Water bikes aren’t a new concept; in fact, they’ve been around for a long time. What is new is there are now some established companies building and selling them.

schiller_retouched-1-1800x1200 - Beachitude — Photo courtesy of <a href="https://schillerbikes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="broken_link">Schiller Bikes</a>

Woman on a waterbike — A woman peddles an aluminum float water bike on Lake St Clair Michigan in 1963 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Garland" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Harry Garland</a>

Water bikes aren’t a new concept; in fact, they’ve been around for a long time. What is new is there are now some established companies building and selling them. There are plenty of do-it-yourself water bike kits out there. But most aren’t a practical build. Many do not look safe or trustworthy enough to go out onto the water on them. Search for yourself, and you’ll see what we mean.

Why you should, and shouldn’t, own a water bike

Yet, we don’t blame those would-be do-it-yourselfers out there to try and make a water bike of their own. After all, there are so many reasons to own one, and for some of you, good reasons not to own one. Read on.

Pros

You don’t need a driver’s license to operate a water bike
Water bikes are safe for children and the elderly
Water bikes do not need fuel and so are friendly to the environment
Water bikes are quiet
Water bikes are easy to transport
Water bikes are great for exercise and physical therapy
Top speed: 16 kph (10 mph)

Here are some reasons why water bikes might not be for you.

Cons

Top speed: 16 kph (10 mph)
Can’t go too far offshore with a water bike like you can in a sailboat or motorboat
Expensive
If you break down, you’re stuck if you don’t have an alternative means of power or some portable oars
Not for people with poor health, heart conditions

Companies that make and sell water bikes

There are at least three companies out there that offer the public easy access to these types of bikes. They are:

Shuttle Bike (SBk Engineering, Vigevano, Pavia, Lombardy Italy)
Hydrobikes (Iowa, U.S.)
Schiller Bikes (Mill Valley, CA. U.S.)

We picked these companies because they seem to be the only ones out there who are producing water bikes that are:

Well designed
Accessible to the public and all age groups
Seaworthy

Also important was the use of safe and secure online purchasing options.

Londra - Beachitude — <strong>A man taking a casual ride on his Shuttle Bike Near Braunston UK Though SBk Engineering is in Italy the company ships its bike kits anywhere in the world <a href="https://www.shuttlebike.com/en/portfolio-item/londra/">Photo by ilquattro</a><br><br></strong>

Price

They also sell kits with a bicycle if you want. Prices range from 1,399.00 Euro to $1599.00 Euro.

Models

Shuttle Bike sells kits for 26, 27.5, 28-inch wheels. They also sell a “city bike” (folding bike) along with a 20-inch kit and a 26-inch fat tire kit.

No kits for carbon-framed bikes

They don’t sell kits for carbon frames. SBk Engineering says fastening the brackets to a carbon frame would damage the frame.

How to pay, how it ships, when it arrives

Bank transfer, credit card (Only Visa or Mastercard), Paypal

Carrier: DHL
The box the water bike kit comes in is 49x35x35 cm (2x1x1 feet).

Approximate Delivery times
U.S., Canada: 3-4 days
EU: 1-2 working days
Asia, Australia, and South America: 7-8 days

Guarantee

Two-year guarantee.

Assembly time

It takes 5-10 minutes to ready the bike for the water. That’s provided the permanent parts of the kit are already on the bicycle frame. The entire kit, including the inflatable pontoons, arrives in its own backpack. The kit includes a pump powered by your bike’s pedals to inflate the pontoons. The pontoons are of a tough urethane material.

Maximum load capacity

276 lbs., (120 kg) including bike.

Dimensions

The weight of the backpack that includes everything you need is 10 kg or 23 lbs. The assembly time for this water bike does not include the kit’s permanent parts that are already on the bike’s frame.

