Road bikes are built for riding on paved roads. They usually have lightweight frames, dropout handlebars, and narrow tires.
There are a few reasons why you’re considering road bikes under $300. You may be looking for:
- A “beater” road bike in case it’s ever stolen.
- A project road bike to upgrade and modify as you wish.
- A no-frills commuter bike to get you from home to work and back.
- A beginner road bike for yourself or a loved one.
No matter your reasons, we’ve sifted through more than 17 road bikes under $300 and have come up with a definitive list of the best road bikes for under $300.
In 2023, the 6KU Urban Track Bike is our number 1 pick as the best road bike for under $300.
It’s lightweight, uber portable, fast and agile on the road, and has a matte handsome design and finish. It’s a non gear, no-frills road bike and so it’s easy to ride with minimal maintenance.
However, if you need a road bike with gears, go for the Vilano R2 Commuter Road Bike. Got a tight budget? Save $150 bucks and go for the best budget road bike under $300, the PanAme Road Bike.
Table of Contents
Best Overall | Best with Dropbars | Best for Climbing Hills | #4 Pick | Best Budget | Things to Know | How we picked | Best by Category
Best Road Bikes Under $300
- 6KU Urban Track Bike
- Vilano R2 Commuter Road Bike
- Eurobike XC550 Road Bike
- Avasta Commuter Bike
- PanAme Road Bike
Things to Know
You get what you pay for
First off, there are a few things to note about these bikes. In today’s era with all the bike tech and innovation. $300 is probably the lowest amount you can spend to get a decent enough bicycle. As such, you should resist the urge to compare these bikes with top-quality bikes, even $500 bikes.
Distance riding
As some parts make the bare minimum quality, you should not expect these to be comfortable for long rides. I reckon they should be fine for 10 – 15 miles daily at the maximum. Anything beyond that will be tough on your body.
Bicycle parts
All these bikes have bargain basement parts in at least some part of their bodywork to meet this price threshold, so except that, especially in places like seats or handlebar tapes.
Hills & Climbing
As these are entry-level “road” bikes, they are not suitable for steep hills or inclines. They should be fine with mild ascents, but climbing a serious incline is not recommended.
Our #1 Pick
6KU Fixed Gear Urban Track Bike
- “how to choose size? please select size according to height: ▲ small (52cm) / 5’4 “”- 5’8″” ▲ medium (55cm) / 5’8 “”- 5’11″” ▲ large(58cm) / 5’11 “”- 6’4″”.Please reconfirm whether the size you purchased is correct before you pay.
- how to assemble your 6ku bike? we have the assembly video available on this page or find it on youtube. tools included in the package.
- lightweight full aluminum frame and fork
- 30mm deep v double-walled alloy wheels
- ride fixed gear or freewheel with a flip-flop hub, including front and rear brakes, suitable for commuters
What people like
- Price is excellent (under $300).
- The matte finish and design are clean, minimal, and beautiful.
- 6KU provides a good instructional video that makes setup and assembly easy.
- Strong quality frame for the price point. Good base for future upgrades and modifications.
- Good for short to medium-length commutes. 10 – 15miles max daily
- The bike is extremely lightweight at 21 lbs. Easy for anyone to carry. Very portable.
- The bike rides fast and agile.
- Wheels and tires are good for fast city riding.
- Single speed makes it easy and uncomplicated to ride.
- The size of parts comes standard, so it’s very easy to upgrade bicycle parts.
- Flip-flop rear hub means you can ride either fixed or freewheel
- Little known brand and inconspicuous logo mean it will not be a major target for thieves.
What people dislike
- Parts are cheap, so you will need to upgrade them in future.
- Bike seats ride a bit high.
- Product written instructions are a bit confusing.
- No bottle cages or kickstands included.
- Stock tires don’t hold air very well.
- Handlebar tape and seats are uncomfortable for long rides.
- The stiff, light aluminum frame doesn’t absorb road shocks well so it’s not comfortable riding on broken roads and potholes.
- May have to true wheel.
#2 Pick – Runner Up
Vilano R2 Commuter Road Bike
- Double butted aluminum frame for strength, Threadless 1.125-inch frame
- Durable Shimano shifters and derailers, 21 speeds for easier climbing
- 7-speed freewheel, KMC chain
- Sturdy steel handlebars, Urban comfort saddle reduces pressure points
- Lightweight 27.2-pound bike makes commuting easier, Bike is shipped factory direct. Assembly and Tuning are Required. Pedal installation can be tricky, please follow included directions closely, Assembly Required.
What people like
- Good road bike for beginners
- Light and agile ride. Gears shift smoothly.
- Easy bike to ride hands-free.
- Light and steady frame, easy to lean-steer.
- Easy to assemble and comes with all needed tools.
- Most useful as a commuter bike.
- Good and helpful customer service.
- Easy to adjust seat height.
- Works well as a project bike with future upgrades in mind.
- For the budget-conscious, mechanically inclined cyclist.
What people dislike
- Written instructions are unclear and not very helpful.
- Not enough space on handlebar for cycling accessories.
- The manufacturer advises that you take the package to a bike mechanic for assembly and tuning before use. This may further increase the cost.
- Stock tires hold 80psi max. May need weekly top-ups.
- No kickstands. Can’t raise or lower handlebars.
- May need to replace a few parts for bike to fit you perfectly.
#3 Pick
Eurobike XC550 Road Bike
- 【21 Gears】 21-speed shifter combo with brake lever provides quick gear changes. 21-speed shifter combo with brake lever provides quick gear changes.
- 【Brake System For road bike】Provides a stronger, faster, more reliable stopping power than the traditional V-Brake Systems; Disc brakes also do not wear out your tires and last much longer; Since disc brakes are much more consistent you’ll be able to judge braking more accurately
- 【700C Road bikes Tires】It takes less energy to keep the bike at speed. 700c wheels have less rolling resistance, making them more efficient, you can ride further using the same amount of energy.
