Priority 600 is a maintenance-free and ultra-reliable do-it-all commuter bicycle with no chain and derailleurs, boasting instead a 12-speed Pinion gearbox.
Priority 600 is one of the simplest, yet most technologically advanced commuter bicycles you can get today. This is an automotive-inspired bicycle equipped with a Pinion gearbox designed by two former Porsche engineers who brought about a major revolution into the world of cycling.
Priority 600 is extremely dependable and easy to use, built for everyday abuse but only occasional servicing. This is a good-looking urban workhorse with top-notch features and accessories (such as a dynamo hub, lights, and hydraulic discs) that does not cost an arm and a leg.
If you need a no-fuss road commuter and gravel grinder all-in-one, you’ll want to read the rest of our Priority 600 review.
Contents
Priority 600 Key Specifications
Priority 600 features high-quality components sourced from some of the biggest brands in the industry. On top of that, the bike gets all the necessary accessories to be ridden year-round, day or night.
In addition to commuting, you can also use this bike for fitness, running daily errands, or for easy spins with family and friends along smooth bike paths.
- Frame: Ultralight 6061 T6 Aluminum
- Fork: Ultralight 6061 T6 Aluminum
- Gearbox: Pinion C1.12 Magnesium body
- Shifter: Pinion DS2
- Gears: 12 (equivalent to traditional 30)
- Brakes: Tektro Hydraulic disc brakes
- Rims: WTB ST TCS 2.0 650B
- Tires: WTB Horizon 650B Plus 47 mm or Good Year Country both Tubeless-ready
- Front Hub: Priority Low Drag Dynamo 3W 6V
- Saddle: WTB Pure
- Pedals: Priority Alloy Platform
Full Review
Priority 600 is the ideal bicycle for negligent bike owners who loathe adjusting derailleurs, cleaning the drivetrain, and lubricating the chain. All you need to do every morning before your commute is hop on and ride.
Component-wise, Priority has thought about everything, so everything on the bike has been accounted for. It’s ready to rumble.
The proud owners of this inconspicuous-looking city beast will get a lightweight aluminum frame, hydraulic disc brakes, multi-surface tires, and a dynamo hub to begin with.
Lightweight and Sleek Alu Frame
At the base of Priority 600 lies a simple and elegant aluminum frameset painted in a uniform jet-black color. This is a step-over frame with a discreetly sloping top tube that provides a decent standover clearance.
Priority 600 weighs just over the 30 lb. mark, so it is reasonably lightweight considering its automotive-inspired transmission gearbox.
The frame is crisscrossed with eyelets that let you attach two water bottle cages, in addition to fenders that come stock with the bike.
Related: Priority Continuum Onyx
Pinion Gearbox: 600% Gear Range
The 12-speed auto-inspired Pinion gearbox is the heart of Priority 600. This is the most advanced shifting technology in the cycling world that completely eliminates derailleurs, cables, or a chain.
The bicycle was named “600” because the gearbox provides you with a 600% gear-range. Even though you have a choice of 12 gears, the gear-range is equivalent to that of a traditional 30-gear drivetrain.
The entire transmission mechanism is fully-sealed and fitted around the bottom bracket. It works seamlessly, even while you’re pedaling, and requires no maintenance or adjusting.
The gearbox is connected to the rear cogs with a Gates Carbon Drive belt that does not require any degreasing or lubrication.
See More: Best Belt Drive Electric Bikes
Multi-Surface WTB 650BTires
Priority 600 is ready for any challenge you put it through thanks to its versatile WTB Horizon 650B tires. These are 47mm wide multi-surface tires that can comfortably take you on an on-road and off-road adventure.
In addition to being gravel-ready, these tires are also tan-walled, which looks great against Priority 600’s all-black base color.
They’re paired up with WTB ST TCS 2.0 tubeless-ready wheels, which means you’ll never be late to work due to punctures.
If you need a bicycle that can handle different types of roads, from pavement to dirt to gravel, Pinion 600 looks like it’s up to the task.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Priority 600 comes with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes that offer good stopping power. These are dual-piston hydro brakes coupled with 160 mm rotors, front and rear.