Pontoon length 295 cm or about 116 inches (about 9.5 feet)

The pontoon diameter is about 12 inches or 30 cm

Seaworthiness

Yes. Shuttle Bikes can take up to 50 cm-high waves (two feet). Shuttle Bikes recommends that after a ride on the sea, you spritz and wipe your water bike down with fresh water. Also, treat your bike’s gears with grease after every ride to keep them from rusting.

Models/Price

$2,499 for the “Explorer” kit
$4,999 for the Hydrobike Explorer Tandem kit (two riders, to sets of pedals)
$2,799 for the “Angler” model, a three-pontoon bike designed for fishing
Attachable wheelset for towing ($429)
Cart for $749
Hydrobike also sells various accessories and spare parts

An African American man takes a "selfie" of himself on a Hydro Bike — <strong>Hydrobikes have been around for about 30 years and they have a solid reputation for durability and quality<br><a href="https://hydrobikes.com/pages/gallery">Photo provided by Hydrobikes</a></strong>

Maximum load capacity

181 kg (400 U.S. lbs.)

Construction/Design

Pontoons: High-density polyethylene
A pedal propulsion system that claims 90% efficiency
All models have built-in storage compartments
All models have at least two cupholders
Can operate in at least a foot of water
Riders 8-80 years old can operate it, provided their feet can reach the pedals

Assembly/Disassembly

One person can set the bike up without tools after the initial setup
Assembly “takes minutes” at the launch site. The only tool you’ll need at this stage is a crescent or adjustable wrench to adjust the seat. The rest of the adjustments are done with knobs already built into the frame
First-time assembly takes 20-30 minutes
Hydrobike drivetrains come already filled with oil ready for use
The chain requires regular lubrication. Chain oil comes with your Hydrobike

Warranty

One year for all major parts
30-day warranty for maintenance parts (knobs, chains, pedals, etc.)

Transport

HydroBikes can fit in any type of vehicle, including small cars.
With small cars, you may have to strap the pontoons to the car’s roof.

Shipping

One kit comes in three boxes: two long boxes for the pontoons and one box for the frame and other parts
Parts can be shipped by USPS and UPS
Shipping times for parts: Normally ship the next business day, Monday through Friday, except holidays Delivery time is given once orders are placed
Shipping times for HydroBikes: Depending on where you’re located, can take up to two weeks within the U.S.
Kits are shipped by freight

Dimensions

Fully assembled bikes are generally 3.048 km long, 1.397 meters wide, and 1.3462 meters high (10 ft x 55 in. x 53 in.)
Can be easily lifted by two adults, or dragged by one using the straps included with each bike
The heaviest components weigh 35-45 lbs.

Seaworthiness

Yes, but the site refers to a PDF on its site to maintain it after riding in salt and fresh water
Hydrobikes.com a 250 lb. rider can jump up and down on the bike’s side decks and not tip it over. Can also climb on board without tipping it over

Speed

3-6 kph (5-10 mph)

The Schiller water bike is the brainchild of bicycle enthusiast and entrepreneur Jessica Schiller. (Not pictured)

35884033871_011e5fef6e_c (2) - Beachitude

The Schiller water bike is one of the faster water bikes out there. The bikes have a 1:7.5 gear ratio that enables riders to get up to 16 kph (10 mph) on the water using nothing but the pedals. Schiller started working on the Schiller Bike in 2017. Motivating her was the fact that at the time, the San Francisco Bay Bridge didn’t have a bike route. On Sept. 27, 2013, Schiller rode a prototype across the San Francisco Bay. She did it to publicize biking as a viable source of alternative transportation. The roughly four-mile route took her less than an hour. Photo by Jim Hansen

Models/Price

Schiller S1-C $4,995
The Schiller S1-C comes in various sizes, see their website.

Load Capacity

Up to 136 kg (300 U.S. lbs.)

Construction/Design

The water bike’s frame is tig (tungsten inert gas) welded T6 aluminum
The frame is also Alodine and powder coated to prevent corrosion
The bike’s powertrain transfers energy from the pedals to the water using a 1:7.5 gear ratio for efficiency
The S1-C’s outdrive retracts when beaching