The Coolest Beach Cruiser E-Bike? Around the Block 500W Electric Cruiser: A Full Ride-Along Review

Meet the Around the Block

Some electric bikes try to be everything at once. They pile on suspension forks, fat knobby tires, and racing geometry, and somewhere along the way they forget that most people just want to ride around the neighborhood, feel good doing it, and never worry about tipping over at a stop sign. The Around the Block 500W 7-Speed from sixthreezero goes the other direction. It is an electric beach cruiser at heart, and almost every design decision on it points back to one idea: make riding feel easy and natural for as many people as possible.

We took the bike out for a ride-along to see how that idea holds up off the showroom floor. The route had a little of everything: a packed-dirt path with dips and ruts, a bike lane alongside traffic, a hill that would make plenty of riders on a regular cruiser hop off and walk, and a few tight turns. Our rider weighs 230 pounds, which matters, because a cruiser that feels breezy for a lighter rider can feel sluggish for a heavier one. If you have been browsing electric beach cruisers and wondering how they actually behave on real streets, this walkthrough should help.

What follows covers the bike's design, starting with its unusual pedal placement, and then moves through the ride itself: the throttle, the pedal assist, the gears, the tires, the climb, and the brakes. Along the way we'll talk about who this bike suits best and who might be happier with something else. The goal isn't to sell you on it. The goal is to give you a clear picture of what it's like to sit on, pedal, and live with.

Before anyone rides a cruiser, they look at it, and the Around the Block gives you a lot to look at. The full lineup includes jade, straw, cream, periwinkle, matte black, steel cloud, teal, mint green, and lilac. Lined up side by side in the shop, the bikes look less like a product range and more like a row of beach houses painted by different neighbors who all have good taste.

The details go beyond the frame paint. Several colorways pair the frame with offset rims, so you'll see black rims on some models and cream rims on the steel cloud version. That contrast is a small thing, but it's the kind of small thing that makes a bike look finished rather than generic. The rear racks are color-matched to each colorway as well, which keeps the whole bike reading as one design instead of a frame with parts bolted on.

Why does this matter on an electric bike? Because the bikes people actually ride are the ones they like. A bike you're excited to look at in the garage is a bike you take out on a Tuesday evening when you otherwise might have stayed in. Cruisers have always been about style as much as transportation, and the Around the Block leans into that tradition. The rear rack isn't just decoration, either. It gives you a place to strap a bag, mount a basket, or carry a few things home from the market.

If you're picking between colors, think about where you'll ride. Lighter shades like cream, straw, and mint green have that classic boardwalk feel, while matte black and steel cloud look a bit more understated in a city setting. There's no wrong answer, and since the frame geometry and components are the same across the lineup, you can pick purely on taste. You can also add matching touches from the sixthreezero baskets lineup if you plan to carry things regularly.

The single most important design feature on this bike is one you might not notice at first glance. Look at where the pedals sit relative to the seat. On a traditional bike, the crank sits more or less directly below the saddle. On the Around the Block, the pedals have been moved forward by about seven inches.

That might sound like a minor adjustment, but it changes the whole relationship between your body and the bike. When the pedals sit right under the seat, the only way to get full leg extension is to raise the seat high. A high seat means that when you stop, you either tilt the bike over or perch on your toes. Plenty of riders, especially newer riders or anyone who's had a fall, find that moment at a stop to be the most nerve-racking part of cycling.

Moving the pedals forward breaks that trade-off. Because your legs now reach forward and down instead of straight down, you can lower the seat closer to the ground and still get proper leg extension on each pedal stroke. You keep the efficient, comfortable pedaling motion, and you gain the ability to put your feet down flat when you stop. That's often described as a flat-foot design, and once you've ridden a bike set up this way, it's hard to go back.

It's worth being clear about what proper leg extension means. You want a slight bend at the knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke, not a locked-out leg and not a deeply bent one. Too much bend wears out your knees and makes pedaling feel inefficient, which is why people raise their seats in the first place. The forward-pedal layout lets you get that slight bend without lifting the seat into a position where your feet dangle at stops. Comfort and control end up on the same side of the ledger instead of competing with each other.

Talk to people who stopped riding bikes as adults and a surprising number will tell you the same story. They didn't stop because they lost interest. They stopped because something about the bike made them feel unsure. Maybe the seat felt too high. Maybe they wobbled when starting from a stop. Maybe they had one awkward moment at an intersection and never quite trusted the bike again.

