Folding Bikes - New to Forum

I am new to this forum and am unfamiliar with the termology. What is NWT's and what is BF. I also am 5 foot and weight 120 lbs. and looking for a folder with a short seat to handlebar ratio. I don't want to lean over the handlebars either. I also can't spend more than $300 for it. I did get the chance to try an old Kent Transit which I liked alot, but they don't make anymore. It seems the 20" wheels are better then the 16". I also tried the Yea! but liked the feel of the Kent more. I am now looking for reviews on the Barcelona by Citizen, only saw one person review it though. I live in Queens, NY and the only times I will fold it will be for storage and putting in my car trunk, no trains or buses. Probably won't be going up any big hills either.

Trying to make a decision is very daunting. I have been responding to local Craigslist posting to try out different ones, but not much out there except cheap ones and Dahon and the Stradia. Could use any help anyone can give...

Tks..

Bike Friday , a manufacturer of knock down travel bikes , NWT one of their models .. with 20" wheels , 2 types of wheels .
and a rapidly folding bike, the Tikit, with 349 16" wheels..

http://www.bikefriday.com/

Tks, I looked at their website and spoke to a lovely women who was very helpful. Unfortunately, they seem to be top of the line and wayyyy out of my budget. Actually the MOST I can do is $400..

Anyone tried the Schwinn World? It felt ok to sit on in the store, but, they would NOT let me try the bike out and I refuse to purchase one without riding it first. So far I have found only one store that would let me do a test drive. I guess the city is more congested then rural cities..

Welcome to the fold. I would keep trying Craigslist. Thor is a regular here and he has an online store. Here is something close to your budget and it includes shipping. http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/current/speedd7.htm

Nice looking bike, is the seat close to the handlebars. What about the Dahon Cia?

What is NWT's and what is BF.
BF is Bike Friday (http://bikefriday.com), a company which makes well-regarded folding bikes, mostly intended to be broken into suitcases for travel; and also the Tikit, a fast-folding commuter bike. NWT stands for the New World Tourist, one of Bike Friday's most popular models. Bike Friday doesn't make bikes in your price range, so feel free to ignore those posts! ;-)


Nice looking bike, is the seat close to the handlebars. What about the Dahon Cia?

The Speed D7 is a decent Dahon and Thor is a very well-regarded vendor. The Ciao is a much more expensive bike than the Speed D7; unless you're looking at used (and be careful) it's not an option. Both have the same seat-to-handlebar distance, which is probably fine for you. What you need to do is try before you buy Dahon-wise. Were are you located?

NWT on Ebay stands for New with Tags. LOL! I spoke with Black Friday also and they too are very helpful and nice. They DO allow trying the bike out before making a purchase. OMG! You would think that $400 would be enough to get a good folder...

Dahon gives the dimensions and recommended sizes of persons looking at their bikes. It also gives the fold sizes.

I need to try the bike out before I buy it. Has anyone tried the Schwinn World or the Kent 16" yet. Or are those too low end for this forum?

EMS in manhattan is having a 20 percent off sale on any one item and that includes bikes.
the have a Breezer zig for $450 I think, don't quote me, before the discount but the sale is till the 27th.
it could be a rebranded dahon, again, don't quote me.

A Buddy of mine who lives in Queens bought a Dahon Single Speed Folder(Boardwalk model) a few years ago and he loves it. Since the City is reletively flat, the Single Speed does it all for him with little maintenence. And it is one sturdy little bike. I saw one(boardwalk) advertised used for $200 in CL today--can't go wrong with the Boardwalk Single Speed for a first folder that you will use in the City. Check it out! Forgot to mention--the Boardwalk also comes with a rear cargo rack so if you want to attach grocery or book bags at some point in the future, you have that capability with the Boardwalk.

I need to try the bike out before I buy it. Has anyone tried the Schwinn World or the Kent 16" yet. Or are those too low end for this forum?

Don't bother with Kent 16". I've got one from Amazon, tried it once, on the way back from 3rd mile of trip, Plastic arm for derailure snapped! I was glad I wasn't tossed out of seat.
It has way too short crankarm for most adults, geared strangely, tires were very resistive.
Needless to say, it was shipped back to amazon on it's 2nd day.

Definitely look into Craigslist with your budget and give it a test ride on the Dahon.
As for you would think folding bike is going to be cheap? No. For comparably equipped bikes, it looks folding bike will be more expense than most bike in general...

Good luck with your hunt :)

Seems that everyone so far is suggesting the Dahon. No one gave an opinion on the Schwinn World yet and not the Citizen Barcelona except for that one person..

