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Home > Cadillac Fleetwood Cruiser Bike (26-Inch Wheels)
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Cadillac Fleetwood Cruiser Bike (26-Inch Wheels)
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Show more by Cadillac
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- NuVinci Smooth Cruise Seamless Shifting System
- Aluminum Frame
- 26" x 2.125" Black Tires
- Very comfortable, gel memory foam saddle
- Rear disc brakes, along with front
- &
- rear fenders
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Product Description:
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Cadillac Fleetwood Cruiser features the innovative NuVinci seamless ultra smooth shifting system. This bike was developed in response to customers that love our cruiser but wanted the ability to ride in places that were not flat. This results in a bike that is much easier to shift than other derailleur base shifting systems. There are no derailleurs or clicks in the shifter! Simply twist the shifter to your desired resistance and you are set! This is designed so that non bikers can easily become familiar with it. All of this technology is wrapped around a hand crafted light weight aluminum frame. Beach communities will appreciate the rust proof chain and compliment of stainless steel and aluminum components. The Fleetwood Cruiser never forgets that it is a Cadillac and promised to deliver a smooth and comfortable ride, thanks to its renowned memory foam saddle and upright riding position. Lifetime warranty on the frame and a one-year warranty on parts. Customer care at 1-800-451-5368 (or) www.kentbicycles.com
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Customers' Reviews:
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 Great Bike, December 24, 2010
By Chuck
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This is great bike,perfect for commuting,work,shopping,or just getting the heart rate up,I am 60 years old and having a blast,only one problem less than a mile the rear tire went flat do to metal chips inside the rime replace with a heavy duty tube also replace the frount tire tube with the same otherwise great bike, hey what do you expect its a cadillac
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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 Bad Product, Even Worse Company (Kent), June 27, 2011
By dieu (USA)
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Received it on Friday, boxed it up on Sunday, and returned it on Monday. According to Fallbrook (NuVinci), Kent used a defective component (freewheel) that caused/causes a "clunking" sensation during pedaling. Prior to making this purchase, I contacted Kent and they made no such admission. As soon as I assembled the bicycle, I took it for a test drive. Sure as it was stated in an earlier review, the clunking began. The clunking was so loud and bothersome that you could feel the vibration through the down tube of the frame. Immediately, I searched the Internet and was shocked to discover that this phenomenon is well documented in the Fallbrook (manufactures of the NuVinci hub) forums. In fact, Fallbrook has a "kit" that they have sent out to those experiencing this problem. However, this is a Kent issue as they are the manufacturer of the Cadillac Fleetwood bicycle. Unfortunately, their website is devoid of any information relating to this problem. Nevertheless, I immediately sent an email to both Kent and Fallbrook (NuVinci), only to receive a response from Fallbrook this afternoon. Not a peep from Kent. As a side note, I can affirm that the ineffectual braking does exist as noted in an earlier post. Regardless of how you adjust the tension of the cable, the disc brake is ineffective and can certainly pose a safety hazard in the event you need to stop quickly, i.e., a car pulls in front of you. Fallbrook was kind and offered to do whatever necessary to remedy the problem. However, as the damage was done, I was not interested in disassembling the rear wheel due to my frustration with Kent's failure to acknowledge the problem(s) with their assembly and or quality control. This was/is Kent's problem and they failed miserably. Those that are curious may want to visit Fallbrook's support forum. Therein, you will see quite a bit of discussion regarding the "clicking" issue.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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 Nice Cruiser with a couple problems, April 20, 2011
By Paul (Rockaway NJ)
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Received quickly and well packaged. Relatively easy to put together. Looks awesome.
It took awhile to figure out that the rear brake assembly was not bolted tightly to frame. While trying to secure the brake assembly and adjust the brakes, I realized that a bolt washer was touching the brake rotor. This was causing the rear wheel to not spin freely. Since you can't remove the washer, I used a dremel to grind down the washer on one side. The other problem was the front tire had a buldge on side. I called Kent International and they offered to send me a new tire, but since I live near their Headquarters in Parsippany NJ, I was able to drop off the rim and they replaced the tire for me. Paul at Kent was great in providing the technical assistance I needed to adjust the brakes and replaced the tire.