A lower seat speaks directly to that hesitation. When you can rest both feet on the ground while seated, a stop becomes a non-event. You pull up, you put your feet down, and you're stable. You don't have to hop forward off the saddle or lean the bike to one side. When it's time to go, you start from a planted, balanced position rather than a precarious one.

This is especially valuable on an electric bike. E-bikes are heavier than standard bikes because of the motor and battery, and that extra weight is something you feel most when you're stopped or moving slowly. Being able to steady the bike with flat feet makes that weight much easier to manage. It's also why the forward-pedal design shows up so often on bikes aimed at older riders and anyone getting back into cycling after a long break.

If you're shopping for a parent or for yourself and stability is the top priority, it's worth comparing this bike to others in the electric bikes for seniors collection. Riders who want even more stability may also look at three-wheel options. But for someone who wants the feel and freedom of a two-wheeler with more confidence at stops, the low-seat approach on the Around the Block is a big step in the right direction.

Step-through frames are common on cruisers, but not all step-throughs are created equal. On most bikes, the lowest point of the frame lines up roughly with the crank. That puts a natural floor on how low the step-through can go, because the frame tube has to clear the bottom bracket area.

The Around the Block takes a different route. The step-through tube actually dips lower than the crank. That's an unusual choice, and it brings the step-through height down to about ten and a half inches. In practical terms, that means you barely have to lift your foot to get onto the bike. You walk up, swing a foot over a very low bar, and you're on. It really is a simple step-through, pun fully intended.

Who benefits from this? Anyone with stiff hips, sore knees, or limited flexibility will notice the difference immediately. Swinging a leg over a high top tube or even a mid-height step-through can be a real hurdle on a bad day. Riders who like to wear skirts or dresses benefit too. So does anyone who just doesn't want to think about getting on and off the bike, which, honestly, is most of us.

Mounting and dismounting is also where a lot of falls happen, especially with heavier e-bikes. A frame that lets you step through without balancing on one leg removes a common point of risk. Combined with the low seat, the result is a bike that's easy to get on, easy to get off, and stable when you're standing still. If step-through access is high on your list, the full range of electric step-thru bikes is worth browsing so you can compare frame heights across models.

There's a second, less obvious reason the pedals sit where they do, and it has to do with turning. Any time you lower a bike's frame and seat, you risk lowering the pedals too. Low pedals can catch the ground when you lean into a turn, and a pedal strike at speed is an unpleasant surprise that can throw you off balance.

On the Around the Block, the pedals have been moved forward and positioned to keep ample clearance from the ground. So even though you're sitting low and the step-through dips under the crank, you can make sharp turns without the pedal scraping the pavement. If the pedals had simply been dropped along with everything else, you'd hit the ground on a tight corner. The design solves the low-seat problem without creating a new one.

This matters more than people expect. Neighborhood riding involves a lot of turning: pulling into driveways, rounding corners, weaving around parked cars, and swinging into bike lanes. On our ride, slipping from the path into the bike lane required a quick turn, and the bike handled it without any drama. You don't have to consciously think about holding the inside pedal up on every corner, though it's still a good habit on any bike when you're coasting through a sharp turn.

The broader lesson here is that good cruiser design is a balancing act. Lowering the seat, lowering the frame, and keeping the pedals clear of the ground all pull in slightly different directions. The Around the Block manages all three, and the forward pedal position is the piece that makes the whole arrangement work.

Once you're on the bike and rolling, the first thing you notice is the posture. Your back is upright. Your arms are relaxed rather than stretched forward. Your hands rest comfortably on swept-back handlebars. It's the classic cruiser position, and there's a reason it has stayed popular for decades: it's simply comfortable.

Compare that to a road bike or even many hybrids, where you lean forward with weight on your hands and wrists. That posture is efficient for speed, but it puts pressure on your lower back, shoulders, neck, and hands. Riders with back trouble or wrist pain often find forward-leaning bikes uncomfortable after just a few miles. The cruiser position spreads your weight onto the saddle and keeps your spine in a more natural line.

There's also a visibility benefit. Sitting upright, you see more of what's around you and drivers see more of you. Your head is higher and your field of view is wider, which helps in a bike lane or at an intersection. It feels less like you're tucked down on a machine and more like you're out for a stroll that happens to be on wheels.

Our rider described it as feeling just like a regular bike, and that's high praise for an e-bike. Some electric bikes feel like a different vehicle entirely, with heavy steering or odd proportions. The Around the Block feels familiar, which makes it a comfortable choice for people who want electric help without a learning curve. If upright comfort is your top priority, the comfort electric bikes collection gathers other models built around the same idea.