These are not the best hydraulic disc brakes you can get, but they are suitable for the price range in which Priority 600 sits. After all, this is not a mountain bike, but a versatile asphalt and gravel machine. With that in mind, these brakes are more than sufficiently strong for the type of riding you’ll do.
Related: Priority Classic Plus
Commute-Ready Accessories
Priority 600 ships with a ready-to-ride configuration that includes a number of practical accessories. You’ll get a pair of durable composite fenders, a kickstand, dynamo, and front and rear lights.
The Priority front hub dynamo produces electricity as you ride, which is then used to power front and rear lights. So, you’ll be visible from all sides, at all times, without having to worry about replacing or recharging any batteries.
The dynamo hub also has USB charging capabilities, which means you can keep all of your devices (such as a smartphone or cycling computer) charged at all times.
The 500-lumen headlight is sufficiently bright to help you see. Plus it makes you visible, so you can ride Priority 600 day or night.
Priority 600 Geometry and Sizes
Priority does not share a detailed geometry chart for the “600”, but it’s easy to see that this bike prioritizes comfort over speed.
The 74° head tube angle and the 69° seat tube angle give Priority 600 an endurance geometry. You’ll sit in a relaxed, upright position that gives you a good overview of the road ahead, that you can maintain for hours.
You can order Priority 600 in one of three available frame sizes, depending on your height and inseam length:
- Small 17″: 27″ – 29″ Inseam Length
- Medium 19″: 30″ – 32″ Inseam Length
- Large 21″: 32″ – 35″ Inseam Length
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are our answers to the most common questions our readers ask us about the Priority 600 bike.
Are Priority bicycles good?
Priority is a USA-based company that makes high-quality bicycles equipped with dependable components. Their bicycles feature sealed gearboxes, Gates carbon drive belts, and reliable brakes, wheels, and tires. They are ideal for everyday riding and last a long time.
Where are Priority bicycles made?
The frames for Priority bicycles are made in China in order to control the manufacturing costs. These are then shipped to the company’s warehouses in Pennsylvania where they are painted, assembled, and tuned. This way, the company has full control of the final product, before it sends it to the customer.
Is Priority 600 really maintenance-free?
Priority 600 is not 100% maintenance-free but it requires significantly less day-to-day maintenance compared to a traditional bike. The Gates carbon drive belt does not need lubrication and the Pinion gearbox does not require adjusting. This eliminates 80% of regular bike maintenance and leaves some less frequent things to do.
Is Priority 600 off-road-ready?
Yes, you can ride Priority 600 both on- and off-road. This bike comes with 650B x 47mm tires which can tackle paved and unpaved roads, including dirt and gravel. Since there is no suspension, you shouldn’t do proper mountain biking, but Priority 600 is more than capable of mixed-terrain riding.
Is it easy to ride Priority 600 uphill?
Yes, Priority 600 is very easy to ride uphill thanks to the 12-speed Pinion gearbox. It provides a 600% gear range, which feels the same as if you’re riding a traditional 30-gear drivetrain. You’ll easily find the right gear both for very steep hills and for fast flat and downhill sections.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Priority 600?
Priority 600 has brought about a revolution of sorts. It has eliminated one of the most common reasons why many people don’t commute by bike—complicated maintenance. If you’re a lazy person or you already have enough tasks to juggle every day, you will love Priority 600’s maintenance-free nature.
The Pinion gearbox is definitely a standout feature that will convince many to purchase this bike. It’s a fun rig that lets you commute year-round and focus on nothing else but having fun. You can ride it to work on weekdays or go on long rides on the weekend.
All in all, Priority 600 easily justifies its $2,500 price tag and wins a unanimous recommendation from the Bicycle Guider team.
Priority 600
$2,499
Pros
- Maintenance-free Pinion gearbox
- Powerful hydraulic disc brakes
- Fuss-free Gates Carbon belt
- Multi-surface tires
- Dynamo-powered lights
Cons
- Only 3 sizes available
- Comes in one color only
How much is the bike max payload I weight 244 lbs
Hi Tuqlo,
Awesome question. I was wondering too, so I searched and found this link. Hope it helps: https://discerningcyclist.com/bicycle-weight-limits-best-bikes-heavy-riders/
Could this be used for a triathalon??
