Folding Bikes - Walmart Folder

I have a Dahon Speed 8 myself and really enjoy riding it. I recently was browsing the walmart website and saw a "Stow away 20" folder" for $ 130. What do you guys think about this bike? Is this a good beater bike? http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513003

I have not seen that model. You have to make that decision yourself based on if the bike fits you properly (I.E) does the seatpost come up high enough for you also does the handlebar stem rise high enough so you are not hunched over? What is the gearing? I would say 54 to 56 gear inches would be minimum gearing for a single speed bicycle . IF it is geared much lower it will be too low.Last but no least how much does it weigh?

This is the only info. I found on the website. The shipping weight is 39lbs

Product Information
Speeds: 5 speed gearing with twist shifter
Suspension: Adjustable comfort suspension
Frame: Aluminum 20 inch frame
Features: Folds in 3 easy steps

Description


* Lightweight, 20-inch frame
* Quick-release seat and handlebar adjustment
* Shimano 5-speed gearing with twist shifter
* Weatherproof resin fender
* No tools required for assembly or folding and unfolding
* Maximum weight limit 250 pounds
* Seat elevates to approximately 34"

This is the only info. I found on the website. The shipping weight is 39lbs

* Lightweight, 20-inch frame


That bike weigths 39 lbs and lightweight???

Holy Cow! That bike weights almost twice as much as my Speed at 23lbs! Is there any bike Walmart sells that doesn't weight a ton??

That bike weigths 39 lbs and lightweight???

To be fair, the text only said that it had a lightweight frame. Maybe it just has very, very, very heavy tires.

Or, since it's really the shipping weight that's 39 lbs, maybe it ships in an iron box. :D

I was under the impression it was available at your local Wal mart.

I have a Dahon Speed 8 myself and really enjoy riding it. I recently was browsing the walmart website and saw a "Stow away 20" folder" for $ 130. What do you guys think about this bike? Is this a good beater bike? http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513003 Now that i have seen the website I recall seeing that bike at The forest park wal mart . I was not terribly impressed but I think if you need a longer seatpost you should be able to get it easily enough. The roadmaster low rider bike looks better to me though.

I was under the impression it was available at your local Wal mart.

I saw one at a Wal-mart in Fraconia, VA last July. I looked it over and was moderately impressed with it. My memory was it was a 6 speed rather than a 5, Wal-mart web postings are not always correct. Even with 20" wheels, I think I'd recommend adding an fder/double crankset to one of those, my recollection was it didn't have that high a top gear. It felt like it weighed about 30 lbs.

Well, I got the Stow away for my brother for Christmas. He was stoked, and so was I, since he will not be riding my Bike Friday! Whoooo hooooo! :D

Anyway, it's a 5 speed, rapid fire shifter folding bike. I talked to my brother. He thinks it's between 25- 30 pounds. I lugged that thing up the stairs by myself... 4 flights to get to his apartment. It was heavy, but not overly-cumbersome.

We put air in the wheels. He loves the bike. He's headed out with the kids to ride his bike and the kids' bikes in the open air garage area (I also got one of my nephews the Schwinn Sting-Ray for christmas).

Apparently, it's supposed to come with two seatposts. The standard one fits 5'- 5'11, and the other seatpost is for taller people. I didn't get the bike pre-assembled, so I'm heading back to Walmart to get the other seatpost. Bastards! They tried to rip me off!

Koffee

Well, I got the Stow away for my brother for Christmas. He was stoked, and so was I, since he will not be riding my Bike Friday! Whoooo hooooo! :D

Anyway, it's a 5 speed, rapid fire shifter folding bike. I talked to my brother. He thinks it's between 25- 30 pounds. I lugged that thing up the stairs by myself... 4 flights to get to his apartment. It was heavy, but not overly-cumbersome.

We put air in the wheels. He loves the bike. He's headed out with the kids to ride his bike and the kids' bikes in the open air garage area (I also got one of my nephews the Schwinn Sting-Ray for christmas).

Apparently, it's supposed to come with two seatposts. The standard one fits 5'- 5'11, and the other seatpost is for taller people. I didn't get the bike pre-assembled, so I'm heading back to Walmart to get the other seatpost. Bastards! They tried to rip me off!