On the left side of the handlebar sits a throttle. Press it, and the bike moves forward without you pedaling at all. It's a simple feature, but it changes how you can use the bike in a few important ways.

The most common use is getting started from a stop. Even with seven gears and pedal assist, the first few pedal strokes from a standstill are the hardest part of riding, especially on a heavier bike or a slight incline. A quick press of the throttle gets you rolling, and once you have momentum you can start pedaling and let the assist take over. That's exactly how our rider got going: level one pedal assist, a press of the throttle, and off he went.

The throttle is also handy for crossing an intersection quickly, getting out of a tricky spot, or giving your legs a short break on a long ride. If you're recovering from an injury or managing joint pain, knowing you can let the motor do the work for a moment can be the difference between riding and staying home. You don't have to use it, but it's there when you want it.

One practical tip: spend a few minutes getting used to the throttle in an empty parking lot or a quiet street before heading out in traffic. Throttles respond quickly, and it helps to learn how much push gives you how much speed. Once you've got a feel for it, it becomes second nature. Throttle laws vary by location, so it's worth checking local rules for e-bikes where you ride. Our eBike advice articles cover a lot of these everyday questions.

While the throttle gets you moving without effort, pedal assist is where most of your riding will happen. With pedal assist, the motor adds power while you pedal, scaling its help to the level you choose. Lower levels give a gentle nudge, and higher levels give a stronger push. You're always pedaling, but how hard it feels is up to you.

The Around the Block also has a seven-speed derailleur, and that pairing is one of its most underrated features. Many riders assume that once a bike has a motor, gears don't matter much. In practice, they matter a lot. Gears let you match your pedaling cadence to your speed, so your legs spin at a comfortable rhythm whether you're cruising along a flat path or working up a slope. Pedal assist adds power. Gears make that power feel smooth.

During the ride, our tester started in level one, used the throttle to get rolling, and then shifted the derailleur up into seventh gear. Even in level one, the highest gear, he moved along at a good pace. Bumping the assist to level two picked things up further. That's a useful lesson: you don't need to crank the assist to the max to get a pleasant ride. Low assist with the right gear often feels best, and it stretches your battery further too.

This combination also makes the Around the Block a good choice for people who like to pedal under their own power. Because the geometry is comfortable and the gears are real, you can ride it in a low assist level, or even with the motor off, and still enjoy it. That's not true of every e-bike. Some feel heavy and awkward without motor help. This one was designed so the pedaling experience stands on its own.

Spec sheets only tell part of the story. A bike that feels lively for a 140-pound rider may feel very different for someone heavier, and plenty of riders want to know how an e-bike handles a real adult body on real roads. Our tester weighs 230 pounds, which made this ride a useful check.

With assist in level two and the derailleur in seventh, the cadence felt good. Pedaling wasn't tiring, and the bike kept a steady pace. When he wanted an easier pedal stroke, he could shift down. Dropping into a lower gear made pedaling lighter, at the cost of a slightly slower pace. That's how gears are supposed to work, and it means riders of different strength levels can tune the bike to their comfort instead of being locked into one feel.

The ride passed a big truck and some car traffic in the bike lane, and the bike felt composed throughout. Stability with a heavier rider depends on several things: frame stiffness, tire width, the riding position, and how the motor delivers power. On all those fronts, the Around the Block felt planted. There was no twitchy steering and no sense that the bike was being pushed past its comfort zone.

Top speed on the Around the Block reaches up to 20 miles per hour with motor help, and during the ride the display showed the bike cruising in the low twenties at one point on a flat stretch. For most neighborhood riding, that's plenty. Many riders spend most of their time well below top speed, enjoying the scenery, and appreciate knowing there's more available when they need to keep up with traffic in a bike lane or make it across a long stretch.

Tire width doesn't get much attention in casual bike shopping, but it has a big effect on how a bike feels. The Around the Block rolls on 2.125-inch tires, and that number sits in a useful middle ground.

Go too thin, and a tire won't absorb bumps well. You'll feel every crack in the pavement, and the bike will feel less stable, especially at low speeds. Thin tires also have less contact with the ground, which reduces the sense of balance that so many cruiser riders are looking for. Go too wide, into fat-tire territory, and you gain cushioning and grip but add weight and rolling resistance. The 2.125-inch width gives you a comfortable, balanced ride without making the bike feel sluggish.