The bike rides very nice and the Nuvinci shifter works great. Overall it appears to be a very high quality bike with great customer support from Kent International.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Excellent ride....with modifications., July 17, 2011
By BLACK ARK (Norfolk, VA. USA)
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I trolled the net looking for a Beach Cruiser that pretty much ranks out of the box instead of plopping down aimless dollars at a bike shop. This one popped up everywhere I looked with a few others coming close for half the price. I read these reviews up here prior to purchasing, so I called Fallbrook and Kent to discuss the "clicking" noise associated with the freewheel Kent provides to mate with the NuVinci hub, after a week and a half of peddling, it started clicking, but I immediately recognized it as the rear axle slipping at the gear to slack the chain. A quick readjustment made that go away instantly, so I guess Kent was correct in stating that they sell more of this model without problems than ones that do (please don't ask how that statement closes a deal, I just let them know if it clicks, I'll be calling immediately for tech support on the issue). The ride is superb. I also purchased a Burley Encore for my son to roll along behind me and the experience is just what I wanted for him: Cruising without problems. Now, on to the much needed and immediate mods:
1. The tires are cheap. I've seen bikes cost $1K or better in the shops without the fancy NuVinci hub, but for $600, I rapidly arrived at the notion that I'm paying for that nice frame and hub, everything else is the cheapest wholesale parts available, shined up or painted black to match. There was finely ground glass on the street and my bike happened to ride over it. 20min later....flat. I inspected the tire only to find a microscopic shard less than 5mm. For a beachcruiser tire, this was a travesty.
2. The disc brake will get you killed. Like the reviews before, an eraser on paper provides more braking power. There was no way in hell my son was going to get hooked up to my bike with his trailer with the disc brake the way it was out the box. My local bike shop adjusted it for free and it stops on a dime and works excellently now. With the adjustment, I can't tell the difference between the disc and a quality caliper brake. The bike comes with a detailed sheet solely for the disc brake system, but the average rider would look at this and still would want to go get it professionally adjusted.
3. The front sprocket is way too small. Even the bike shop looked at it and couldn't believe how a bike so big has that tiny sprocket. At full burn, a tired 2nd grader could still outrun me on this thing, so don't get any grand delusions of escaping a pack of wild dogs, just lay the bike down and run instead. Definite upgrade needed in that department.
4. The handlebars are of the wishbone variety. This totally pissed me off. An 18" frame is usually aimed at men of a certain height and build if I'm correct. With the stock handlebars, I felt like I was steering a kiddie bike, I think the manufacturer was trying to influence me subconsciously to attach some bright pink streamers. Negative. This was my first upgrade. Now it feels like a real cruiser, not to mention I don't feel like my hands are about to fly off. To me, I considered the stock handlebars to be a steering hazard. I'm 6'4".
5. Cheap paint job. This thing is a scratch/chip magnet. I do auto art from time to time, so when she gets too bad, I'll strip it down and do a proper job myself.
Other than these issues and a few more personal upgrades, this is still an excellent ride. Just have a mind to do the mods and upgrades to adjust it to your liking, and you'll have a bike that I would say is easily worth $1K alone.
It's a pretty bike, if you don't already own a lock, get one when you purchase this also. It will outshine other bikes at the bike rack upon arrival.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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 Rides like a Cadillac..., December 8, 2011
By Gear Freak (USA)
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Yes, there was a "clunking" in the freewheel, but then I bought the special NuVinci(tm) brand freewheel removal tool and changed it to a cheap $14 shimano, and that was the beginning...
Okay, I had to do a LOT to get this bike going, but once I did, it was a mighty darn fine ride! It took a LOT though.
The bike is made by KENT, in China. Kent makes children's bikes in department stores. I paid $400 with free shipping, straight from the Cadillac Bikes site a few years ago - they said they were closing them out and I thought that subsidiary went under, but anyway... I thought it was a good deal at that price, because I was really interested in that NuVinci N171 (the original, made in Kentuky, USA) hub, but I could write a novel about that alone.
At that time, the hub was selling for nearly that much alone, so it was like getting a free frame and fork and grips, etc.
The reason I like the frame is because it supports a rear disc, and has 135mm O.L.D. at the rear drop outs, making it compatible with MTB hubs. For being aluminum, the frame was very comfortable, probably because of the long wheelbase, but it was the most comfortable aluminum frame I've ever ridden.
It takes a 27.2mm seatpost, so I upgraded to a 350mm long seatpost, and a proper (narrow) saddle. This bike measures like an 18" Surly frame, with slacker geometry, which also helped the smooth ride. I raised that saddle to the proper height, and I had to change out the seatpost clamp to something better. Basically, all I kept was the frame and fork, because the NuVinci was too heavy and had a lot of "drag" and I battled with so many issues before that hub ran smoothly. I had to grease the outside of it up, to stop it from squeaking, where the disc break adapter fitted in a poor design flaw. I removed the NuVinci and put in a Shimano Nexus 7. Much lighter now, with a lot less drag, and man, this thing was fast!
