10 Best Hybrid Bikes Under 500

Our Pick 

Budget Vintage Hybrid.

Made in Italy, the Via Vento City Bike is another stunning hybrid at a surprisingly low price.  Ride tall without neck ache and attract admiring glances at your new ride, which looks far more expensive than it is. 

This classy number comes with full commuter kit (kickstand, mudguards, rear rack, cute tan pannier bags, mudguards and full chain guard). 

Enjoy the comfortable smooth ride the excellent quality build provides – from the gears to the hardy frame, this is a little gem of a hybrid

Specs

• Frame: Aluminium 
• Suspension: Non
• Gears: 6 
• Frame size – 21 inches. 
• Brake type – V- brakes front and rear 
• Gearing: rear derailleur shimano tx50 6 speed,
• wheels 28″ (700×35)
• Handle type – hi-rise flat bar
• Colour options – beige, black, grey or green. 
• Weight:15kg

What We Like

• Looks classic but also delivers on quality. 
• Comes with everything you need for your commute plus leather panniers 
• Comfortable from the seat, to the riding position, to the bump absorbing tyres. 
• Lightweight and easy to maneuver in traffic. 
• Great quality front and back lights. 

What We Don’t Like

• May need a trip to the local bike shop to set it up 

Our Verdict

Our favourite commuter hybrid. For bike oozes class, quality and should be priced higher in our opinion. It delivers in all areas. 

Also Great

What makes the CSZZL hybrid adventure bike worth the mention is the how versatile it is. The HCT Carbon Fork smooths out the ride and takes on drops and bumps that would be more jarring on a cheap rigid fork.  

Do you like to vary your ride position? Love standing up, furiously pedalling one minute, then the next cruising in your seat?  

The CSZZL comes with an ergonomic handle set, letting you ride in comfort, without any wrist rubs.  

Want to move beyond the aching back after a long bike ride? The icing on the cake is the upright position that the CZLL hybrid adventure bike allows for. The upright posture could minimise aches and pains of a longer commute. 

It seems the manufacturer ticked all the boxes that make the gear system quality but forgot to make it lighter than some rival products.

Specs

• Lightweight Aluminum Compact Frame 

• HCT Carbon Fork (Lifetime Frame & Fork Warranty).

• 3×9 Shimano Acera Groupset, featuring an 11/32T cassette and 48/36/26T crankset

• Gear choice – 21, 24, 27 or 30 speed gears. 

• Extra wide tyres

• Drilled for a variety of racks and fenders. 

• Wheel size – choice of 24 or 26 inches 

• Brake type – disc

• Handle type – flat bar

• Colour – choice of: black, yellow, green, red, or white.

What We Like

• Excellent value for money – budget hybrid 
• Light, compact and maneuverable
• Shock absorbing ride 
• Quick release wheels for ease of transport
• Adaptable to different road surfaces – Perfect for commuting or leisure riding.

What We Don’t Like

• May need a trip to the local bike shop to set it up 
• Could be too compact for some riders – it’s best to carefully check the product dimensions before buying. 

Our Verdict

This bike should serve you well if you are looking for something adaptable to ride most days, but not for long bike journeys.

Best Budget All-Rounder 

Ammaco’s De’sire is a vision of sleek simplicity. If you are looking for a no-fluff, get you to where you need to go bike, this is it. Ride in comfort, on this understated gem of a hybrid with its high-rise handlebars, and chunky grips.  

Better yet, the high quality gears ensure the ride is super easy even on steep hills, rough ground. If you’re commuting, this hybrid is surprisingly fast. 

On the downside, it has V-brakes, which is totally personal preference but could be said to be a cheaper alternative to disc brakes.

Specs

• Alloy Lightweight Trekking Frame  

• 700c Forks

• Shimano 21 Speed Rapid Fire Shifters ST-EF41

• Shimano TZ500 Cassette – Shimano Tourney Rear Derailleur – Shimano Tourney TZ Front Derailleur

• 48/38/28 Triple Chainset Fully Enclosed Chainguard

• Gear choice – 21 speed gears. 

• Wheel size – 700C 

• Frame size – 21 inches. 

• Brake type – V-brakes front and rear 

• Tyres: Mitas Anti-Puncture 

• Handle type – hi-rise flat bar

• Colour – black and blue. 

• Rear pannier carrier fitted

What We Like

• Excellent value for money – budget hybrid 
• Light, compact and maneuverable
• Fully encased chain and mudguards. 
• Adaptable to different road surfaces – Perfect for commuting or leisure riding.