I live in Bayside, NY

Bromptons are Great bikes , but 1st world made so cost a bit, (US $900+) but worth it in the long run.. fold to a smaller size than Da Hon.

Anyone have an opinion on the Raleigh Twenty for me?

Like I mentioned earlier, I am not so much interested in how small it can fold. Just the ratio between the handlebars and the seat and the fact that I don't have to bend over the handlebars. Also maybe 3 to 6 speeds and a real comfortable seat for my rapidly growing butt! LOL!! I have a bad back is why..

I will be recieving a Barcelona sometime soon, on order since Thursday I think. It is intended for a 5'1+" lady.
I will review it soon after assembly and test ride.
I can follow up after a few rides.
Can you wait that long?

I think a Raleigh would work just fine. Do a search and you will find some nice custom Raleighs. I think a 3 speed Curve would be nice.

Sure can. I am not going to make a purchase until I am totally sure. I don't want this to be an impulse purchase. To be quite frank I am a bit disappointed that everyone is suggesting a Dahon. For the type of riding I am going to do I don't see why I need a $500 bike and why Dahon is the only way to go..

because people have had the cheaper bikes and they were a problem. You can do what you want but you are getting life experience here and we have all been there and done it the hard way.

even the lower end dahon's have cost saving components and non stardard specs. such as the crank arm welded to the chainring.
above 500 and you'll see brand name components. I ride a much maligned Gekko and it serves my purpose fine.
I just replaced a lot of components such as seatpost, crank and chainring and pedals. I'm going to get a charge spoon saddle next. when the tires wear out, I'll get big apples. (the crank arm stripped on day one and I used epoxy for the past 2 yrs as a stop gap fix)

To be quite frank I am a bit disappointed that everyone is suggesting a Dahon. For the type of riding I am going to do I don't see why I need a $500 bike and why Dahon is the only way to go..

There has only been a small fraction of people on this forum who have weighed in..

Downtube has their Nova on SALE (http://www.downtube.com/product541.html) .. the bike would easily meet your needs... through the years and for a variety of reasons, I have purchased 6 Downtube bikes .. they all have been solid value ...

There is a mega thread spanning the last 5 years of people commenting on Downtube bikes HERE (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=122760&highlight=Downtube) .. the vast majority (including the last post) agree that they represent excellent value for the money..

do you really think it's wise to recommend a mail order bike to someone new?
I think their LBS will serve them well, we don't want another cindy incident.

do you really think it's wise to recommend a mail order bike to someone new?
I think their LBS will serve them well, we don't want another cindy incident.

Based on my experience with buying 6 Downtubes, I would say absolutely.. plus there was a 30 money back offer on all of them (none of them went back).. and the OP said she was new to the forum, not new to bikes.. but even if she was, any competent bike shop could handle simpe PDI chores cheaply ... and, if one is daring, they could try bidding on the bay .. here's the last 7 that SOLD (http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&LH_Complete=1&_nkw=downtube%20folding&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283&_rdc=1)

'Cindy incident'?? Even the most casual observer might discount that tirade .

we shall see. the internet is a wonderful and marvelous thing.
the cindy incident is quite common. people have different expectations. what's fine with me might not be fine with others.

Your combined experiences is exactly what I am interested in. What is LBS? I would not order from a website unless I tried the bike out and liked it first. Lets see what other opinions I get in the next few days.

Downtube
Dahon D7
Possible Barcelona

Keep in mind please I am 5'1" and need a short expansion from seat to handlebars and relatively sitting up straight...

I have a lot of needs don't I? LOL!!

P.S. I love your alias TiberiusBTkirk, shalll I call you CAPTAIN?? lol. sORRY i COULD NOT HELP THAT...

LBS is your Local Bike Shop. you would need to add in the cost of them looking over your mail order bike.
NYC prices.

Local Bike Shop. LBS.

I am finding that my LBS's are full of crap... They seem to want to sell me anything whether or not it is a good fit. So far I am not impressed by them and do not trust their opinion. Which is why I need to do all the research myself. I am very sure that if I do not purchase the bike from them they will charge me an arm and leg to look it over too!!

I've had the Kent for a while, bought it new for around $150. I liked it well enough, but once my riding style improved and I knew what I wanted from a bike, I wanted better things. So, I got a Dahon Piccolo used for around $150. They don't make this model any more, which is a shame, since it is a lovely bike. The quality is SOOOOO much better and you can really tell the difference. The poor Piccolo was stolen though, so I saved up a bit and now I have a Brompton.

