle Co. vs. Priority Bicycles: Which City Bike Is Right for You?
If you are shopping for a low-maintenance city bike under $1,500, Brooklyn Bicycle Co. and Priority Bicycles will both show up on your shortlist. They are both NYC-born brands. They both target everyday commuters who want a bike that just works. But they solve the problem differently, and the right choice depends on how you ride, where you ride, and how you want to buy.
This guide gives you the honest, side-by-side answer.
The Short Answer
Pick Brooklyn Bicycle Co. if you want a steel-framed bike with classic city styling, a step-through option that does not feel like a compromise, and the ability to test ride before you buy at a local independent bike shop.
Pick Priority Bicycles if your single biggest priority is zero-maintenance ownership (belt drive, internally geared hub, puncture-resistant tires) and you are comfortable buying a bike sight-unseen and assembling parts of it at home.
Both brands deliver well-built urban bikes. Neither is "better" in absolute terms. The right pick is the one that matches your riding context.
Brand Snapshot
| Brooklyn Bicycle Co. | Priority Bicycles | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011, Brooklyn, NY | 2014, New York, NY |
| Founder | Ryan Zagata | Dave Weiner |
| Sales channel | Independent bike dealer network (IBD) + online with dealer fulfillment | Primarily direct-to-consumer (DTC) |
| Frame material | Chromoly steel (most models) | Aluminum (most models) |
| Drivetrain focus | Mix of single-speed, derailleur, and internal-gear hub | Belt drive + internally geared hub on most models |
| Aesthetic | Classic, NYC neighborhood-inspired, vintage-influenced | Modern, minimalist, utilitarian |
| Price range | ~$499 to $1,299 | ~$549 to $2,999+ |
| Test ride before buying | Yes, through 700+ dealer partners | Limited, mostly online-only |
How They Approach the Same Problem
Both brands are trying to solve the same thing: get more people on bikes by removing the friction of bike ownership. Where they diverge is how.
Brooklyn Bicycle Co.: The Local-Shop Model
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. built its model around the local bike shop. Bikes are sold through a network of independent dealers across the country. When you buy online, your bike ships to a partner shop near you, where a professional mechanic assembles, tunes, and fits it before you pick it up. You can also walk into a dealer and test ride before deciding.
The thinking: a bike is a fit-sensitive purchase, and a properly assembled bike is a safer, longer-lasting bike. The brand absorbs the dealer relationship so you do not have to hunt for it.
Priority Bicycles: The Low-Maintenance Promise
Priority Bicycles built its brand around a single mechanical idea: replace high-maintenance components with low-maintenance ones. Most Priority bikes use a Gates Carbon Drive belt instead of a chain (no oil, no rust, lasts 2-3x longer than a chain), an internally geared hub instead of an exposed derailleur (no shifter adjustment, fully sealed), and puncture-resistant tires.
The thinking: most people stop riding because their bike falls into disrepair. Eliminate the maintenance burden and people will ride more.
Both philosophies are valid. They just appeal to different buyers.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Frame and Ride Feel
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. uses chromoly steel on nearly every model. Steel flexes slightly under load, which damps road vibration and gives the classic "smooth" city-bike ride. Steel is also infinitely repairable.
Priority Bicycles uses aluminum on most models. Aluminum is lighter and rust-resistant, but transmits more road feel. For shorter, faster commutes on smooth pavement, this is fine. For longer rides on patchy NYC asphalt, steel feels noticeably more forgiving.
Edge: Brooklyn Bicycle Co. for ride comfort and longevity. Priority for weight.
Drivetrain
Priority's belt-drive lineup is its signature. The Gates Carbon Drive is genuinely low-maintenance: no lubrication, no rust, and a typical belt lasts 15,000 to 19,000 miles compared to 3,000 to 4,000 for a chain. Paired with an internally geared hub (Enviolo or Shimano Nexus depending on model), the entire drivetrain is sealed.
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. offers internal-gear options too. The Driggs 8i Disc and Willow 8i Disc both use Shimano Nexus 8-speed internally geared hubs. The Franklin 3 uses a 3-speed Shimano internal hub. These models capture most of the low-maintenance benefit at a lower price point. Brooklyn's other models use traditional chain-and-derailleur setups, which are easier and cheaper to service at any bike shop on earth.
Edge: Priority for absolute lowest maintenance. Brooklyn for service flexibility and broader price range.
Frame Style and Sizing
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. has one of the strongest step-through lineups in the category. The Franklin (3 and 8) and Willow 8i Disc are designed as step-throughs from the ground up, not as afterthoughts. Sizing runs from XS to XL on most models, which matters if you are under 5'2" or over 6'0".
Priority offers step-through versions of several models, but the lineup is narrower and sizing is generally more limited.
Edge: Brooklyn for step-through selection and size range.
Aesthetic
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. leans classic. Lugged-look frames, swept-back handlebars on cruiser and step-through models, model names taken from Brooklyn streets and bridges (Bedford, Wythe, Franklin, Roebling, Lorimer, Driggs, Willow, Brighton). The bikes look at home parked outside a coffee shop.