What We Don’t Like

• V- brakes may not be as effective for stopping as discs, but it really is personal preference. 
• Again you might need a bike technician to set it up for you. 

Our Verdict

This is a fab all-rounder if you are on a budget, but you may need to change the seat, if you are looking for comfort on longer rides. 

Vintage Style Hybrids

Fabric Bike City Classic is vintage fused with modern lines and simple style. If you are looking for an uber on-trend look, coupled with a fast ride, this hybrid bike is for you. Ride tall and upright on this fully equipped commuter bike with its high-rise straight handlebars, and classy grips.   

Extra benefits include: full commuter kit (kickstand, mudguards, rear rack, front basket, mudguards and partial chain guard). Non of which you actually notice on first glance – this bike is the ultimate urban vintage style statement. 

On the downside, it needs more assembly than the other hybrids.

Specs

• Fabricbike Hi-Ten steel tubing
• Frame size: 53cm or 58cm 
• 53 cm frame – For riders 1.65 to 1.80 m
• 58cm – For riders from 1.81 m
• Fabricbike front and rear brakes by Promax
• Brake type – caliper 
• Gear – Shifter Shimano 7 Speed “SIS INDEX” 
•  Kenda Kwest 700x28C tyres
• Handle type – flat bar with  eco-leather grips
• Colour – Matt Grey 
• Saddle: waterproof eco-leather
• Weight 11.85 kg. (53 Size)
• Optional: Alloy Basket

What We Like

• Beautiful vintage design – everything down to hiding brake wires is thought about. 
• Ultra light so is dynamic, fast and maneuverable.
• The front rack is surprisingly strong and sturdy. 
• Fits into an elevator no problem. 
• Easy to lift.

What We Don’t Like

• May need a trip to the local bike shop to set it up 
• The kickstand may need adjusting until you get the angle right. It is slightly large for the model of bike. 

Our Verdict

This bike will get you noticed, is a comfortable ride and excellent value for money. There is not much to like about this beauty.

Best For Style

The HWOEK Light Commuter Bike is the perfect bike for cruising around the city, rocking the retro look. You won’t worry about lugging it on and off the tube either – it is so light in comparison to other hybrids.

HWOEK’s frame is sleek and slim, so you can fit through awkward gaps in the traffic with ease, plus feel safe on downhill sections of your commute. To say it is so slim, this hybrid offers impressive stability.

Specs

• Frame: High carbon steel 
• Frame size: 24 inches. 
• Wheel diameter: 24 inches
• Gearing – Single speed
• Handlebar: Aluminium alloy
• Handlebar grips: Rubber 
• Included: bell
• Recommended height: 158-188cm
• Maximum Load: 100kg.

What We Like

• Cool retro look
• Slim frame – easy to fit through small gaps
• Non-slip rubber grips
• Won’t rust easily – aluminium handlebars and brake levers.
• Aluminium handlebars reduce vibration when riding.

What We Don’t Like

• One gear – it looks cool but would not be suitable to be ridden for long distances or an uphill commute. 

Our Verdict

This bike looks amazing and is made of robust materials, but needs to be used on flat ground, (in cities) so one gear isn’t an issue.

Commuter Hybrid Bikes

The Hawk City Trek Sport 3-G is a great lightweight choice and  perfectly set up for all-round use. It solves the problem of a single geared hybrid by having 3 options for gears, making steep slopes easy and comfortable. 

A great looking, sleek hybrid, it comes with colour-code mudguards, a chainguard and a rear pannier fitted.

The “Easy-B” aluminium step-through frame makes mounting and dismounting the bike extremely easy, in tight situations. 

Specs

• Gears: three 

• Frame: 26 inch 

• Frame material: aluminium 

• Front and rear brakes – linear pull 

• Suntour suspension forks.   

• Equipment: mudguards front and rear, chainguard and pannier.

• Dynamo powered lights. 

• Wheels: 28 inch

• Frame Height: 48 cm 

• Bike weight: 17kg

• Maximum load: 120kg

What We Like

• Comfortable ride for any length of time.
• Light and maneuverable frame.
• Comes fully equipped with lights, pannier frame and bag for commuting. 
• Tyres are slim to handle urban rides, but tough enough to handle rough surfaces. 
• Adjustable front suspension
• Slick – looks more expensive than it actually is.

What We Don’t Like 

• Wheels aren’t quick release.
• If you don’t like to sit up really upright, this ride isn’t for you. 

Our Verdict

This is the perfect, more expensive but versatile all-round hybrid. It ticks all the major boxes and looks great too!

