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Home > Sonoma Men's Chainless Drive Evolution Urban Commuter Bicycle
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Sonoma Men's Chainless Drive Evolution Urban Commuter Bicycle
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Show more by Sonoma
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- Chainless men's bicycle with lightweight aluminum frame and T-shock suspension fork
- D-Drive system eliminates chain and derailleur for low-maintenance, comfortable riding
- Chainless system is quieter, smoother, and lasts longer than traditional chain-driven systems
- Cushioned satin saddle ideal for long rides; front and rear alloy V-brakes
- High-density dual rubber handgrips; lifetime warranty on frame, fork, and D-Drive system
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Product Description:
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Getting around town just got a lot cooler created with a sleek, sporty design, the Sonoma Urban Commuter offers top-quality performance and an easy, comfortable ride. It?s a smart choice whether you?re rushing to the office or taking a relaxing spin on the weekend. No matter what, you're saving gas and reducing carbon emissions. This bike has the features you want and then some. Like all Sonoma chainless bicycles, the Urban Commuter features our exclusive chainless design ? the hottest new trend in cycling. In addition, it also offers an exclusive T shock fork to help ensure a smooth ride, hi-density, dual rubber hand grips that are sturdy on the inside but smooth to the touch, an adjustable, ergonomically designed seat that makes even the longest ride more comfortable, reliable 700c Commuting tires and tubes, a lightweight, durable frame that makes it easy to park at the office or place in the car, and high-performance front and rear alloy V-brakes. Of course, every Sonoma Urban Commuter is manufactured by Dynacraft, a leading manufacturer of bicycles with 25 years of experience. Plus, enjoy a lifetime warranty on the frame and D-drive system and 2-year warranty on all components. The Sonoma Urban Commuter takes advantage of our D-Drive chainless operating system. Because it?s a chainless bicycle, you?ll enjoy a cleaner, quieter ride every time. In addition, the D-Drive Chainless system is protected from the elements by a sealed, self-contained unit. This means you?ll spend less time dealing with maintenance and more time riding. Looking for comfort and style? Then take a close look at the Sonoma Urban Commuter. It?s an easy and fun way to become part of the chainless evolution ? the hottest trend in bicycling today.
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Getting around town just got a lot cooler with the Sonoma Urban Commuter chainless men's bicycle. The bike packs a variety of commute-friendly features into its sleek, sporty body, including a lightweight, durable aluminum frame that's easy to handle and transport, a sophisticated T-shock fork that absorbs bumps, a cushioned satin seat and ergonomically designed handlebars to ensure a comfortable ride, and high-density dual rubber handgrips that are smooth to the touch. 
The bike's chainless D-Drive system eliminates the trouble-causing chain and derailleur. | Sonoma's Chainless D-Drive System It's the low-maintenance chainless design that really stands out, however. Powering the newest trend in chainless bicycling, the chainless D-Drive system replaces the parts of a bike that cause the most problems--the chain and derailleur. In their place, the D-Drive system uses a drive shaft with a fully enclosed bevel gear system to transmit power from the bike pedals to the rear wheel. Shimano internal gears within the rear wheel help the system run smoothly and quietly while optimizing pedal efficiency. At the same time, the Shimano "twist and go" gear system is responsive and easy to use, so you can shift with the flick of a finger. The chainless D-Drive system offers a number of benefits over traditional chain bikes. In addition to delivering a much quieter ride, it keeps you from ruining your favorite clothes while riding to work or getting grease all over your hands while fixing a slipped chain. The D-Drive system is also protected from external elements, so it doesn't require the ongoing cleaning, lubrication, and checkups that a chain-drive bike typically requires. And the internal drive shaft is less likely to sustain damage from falls and road debris, giving it a significantly longer life than a chain. In fact, the D-Drive system carries a warranty that lasts for the life of your bike. Once you experience Sonoma's exclusive D-Drive chainless system, you may never want to ride a chain-driven bicycle again. Other features include a handy carrying rack for running errands, 700c Kenda commuting tires, front and rear alloy V-brakes, and plastic platform pedals. Best of all, everything on the bike is backed by either a two-year or lifetime warranty. A smart choice whether you're rushing to the office or taking a relaxing weekend spin, the Urban Commuter comes in a smoky obsidian color. 
The SL-3S35 shifters are conveniently located and responsive.