The tires also have tread with some grooves and creases, and that helped on the packed-dirt section of our ride. The path had dips and ruts, and the bike handled them comfortably. Once the trail firmed up into hard-packed surface, the tires rolled smoothly and quietly. You wouldn't take this bike on a technical mountain trail, but for park paths, gravel shoulders, beach walkways, and cracked city streets, it handles things well.

If you ride mostly on soft sand or loose surfaces, a fat-tire model may suit you better, and you can compare options in the fat tire electric bikes collection. For mixed neighborhood riding, though, the Around the Block's tires strike a good balance. When the time comes to replace them, sixthreezero sells replacement tires and tubes so you can keep the bike rolling the way it did on day one.

Hills are where electric bikes earn their keep. Any cruiser can roll along a flat beach path, but traditional cruisers, with their upright posture and comfort-first gearing, can be tough going up a steep grade. That's often the moment people decide cycling isn't for them anymore.

On the ride, the route turned toward what our tester called a pretty substantial incline. On a standard single-speed cruiser, it's the kind of hill that has people standing on the pedals or getting off to walk. On the Around the Block, he barely had to exert himself. The pedal assist added power, the gears kept his cadence comfortable, and the bike just walked up the hill without drama.

This is the real promise of an electric cruiser. You keep the relaxed riding position, the easy step-through, and the comfortable geometry, and you lose the main drawback, which is struggling on climbs. Neighborhoods with rolling hills suddenly become open territory. Routes you used to avoid start to look appealing. Rides that used to end with you exhausted now end with you wanting to go a bit farther.

A tip for hills: shift to an easier gear before the climb starts rather than halfway up. Shifting under heavy load is harder on the drivetrain and can feel clunky. Drop a gear or two as you approach the slope, bump up the assist level if you need it, and keep a steady cadence. If you lose momentum entirely, the throttle can help you restart from a standstill on the incline, which is a big help for anyone who struggles to get going uphill.

What goes up must come down, and after the climb we circled back down the hill to test the brakes. The Around the Block uses disc brakes front and rear, and that's a meaningful upgrade over the coaster brakes or rim brakes you'll find on many traditional cruisers.

Disc brakes clamp a rotor mounted at the wheel hub rather than squeezing the rim. That gives you stronger, more consistent stopping power, and it holds up better in wet conditions, when rim brakes can lose bite. On an e-bike, which is heavier and can travel faster than a standard cruiser, reliable brakes aren't a luxury. They're a necessity. Having discs on both wheels means you can stop smoothly and with control, even going downhill with a heavier rider on board.

Coming down the hill, the brakes felt confident. Our tester pulled up to a smooth stop without the bike lurching or skidding. Pair that with the low seat and flat-foot design, and you have a bike that's easy to bring to a stop and easy to stand over once you've stopped. That full sequence, braking, stopping, and planting your feet, is where many riders feel least secure, and the Around the Block handles all three well.

A word on technique: use both brakes together, with a bit more pressure on the front, and squeeze progressively rather than grabbing. The front brake does most of the stopping work, but slamming it can unsettle the bike. Smooth, even pressure gives you the best stopping power and keeps the bike stable. Like the throttle, it's worth practicing your braking in a quiet area until it feels automatic.

If the Around the Block will be your first electric bike, a few simple habits will make the first weeks much more enjoyable. None of them are complicated, but they help you get comfortable faster and keep the bike in good shape.

Start in a low assist level. It's tempting to jump straight to the highest setting, but low assist gives you a better feel for how the bike responds. As our ride showed, level one or two paired with the right gear is often all you need on flat ground. Save higher levels for hills, headwinds, or days when your legs are tired. You'll also tend to get more out of each charge when you aren't leaning on maximum assist all the time.

Use your gears actively. Many riders new to derailleurs leave the bike in one gear and let the motor handle everything. Try shifting as conditions change: lower gears for starting and climbing, higher gears for cruising. Your knees will thank you, and the ride will feel smoother. Remember to keep pedaling lightly while you shift, since derailleurs need the chain moving to change gears cleanly.

Plan for the bike's weight. E-bikes weigh more than standard cruisers, so think about where you'll store it and whether you'll need to lift it. A ground-floor garage or a spot near the door makes daily rides far more likely. When walking the bike, keep a hand on both grips and stay aware that the throttle is live if the system is powered on. Switching the bike off before walking it through a tight space is a smart habit.

Check the basics before each ride: tire pressure, brakes, and battery charge. Properly inflated tires roll easier and resist flats. A quick squeeze of both brake levers confirms they're working. A charged battery means you won't be caught pedaling home without help. These checks take under a minute and prevent most of the small problems riders run into. Finally, ride your own pace. One of the best things about a cruiser is that it never asks you to hurry.