The Winkey Adults Classic Hybrid

The Winkey Adults Classic Hybrid is a durable and stable hybrid bike, and one for a limited budget. The seat is superbly comfortable, cushioned and sprung, providing hours of comfort where you need it. 

Not only that, but it comes with mudguards, a chainguard and a rear pannier already to go. 

The step-through frame offers ease of jumping on and off to avoid traffic delays and help move through heavily congested areas. 

Specs

• Gears: one 

• Frame; 26 inch 

• Frame material: carbon steel 

• Front and rear brakes – V Brake

• Equipment: mudguards front and rear, chainguard and pannier. 

• Load capacity: 100 (kg)

• Wheel Diameter: 70cm

• Seat height: 75-90cm

• Handlebar height: 95-105cm

• Suitable height range: 1.45m-1.75m

What We Like

• Comfortable ride for any length of time.
• Sturdy frame – very well balanced. 
• Comes fully equipped with lights, pannier frame and bag.
• All terrain tyres 
• Comes 95% set up – you only need to adjust the handlebars, seat and pedals.

What We Don’t Like 

• Not an all-round hybrid. Would be heavy going with one gear up steep hills.
• On the heavy side for lifting in and out of trains or mounting on a car rack – steel

Our Verdict

This is the perfect, cheap commuter bike and comes good to go. It wouldn’t do well on rougher terrain and wouldn’t be as much fun to ride up steep hills.

Best for Speed

The Viking Urban S 2019, with its ultra sleek aluminium frame is another great lightweight choice. Speed is the main focus of this design, as the ride position is lower than some of the other hybrid commuter bikes. The low 30mm rise handlebars ensure that you fly past traffic with ease. 

Fitted with 21 gears, different inclines will not limit your speed. Kenda 700 x 38c black trail tyres ensure that this bike copes brilliantly with urban environments and out in the countryside. They are sleek enough for a speedy ride, but offer superb grip.

Specs

• Gears: 21

• Frame: 20 inch 

• Frame material: aluminium 

• Front and rear brakes – discs with Shimano alloy 3 finger brake levers

• Fork: rigid 700c hi-tensile steel unicrown fork

• Shimano EZ-Fire gear shifters

• Shimano TZ31 front derailleur, Altus rear derailleur

• Shimano 7 speed 14-28 tooth freewheel

• KMC chain.

• Wheels: 700 c

• Tyres:  Kenda 700 x 38c black trail

• Steering: Low 30mm rise 600mm handlebars 6 deg bend, alloy ahead stem and Velo comfort grips

• Bike weight: 16kg

• Colour: Blue/Silver

What We Like

• Extremely light and slim frame.
• Tyres are slim to handle urban rides, but tough enough to handle rough surfaces. 
• Great for speed and weaving in and out of tight spots. 
• Responsive disc brakes. 
• Quick release wheels for easy transport, or secure storage. 
• Comes with 4 point pannier bosses and bottle cage bosses – so you can fit a pannier and bottle later.

What We Don’t Like 

• Hard tail and no suspension means that the ride isn’t as bump free as some hybrids. 
• Seat is not the most comfortable. 
• Handlebars will need oiling every so often as they are prone to creak. 

Our Verdict

Best for speed and dodging drivers who get too close. Versatile but may not be as comfortable as others on this list.

Ultra Cheap Budget Option 

Strapped for cash? This little star might be worth a punt. The Barracuda Draco 100 is the one of the cheaper hybrids, offering a basic but perfectly functional ride. 

The padded MTB split saddle, along with an adjustable front suspension fork, offers a superbly comfortable ride for the price.  

Worth a mention also, is that its aluminium frame ensures that you never struggle to lift it in and out of the elevator or train.

Specs

• Frame: Aluminium mtb
• Zoom Suspension Fork
• Shimano 18 Revo shift speed gears
• Frame size – 21 inches. 
• Brake type – V-brakes front and rear 
• Tyres: 26 inches rugged mtb tyres
• Handle type – hi-rise flat bar
• Colour – white and blue. 
• Depth: 72cm
• Height: 140cm
• Width: 20cm
• Weight:15kg

What We Like

• Great basic setup for a low overall price. 
• Responsive brakes. 
• Quality solid fittings for a bargain price. 
• Light enough to move and lift. 
• Easy to lift. 

What We Don’t Like

• May need a trip to the local bike shop to set it up 

Our Verdict

Incredible value for a shoestring budget. This bike will go anywhere and is the ideal starter bike, if you are a super-low budget.