I left the fenders on, because they look cool as heck, and they're really wide, like three inches wide, I'm guessing. The "bobbed" design of the short fenders looks great, and makes removing the rear wheel easy, because it's not in the way at all, but I tested in rain, and these fenders do absolutely nothing in terms of weather protection. Freezing cold rain instantly soaked my backside, and it was a miserable ride home that day.
The chain guard was nice to keep my pants from chainsuck, but the bottom bracket isn't a "normal" size, for the nicer components, so I had to leave that loose ball bearing bottom bracket alone. It's old school, the kind where you grease it. The headset is Cannondale sized, like 1 1/4" with a reducer to a 1 1/8" threaded headset. Yes, you read that right. One and one-eighth inch threaded, with an adjustable quill stem. Of course I had to replace that stem, because it was so loose and creaky, and when you stood up and torqued on the bars up a hill, it felt like it was going to snap and there was a lot of play.
Oh, and the handlebars were instantly swapped to flat bars, MTB style. The entire ergonomics changed from cruiser to urban destroyer, but still looked like a cruiser, it was actually really awesome.
No, I don't think it's worth $600, because the only usable parts (for me) was the frame, fork, headset, and bottom bracket, chainring and cranks, that's what I used, anyway. I think the cranks were 170mm, but I can't be sure now, pretty sure though. If you want it for the NuVinci, that's going to need some work, and I still have that tool, and I'll help you if you bring it over, but seriously, there are MUCH better options out there for much less, from REAL bike companies, like the Bianchi Milano with a Shimano Alfine 8speed internal gear hub, or "IGH", or even REI has some I think, but anything but this, unless you have a lot of extra parts lying around and you just have to have this body style, and you want to play around with the older NuVinci N171 hub, that ways almost twice as much as the new N360 hubs, but the new ones are build overseas, while this old one was built in Kentucky. It really dragged a lot and made riding a bike way too much work. Maybe in a motorized situation, or some other creative venture, but not for pedaling. It made cycling boring, because I'd be working too hard, for not enough reward. Reward being wind in my face, at the minimum.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Nice, but with qualifications, June 6, 2011
By like to ride (Pacific NW)
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I like to bike ride but got tired of sore wrists and numb hands from body forward riding position on my 700c hybrid, my wife has a 15 year old Schwinn Cruiser-6 which is heavy but comfortable and easy to ride so I decided to buy a cruiser bike to save my hands and wrists. I wanted to avoid dealing with derailleur shifter adjustment and wanted to stay away from cheap derailleur components on discount store bikes. I did check one bike shop - no cruiser bikes.
Nice looking and smooth riding bike. The nuvinci hub is a nice touch, the lowest ratio will take me up pretty steep hills while the high end ratio is faster than this bike should probably go with the inadequate rear brake. I like both the range and the infinite adjustment between high and low. It shifts easily when not peddling and easy enough when peddling lightly. My rides are from 5 to 12 miles and this bike is comfortable for that distance.
Be aware:
It is heavy due to the nuvinci hub.
The hub (or something in that area) makes a clicking nose under hard peddling but it doesn't seem to affect function.
The rear disc brake is inadequate for me. It wouldn't even stop the bike on downhill paths when new and even now broken in it is an unpleasant experience to try to stop with any urgency. I couldn't find a caliper brake to fit over the front fender and sending Kent a message was a waste of time, they simply replied that the rear caliper brake is adequate for this bike, which it isn't unless I rode really slow on flat paths only.
The rear brake caliper was completely out of adjustment when the bike was received . The caliper was too far inboard for the disc even at the limit of adjustment. As one of the other two reviewers noted a washer on the caliper rubbed the disc because of this problem. I put a 3/32" washer between the dropout and the inner axle nut which moved the caliper outboard from the disc enough to properly adjust the brake and stop the disc rubbing on the washer. A message to Kent about this (along with the lack of front brake issue) just resulted in a reply that they would have done the same thing - still not acceptable out of the box to have to do something like this.
The stand over height is 32" if I recall correctly, this might be an issue for shorter riders or those with shorter legs.
I think this bike is out of production and has been for a year or more.
Overall I'm glad to have it but I still need to find a front brake to make it safe.
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