Ofcourse you can do the distance but there are much better bikes for tri. Even traditional road bike is better choice but TT/tri bike is best.
Hi Benjamin,
No. This is a commuter bike. Triathlon bikes are categorized under sports bikes.
My name is Frank Harper and I live in Springfield, Oregon. I purchased my Priority 600 and I was ready to send it back, because I have a bad right wrist and I couldn’t turn the Barrel Shifter located on the right side of handlebar. I shopped around and through Peter White Cycles in New Hampshire he sells thumb shifters for $480.00. The simple no cost solution was to move the Barrel Shifter to the left side of the handle bar. It works great. The noise from the rear hub was annoying when coasting but on the Priority website they walk you through greasing the rear hub to get rid of the noise. I hope to complete the Rail to Trails ride from Washington State to Washington D.C. next Spring – this will be a great test ride.
A discussion on bike sizing would be nice, even if it was just your height and inseam combined with the bike size that you preferred. Ordering a bike you can’t see or test ride is nerve making.
Hi JLove,
That is a good suggestion. Indeed, that is why a proper bike fit is essential because although you got the recommended frame size, your stem length and other factors need to be adjusted for your comfort.
Hi. My name is Gregory Rutledge. Recovering from cancer with a few complications. I have also been a life long cyclist. During my recovery I watched alot of Mr Vandosens YouTube videos. I started to develop a goal of my own. I’m looking for a hard tail with front suspension bicycle. I like your gates belt and transmission system. But I would also need a mid drive system. My goal is to put togeather a solar paneled cart to charge two spare batteries well I ride my bike from my to Seattle Washington.
Please let me know is you have anything like this in the works.
Hi Gregory,
Wishing you the best of health from your recovery! I will let you know as soon as we have something like that.
Greg, I send a prayer for a rapid, and complete, recovery. I highly recommend the priority Ebike. Sell the fork it comes with and get a decent suspension fork that will work for you. I would also recommend a suspension seat post. I love Ebikes when they work. I had one that worked great, but I elected to sell it and upgrade to an MTB frame. I love the bike, when it isn’t broke, which has been often. There is an Ebike international trade show coming to Denver in June 2023 if you can wait. There is a lot of exciting new tech products coming to market.
I am a 73 yo cancer survivor who enjoys cycling. I wish you well, sir!
The Priority 600x for an analog bike
The Priority Current if you want an e-bike
Can you add spacers to raise the handlebar position to ride more upright?
Hi Kathy,
Yes, or you can look for a stem that is more upright. There are also handlebars that are meant for riders who want upright position. This is also a safe kind of riding style for urban commute because it is easy for you to see the flow of the traffic.
Can you modify the Priority 600 by replacing the fork to a suspension fork? If so, could that have an adverse effect on the performance?
Hi Monroe,
Swapping the a rigid fork to one with suspension will have an adverse effect on the bike’s geometry, wright and other issues. Compatibility is another thing to consider. I would suggest checking it out with your LBC to see if it can be done. If you want to buy a bike with suspension then get a hardtail.
Hi how much in total to deliver the whole bike to Malaysia? I am 5.5 inches which bike size suits me. Does it comes with front and rear racks for long distance touring. How do I service the gearbox and do you provide a spare belt thank you
Hi David,
This article might be a big help to you. You can reach priority through this info:
CONTACT US
We’re here for you seven days a week.
For our fastest response:
Email : [email protected]
Text/WhatsApp: (917) 819-1665
*Please include video or photos when
possible
Our workshop is currently open
for contactless pickup only:
174 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (917) 819-1665 (Weekdays, 9-5 EST)
Hi Jeff,
A great review! Did you have any problems with the lower bottom bracket height? I am contemplating using it bike packing on gravel roads across the US.
Thank you
Hi Harmon,
So far, non at all. If it is simply gravel then there is no issue with the height. The thickness of your tires can also raise the bike a bit.
Great Review of Priority 600 mate. Thanks for sharing Jeff Balton.
Hi Scooter,
Always glad to share ideas about bikes. It is great to have a bird’s eye view about certain brands before making a decision. Cheers!