Folding Bikes - Help Selecting my first folder?

Hey all, wow, this is an awesome forum with a ton of great stuff.

So let me start off, I'm a student at Penn State and I'd like a folder that can not only get me to walmart and back (much cheaper than the stores in town, about a 2.5 mile trip) and also take me some light trail riding (I'm talking generally flat and level, C&O canal type stuff) and road riding through the hills here. I want it to last and be built well, as well as small enough to easily take in and out of my tiny apartment and to just put in the bottom level of my cart when grocery shopping. My price limit is no more than $600, ideally around $500.

I've called the local stores and while they don't stock any folders, they can order the Giant Halfway, and the full line of Dahons.

Right now i'm looking at the Vitesse D7, Speed P8, Mu P8, and maybe the fullsize Matrix, Cadenza, or Jack from Dahon, as well as the Giant Halfway.

There is a store back where my house is in Western PA that stocks a few Dahon models(none of the ones i'm looking at) and I got to take them for a light test drive, the 20" wheels seem fine to me, and I got to examine the folding mechanism and their size/weight. I didn't get to see a Dahon with full size wheels though. I'm slightly under 6' and weigh 180 lbs

So, what do you guys think?

Downtube? Check out the DT thread and Yan's website.

Nitt-

I'm really happy with my purchase from brandscycle (www.brandscycle.com). I bought a brand new Speed D7 (the '06 model) for $290, which included tax and shipping, and I received it the very next day. They're great to deal with, as are the tech guys and members of the forums at dahon's own site www.dahon.com

Hey, unsure how close you are, but there's a Bike Friday metro 7 speed up on Craigslist in Philly right now (6/12/07), maybe you could pick that up? I just got into my first folder, and I was able to shoot much higher cause I waited for one that was used.

A 26" wheeled folder isn't going to fit under your grocery cart....a 20" folder might not fit either.

I have a Downtube a love it, but you'll have to pay tax if you buy a Downtube and have it shipped to PA. With free shipping and no tax on Dahons from some internet retailers you might be better off with a Dahon.

Since you are in PA, you can go with brandscycle.com and they ship free. If you order today you might receive it tomorrow or next day. They have good service and priced very well.

Hey all, thanks a ton for the responces

A few things though, I'm not quite sure i'm ready to order a bike 100% online, with no brick and mortar store in the loop, though looking at brandscycle's prices certainly makes my jaw hit the floor.

I also know very little about the Downtubes or how they compare to the dahons. From the bit I've read it seems that they are pretty good deals for the price, but still have components and quality similar to other bikes in their price range. I'm looking to spend a little more to get a little better components without having to upgrade them myself.

Nittany:
Understood.....go to Dahon's site and check out the '07 and o6 models. The site is set up very well and tech support will get back to you if you have specific questions on upgrades. Once you have your selection narrowed down, go back to brandscycle and do a search (make sure you check for both '06 and '07 models...the price savings on the '06 can be substantial and you may prefer the styling on one model over the other). Then you can even try to strike a deal with the guys at brandscycle...If it's an '06 model, they may want to push it out so they'll knock off even a few more bucks.
Like I said in my earlier post, I am have been very happy dealing with both the guys at Dahon and the Brandscycle retailer. ;)

Nitt:

One factor to consider is the amount of proprietary parts in a bike. It affects service costs later. I like bikes that use standard components that you can get at any LBS or website, and not just from the manufacturer, 'cause you know what happens then :eek: .

Nitt:

One factor to consider is the amount of proprietary parts in a bike. It affects service costs later. I like bikes that use standard components that you can get at any LBS or website, and not just from the manufacturer, 'cause you know what happens then :eek: .
Yes, this is a good point, I have heard Dahons are notorious for using proprietary parts

Do the downtubes use more standard parts? And about how long until the 2008 models come out?

Yes, this is a good point, I have heard Dahons are notorious for using proprietary parts

Do the downtubes use more standard parts? And about how long until the 2008 models come out?

Yes, DTs are pretty much all standard parts. I've bought several and have modified many.

Dunno about when 2008 comes out. You may want to ask the owner, Yan, about that. He's very good about responding.

Yes, DTs are pretty much all standard parts. I've bought several and have modified many.

Dunno about when 2008 comes out. You may want to ask the owner, Yan, about that. He's very good about responding.

Well, scratch that, the SALE coupon($20 off) coupled with the low price and standard components of the Downtube got to me.

I got the IX Front Suspension model (I wanted to be able to carry stuff). Even with tax and shipping it was cheaper than a comparable dahon.

Congratulations on your purchase, I had Downtubes and they are excellent bikes. If they are not excellent for you...well...take it to yout local bike shop, invest somewhere between 15 bucks to a couple thousand and you have your dreambike.

