Polaris IQ Women's Cruiser Bike

by Polaris

Product Features

• Women's comfort cruiser with laid-back steel frame
• Ideal for cruising through the neighborhood
• Ultra-dependable single-speed drive train
• Rear coaster brake for sure stopping power
• Cushioned spring saddle; chrome fenders

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Boasting a laid-back steel cruiser frame that delivers unmatched comfort, the Polaris IQ women's cruiser bike is a great fit casual afternoon trips to the grocery store and rides around the neighborhood. The bike offers such features as a single-speed drive train, a rear coaster brake for sure stopping power, and chrome fenders. The cushioned spring saddle and cruiser-style handlebars, meanwhile, will keep you in all-day comfort.

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide

Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

• Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels, and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
• Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing, and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
• Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

• Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
• Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
• High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

• Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
• Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half, and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
• Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:

• Helmet (this is a must!)
• Seat pack
• Lock
• Hydration pack, or water bottle and bottle cage
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Product Description

The Polaris IQ Cruiser is a feature packed entry-level beach cruiser. The IQ Cruiser is built on a durable steel cruiser frame with a single speed drivetrain, a rear coaster brake, chrome fenders, and a spring cushioned saddle. This is an excellent bicycle for a pleasure "cruise" through the neighborhood.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 53 x 28 x 8 inches ; 42 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 42 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0011RH13K
• Item model number: 61526-9
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,116 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #26 in Sports & Outdoors > Bikes & Accessories > Bikes > Cruiser Bikes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One of Two, April 8, 2010

By 

Ernie "Ernie" (Greenwich, CT United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polaris IQ Women's Cruiser Bike (Sports)

I purchased this and another bike (Spider Man Bike for my son) which was also made by the same company, so I have some perspective on buying/assembling bikes online.

Points about this bike:
- Polaris is just a brand slapped on the bike.
- This bike is manufactured by Cycle Force Group
- The metal shields bend easily and are not as easily straightened (rubbing issues)
- It's worth the price I paid on Amazon (free shipping with Prime)
- The instructions are pretty much worthless
- This is a 26" bike with no handbrakes, only coaster brake (turn the wheels backwards)

Assembly:
These were one-size-fits-all instructions including everything from suspension forks to hand brakes and so on -- compared to the spider-man bike I got from the same manufacturer, this was really confusing. The other manual was very detailed but only had pertinent information.

When done, it was wobbly and too high (**installer error) and the wheels were rubbing which I attributed to untrue wheels (something you read a lot about with online bike purchases. See repair below for how the wheel situation was fixed.

**I went back and forth through the manual and couldn't figure out what could have been wrong. I finally figured out that I (no joke) had the front wheel turned around when I installed the handlebars, only from the picture here on Amazon.

Damage:
The box was not evidently damaged, but the chain protector had a screw that had fallen out and was stripped to the point that it wouldn't tighten, but not fall out on it's own. The shields were not originally bent correctly (the arch at the top of the arms wasn't even remotely symmetrical and showed no signs of being bent right in the first place, then re-bent into this position). This also did not appear to be a return.

Repair:
I had the same size screw with coarser threads which fixed the chain guard. The rubbing got less when I inflated the tires, but still was a problem, looking under the shields, I discovered that they weren't straight. The thing to do is to take them off, take the legs off of them, and straighten them in reference to a flat surface, then reinstall them. On-the-fly adjustment (bending something slightly) gets exponentially out of alignment and you'll need to take them off if you don't get it in the first two adjustments.

Miscellaneous, buying bikes online:
I buy with confidence on Amazon when I'm unsure about a product because they always make it right, but I really didn't want to send this back; it was too much trouble. That worked out because I was forced to get it right and now it's a serviceable bike at a reasonable price.

If you're looking at this bike, you're probably confused about quality because you see $50 bikes at your local stores and $400 bikes that look exactly the same at the bike shop. I'd say this is a happy compromise . . . This is a good purchase if you're patient and a bit handy, but if you want it to just work, I'd recommend finding a place that SERVICES bikes to get one from, as it CAN Be a headache.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!, October 9, 2008

By 

B. Kelly (Middletown, DE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polaris IQ Women's Cruiser Bike (Sports)

I am just getting back into bike riding after having both knees replaced. I love the bike! It's very easy to get on and off and rides very smooth.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yaa-Hoo, July 26, 2010

By 

Julie G - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polaris IQ Women's Cruiser Bike (Sports)

This is the best purchase I have made yet on Amazon. When I first received the bike I noticed that the front fender was rubbing horribly. I contacted the company and after walking me through the assembly, they sent out a new fender ASAP. Cycle Force Group is a first rate company. I would have paid the full price had I known what I was getting. I have had nothing but compliments on this bike from neighbors in the apartment complex where I live. Only one knew that the Cruiser is a Beach Cruiser, kewl, huh?