The bike includes 700c Kenda commuting tires and double-wall alloy rims. | Specifications
- Color: Smoky obsidian
- Frame: Lightweight 6000 series aluminum
- Fork: RST Trendy T shock fork with pre-load
- Saddle: Custom cushioned satin seat
- Operating system: D-Drive chainless
- Grips: High-density dual rubber
- Rims: 700c x 38c double-wall alloy
- Brakes: Front and rear alloy V-brakes
- Hub: Shimano internal 3-speed gear hub with SL-3S35 shifter
- Pedals: Plastic platform, 9/16 inches, with CPSC reflectors
- Front hubs: MTB type alloy
- Tires: 700c Kenda commuting tires and tubes
- Stand-over height: 28-1/2 inches
- Crank: Shaft drive-type crank and sprocket, alloy crank
- Seat post: Alloy with quick-release adjustment
- Warranties: Lifetime on frame, fork, and D-Drive system, 2 years on all other components
About Dynacraft Bicycles Dynacraft brings families together by providing affordable, high-quality bicycles for everyone in the family, no matter their age. Based in American Canyon, California, Dynacraft imports and distributes such brands as Barbie, Dekra, Hot Wheels, Magna, Malibu, Next, and Rhino. The company's recent innovations include a new state-of-the-art distribution center in Napa, California, that reduces the time it takes to get Dynacraft's bikes to customers' stores. Dynacraft also entered the adult comfort bike segment by introducing the Dekra D-Drive, a chainless three-speed bike specifically designed for pleasure riding.
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Customers' Reviews: Add Your Own Review |
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Hassle free bike - just what I wanted, August 16, 2011
By johnnycab (Chapel Hill, NC United States)
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I am not a bicycle person and haven't owned one in many years. However since I live next to an extensive paved river-trail, I thought it was time to give myself another fitness/transport option.
I had horrible memories of alternately greasy/squeaky/rusty chains and clunking derailleurs; surely there was something simpler? In googling I found this - a bike with a drive shaft.
One of the reviewers mentioned this bike taking *3 hours* to assemble...perhaps theirs came more disassembled than mine. Despite knowing nothing about bikes and not being particularly mechanically inclined, I had mine out of the box and ready to ride in about 20 minutes. All I had to do was put on the front wheel, handlebars, seat, and pedals using the enclosed tools; everything else was fully assembled.
I find the 3 gears perfectly adequate for my uses. Gears 2 and 3 do produce a slight clicking sound while engaged, but the sound is quite a bit less than most squeaky-chain bikes.
Overall I'm very satisfied and would recommend this to anyone in the market for a basic bike with 3 gears and no hassles.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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100 Miles and Enjoying it!, April 10, 2012
By willow
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I just put 100 miles on this bike and have enjoyed it. I regularly commute by bicycle to work (4.5 miles one way). So I have only had the bike a couple months. I like not having to worry about my pant leg getting greasy. Since I pedal to work for exercise and not for the sport of cycling, the fewer gears and other things that could be considered downsides to this bike haven't been missed. It's reliable, cleaner, and I expect will be easier to maintain through the years and last longer despite Tennessee rain. At work I don't have an indoor place to park and it has already seen 1 or 2 rainstorms. After biking home on a wet day, I wipe it all down with a towel and don't feel bad washing the towel with other things because it doesn't get greasy. So far it's been exactly what I hoped for. Now only time will tell if it will exceed my expectations in regards to maintenance and lifespan.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Never going back to chain drive, February 1, 2011
By Ricky D. Peters
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I am very happy with this bike. It is very smooth and easy to ride. I have rode this bike as much as 20 miles in a day and I can say that the quality is great. This bike is solid, when you take it off of a curb you do not hear one rattle. I ride to work in dress pants and love the fact that I don't have to worry about a chain. The pedal area is clean and looks different so I get a lot of people stopping to ask me if it is an electric bike.
This bike is great for someone that likes to cruise around 12 to 15 mph. I can see where some avid bicyclists would not prefer this bike. The drive shaft is not as efficient as a chain and you loose the ability to go faster than 15mph. You can relate it to motorcycles. Shaft driven bikes are quiet and smooth with less maintenance, but never that fast.
There are 2 things I would change on this bike. The first thing was the seat. I know the designers of this bike must have tried to ride this bike for more than 20 minutes and realized the seat sucks. If you buy this bike, expect to purchase a seat. The second thing is the Nexus internal hub. This bike has the potential to be one of the smoothest and quietest bikes on the market. The drawback is the Nexus hub. When you are in any gear other than first, the hub has a constant ticking sound. It does not bother my friends that tested it. My recommendation is for Sonoma to look into the NuVinciŽ Smooth Cruise CVP(tm). The price would go up a little, but this would be smoothest and quietest set up possible.
Update: I overtorqued a bolt and stripped a piece on the Shimano Nexus shifter. I called customer service and they did not hesitate to ship me a new one even though it may have been my fault. I think they have the best customer service of any company I have dealt with.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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I love this bike, but..., May 7, 2012
By Adam
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After a lot of back and forth with myself, I finally decided to get this bike. I wanted something I could ride the 4 miles to work without getting my dress pants dirty and to go on rides around the neighborhood and in the forest. I put it together myself (I'm notoriously bad at mechanical things), which wasn't much of a ordeal. Personally, I think this bike looks GOOD. It's got a nice dark grey, and even the rims look cool.