Don't forget to come back and share some pictures with us (What color did you get?)

14R

Excellent choice! If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask us. Or, go to the gi-normous Downtube thread and you're likely to find a lot of answers to your questions. But you'll have to dig through about 50 pages :p

Congratulations on your purchase, I had Downtubes and they are excellent bikes. If they are not excellent for you...well...take it to yout local bike shop, invest somewhere between 15 bucks to a couple thousand and you have your dreambike.

Don't forget to come back and share some pictures with us (What color did you get?)

14R
I got the black one, and I most certainly will get some photos when everything is all up and running!

The local bike shop charges $45 for basic a tune up, which will probably be my first course of action. From then on it will most likely be some road testing and we'll see where it goes from there.

I'm excited!

I got the black one, and I most certainly will get some photos when everything is all up and running


Oh Yeah! We all KNOW black bikes are the fastest in the galaxy. Good choice!

I got it today. Yan was great when I accidentally shipped my order home rather than to school. He changed the shipping address for the package and everything looks good.

It's now at the LBS getting a tune up. One thing i'm considering getting is a rearview mirror. I've never done much serious road biking and i'm wondering if one is useful or not?

I'll post some pictures once I get it back from the shop tomorrow after work.

One thing i'm considering getting is a rearview mirror. I've never done much serious road biking and i'm wondering if one is useful or not?

I'll post some pictures once I get it back from the shop tomorrow after work.

Congratualtions on your purchase. You may want to consider a helmet mirror in lieu of the handle bar mounted such as pictured on this site:

http://brandscycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2207

or perhaps your LBS carries them so why not inquire when you pick up your bike.

Mirrors are never useless. The "uncool" factor keeps most of us from using them though.

For commuting or touring, a mirror on the car side is great. Because it's easier to check than looking over your shoulder, you do it more often (which is a Good Thing).

I use a small mirror ("take-a-look" is the brand) affixed to the arms of my sunglasses. After the initial temptation to check what is behind you every 3 seconds, I now wouldn't leave home without it.

I use a small mirror ("take-a-look" is the brand) affixed to the arms of my sunglasses. After the initial temptation to check what is behind you every 3 seconds, I now wouldn't leave home without it.

Did you buy that in the UK? I couldn't find a supplier, & in the end, made one from a Dentist's mirror & my old Creative mp3 player headphone band (player's ok, phones terrible :-) )

I agree, such a mirror is indispensible.

Yes, from here:

http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/standard_trikes/general_accessories.htm#takealook

For commuting or touring, a mirror on the car side is great. Because it's easier to check than looking over your shoulder, you do it more often (which is a Good Thing).

I could never ride without a mirror. I feel unsafe without and I agree that you never have to look over your shoulder, you see what's behind you that give you total control of your ride, such as waving cars or a fast rider to pass you safely, letting them know you see their presence behind you.

I added a mirror and a bag for my trek to walmart. It's storming pretty bad outside so I figure this is as good a time as ever to take some shots.

You'll have to excuse the quality as they were taken on my camera phone. A nice camera isn't in my budget.

Other than some small paint chips and a loud front break (aka just some minor cosmetics), the bike is in great condition.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/jak506/

Hey all, thanks a ton for the responces

A few things though, I'm not quite sure i'm ready to order a bike 100% online, with no brick and mortar store in the loop, though looking at brandscycle's prices certainly makes my jaw hit the floor.


This is very wise! I had a terrible experience with Brands.

If you need something small, you should test ride some of the smaller wheeled bikes, such as a Brompton, Birdy, Curve, or Downtube Mini. The Brompton is the smallest and one of the most popular.

Edit: I just re-read your needs. For C and O trail stuff and a very small wheeled bike, check out my review of the Birdy: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=307934.

If there is any way you can get to Philly, you'll be able to test ride the range of bikes there.

Went to Wal-Mart today and got 2 pounds of rice for $1.50 and a few cans of beans for $0.44. Eggs were 1.35 for 18

I <3 my new downtube

Went to Wal-Mart today and got 2 pounds of rice for $1.50 and a few cans of beans for $0.44. Eggs were 1.35 for 18

I <3 my new downtube

Did you put the bike in a cart while shopping?

Thanks,
Yan

Yes I did, infact. It was a little big for the bottom, but it fit in the top fine

Everyone was asking about it. The front greeter at Wal-Mart was shocked at how it fit, a couple kids also came up to me and wanted to talk about it. Some dude in the rice aisle yelled to me "is that your bike?" in a complete state of awe.

Very Cool

Should be fine on the C and O as well. The Downtube hinge is impressively strong. Let us know!