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July 14, 2011
PUBLIC M8 City Bike Review
The PUBLIC M8 was designed to reflect the classic 1960s and 1970s Parisian “mixte” bicycle.
Reviewed by Chaidi Lobato
Price: $995 USD | $1,280 CAD
Find it at: publicbikes.com
The PUBLIC M8 came to me almost completely assembled. They provided official PUBLIC tools (even the wrench was designed with thoughtful branding), an assembly manual and touch-up paint. A lady or man with only a little bike knowledge can put it together in 15-20 minutes. It comes equipped with a Shimano Nexus Inter-8 Revoshift twist shifter and weighs 31.7 pounds (14.4 kilograms).
Pros
The PUBLIC M8 was designed to reflect the classic 1960s and 1970s Parisian “mixte” bicycle. I love that it looks vintage, but is engineered with all new technology. It has a designer style, elegant details and is very unique compared to any other bike on the road. It has tri-colored stripes on the fork, simplistic typographic elements that decorate the frame and it comes in four funky vintage colors: cream, powder blue, orange and chartreuse. As for the way it performs, the eight gears are easy to shift with just a twist of the handle. It appears to be a one-speed since the cog/ gears are hidden. It is super lightweight and tackles steep hills with ease.
Cons
In my opinion, there are zero cons with the PUBLIC M8.
Ideal Rider
It is the perfect commuter bike for the modern chick or guy on the go.
Overall
I love the way it screams stylish and rides like a street bike. The steel frame will last a lifetime if taken care of properly and is “guaranteed for life” on PUBLIC’s website.
3 Comments
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There is one con, the price. $1000 for an eight speed bike on the heavier side? I understand and like the concept of a simple city bike but the price point for what you get with the M8 seems a little ridiculous. Plus I believe you’re paying that $1000 listed price no discounted MSRP.
Good point, Everett. We completely agree and have amended the story to reflect the fact that the PUBLIC M8, along with other mixtes, are designed for men as well as women. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Mixtes have traditionally been considered unisex bikes (hence the name; roughly French for “unisex”); it is only in the US more recently that they have only been relegated to female riders. I keep one around to my guests to use, be they male or female. Honestly, I also ride it a bit too.
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