On my first test ride, I noticed that there was a clicking in second and third gears. I wasn't sure if this was normal or not, so I called their customer service line. They probably have the most customer friendly customer service I've ever had to call, and the rep told me she didn't think the clicking was normal, so she sent me a new rear rim free of charge.
Unfortunately... the rim she sent me wasn't for my bike, so I called back, and got the same rep (!!). I think she even remembered me. She ended up putting me on hold and checking with some other folks. When she got back to me, she told me this model has been discontinued, and in order to send me the proper part, they had to contact their factory in China to see if one could be built for me (again, free of charge). If they couldn't get me the part, she offered to give me a full refund. She called me back several times that afternoon to double check on details. She even told me not to inconvenience myself by sending the incorrect part back. I cannot stress how awesome this lady was.
Now, I'm not sure that this clicking noise is actually a problem or not. Other reviews have mentioned the same thing. I took the bike for a long ride and had no problems. It shifts clean and rides smooth. You won't get the power of a chain bike, but the benefits of this shaft driven bike outweigh that in my opinion. This thing rides great, and I even find the seat comfortable. I'm not sure how things are going to turn out, or if I even need a replacement wheel, but I'm nothing but satisfied with my experience so far. The next time I talk to the customer service rep, I'm going to bring this up. I'll update this review as that all plays out.
So all in all, would I recommend this bike? Right now, the answer is "yes" but with one important cavat. The model of this bike that Amazon sells has been discontinued, so getting parts may prove difficult. I'm unsure if Sonoma sells an updated model direct, but if you're looking at this bike, I'd recommend calling them and asking.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Great entry level bike, May 1, 2012
By Anasaurus (SF, CA)
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I got the bike assembled at a bike shop. I'm not a bike expert and wanted to make sure it was professional put together with everything calibrated before evaluating the bike.
I've been riding the bike for a couple of days. It's extremely smooth and should be fully assembled in under an hour if you know what you're doing.
It's extremely smooth and quiet when riding it. There's a light clicking sound when you're walking it next to you but it's still much better then a chain bike. The Chainless drive system keeps your clothes clean but I've found my pants frequently tugging on part of the crank. Unless you wear slim/skinny jeans you'll probably want to cuff them or something.
You should know that chain bikes are more effective in terms of power conversion, you can go faster on a chain bike with less effort so you won't be racing in this one. I basically bought this bike for exercise and a daily 10K commute in the city. I don't need to race on this thing and for exercise purposes the power loss due to the the gearing system is actually a feature.
It's not heavy but it's not feather light either.
Great quality for the price. I highly recommend it if it fits your particular needs.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Well I Bought It !!!, April 29, 2012
By BILZOD (Fort Myers, Florida)
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I am a 60 year old guy who bought a beach bike as an excercise vehicle but realized one gear does not do it even on flat ground due to wind ...etc....but 21 gears .......give me a break.....The Bike looks cool and rides cool. I did buy it for the no chain thing and also the rear carrier that comes with it. Beware if your are a short guy like me the fitting is on the seat bar which limits the ability to lower the seat to Short Guy comfort...Net Net I threw it away and bought a rack that does not use the seat bar......Overall I enjoy this bike....I am sure there are better as this is a China Product sorry USA ....I must also say I listened to other reviews and bought the Cloud 9 seat( $30 more) but it is worth it ..........BYE !!!
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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weekly 30 min, March 19, 2011
By F. Sallai (SF Bay, CA, USA)
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I use it not for commute but for a ride to the gym/po box and home. Not as easy to ride as my former sportsbike. I bought this for being chainless - my son is 2 and he does play with the tires/chain. For that I keep the stars. He does not like riding in the chair I bought extra...
Pros:
- chainless (yep, that is good)
- not too expensive (same price items are not any better)
- easy to assemble (but spend 3-4 hours with it)
Cons:
- not exactly light, see specs on the producer website.
- one size fits all (I think it is 28)
- 3 speed is not as smooth as claimed (one speed is like jumping 2-3 on the chain bikes, so like a 7 speed bike with skipping gear)
all in all, for the price it is convenient. Get an air pump for the car, that will pump the bike ( I bought one CLT adapter size, portable)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Shaft Drive Awesome, May 30, 2011
By modestdmz
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Best bike I ever owned. It's great that you don't have to worry about getting grease on your clothes. Use it to commute to work and back home.
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Awesome!, October 25, 2011
By Songleader
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After several years getting greasy fixing chains - often on the trail or road in the heat of the day - I was excited to come across a shaft-drive bike. The Sonoma Urban Commuter, while priced considerably less than several of the chain-driven bikes I was considering, has proven to be an excellent choice. The shaft drive is smooth, the riding position is comfortable for long rides.
I only gave four stars because of the seat. After one ride, I replaced the seat with my own comfort seat of choice, which resulted in a much more comfortable ride.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Good but not great, October 17, 2011
By K. Osis
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The bike is fun and easy to use. However, there was some assembly required. Also, the parts are not for the highest quality but acceptable.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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