I would suggest a Dahon in your price range, possibly used. There are a lot of good deals on used folding bikes on CL, Ebay, or wherever, and really, I would rather buy a used mid- or higher-end bike than a new low-end bike. There is a reason why we suggest Dahons--they are a good brand, and relatively problem-free if you take good care of them.

take a look at the dahon Eco 3, that bike looks sharp. really pretty.
LL Bean even sells it. sorry to hear bout your LBS experience, my first club racer was bought at a LBS, after that I bought them either used or via phone order. (pre internet days)

So in your expert riding experience would you suggest the Dahon D7 for my needs? I don't mind getting a used bike at all. I just sold a Gary Fisher 21 speed Hybrid because it was a bit too much for me. I was a real nice bike and hated to see it go, but it sat in my garage for years because I was afraid to rid it, I had to jump off and the bike went sideways when I put my feet down. Not good for my back at all. This was with the seat all the way down too

I really appreciate everyones suggestions but I want suggestions on bikes that people have ridden, a bike can look really great visually but might not meet my needs riding it. Thank you for your suggestion though, I really appreciate it. Craiglist just came up with a LBS in Manhattan and he sells Dahon folders and lets potential customers ride them first. Check it out on CL in New York if you all want

that's a great start, you're on your way. test rides are great. have fun.

I really appreciate everyones suggestions but I want suggestions on bikes that people have ridden, a bike can look really great visually but might not meet my needs riding it. Thank you for your suggestion though, I really appreciate it. Craiglist just came up with a LBS in Manhattan and he sells Dahon folders and lets potential customers ride them first. Check it out on CL in New York if you all want

I hold a folder ride down here in the SoCal area every now and then, so I have ridden a lot of different kinds of folding bikes, from el cheapo Kent to the super expensive MuSL and Bromptons, and everything in between. For your budget $400 or below, I'd skip past all the low-end bikes like the Schwinn or the Kent, and go straight for the mid-range bikes like the Dahon Speed D7, Curve, and the like. I've ridden both, and both are good bikes, though I prefer the Curve because it has the three speed internal gear hub, which is pretty much indestructible.

You're basically looking for a budget folder, fair enough. Here's a link.

http:/www.consumersearch.com/folding-bikes/budget-folding-bikes (http://www.consumersearch.com/folding-bikes/budget-folding-bikes)

Weigh in what this website says and look at the links they provide to find out more about the bike via the folder's specific website. Look up the bike on Amazon - not to buy but to read the reviews, which can be telling.

Most importantt of all, test ride the budget bike you're thinking of buying because no matter how good the price is, a cheap bike is a cheap bike. And you don't have to be an expect on bikes to spot a crappy bike. This holds true with a bike that doesn't fit you, as you have already found out.

P.S. Another good source of reviews - although biased - involves doing a search on youtube. I do remember seeing a review from a rider on the Schwinn Loop. Perhaps someone did a viddy on the Schwinn World.

Dyno/All - Excuse the ignorant question and my apologizes rosiebud for hijacking the thread for a sec., but isn't a Raleigh Twenty a classic type folder, almost a collector's item?

Sure can. I am not going to make a purchase until I am totally sure. I don't want this to be an impulse purchase. To be quite frank I am a bit disappointed that everyone is suggesting a Dahon. For the type of riding I am going to do I don't see why I need a $500 bike and why Dahon is the only way to go..

I hear you. The quality options seem to be very few on this budget.

I have similar budget restriction as you do. I cannot spend more than $400 on a folding bike, and since no LBS sells them in this country, my online options are rather limited.
I considered trying to raise my budget $100 or $150, but right now it's almost impossible for me to go over the $400 limit due to extraneous forces (political and economical).

I definetely cannot try before I buy, and I can't buy used (no craiglist for me) so I have to buy new, online and have no choice but to trust what specs and people say about sizing and weight.

So far according to my research, the only options I have so far are:

Downtube 8h, dahon Eco 7 or Citizen Gotham 2 / miami.

There is also the Downtube NOVA, but I'm on the top of the height limit (6 feet) and 10 pounds over the weight limit (200).

I guess I've been overthinking this way too much, so I might just forget about riding to work for now, or embrace my third-worldness and just pull the trigger on whatever I can get my hands on right now and deal with it as it comes.

Yea, that is another one I was checking out, the Gotham. but, I have been reading that the chain falls off alot.

Yea, that is another one I was checking out, the Gotham. but, I have been reading that the chain falls off alot.

Hi "rosiebud",

You can get a good decent folder NEW for under $400. Other people have already mentioned some of them like the Dahon Eco 3, Downtube Nova, Citizenbike Barcelona, and the Gotham2.

