Jorge M.
Google
I bought my Brooklyn Bicycle Co Franklin 8 in December, 2022. I have been riding road bikes since the early 70s and I am switching to something more casual. I looked at many similar bikes but the Franklin had several characteristics and components that made the difference. After 6 months and several hundred miles it has proven to be a great choice.
The first thing that caught my eye about the Franklin 8 was the association with Grant Petersen. He has been designing great frames since the 70s and has been a great advocate of the kind of relaxed and comfortable riding I’m doing now. The Franklin 8 follows the general design parameters of some of his later models. Subsequently, It can be ridden for hours without stressing your body. Since my primary goal is now time on my bike rather than speed or distance this has worked out well.
The second thing I noticed was that of all the bikes I looked at the Franklin was the only one to come with a quill stem, which allows you to raise or lower your handlebars up to about 5 inches. All the other ones came with threadless stems which cannot be adjusted. All bikes allow for seat height adjustment but handlebar height is equally important. If you raise or lower your seat but cannot adjust your handlebar height you’re in for a lot of frustration, especially on longer rides.
The third thing I liked about the Franklin was the 8 speed option. I ride in Miami and we have no hills to climb unless you count the bridges. What we do have is wind. A breeze of 15-20 mph is not uncommon. After pedaling for an hour and a half with the wind on your back, going the other way can get really tiring. Just dropping down to 2nd or 3rd gear can keep you going all day. The shifter is entry level shimano but anything shimano does works very well.
The tires were Kenda 700x35. These are an excellent choice. They are comfortable and allow you to go on many surfaces that my road bike’s 700x26 cannot handle. They’re also much more resistant to punctures than narrower ones. The fact that they use Schrader valves is great. One caveat is that the rims are not quick release. This is not a big deal as they come off easily with a 15mm box wrench.
The bike was delivered to Revolution Bicycle Services and was assembled by Danny. This was a great choice. Revolution has a great reputation and has been around for a long time. The assembly was quick and very well done. The wheels were true, the brakes well adjusted, no loose parts, the derailleur worked well from the first shift and the fitting was spot on.
Other details have been very satisfying. The seat is much more comfortable than I expected. When I buy a bike I usually switch out for a Brooks B-17 but in this instance I haven’t done that and don’t plan to. The fenders have been most welcome. In Miami it rains a lot and it’s nice to keep the “racing stripes” off your back. The step through style is definitely a non-issue and makes getting in and out a little easier. However, to transport it using a car rack you'll probably need an adjustable extension to act as a top tube but these are inexpensive and easily available online.The back reflector works well for night riding. The grips are very comfortable and don't need replacement. The paint work is great and the cream color gets frequent compliments. My only modifications have been to add a mirror on the left side, a handlebar bottle holder and a small canvas handlebar bag.
Summarily, If you’d like a well built bike you can ride all day and that will be delivered really “ready to ride” you can’t go wrong with Brooklyn. When you add in the price point it really is a great deal.
