You could take the straight, predictable route to work or wherever you need to go—but deep down, what do you really want from the ride? What makes you feel alive, connected, and full of energy?
The Speedvagen Urban Racer was born from the thrill of riding the way we want, not the way we should. It’s built on passion, not practicality. Conceived by Sacha White, founder of Vanilla Bicycles, the Urban Racer was his response to the heavy, slow, and pragmatic grocery bike his family often used. This bike is the polar opposite—a light, nimble, and rugged machine with geometry designed for blasting up hills, hopping curbs, darting down stairs, and cruising with a beverage in hand (or no hands at all). It’s a return to the feeling of childhood freedom, evoking memories of tearing through neighborhoods with friends, racing over jumps, and skidding to a halt in front of the corner store to grab a soda.
The Urban Racer isn’t about utility, commuting, or training. It’s not about what’s “reasonable” or “responsible.” Instead, it’s about fun, pure and simple—the thrill of the ride and the joy of doing things just because you can. It’s a bike built to bring back those wild, head-shaking moments where you can laugh at yourself, get a little reckless, and feel the wind as you fly down the street.
The Dollar-to-Shred Equation (It’s Simple)
With the Urban Racer, we wanted to focus on the essence of riding—stripping away anything unnecessary and making it as accessible as possible. Our equation is simple: Ready-Made Urban Racer = Less Money. Less Money = Less Worry. Less Worry = More Shredding.
We’re committed to U.S. manufacturing, using premium materials, painstaking details, and creating an incredible ride experience. But we also believe that a bike’s attainability is directly tied to its usability.
The Ready-Made version of the Urban Racer offers the exact same design, premium materials, and attention to detail as a custom Vanilla-built Urban Racer, but is produced in small batches with our production partners. This approach allows us to bring down costs while preserving the high standards of a Speedvagen bike. The result? A complete Speedvagen Urban Racer for $3,495—a ride that’s as much about speed and style as it is about freedom.
We’re not interested in making yet another commuter bike. Instead, we’re crafting a full-on race machine that’s proudly made in the U.S., without compromise, and ultimately aiming to shift how people think about getting around the city.
Limited Edition: Reserve Yours Now
In this first run, we’re producing fifteen Urban Racers, available in small, medium, and large sizes, with just five of each size. Each Urban Racer is fully built, ready to hit the streets, and ready to ride.
Features You’ll Only Find on a Speedvagen Urban Racer
Berzerker Dropouts: Our lightest, strongest dropouts to date, these are crafted from a super-strong steel alloy with raw stainless inner and outer faces. This dual-material approach gives the Urban Racer both durability and the corrosion resistance needed for long-lasting performance.
Coaster Brake Simplicity: To keep things straightforward and distraction-free, the Urban Racer features a coaster brake. This setup is ideal for city riding, offering intuitive stopping power and allowing for stylish skidding. Paired with a two-speed internal SRAM hub that shifts automatically, this brake setup brings back a simpler, more hands-free riding experience.
The Vanilla Bicycles Legacy
Crafting the Urban Racer is more than just building a bike; it’s about creating a new way to connect with the urban landscape, Vanilla-style. Inspired by the freedom of childhood rides, fueled by a passion for high-quality, U.S.-made craftsmanship, and designed to make every journey through the city an adventure, the Urban Racer is here to bring back the fun. So, why settle for the ordinary when you could ride a Speedvagen?