- 【Comfortable seat and handle】 Adjustable foam Sseat:;You can adjust the seat according to your height, foam seat is soft and water proof.The seat and handles fit your body shape, allowing you to get the maximum comfort during riding.
- 【Frame】 The geometry of the road bike frame is designed with professional competition grade geometry,more ergonomic, so you can ride more smoothly.
What people like
- Race styling is attractive.
- Comes 75% assembled. Instructions are easy to follow. Easy to setup and assemble.
- Great for short rides.
- Comes with kickstand
- Smooth pedalling and gear transition.
- Disc brakes work well, even in the wet.
- Good, fast, and responsive customer service.
What people dislike
- The bike is on the heavier side at 35 lbs.
- Rides relatively slowly with mtb gearing.
- The seat is uncomfortable. Narrow and not well-cushioned.
- The gear, frame, and wheels are heavy resembling an MTB.
#4 Pick
Avasta Fixed Gear Commuter Bike
- Lightweight full aluminum frame and fork absorb the bumps in the road and are as durable as can be.
- Single speed for simplicity. Flat handlebar for ease and style. Includes a flip-flop hub so you can ride fixed or with a freewheel. You decide how you ride.
- Comes standard with 700 x 25C tires, 30mm deep-v rims, KMC chain, freestyle pedals and front brake.
- The bike is 85% pre-assembled and comes with the basic assembly tools, only a few parts need to be added to the bike which will take about 20 minutes.
- Please select size according to height: ▲ (50cm) / 5’1″- 5’6″ ▲(54cm) / 5’6″- 5’11” ▲ (58cm) / 5’11”- 6’3″. Please reconfirm whether the size you purchased is correct before you pay.
What people like
- Classic design is minimal and elegant.
- Good build quality.
- Lightweight, fast, and easy to ride with only one gear.
- Flip-flop rear hub means you can ride either fixed or freewheel.
What people dislike
- Seat and handlebar have little cushioning.
- Brake lever may be difficult to install for some.
- Comes with only front brakes.
#5 Pick – Budget Pick
PanAme 26 Inch Road Bike
- [Strong Aluminum Alloy Frame] Durable and Light frame supports riders up to 330 pounds.
- [Efficient Dual V-Brake System] High-performance brakes for responsive and reliable stopping.
- [700c Wheels for 5’3″-6′ Heights] Ideal wheel size for a balanced ride for heights between 5’3″ and 6′.
- [Versatile 21-Speed Gear Shifting] Easily switch gears for a smooth ride on diverse terrains.
- [Comfortable 11-Inch Adjustable Seat] Maximized comfort with an adjustable seat; 85% pre-assembled for quick 15-25 minute setup.
What people like
- Cheapest price of the lot, coming in under $150.
- Comes mostly assembled. Easy to setup and assemble from there.
- Instructional video is easy to follow.
- A comfortable ride with good handlebar grips.
- Gears shift smoothly.
- Good customer service.
What people dislike
- Written instructions aren’t helpful.
- Not for heavy weekly usage.
How we picked
Reviews
More than 17 road bikes, with more than 315 independent user-generated reviews were evaluated to come up with this list of the top 5 road bikes under $300.
Ease of Assembly
We selected road bikes that are mostly 50% – 75% pre-assembled. All bikes can be assembled by a novice and come with the tools you’ll need. Only one bike recommends you go to a bike mechanic to assemble the bike before use.
Design
This is a more subjective factor in our consideration. Whether you ride alone or in a group, nobody wants an ugly duckling road bike so we favored attractive and sleek road bikes in our selection.
Weight
Entry-level budget road bikes are usually for commuting to work or on campus. As such, weight was a key consideration for us as it affects portability as well as speed on the road.
Price
$300 was the starting point for our review. We tried to find bikes around $250, $200, $150, and $100. In the end, it was extremely different to find quality road bikes below $150.
Frame Quality
Even though we are dealing with the bottom end of the road bike market, at the very least, we ensured that all bikes have good frame quality. As this is the base of the bike, especially if you end up upscaling the parts. Most on the list are aluminum frame bikes except one alloy steel frame road bike.
Gear System
Geared vs Non geared bikes. An age-old question. Some cyclists love fixies to death while others can’t stand them. So, we made sure to get both types of bikes in our selection.
Customer Service
When dealing with entry-level, and lesser well-known brands, it’s vital to have good customer service to deal with issues like forgotten or bent parts. As such, all the bikes here have been reported to have good customer service.
Best Road Bikes under $300 by Category
| Best Overall | 6KU Urban Track Bicycle |
| Best Budget | PanAme Road Bike |
| Best Non Gear | 6KU Urban Track Bicycle |
| Best Geared Bike | Vilano R2 Commuter Road Bike |
| Best Road Bike with MTB heritage | Eurobike XC550 Road Bike |
| Best Dropbars | Vilano R2 Commuter Road Bike |
| Best Flat Handlebars | 6KU Urban Track Bicycle |
| Best Design | 6KU Urban Track Bicycle |
| Best Lightweight | 6KU Urban Track Bicycle |
| Best 29inch | Vilano R2 Commuter Road Bike |
| Best 26inch | 6KU Urban Track Bicycle |
| Best for Climbing Hills | Eurobike XC550 Road Bike |
Any of these road bikes will make a decent present for a teenager or a noob getting into road biking. They’re also solid purchases as a commuting bikes.
The 6KU Urban Track Bike represents the best value road bike under $300, while the PanAme is the cheapest road bike that is worth it on this list. Not feeling our list, check out the best road bikes under $500.