Speaking of the Gotham2, where did you read that the chain "falls off a lot"?

All that said, if you decide to look at the used aftermarket, you might run across some of the mid range bikes for about what you have budgeted for. However be careful, and inspect any used bike very closely. But most of the times you should find decent used bikes.

Good luck!

.I have a Downtube 8H, I like it.

There are alot of Dahon models on their website, very, very confusing. Which one for my needs? D7, Curve and now you mention Eco 3? Also a few Downtube models were suggested also.

It was either here that I saw about the chains or just general surfing for reviews, maybe Amazon? I am getting crazy with all these names and models to choose from.

You do NOT need to spend $500 and Dahon Boardwalks are not $500 ; I recommended the Boardwalk because it may be a good for you. The best bike for your purpose may not always be the most costly. Also if at some point in the future you want to add 3 speeds, Utah Trike (website) offers the conversion presently for around $50. I payed $75 for my Boardwalk and it was a great little Bike. For the Money, I couldn't have bought a better bike for my purpose. I would have replaced it with the same(after it was stolen) but I wanted a lighter model as I put it up on Bus Racks, wheel it up stairs, have it on escalators while I'm using our Metro Train system so weight is a big Factor for me. I'm sure the Rat who stole it is (my beloved Boardwalk) enjoying it as much as I did. I would recommend your actually test riding the Bike before buying so no regrets later.

I am hoping to see a Boardwalk on CL that I can try. I did not know that you can change one speed to a three speed. Thank you for that bit of information..

Here's the Link to Utah Trikes and the 3 speed conversion. And I was off on the price--its $79.95 for the Kit but there is a lot of value there for the money, even at $79.95. Various posters here have done the 3 speed conversion on their Boardwalks.

http://www.utahtrikes.com/PRODINFO-Sturmey_Archer_3_Speed_Wheel_Kit.html

Anyone have an opinion on the Raleigh Twenty for me?

I love them... after you upgrade a few things.

With a $400.00 budget you could buy a Twenty and have more than enough to do a few upgrades... at minimum I would replace the front wheel with an alloy one and fit Kool Stop salmon pads to improve the braking.

If your riding is flat and the bike only has to go in the boot of your car the twenty is an ideal bike as it is tougher than most and rides better than most folders.

The lend themselves to a great number of modifications...

His (mine)...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/forrest5speed4.JPG

Hers... the stock wheels and brakes were replaced.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/1974R2009new1.jpg

rosiebud - Since you've stated that:

1. You're not in a hurry
2. you're not going to buy impulsively and
3. you're not going to buy a folder without test riding it first

then take it easy. Do more research and bide your time. As far as being confused about what is being suggested, the suggestions were pretty clear and mainly driven by your stated budget and preference:

Citizen Barcelona
Citizen Gotham 2
Downtube Nova
Downtube 8H
Dahon Broadwalk
Dahon ECO 3/D7
Dahon Speed/D7 (over $400 - new)
Raleigh Twenty

Now except for the Speed D7, all the above bikes are under $400 - NEW.

I'm sure you can get the above for less than that if you're going 2nd hand but why get the bike "used" when you can get it "new" for that price?

Although no one really answered my question on the Raleigh Twenty, I'm assuming we're talking "used" with a great possibility of needing upgrades on top of that. If I'm wrong on the Raleigh Twenty on that score, please let me know.

As far as really wanting recommendations from people actually riding any of these models, well you have a few already: the Dahon Broadwalk, Downtube 8H, Raleigh Twenty and someone did recently buy a Barcelona and gave an initial review (look for BluePlate's review on this forum).

Beyond this someone will be offering a 2nd "initial review" on the Barcelona. I'm getting a Dahon Speed D7 soon. I'll probably post a review on that later this week. It will be my first folder too.

If you want more reviews on a particular model, try doing a search using google by typing in the model and adding review. Ex. Citizen Barcelona review. You can also do a search in this forum. Information about particular models may be in past threads.

P.S. I'm 5 ft 1 1/2 inches in height and can understand your concern about reaching the handlebars. My arm reach is about 19 inches. With this in mind I initially decided on a Dahon ECO, which had the shortest reach (about 23 inches to the handlebars). However, in the end I decided on a Dahon Speed D7 because it was the better bike and the handlebar and handlepost can be upgraded in the future.

I also could use an adapter called an Aber Hallo now that will hopefully bring the handlebars closer to me.

Well, I'll find if all of this is true, when I get my folder, which will have the Aber Hallo on it, courtesy of Thor (the vendor I got my folder from).

Definitely look at the link I gave you before. Also look at Downtubes FAQ. They do make a direct comparison of their bikes against others.

