Linus Bike

A plus for customer service. I was looking for something light repair on my old Releigh, but quickly realized I was calling a bike manufacturer. Lok gave me a quick run down on the places in the area that could help me. Thank you. I’ll be in to look at some new bikes soon.

Compared to the 4 – 5 other bike shops I visited, Linus had the worst customer service and bike knowledge. Other area shops’ employees show a genuine interest and radiating passion for bikes.
I really went into the experience excited and assuming I’d make a Linus buy. I love the thought of supporting a Venice-​based brand, but the shop experience really turned me off. If the employees weren’t so smug, and instead showed a bit more customer care, interest and passion, the customer experience would greatly benefit.

I love my duchii 8, super stylish and retro but minimalist. If you want a smooth ride, go for the 8 gear. Friendly and helpful staff, so many gadget to choose from.

The guys who work here are really nice and helpful. I have stopped in twice this week while I am deciding on a roadster and they have been super cool.
I love that this company is Venice based. I would totally suggest this bike shop and these bikes to anyone looking for a bike.

I fell in love with my Scout bike the moment I saw it a year and a half ago. I stretched my budget for it and it was my primary form of transportation for nearly a year.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the chain guard, and that problem became unavoidable after that time. The issue was something my local bike shop couldn’t fix, so I was directed to Linus HQ for the repair. An unexpected afternoon in Venice: for this downtowner, a little inconvenient. But I really wanted my beloved bike back, so I loaded it up and drove west.
The repair took almost an hour, with a few test rides in between. Turns out, there was a piece missing, causing the chain to fall off. The bike experts fixed it, tuned it, and made sure my ride was smooth and working well. While I was there, they also remounted my light and put a new striker on my bell. And they did all of this free of charge! I was expecting at least a nominal fee which I was ready and willing to pay, but because it was a manufacturing issue they took care of it for me.
Riding my bike is a joy. Test riding it with the friendly people in the shop willing to make all the micro-​adjustments necessary was ecstasy. For that kind of service, buying a Linus bike was absolutely worth it!

Linus makes some ass kicking bikes.
I recently purchased the Gaston 3 from Linus in black and I cannot tell you how happy I am with this bicycle. The Sturmey Archer 3 speed internal hub is amazing and I love the look and feel of my Gaston. The cream colored tires and leather grips and seat really make the bike pop so I know I my bike game is set to stun while rolling up the boulevard.
Since all of their models are designed and tested in Venice CA, you know that these bike were made for Southern Californian cruising from Flower Street in DTLA to the wedge in Newport Beach.
If you are in the market for a new bicycle, look no further than Linus and help support a Californian small business!

Update: Welp, my Sturmey Archer 5 speed finally died. I’d suggest shying away from that model hub if you’re looking at Gastons. I think they only sell 3 speed models now for this reason. Still, the customer service at the shop was very, very good.
**Still riding my Gaston daily. At this point it’s been ridden constantly on both sides of the US. I used it as a delivery bike in Philadelphia for a good chunk of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. This included bouts of snow, sleet and ice through their worst winter in decades. I added fenders, and finally bought new tires (Schwalbe Delta Cruisers, so they’re still that rad cream color but avoid flats a good deal better.) Never missed a beat.
Now I’m back west, riding hundreds of miles a week. All the hardware and components have held up (though salt on snowy streets did finally start with a touch of rust… Just because I wasn’t diligent washing it!) Still going strong, and no sign of stopping!

I blew a tire on my bike ride miles away from home, I mapped the nearest bike shop and Linus popped up. The staff saved my day with a quick repair for a very fair price. Thanks!

I didn’t end up buying a Linus bike from this store because the guy who answered the phone was rude and unhelpful. I DID however buy a bike from a local bike shop with excellent customer service!
Not only was the Local Shop (not this one) helpful, knowledgable, and polite, but they gave me an excellent price on my bike and told me I could bring it back for any adjustments until I loved it. The dude at THIS shop, (the «flagship» store I believe), quoted me the msrp price… plus tax and then dead air. He answered my questions with a yes or no and offered nothing else. The funny thing was I was calling from my car and was headed to Venice and after that phone call I turned around. I’ve worked in Sales all my life, the FIRST thing you need to be is Polite.
Find a local Bike shop, they work/​try harder for your money.

I had finally bought my Linus and the experience was absolutely wonderful.
I had picked out my Linus Mixte 3 bike and since they did not have one ready in my color, they built it while I shopped and dined on Abbot Kinney. Not to mention the guy who built my bike was very nice and super HOT!
Thanks for the great experience. 2 thumbs up!

I’m looking for a fun commuter bike. After going to a few bike shops that are authorized Linus dealers, I opted to go to the showroom itself. I mean, I buy my Macs at the Apple Store, so why the hell not?
The bike shop is located down a little walkway on Abbott Kinney and is delightful. The bikes are all outside and then there’s a sparse shop inside. I had already tested the Dutchi at another bike shop so I tried the Mixte here. The guy who helped me was actually helpful and knew the product well, which was a huge difference from all the authorized dealers’ knowledge of the product (i.e. slim to none). There’s a public parking lot in the back where there’s enough space to test-​ride.
Though I haven’t yet bit the bullet and purchased a new bike, but if I do, I think I’ll be heading this way to get it.

