Great question, and one we are asked often. You may have noticed that the Franklin 8 and the Franklin 3 are the same price-- this isn't a mistake! The Franklin 8 features a 1x8 drivetrain with an external derailleur (hello, wider gearing range), while the Franklin 3 features a 3-speed internally geared rear hub (hello, super low-maintenance). There's a trade-off between the two, but the better choice will truly depend upon your use case. The Willow 7 is a beast of its own and features an internally geared 7-speed rear hub, hydraulic disc brakes, and an aluminum frame. You can read more about the similarities and differences here.