Folding Bikes - i think im finally there!

i think im finally here! i think i am going to buy a fold up bike!, ive had the offer of a dahon curve d3 for £200 inc postage, theres also a trek f400 but seller hasnt replied yet because he is looking into parcleforce and i dont yet know what price he wants for it, theres also a dawes jack but the seller has not yet responded to this either. i might wait a couple of days to see if i get a reply or not, but i might not buy the dawes because it is on gumtree and i have not bought anything off there before so it looks like its out of the curve or the f400, so the question is again wat 1? :D

edit: also another offer of a dahon curve in navy blue has came in for also £200 on gumtree!

pics:

http://www.gumtree.com/posting_images/91/26283291__1216152539__1__1-f5c86c46f0c2fcfe844e45a98c014495.__big__.jpg http://www.gumtree.com/posting_images/19/26440819__1216523522__1__1-47c7a75e2a215059bede480d50c3d324.__big__.jpg
http://i16.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/f7/c3/692e_1.JPG
http://i20.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/ff/58/8467_12.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320276867010&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting)

Just remind us what your intended duty is for the bike?

You decide between the Curve and the Mu. I think the Mu is much better value than the Curve for 200. Snap it up (or is it on auction?).

the bike is just for little rides during the week about 3miles ish :D

but the mu is off gumtree and havent used b4 but i have the persons number

the trek cannot be posted so that is out of the competition although, i can get the dawes jack and he would post it + i have his number and i can also get the mu i have his number and i can also get the d3 curve,

d3 curve - £200
mu curve - £200
dawes jack - £180

again the question what 1?

The Mu curve get it!

Whatbike could you punctuate it's easier to read. Thanks! :)

ok sure :D

i'll get the mu tonight then if he will post it, i dont know yet if he will but i have his phone number.

Best of luck WB. Keep us posted!

The Mu curve get it!

Heh heh are you trying to confuse the guy? :D

:p

the man with the mu wont give me his number "says hes lost it" so im thinking dodgy dealer although ive got the man with the dawes number and i could also still get a curve d3

How far is the Mu? Cant you just take a train and get it?

My girlfriend's bike is a Trek f400 and they're good solid little bikes. It's a shame Trek ditched their foray into folders after only a couple of years (2004-2005) as it was a good starting point in the market and with their R&D resource I think over a few years they'd have really started to push the envelope and innovate.

As is - it's essentially chock full with Dahon licenced innovation (hinge, stempost etc) and a great day-to day bike. I find the riding position too 'upright' for me but it's not designed for the kind of riding I do - it's in their 'Navigator' range - ie town bikes for light to medium use. It's not the lightest nor best folding folder out there but it possesses a lot of quality for the price, especially second hand.

the man with the mu wont give me his number "says hes lost it" so im thinking dodgy dealer although ive got the man with the dawes number and i could also still get a curve d3You are probably right. For 200 the Mu is probably stolen.

yeah, i can still get the trek and the curve, curve for £200 and the trek he says make a sensible offer, what would you say is a sensible offer for a second hand trek f400 navigator?

For the trek - £150? £175? A lot of them went for cheaps off the peg when Trek stopped making them -my girlfriend got hers for about £250 new even though list had been more like £375 just months earlier. If it's in good condition £200 isn't crazy but I think you might get it for less with some good haggling.

ok thanks :)

still not sure tho trek or dahon?, i know trek make some of the best mountain bikes out there i wonder if that quality is in their folders and i know dahon is the biggest folder company and is very good quality but still not sure.

Be decisive now WB! Trek excel in mountain bikes and hybrids mainly, Dahon in folders. I categorically recommend the Dahon, especially the Mu range given your shortlist.

its the curve not the mu but dahons are so common + im gunna be doing some off roading on them what would be best for that?

its the curve not the mu but dahons are so common + im gunna be doing some off roading on them what would be best for that?
No folding bike worth 200€ :)

The Trek was built by Dahon and I had one. Very well built and the use of quality components. I would get that over a Dahon D7 or even the Curve 3. But you need to make your mind up a little quicker or these bikes will keep getting sold and you will have nothing in the end.

yup i know i need a e-mail back from the seller of the trek for a buy it now price anyway :)

i can get the trek for £160 inc postage soo i think ill get it i could do with some spare cash

Go for it. There isnt much to modify since it has Marathon tyres, Bontrager cranks, nice grips and great cable. Brakes and rims are nice also.

I found the site
http://www.bayviewcycle.com/NewFiles/bike_specs/003/FOLDING/F400.html

thanks, i just e-mailed seller now and just waiting for him to send invoice :D

Ahh the Trek made by Dahon can't go wrong then. Nothing wrong with them being common as they are the market leader. You could call a Toyota more common than other cars but that's for a reason; they excel in making cars.

Dynocaster is right if they make a bike for another leading non-folder brand then it will be even better than their cheaper range. Sounds a good buy and wish you luck with your new purchase. Whatever Trek put their name to will be well built and of course Dahon are a market leader in manufacturing folders. Curve is also a good bike though as it is very compact fold. Trek will be more versatile off-road also though.

kk thanks, havent got it yet still hasnt e-mailed back but i should get it seen as he was the one who told me what price wanted for the bike, £160 inc postage i think is very good and looking at the site dyno showned their $999 on there.

£160 incl postage is excellent!

I travel into London Paddington too I'll nab it myself hehehehe :D

Joke! Lovely bike get it quick, a bargain! Just saw it.

thanks he just has to e-mail back lets just hope he hasnt changed his mind about selling it to me lol :D

yes i got it! £160 including postage w00t! :D

Very nice bike. I knew you would bite when you felt right, never doubted it and you nabbed a very nice bike at a very nice price!

Now please tell me your address so I can steal it as I like the look of the pressed frame lol! :D

lol thanks mull, it also has specialized tyres erm.. forgot what their called now i think they start with a r, hes also throwing in mudguards and spare innertubes for the specialized tyres so i got a bargain! :D

You sure did! Was worth the wait rather than an impulse buy. I guessed you've proved a few doubters wrong on here haven't you? :D

Good for you it really is a very nice folder. Read this quoted extract from the folding society:

On the road the Trek feels more like a “normal” bike than any other 20 inch wheeler that I have experienced. The huge bar that makes up the frame gives it a rigidity that feels very re-assuring. This is saying a lot but the Trek gives the same riding pleasure as my Bike Friday for less than half the price.

Having read some other forums as well it appears your acquisition would be equivalent to a higher range Dahon bike in the £500-600 pricing bracket. The frame looks like it will give you a nice rigid ride and the whole bike looks well made. Definitely a Dahon written all over it but to high Trek specifications. Certainly would never have been marketed as a low-end folder.

oo very promising, im looking forwards to it already! also thanks for the support m8 :D

Now please tell me your address so I can steal it as I like the look of the pressed frame lol! :D

Perhaps I'll 'borrow' my girlfriend's one to show and tell at one of the next Hyde-Park gatherings...
H

http://www.littlepixel.info/twenty/trek_400.jpg

I am glad you got the Trek, you will be happy with the quality components. When does it arrive?

should arrive tommorrow, little, any idea where i could get a rear carry rack for it?

Where you based by the way WB?

Aldi have a cycle week and I'm sue they are doing rear carying racks at a low price. If not try:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-REAR-CYCLE-MOUNTED-3-BIKE-RACK-CARRIER-STAND_W0QQitemZ250273228484QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250273228484&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

i dont live near a aldi so im gonna have to look around for them :D

would a dahon carry rack work do u think? also would one of these work on it?

http://www.dahon.co.uk/images/thudbuster.jpg