Just got a brand spankin’ new Linus Roadster Sport for Xmas and although I love the bike, I’m even more pleased with the staff at Linus — extremely friendly, knowledgable, and helpful.
This is my first bike (as an adult) and I was a little nervous going into Linus. I figured that since I’m such a novice, I’d be treated differently or not given any attention since I’m not a part of the «biker» community. Once I arrived, I was shocked and so grateful that the staff was more than willing to spend the time with me that I needed to choose the appropriate bike AND answer every single «stupid question» I had.
Now that I got my bike, I’ve gone back twice to have them teach me how to lock it, ask more random questions, and help me adjust the seat to the appropriate height and they were just as friendly. Plus I didn’t have to wait or make an appointment.
Yes… the bikes are a little pricey, but having a team of supportive people supporting you before, during, and after your purchase makes it worth it. :) cheesy, but true.

I haven’t been to the actual bike shop in Santa Monica, but I bought one of their Roadsters a year ago and just wanted to give it some praise. It’s held up great and still looks like new despite almost daily use. It’s exactly the kind of bike I was looking for but thought I’d never find. It rides great, it has a classic simple, clean design and I love riding it. It’s the perfect bike for a flat city like Chicago. If I lived in a hillier city like San Francisco or Seattle I’d have probably gone with the roadster sport for some more gear options, but with the terrain I ride it in it’s perfect. I’d imagine it’d work great in the LA basin too where Linus is located.
In regards to a reviewer below who posted her mixte rusted in 2 months: I call bullshit. First of all, unless she enjoys riding through shallow ponds daily, I have a hard time believing enough water got on her bike in southern California, where it barely ever rains, to merit rust. I’ve ridden my bike in Chicago in the rain and snow countless times and never dried it off afterwards (even though I should have) and the only single speck of rust anywhere is on the screws of my backlight made by Planet Bike. It didn’t even come with the Linus Bike. I just cleaned my entire bike today and that was the only rust despite the harsh weather conditions of Chicago. So if her review was a concern of yours, I seriously would not let it be. There has to be more to her story than just «my bike rusted after 2 months.» Yeah right. Stop pulling a Terminator 2 and riding in the sewer trenches then. You can tell how good she takes care of her bikes when she says she left her bike outside next to the Hudson in New York for 8 years. I just didn’t want to let her review deter you from buying a bike because the rust thing has not been an issue in one year of harsh Chicago weather.
I have one single complaint about the bike: the seat isn’t very comfortable. Now, that’s a pretty standard problem with most bikes and it’s easily solved by buying a new seat. I just got a Brooks leather saddle and the problem is solved. But I also wanted to say that when I was in a bike shop today looking at the Linus Bikes they had in stock, I felt the seats and they seemed to be much softer/​squishier than the one that came with mine, even though they were visually identical, which makes me think they improved/​changed the seats since I purchased my bike a year ago. Not positive. Definitely test ride before you buy but don’t let the seat make/​break your decision. Easy fix.
One more little side note: I appreciated that the bike came with a little nail polish sized container of extra black paint that matches the bike. I used it today to paint over a few spots where I’ve dinged up the bike and after cleaning the bike and doing paint touch ups today it literally looks brand new after a year. I hope they’re still giving the paint containers with the bike!

I bought my bike from here. I LOVE the bike, and they take such good care of the bike if I ever stop in for anything. They love their bikes, and it shows.
My bike just makes me so happy. It is such a lovely, well crafted machine., and the price (under $ 500) was well worth the value and happiness it has provided me.

I heart my bike. I heart it SOO much. Everyone thought I was crazy to buy a bike in LA but this bike (I got the classic) is so damn beautiful. It looks like it belongs in the streets of Rome or Paris. To top, it rides super well. Even more comfortable than my Giant Roadie!
Now if only they would implement more bike lanes in between Santa Monica and Downtown!

Great location of a bike shop. I purchased a green roadster sport and it’s perfect! The staff was friendly and answered all my questions regarding the bikes they sold. They let me test all their models on hand and helped me find the perfect bike. A+++ service.
It took a total of 5 days for my bike to be ordered, shipped to their shop and assembled which was great. I was able to pick up the bike on the weekend and give it a go around town.
The only downside is that the stock seat is a tad stiff. Besides that, my bike rocks!

Wow, I write this post filled with beautiful bicycle joy! Everyone in the shop is beyond kind and helpful, and they converted me into a lifetime devotee upon arrival.
My awesomely elegant roadster classic in metallic blue floats through the streets, silver bell tinging perkily at passersby. I’m definitely considering investing in a lifetime supply of French baguettes to place in the wooden Peterboro farmers basket to complete the cinematic vibe.

I am now the proud owner of a beautiful baby blue Mixte!
I wasn’t aware that these bikes are custom order and many on back order, so know before you show up with an intention to buy like I did.
However the friendly dudes at Linus asked if I could wait an hour or so to build me one. And I did. Then I proceeded to take her for a spin yesterday– Two people in my neighborhood stopped to ask what kind of bike I was riding.
She’s a beaut!

Oh so torn — how I wish I didn’t already have a bike that I love… These were GREAT bikes!
Light as a cloud! So euro, but not in a trashy way, bikes:-) Loved the sleek style. Like if you bought one and started pedaling, the Eiffel Tower would appear.
I did buy a canvas bag for my bike. Loved the baskets and other accessories. The leather seats looked amazingly comfortable and classic.
So affordable — 300 ish and up. Did I say how light they were? You could pick this up with one hand and put it on the ol’ bike rack on your car. Super friendly staff.
I sooo want to buy one before Miley Cyrus finds out and the paprazzi snap her pic on one of these and all of the trend mongers drive the prices up!,

I wandered in here on what was there 1^st week open — with a low-​air tire and rusty pokey-​outty spokes. The owner pumped me up, and totally sold me on Linus, I love the company. He let me take it for a joy-​ride. It was light, well-​tuned and super high-​quality. They even make their own Bike Bags of canvas! So cool. Love it.
Too bad I can’t afford one of their bikes… if I could, I’d get the shiny hot-​rod in the pics I added, above.