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Priority Eight: The New Bike to Beat for $1,000 or Less

The Eight is not the cheapest bike, or the best bike, but it’s probably the most capable, durable bike you’ll find for this price.

priority eight bikePriority Bicycles

By Hayley Helms

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Look, I’m not going to lie: You could buy a bike on Craigslist right now for less than a hundred bucks. And then you could go pick it up — and discover the brake pads are toast, the tires are on their last treads and there’s rust on the frame.

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Very quickly, the cost of restoring your “new” old ride will run well over the deal you scored — and you’ll have to wait to actually ride it. Or … you could buy a new bike and start riding it immediately.

The typical hangup with getting a new bike, aside from not participating in the whole “reduce, reuse, recycle” movement is that it can be expensive. But if you want a new bike that won’t break the bank or break apart in a few months, Priority’s latest release may fit the bill.

priority eight bikePriority Bicycles

Priority Eight

Billed as a sport hybrid, the Priority Eight was designed to suit a variety of riding styles and a wide range of cyclists. It isn’t the best bike for long road rides or treacherous mountain bike trails, and it’s no speed demon either. But it will shine running errands, cycling around town or just biking with friends.

Specs

Components Gates carbon belt drive; hydraulic disk brakes; Shimano Alfine 8-speed performance hub
Sizes 17, 19 and 21 inches
Weight 27 pounds

The new-and-improved Priority Eight isn’t the cheapest bike out there — and it’s not the most premium option, either. It’s the best bike for this price you can find. Here’s why.

priority eight bike
The brand-new Eight features a Gates carbon belt drive, which means no-hassle rides for a long, long time. (No lube needed, unfazed by water and good for literally thousands of miles.)
Priority Bicycles

The original Priority Eight was released in 2016 as a commuter bike; a second iteration, the Continuum Onyx, was an all-season commuter bike with a fuller feature set (including the much-ballyhooed continuous shifting). The newest version of the Eight drops that element but also shaves $300 off the price tag. Billed as a sport hybrid, it’s designed to suit a variety of riding styles and a wide range of beginner-to-intermediate cyclists.

The 2024 Priority Eight comes in three sizes: small (17-inch), medium (19-inch) and large (21-inch), all featuring the same suite of components. Those include Priority’s staple Gates carbon belt drive, which requires minimal maintenance and can go the distance; hydraulic disk brakes paired with 700c x 32mm tires; and a low-drag Shimano Alfine 8-speed performance hub (hence the name). The bike also boasts a shock-absorbing carbon fiber fork and seatpost on a lightweight aluminum frame, totaling a modest 27 pounds (including pedals and kickstand).

priority eight bike
The Priority Eight is billed as a sport hybrid, perfect for daily commutes where cracks, potholes and light offroading are not uncommon.
Priority Bicycles

The sport hybrid setup aims for an ideal blend of performance and comfort. The upright sitting position remains comfortable as the miles pile up, while the lightly lugged tires strike a balance between speed and grip. The Eight also comes with multiple mounts for racks, fenders, bags, water bottles and a child seat, if that’s your jam.

Granted, this isn’t the bike for long road rides or treacherous mountain bike trails, and it’s no speed demon either. It’s more akin to your daily driver, and it will shine running errands, cycling around town and biking with friends. At just under one thousand bucks, it’s a screamin’ deal. If you’re looking for a quality ride that fits most budgets, it’s worth a look.

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