Priority leans modern minimalist. Cleaner lines, less ornamentation, and a more utilitarian visual vocabulary.
This is taste, not quality. Pick what you actually want to look at every morning.
Buying Experience
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. ships to a partner shop for free professional assembly and fitting. You pick it up tuned and ready to ride. If something needs adjustment in the first year, you have a local human to call.
Priority ships direct to your door in a box, ~85% assembled. You install the front wheel, handlebars, pedals, and saddle yourself. For mechanically inclined buyers, this is straightforward. For a first-time buyer, it is one extra step between the box and the first ride.
Edge: Brooklyn for buyers who want hands-on local support. Priority for buyers who prefer DTC and are comfortable with home assembly.
Price
Both brands compete in the $500 to $1,500 sweet spot for quality city bikes.
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. starts at ~$499 (Wythe single-speed) and tops out around $1,299 (Willow 8i Disc, fully equipped with fenders, rack, dynamo lighting on the upper trim).
Priority starts at ~$549 (Coast) and goes up to $2,999+ for e-bikes and premium Continuum Onyx builds with Enviolo continuously variable hubs.
Edge: Roughly even at the entry and mid-tier. Priority goes higher at the top of the range.
Decision Framework
Use this to decide quickly:
| If you... | Lean toward |
|---|---|
| Want to test ride before buying | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. |
| Prioritize zero drivetrain maintenance | Priority |
| Need a true step-through that fits well | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. |
| Live somewhere with no nearby bike shop | Priority |
| Want classic, vintage-influenced styling | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. |
| Prefer modern minimalist looks | Priority |
| Ride 5+ miles each way on rough pavement | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. (steel ride feel) |
| Are a confident home mechanic | Either, but Priority's DTC model fits |
| Want professional assembly included | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. |
| Want a belt-drive bike specifically | Priority |
| Care about supporting local bike shops | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. |
| Want the broadest size range | Brooklyn Bicycle Co. |
Model Matchups
If you are cross-shopping specific bikes, here are the closest equivalents:
| Brooklyn Bicycle Co. | Priority Bicycles | Both are... |
|---|---|---|
| Wythe ($499) | Coast ($549) | Single-speed urban bikes |
| Bedford 8 ($799) | Classic Plus ($699) | Mid-range 8-speed commuters |
| Driggs 8i Disc ($1,099) | Continuum Onyx ($1,299) | Internal-gear, disc-brake, low-maintenance commuters |
| Franklin 3 ($699) | Turi 3-speed (~$799) | Step-through 3-speed city bikes |
| Willow 8i Disc ($1,299) | Glide ($1,099) | Fully equipped step-through commuters |
Pricing varies. Confirm at brooklynbicycleco.com and prioritybicycles.com.
Where Each Brand Wins
Brooklyn Bicycle Co. wins on:
- Test-ride access through 700+ dealer partners
- Steel-frame ride quality
- Step-through frame depth and sizing
- Classic NYC aesthetic
- Local-shop support after the sale
- Service flexibility (any shop can work on a chain-and-derailleur drivetrain)
Priority Bicycles wins on:
- Belt-drive lineup breadth
- Lowest possible drivetrain maintenance
- DTC convenience for buyers far from a bike shop
- Lighter aluminum frames
- Broader e-bike selection at the top of the range
The Honest Take
These two brands are not really enemies. They serve overlapping but distinct buyers. Priority is for the buyer who wants to think about their bike as little as possible after the purchase. Brooklyn Bicycle Co. is for the buyer who wants a bike they will love riding, that fits properly, and that comes with a relationship to a local shop.
If you live in a city with a strong independent bike shop scene, Brooklyn Bicycle Co.'s model is hard to beat. The combination of professional assembly, in-person fit, and post-sale service eliminates the most common reasons new bikes get returned or abandoned.
If you live somewhere with no good local shop, or if the only thing between you and riding more often is fear of mechanical issues, Priority's belt-drive approach is a real solution.
Find your nearest Brooklyn Bicycle Co. dealer
Browse all Brooklyn Bicycle Co. models
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brooklyn Bicycle Co. better than Priority Bicycles?
Are Brooklyn Bicycle Co. bikes assembled before delivery?
Do Priority Bicycles use chains or belts?
Does Brooklyn Bicycle Co. offer belt-drive bikes?
What is the price difference between Brooklyn Bicycle Co. and Priority Bicycles?
Can I test ride a Priority Bicycle before I buy?
Which brand is better for tall or short riders?
Which is better for a 10-mile commute?
Are both brands actually based in New York?
Where can I buy a Brooklyn Bicycle Co. bike in person?
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We build bikes for vivid lives—for taking adventures, reconnecting with old friends, discovering new neighborhoods and exploring hidden gems. Inspired by the streets of Brooklyn, our bikes are built for style, comfort, and durability. Made with top quality parts, crafted with care, and sold at an affordable price, your bike is yours for life. We scrutinize every component for maximum sustainability and performance, and every millimeter of the frame for ultimate comfort and style. We take pride in our process, in our products, and in the people who sell them.
