Folding Bikes - 1970's J C Penney folding bike - is it a good deal or not?

I'm a newbie to biking and to bike forums. I'm a small, old female trying to get active. I'd like to get a folding bike to ride on paved trails in my area.

I found a 3 speed, 20" 1970's folding bike on Craig's List for $250 The guy says it needs nothing and is in excellent condition. My worry is that if I would have problems getting parts if something went wrong with it.

In the past I found a folding Dahon on Craig's List, but it was a mountain bike and the seat couldn't go low enough for me to straddle it. I need a seat height of 30" or less.

Any help, advice and suggestions from the forumites would be greatly appreciated. :)

If this is of any help, I saw one recently sold from our LBS for around $150 in so so shape cosmetically but the owner did put new tires on it and adjusted all the mechanics. It rode very nice. It was an orange metallic bike with a white seat and a small rear rack. It was for sale for several weeks. I think you could do way better then $250 given the time.

$250 is completely ridiculous.

Well, i'm small, old, male and still trying to get active & my advice to you would be to spend your money on something modern and light, something that is a joy to ride, just for the sake of riding it, then you can be sure you will ride it more often.

250 is ridicoulous at best
give me an email I might be able to help

thor

Well, i'm small, old, male and still trying to get active & my advice to you would be to spend your money on something modern and light, something that is a joy to ride, just for the sake of riding it, then you can be sure you will ride it more often.
So am I but I ride this for fun. Heavy, Old and Cool - just like me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3514124304_85ce5420b5.jpg

So am I but I ride this for fun. Heavy, Old and Cool - just like me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3514124304_85ce5420b5.jpg

Now, that IS Cool! Congrats!

So am I but I ride this for fun. Heavy, Old and Cool - just like me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3514124304_85ce5420b5.jpg

Your bike is so cool that it rides without a chain?

I'm a newbie to biking and to bike forums. I'm a small, old female trying to get active. I'd like to get a folding bike to ride on paved trails in my area.

I found a 3 speed, 20" 1970's folding bike on Craig's List for $250 The guy says it needs nothing and is in excellent condition. My worry is that if I would have problems getting parts if something went wrong with it.

In the past I found a folding Dahon on Craig's List, but it was a mountain bike and the seat couldn't go low enough for me to straddle it. I need a seat height of 30" or less.

Any help, advice and suggestions from the forumites would be greatly appreciated. :)

You did not specify a budget so I will assume you might be comfortable enough to spend around 500 US dollars on a new folding bike as the used folding bike market can be laden with overpriced bikes for the unwary. I recommend the Dahon entry level series of either the 2009 Boardwalk single speed S1 (retail at 200-250 dollars), or the Speed D7 (7 speeds derailleur), or if your heart is on hub gears like the JC Penney one, the Curve D3 at 600 dollars will do. All three are probably a better buy as they at least have a limited warranty on them unlike the used ones.

So am I but I ride this for fun. Heavy, Old and Cool - just like me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3514124304_85ce5420b5.jpg


What is that, and why don't I have one?

What is that, and why don't I have one?

Sears/huffy tote. People on craigslist think they're worth a fortune for some reason. It was like a $50 bike when new... That's not to say they're not fun though.

I would not buy an antique/old folder for a first or only bike. You should be able to get a gently used more modern one for that amount of money.

Aaron:)

Sears/huffy tote. People on craigslist think they're worth a fortune for some reason. It was like a $50 bike when new... That's not to say they're not fun though.

Let the hunt begin!

Thank you miamimike for that information. The seller of the old J C Penney bike sent me pictures. It looks like it's in very good condition but from what you said, he's asking too much. I guess I could always offer less and see what he says. Thanks again for your input.

brakemeister ... I don't want to sound like the idiot I am, but who's email do you want, the sellers? And to help do what?

Thank you folder fanatic for your thoughts, they make sense. I really don't have a budget. I can spend whatever I want, but don't want to waste money. The only reason I was looking at used folders is because I don't have a dealer near me, not one that I know of anyway. I live in a suburb of St. Louis and the closest Dahon dealer is Midwest Recumbent Bicycles in Mascoutah, Illinois which isn't close. The only folders they sell are Dahon and Downtube.

Dumb ol' me I thought my replies would end up under what I was replying to, but they didn't. Sorry for any confusion that it caused, mainly to myself.

I thank all of you that I haven't thanked earlier for your input, you helped me make up my mind not to do something stupid. I'm going to look for a new folder because I'm sure it will be lighter.

I really like the looks of Social Suicide's bike (thanks for sharing) and wonder how heavy it is with a chain (megavovan, anyone ever call you Hawkeye?) but I've decided I'm going to go with something that is newer, lighter and has a warranty (even if I have to drive quite a distance to use that warranty).

Thank you again. You're a great group.

You did not specify a budget so I will assume you might be comfortable enough to spend around 500 US dollars on a new folding bike as the used folding bike market can be laden with overpriced bikes for the unwary. I recommend the Dahon entry level series of either the 2009 Boardwalk single speed S1 (retail at 200-250 dollars), or the Speed D7 (7 speeds derailleur), or if your heart is on hub gears like the JC Penney one, the Curve D3 at 600 dollars will do. All three are probably a better buy as they at least have a limited warranty on them unlike the used ones.

I would add the Dahon Vitesse to this list, it has a 7-speed hub and is about the closest Dahon gets to a bike in the class of the Raleigh 20.

brakemeister ... I don't want to sound like the idiot I am, but who's email do you want, the sellers? And to help do what?

My email ..... if you need a super affordable deal, than I can help as I have a handfull of special closeouts
http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/accessories/oneoff.htm
just dont want to " spam" the board ..hence the email from you ...lol

Thor