What is a hybrid?

Bikeradar.com summarises this beautifully. 

A hybrid is exactly what it sounds like – a mix of a road bike and a mountain bike. The result is a bicycle that’s suitable for general-purpose riding over various types of terrain, which is why most hybrids tend to be used for commuting.

Source: bikeradar.com

What is the difference between a road bike and a hybrid bike?

Road bikes are the really lightweight bikes with skinny tyres, compact handlebars and high seats. You usually see them ridden in the countryside by enthusiasts.

 Professionals ride them in high level races like the Tour de France.

 The riding position of a road bike tends to be leaning deeply over the handlebars. 

Hybrids have wider, straight handlebars, like mountain bikes.They have thicker tyres than a road bike. 

It helps also to look at the design of a mountain bike. 

What are mountain bikes?

Mountain bikes have thicker frames, tyres and also have the straight handlebars. You will see them ridden off-road, through muddy and rocky terrain.

Is a hybrid or mountain bike better?

If you are looking for a nippy, slim bike that will handle the city commute well, then a hybrid is the choice. Mountain bikes are too wide and won’t be as fast on tarmac.

Hybrids are comfortable enough to ride all day due to the more relaxed upright position than a road bike. 

If your journey or cycle ride involves a few terrains such as tarmac, gravel and some off-road a hybrid bike is perfect as most hybrid frames cushion the ride now. 

Slipping with slimmer tyres is not an issue as most are fitted with resilient all-weather tyres so offer great grip in all conditions. 

Most hybrids either come with the option to fit or fully-fitted mudguards and panniers. Unlike most mountain bikes they offer splash protection for your commute. 

What are mountain bikes used for?

On the other hand, it you are an adrenaline junkie and you are looking to throw yourself down a rough, steep mountain trail, this will be too much for a hybrid. This is where you would choose a mountain bike. Also if you wanted to go seriously off-road in the countryside – no barriers, and return from your ride covered in mud, again a mountain bike would be the option. 

The tyres on a mountain bike offer far superior grip in muddy, wet conditions and the suspension will allow you to get down steep slopes. This is why you see the majority of hybrid bikes don’t need suspension. They don’t have to deal with the extremes of slope and bumpy rides like mountain bikes need to. 

What’s a hybrid bike good for?

Hybrid bikes are brilliant for mixed use riding. So if you need a commuter bike during the week and a tourer during the weekend, a hybrid will do this job. 

As mentioned above, it is not suitable for serious off-road riding. Also it’s worth pointing out that it won’t be as fast as a road bike.

The different options for a hybrid bike

Tyres

You will need to think about what you are going to use your bike for. If you are commuting you want more speed in cycle lanes, so you are generally best opting for a slicker road-tyre. 

A thicker tyre with more tread will provide more grip and comfort if you think you will be travelling over a mixture of surfaces.

Frames

Weight is a major consideration when buying a hybrid.

Do you need to lift the bike on and off a train 4 times a day like I did? Then you will need to go for a lightweight frame.

Aluminium and carbon is lighter, but it’s worth noting that it can be more expensive.

Seat Position 

How do you like to sit?

 Do you like a completely upright position due to back discomfort?

Hybrids have an upright seating position and can vary as to how upright this is. The smaller the distance between the seat post and handlebars, the more upright you will be. 

Seats

Are you considering using this bike for long rides? The seat comfort will make a big difference. Go for a padded, sprung seat if possible.

Although, it’s not expensive to just buy a new more comfortable seat. Try out your bike on a short ride to confirm whether your seat is comfortable. It will become clear within minutes! 

Forks and Suspension

There are different options for the forks (part that holds the wheels).These are rigid, front suspension or full suspension. Suspension is a great addition for when using your hybrid off-road as it soaks up the bumps and lumps of uneven ground.

Front suspension is usually more than enough for a hybrid. Full suspension is better when using a mountain bike on very steep, uneven terrain, where you want good balance. 

Adjustable front suspension is great if you are commuting during the week and bike riding at weekend because you can set to different hardness. 

A rigid frame (without suspension) is fine for commuting.

Conclusion

Purchasing any bike, especially a hybrid, is a big decision. You need to consider not only your budget, but what kind of riding you will be doing and what kind of comfort level you want and need. These bikes offer a lower-priced option. For much less than £500, the Via Vento is a superb hybrid that will give an all-round comfortable experience.  With a bit of class! 

A hybrid is the ultimate cross over between the road bike and a mountain bike. It will give you many more options as your life changes and evolves. Good luck with your decisions!