Folding Bikes - Not another simple "decide for me" thread...

Hi all!

I started a couple of weeks ago to research about the best folding bike to me.

I live in Brazil and the prices here are really prohibitive. A bike can cost 3, 4x more.
Well, my mother is going to travel to New York and I thought about asking her to bring me a folding bike.

Firstly I liked the Gotham Citizen one (price + what you get) but then I read some reviews that said about paddles falling on the go and some other kind of problems, what discouraged me a bit.

Back to the research, I crossed with the Downtube Nova and Dahon Speed D7.

Reading reviews, I thought that the Dahon one was the choice due the durability and reliance, but the price is really a matter.

Then, I found this forum, used the search engine and I'm in doubt again, between the three of them.

I would use the bike around 4, 5 times per week. In the morning I would carry it (folded) to my job, in the private company bus. Backing from work, I would leave the bus near my gym, unfold and go.

After the gym, return home cycling around 6 miles.

I could take the bike into a trip, but it wouldn't happen always.

So, what I expect from the bike is that it gets a good speed, durability and the almost important thing, I belive: I must resist a plane trip!:D

I don't want to give my venter a bad time carring it for me and I really need the bike to arrive here in one piece for obvious reasons, I belive!

Buying one online, I imagine that it comes in a cardboard box kind of thing, that can stand a delivery inside USA. Don't know if it could stand a luggage treadmill and all the care and delicacy of the airport carriers!:notamused:

So, that's my case.

Gotham Citizen, Dahon Speed D7 and Downtube Nova.

Any other advice about the plane thing will be welcome! (no, i won't buy a 200 bucks airporter case stuff)

Thank you all in advance!

If bikes costs x3-4 times, get in the US two Bromptons, sell one and this will cover the other one ;-)

The Dahons come in boxes about a metre long and a little less tall. They're well packed , with a plastic support under the seat tube, and covers on all the parts that could rub and scratch.

The Downtube Nova is 2kg lighter than the Speed D7. The D7 has a 'faster' top gear range, but the Nova will be slightly easier going up hills.

Check out the Dahon Mu-P8. You might find a 2008 or 2009 at a discount. Also check Gaerlan.com to see how pack in a stansdard suitcase

If bikes costs x3-4 times, get in the US two Bromptons, sell one and this will cover the other one ;-)

Well, I could do that, but, as I said in the previous post, my mother will bring it to me and just one is already trouble for her. Second that I'd pay a lot of international extra luggage fee for the airline. Third that I'd pay around 50~60% for the customs once I arrive in my country. I'd bring some PS3s if I wanted to make some money.;-)

The Dahons come in boxes about a metre long and a little less tall. They're well packed , with a plastic support under the seat tube, and covers on all the parts that could rub and scratch.

The Downtube Nova is 2kg lighter than the Speed D7. The D7 has a 'faster' top gear range, but the Nova will be slightly easier going up hills.

Thanks! Do you thing that the dahon on its box could resist by itself the airport carrier's "tenderness" ?:)

Do you know something about the box where downtube nova comes?

Check out the Dahon Mu-P8. You might find a 2008 or 2009 at a discount. Also check Gaerlan.com to see how pack in a stansdard suitcase

Thanks for the tip! I'll buy the bike, whatever it will be, online. Found good prices in Ebay, but will look in some online stores for the Mu-P8.

Don't be too put off by reports of breaking pedals and simple parts like that. Pedals are cheap to replace and inexpensive bikes usually come with crappy pedals. Judging a bike by its pedals is not a good move. If your budget is very low then a Gotham is as good a buy as many others. Downtube Nova falls in about the same class. The Dahon D7 is a cut above.