Folding Bikes - Re: 16" gearing and Chinese folders

I was reading the disscusion on the gearing on 16" folders being to low, and having a chuckle to myself.
A lot of the members must live in flatish enviroments, most of my bikes/trikes run between 12 and 20" low gears and 20 is too high.
But the reason I am posting here is that I bought a couple of 16" wheeled folders of Ebay to use as donors for a recumbent trike project but once they arrived they were of vastly better quality than expected, so I decided to build one into and explorer/MTB style bike.
I lowered the gearing to 17" low and 44" high and went from a 5 speed to a 7 speed (friction shifters makes these kind of changes easy. love em.) swapped the ok seat for my favorite spare, same with the pedals. The frame was really rigid which surprised me and all up weight is now 12 kg.
I took it out for a light MTB track ride today 10 km out and 10 km back with a 1 km of vertical climbing.
The bike is amazing it has rear suspension and I just stayed seated for the whole ride no matter what the track was like, this thing will seriously scare a MTB atleast on the lighter stuff.
And folding it at the end took seconds.
They cost $50 au delivered for one and $70 au for the other, they were seriously miss advertised as kids folder which helped with the price.
Anyone else had good luck with cheapo Chinese bikes?
Sorry about the rave but I could not believe how effective this bike was, picture should be below.
http://i4.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/86/98/1ed0_1_b.JPG

Can you post some more info on where you bought them, such as a linky to an auction? PM me with the linky...

This was the store I got them from http://stores.ebay.com.au/AIM-Digital-Imaging but the person I spoke to when paying said they were selling the last of their bikes.
May be worth keeping an eye on them just in case or for the same bike rebadged mine is called an ATTA Flexibike.

looks like the $90 chinese no name folder i got at RV toy outlet, except i dont have the rear suspension. mine is 20" wheels, 5 speed, rear band brake. I did need to tune the front wheel, make some minor brake adjustments, replaced the seat and added lights. I got it for riding around campgrounds or paved trails. price was right. it seems to be rugged enough for my needs.
hill slug

I was reading the disscusion on the gearing on 16" folders being to low, and having a chuckle to myself.
A lot of the members must live in flatish enviroments, most of my bikes/trikes run between 12 and 20" low gears and 20 is too high.
*ahem* Thread hijack ;)

For a non-recumbent bike, 12" is exceedingly low. A stock Trek 520 is around 23", Jamis Aurora 27", most road bikes are around 32". As to a high gear of 44" -- I take it you're not in much of a rush, am I correct? :)

Hillslug, that was one of the things that surprised me the bike could be unfolded out of the box and ridden, everthing was adjusted/tightened correctly on both bikes.
Bacciagalupe, Where I live anything below 10% is an incline not a hill, my test hill 200m out the gate of my house is over 25% and is not exceptional in the area, if I can't ride up and down it a few times the gearing is to high for normal use.
I want it as an explorer bike, something to take up roads and trails you would hesitate to ride normally as they are to steep or rough, so top speed is not a priority.
Having said that my cruise cadence is between 105~120 rpm and I sprint way higher, does wonders for the speed you can get out of low gearing.
The bike with the 20" low is the Avanti MTB I can climb anything that I can keep it upright and maintain traction with but on continuous climbs it is too higher a gear and it wears me out anaerobically without pushing me aerobically, most of my off roading is literally done up the side of a mountain.
Your right about the recumbents, see the sig. :)

Whoa. Where do you live in Tassie? I am going touring there next month, so I'll keep my wife away from the area. :D

I lowered the gearing to 17" low and 44" high and went from a 5 speed to a 7 speed (friction shifters makes these kind of changes easy. love em.)

I've got a cheap folder that I'm currently modding. It's a 6 speed and I was wondering if I could simply change out the 6 speed and get friction shifters or even change out the rear derrailler (I have a spare 7 speed). Is the spacing the same? Sorry for the thread jack.

BTW - I'm happy the bike worked out for you.

Juan

jur, Lenah valley a suburb of Hobart. you will find the main roads are ok just stay out of the suburbs heading toward the mountain ie. Lenah Valley, Mt stuart, West Hobart and South Hobart.:)
If you are in Hobart you should go for a ride to Ferntree its a very scenic one about 10~15 km from the city and around 1500 meters of climbing, if you want a challenge you can turn off at Ferntree and head up Mt Wellington another 12 km of 1500 meters of climbing really nice view on a good day.
If you see a Velomobile that looks like an upside down bath, wave as it will be me.:)
Juan162, I have had varying results re fitting a 7 in place of a 6 (bikes that were not built to standard width) the rear derailleur will not need to be changed and the frame width should be the same or close enough to get away with, sometimes just fitting an extra washer may be required, if the frame is steel it is easy to adjust the width by bending slightly but it should be ok in this case.
Goodluck with the mod.