After a ride like this, it's worth stepping back and asking who should actually buy this bike. No bike is right for everyone, and the Around the Block has a fairly clear sweet spot.

It's an excellent fit for riders who want easy mounting and stable stops. The 10.5-inch step-through and forward pedal design make it one of the more approachable two-wheelers you'll find. Riders returning to cycling after years away, people with limited flexibility, and anyone who has felt nervous at stops will appreciate those features. It's also a strong choice for women looking for a stylish, comfortable e-bike, and you can see it alongside other models in the women's electric bicycles collection.

It's great for neighborhood riders, too: people running errands, heading to the café, cruising along the beach, or riding park paths on weekends. The throttle and pedal assist take the sting out of hills, the seven gears keep pedaling comfortable, and the rear rack gives you a place to carry things. Heavier riders will find it stable and capable, as our 230-pound tester did.

Who might want something else? If you need maximum stability and don't want to balance at all, a three-wheel electric trike might be a better match. If you ride mostly on sand or loose trails, look at fat-tire models. And if you're commuting long distances at speed on busy roads, you might prefer a commuter-style bike with a more forward posture. For relaxed, comfortable, confidence-building riding, though, the Around the Block is a very good match.

Even a bike designed for comfort only feels right when it fits. Frame size, seat height, handlebar reach, and your own height and inseam all play into how a bike feels after the first mile. The forward pedal design gives the Around the Block a lot of flexibility, but it still pays to make sure it suits your body.

Sixthreezero offers a personal fitting process that matches riders with bikes based on their body and riding style. It's worth doing if you're unsure between models or sizes. Think about where you'll ride most, how far you usually go, whether hills are part of your routine, and how important low-step access is to you. Those answers narrow things down quickly.

Once your bike arrives, take a few minutes to adjust the seat height properly. You want that slight bend at the knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and with the Around the Block you should still be able to touch the ground comfortably while seated. If you're working through setup, the assembly instructions walk you through the process step by step.

Finally, don't skip safety gear. A good helmet is the single most important accessory you can own, and sixthreezero carries helmets designed for casual riders. A bell is useful on shared paths, and lights help if you ride near dusk. For longer outings, a bag or pannier from the bags and panniers range makes it easy to bring water, a jacket, and whatever else you need.

Buying an e-bike online can feel like a leap, especially if you can't test ride it locally first. Sixthreezero has a few policies that make the decision easier, and they're worth knowing before you buy.

The 30-day test ride gives you a month to ride the bike in your own neighborhood, on your own hills, and with your own routines. If it isn't right, sixthreezero covers return shipping. That's a much better test than a quick spin in a parking lot. Shipping is free, and bikes arrive mostly assembled, so you won't be wrestling with a box of parts.

There's also a warranty and a nationwide service network that can connect you with an approved mechanic if something needs attention. For riders who want to spread out the cost, financing options are available. And if you're still comparing models, the buyer's guide breaks down the differences between styles in plain language.

Over time, you may also want spare parts. The batteries and chargers page and ebike displays section are useful to bookmark, so you know where to go when you want a second charger for the office or a replacement part down the road.

The Around the Block isn't trying to be the fastest e-bike, the lightest, or the most rugged. It's trying to be the easiest to live with, and on that front, it delivers. The forward pedal design lets you sit low and still pedal efficiently. The 10.5-inch step-through makes getting on and off almost effortless. The pedals stay clear of the ground in tight turns. The upright riding position keeps your back, wrists, and shoulders happy.

On the road, the throttle gets you moving from a stop, the pedal assist and seven gears make for comfortable cruising, and the 2.125-inch tires handle bumps and dirt paths with confidence. It climbed a substantial hill with a 230-pound rider without much effort, and the front and rear disc brakes brought it back down smoothly. Top speed reaches 20 miles per hour, which covers nearly everything a neighborhood rider needs.

Add in nine colorways, color-matched racks, and contrasting rims, and you get a bike that looks as good as it rides. It captures the spirit of a classic beach cruiser and pairs it with modern electric help, so the things that used to keep people off bikes, like steep hills, awkward mounts, and shaky stops, mostly disappear.

If that sounds like the kind of riding you want to do more of, browse the full range of electric bikes to see how the Around the Block compares, or explore more ride-alongs and product reviews in the Video Blog. The best bike is the one you actually ride, and this one makes it easy to want to get out the door.