Folding Bikes - Have you guys seen these?!?!?!?

It's either the Giant Japan or the Giant Taiwan site. Look at those great folders we never see over here.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/zh-HT/bikes/ebike/

I particularly like the look of the tallerway and the Triway.

I think I've seen these before, they are really nice bikes. I live in Misawa, located in the Aomori Prefecture of north Japan. Believe it or not, these little guys aren't as popular as you'd think. Most Japanese people ride MTBs around town, I'd guess because the sidwalks are pretty bad and you can't ride in the street (unless you have a death wish). You'd think Giant would bring these babies to the States for you guys (and me when I get home) to try out. If you really want one, Translate the page with Google and order it from them. The Yen rate is around 100 yen = $1. No doubt these are nice!

When visiting Tokyo & Kyoto last month I was amazed at the amount of folders and mini-velos (10%-15% of all bikes). All locked outside :). I bought this magazine (available in every book store I visited) called 'Small World': it's solely about all kinds of small wheeled bikes. I was quite impressed. Most of the other bikes were commuters, few mountain bikes. Interestingly everyone used the sidewalk when there was one available: my wife was actually hit by accident when walking, but she was cool about it.

I was in Tokyo last month too and I totally agree - it's pretty amazing to see so many foldies and other small-wheeled bikes! The bike scene there in general is pretty awesome.

Funny thing is, my bro who lives there, tells me they are suppose to ride on sidewalks and NOT on the streets because the roads are already too narrow for cars!

His apartment lends out electric bikes for people to use (for free) - how cool is that?!

I took some pics of some neat little bikes & typical bike parking space...see attached.

More pics here.... http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21178771167&ref=ts

Those three bikes in the top row look like great shopping bikes. Do you know what company makes them?

Tokyo Smokyo! I can't stand Tokyo. Anyways, I remember seeing some pretty small bikes last time I rode down there. However, saying that these are the "norm" in Japan is like saying every American drives a Mercedes. I live in real Japan and MTBs are where it's at. LOL. I guess these little guys are around but just haven't caught on up north. It's weird that you guys were in Tokyo at the same time. By the way, I have lived in Japan for 2 years and I would NEVER EVER dare to ride in the road. I don't even want to walk accross a crosswalk!

Tokyo Smokyo! I can't stand Tokyo. Anyways, I remember seeing some pretty small bikes last time I rode down there. However, saying that these are the "norm" in Japan is like saying every American drives a Mercedes. I live in real Japan and MTBs are where it's at. LOL. I guess these little guys are around but just haven't caught on up north. It's weird that you guys were in Tokyo at the same time. By the way, I have lived in Japan for 2 years and I would NEVER EVER dare to ride in the road. I don't even want to walk accross a crosswalk!

I've lived in Japan for over 25yrs...& I ride on the shoulder of the road all the time.

"Japan's" a pretty big place & not every city in Japan is bike unfriendly..

Agree with not seeing alot of the hot folders that I see in ads/internet, even the LBS for sale..! Guess they're so tiny, people just keep'm in their closet. :p

And oh, I can only take Tokyo for a couple, few days too, then I've gotta come home! :twitchy:

I looooooved Tokyo when I was there (a year, while my parents were going through the intensive language course needed to enter Japanese uni). I'm just a big-city type girl, I guess, since I also love LA and Manila. I wouldn't bike there, though. Then I moved to Sendai and loved it too--I did bike to and from shogakko when I was there when I was old enough to be "trusted" with a bike.

since I also love LA and Manila. I wouldn't bike there, though. Then I moved to Sendai and loved it too--.

nekohime,
how long did you stay in manila ? that's my city - to be exact it's quezon city which is about 10-20 miles away. love it specially the night life and christmas....

thanks,
vic

It's either the Giant Japan or the Giant Taiwan site. Look at those great folders we never see over here.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/zh-HT/bikes/ebike/

I particularly like the look of the tallerway and the Triway.

Actually, it's the mainland china website. Go to http://www.giant-bicycles.com/zh-TW for taiwan or http://www.giant.co.jp for japan.

I thinck I have seen all these bikes before, but some with different names. Ie xtendo=Giatex? ;conway=hemmingway?

I've been to Misawa many, many times. Always scheduled my trips around the Nebuta Festival. Good times. Good times. I can see why people might want a more substantial ride like a mountain bike up there. Very rural area and they measure snow in Meters, not millimeters or centimeters. Anything less than a meter doesn't count that far up north I don't think.

I've got a pic of me at the snow corridor there where the snow is at least 24' thick.

Been my experience that Tokyo is ate up with folders. It's darn sure safe to ride a bike in Okinawa as Kaito says and I rode a bike for a couple years in Yamaguchi Prefecture which is pretty rural as well with no real problems.

John

Actually, it's the mainland china website. Go to http://www.giant-bicycles.com/zh-TW for taiwan or http://www.giant.co.jp for japan.

Thanks for that. I was unsure about which country it was - not being familiar with Asian languages and how different they may or may not look. I imagine my children's children won;t have that problem :).

Those three bikes in the top row look like great shopping bikes. Do you know what company makes them?

No Sorry Faffer - I don't know who makes them. I saw several more but not at the LBS. One of them has a "Andy Cafe" logo though.