Downtube also has a "frame diagram". This will show you the geometry of their models. Note the top tube length which measures the distance from the seat post to where the handlebars would be.

Of course Dahon has the above measurement right in the specs for each model.

Schwinn has a geometry (frame diagram) for the bike you're interested in on their site. Just look for the model you want and the geometry tab is right there.

For the life of me I couldn't find the bike geometry for Citizen Bike. If someone knows how to access it, please let us know.

Sixty five - Great looking bikes.:thumb: Would love to know more about the Raleigh Twenty but this isn't the time or the thread for that.

Wow!!!! I'm beginning to find that having a folder is like having cats, you just can't have one.:)

Your combined experiences is exactly what I am interested in. What is LBS? I would not order from a website unless I tried the bike out and liked it first. Lets see what other opinions I get in the next few days.

Downtube
Dahon D7
Possible Barcelona

Keep in mind please I am 5'1" and need a short expansion from seat to handlebars and relatively sitting up straight...

I have a lot of needs don't I? LOL!!

keep the barcelona out of the list - just my advise. it might be a nice looking bike but it's different when you get it.

Hi Rosiebud, I think the difficult thing in making folding bike recommendations is that there are so many different types of folders out there, with each one engineered to solve a specific set of problems. For example, here are some factors to think about:

(1) Rider height and weight (bikes do have limits)
(2) Compactness of fold (this is critical if you're planning to use the bike for multi-modal commuting; e.g., taking it every day onto a packed rush-hour train or bus that doesn't allow full-size bikes)
(3) Ease and speed of folding (important if you're going to be folding it multiple times daily; if the fold is tedious and time-consuming, you'll resent it pretty quickly)
(4) Gearing (If you're riding in perfectly flat conditions for short distances, a single-speed bike can be more than adequate; if you've got hills, then multiple gears become important. The important specification is not so much number of gears but your *gear range*--30"-90" is decent for regular commuting in varied terrain.)
(5) Riding comfort
(6) Riding performance/speed (important if you've got a lot of distance to cover; say, 7 miles or greater at a stretch).
(7) Bike weight (If you live on the 5th floor of a walk-up, you don't want to be hauling a 30-pound monster upstairs all the time.)
(8) Quality of construction (Is it made well and with decent materials?)
(9) Customizability (Does it use mostly standard bike components that can be replaced and upgraded over time time at your local bike shop or does it use lots of proprietary parts and require servicing by specially trained mechanics?)
(10) Cargo capacity (Do you plan on using your bike to haul groceries, shopping purchases, children?)
(11) Cost (does it fit in your budget?)

As you can guess, there is NO one bicycle that performs equally well in all these areas. For example, a Brompton is a fantastic bike for its quick and compact fold, perfect for that crowded train commute scenario. On the other hand, it's expensive with lots of proprietary parts and not a bike you'd want to ride long distances on. On the other hand, a Xootr Swift is perfect for long-distance commuting (fast!), is highly customizable, and costs much less than a Brompton BUT the folded size is more than twice that of a Brompton.

Hopefully you've already read the "New to folding bikes, can't choose? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?662536-New-to-folding-bikes-can-t-choose-Read-this-FIRST)" thread. If not, start there.

Probably the best advice I received when starting down the (folding) bicycle path two years ago after years of not riding was, "Don't spend a lot of money on your first bicycle." What you really want is a bike that's just "good enough" so that it's not a total disaster, and that you can ride over several months to gain greater insight into your bicycling needs. Then you can make a more informed purchase down the road when you're ready.

For example, when I started riding folders, I felt that a compact fold was the most important factor and I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I got a Downtube Mini. Over time, I discovered that compactness wasn't so critical for me but road performance was, so now I have a Xootr Swift.

I think your best bets on your list are the Downtube 8H and the Dahon Speed D7. Both bikes are decent enough that you can ride them for a long time. The Downtube Nova has limited gearing as do the other Dahon models listed. Have you looked at Dahon's helpful "Find the Right Bike (http://us.dahon.com/choosing-your-bike)" tool? I would steer well clear of a Raleigh 20--that is for serious folding bike aficionados who are also bike mechanics and have LOTS of time, patience, tools, skills, and knowledge to clean, repair, rebuild, and modify to their heart's content.

Since you're in New York, there are a lot of places in the city that sell folding bikes. No quality bike shop would not let you try the bike before buying it. They want you to be a satisfied customer!

If you want to try out some higher-end folding bikes, there is NYCE Wheels (http://www.nycewheels.com/) on the UES and bfold (http://www.bfold.com/) in the East Village.