Koffee

Since it's a 5 speed, a nice upgrade might be going to 7 speed if the dropouts can be spread.
I know that's primarily aluminum, but are the rear stays steel or aluminum?

I don't remember. I don't live in the same state as my brother, so I can't check, and I don't think he would know which way.

I think what he's got is fine. If he gets into cycling and rides consistently, I'll just upgrade him to a new bike that is much higher quality.

Koffee

I don't remember. I don't live in the same state as my brother, so I can't check, and I don't think he would know which way.

I think what he's got is fine. If he gets into cycling and rides consistently, I'll just upgrade him to a new bike that is much higher quality.

Koffee

Too bad you're not MY sister. You could buy me a new bike too...

Only 5 1/2 months to this year's Tour Transalp!

it looks too good to be true for me. Its still from walmart, and i dont think it would be worth the $.

but hey, i could always be wrong, i would like to see some halfway decent bikes at walmart eventually. It wouldent hurt to test it out.

This is the only info. I found on the website. The shipping weight is 39lbs

Product Information
Speeds: 5 speed gearing with twist shifter
Suspension: Adjustable comfort suspension
Frame: Aluminum 20 inch frame
Features: Folds in 3 easy steps

Description


* Lightweight, 20-inch frame
* Quick-release seat and handlebar adjustment
* Shimano 5-speed gearing with twist shifter
* Weatherproof resin fender
* No tools required for assembly or folding and unfolding
* Maximum weight limit 250 pounds
* Seat elevates to approximately 34"

Don't rely on "shipping weight" to determine the product weight! Couriers (and Canada/US Post) seem to use some kind of "volume*weight" formula (dimensional weight I think they call it) to calculate shipping.

I get a lot of stuff shipped that says "shipping weight: 2 pounds" for something like a paperback book. (more like 2 ounces)

I'm kind of impressed with that bike! I'd love to try one. Have to take a trip to Walmart now just so I can compare that bike with my KHS. :)

C.

Ok, just in case everyone wanted an update on the Walmart folder.

It's crap if you plan on doing any type of distance riding.

It has 5 gears and that's it. My brother wasn't using it, so my sister-in-law began using it and going on rides with me. Initially, she did like it, but the more you ride it, the worse it performs. So if you work less than a mile away and just want to scoot out to work and back, this is your bike. If you actually want to DO something with the bike, it won't work.

My sis-in-law is frustrated with the bike. She says that she has to pedal about 100 rpm just to keep the bike going, whereas I am going about 70 rpm (any faster, and she won't keep up with me! And she's new to cycling, so I don't want to scare her away). Today, she said the chain felt more slack than normal, and I can see it's sagging a bit. Bleah.

We're retiring that bike for now and I'm going to do some maintenance on the bike I got for her. It's an old school retro- 80s bike, but it's a 12 speed, and if there's anything my sis learned, it's the importance of gears (which she phoo-phoo'ed about originally, thinking that gears are no biggie). We're going to take the bike I got her for a spin, and if it still doesn't work out, I've pledged to take my $420 worth of Performance coupons over to Performance and get her a nice new bike with all the extras and niceties. I like that she's enthusiastic about riding, and she wants to go more distance (as an ex-smoking, overfat, non-exerciser, she's doing great, with about 15 mile rides each time we hit the road together), but with those little wheels, crappy shifters, and slack chain, the Walmart bike ain't cuttin' it.

Don't get the Walmart bike if you are even a tiny bit enthusiastic about riding. It won't last long enough for you to ride it more than 6 times (she's only ridden 5 times, and we're already in trouble!).

Koffee

Ok, just in case everyone wanted an update on the Walmart folder.

It's crap if you plan on doing any type of distance riding.

It has 5 gears and that's it. My brother wasn't using it, so my sister-in-law began using it and going on rides with me. Initially, she did like it, but the more you ride it, the worse it performs. So if you work less than a mile away and just want to scoot out to work and back, this is your bike. If you actually want to DO something with the bike, it won't work.

My sis-in-law is frustrated with the bike. She says that she has to pedal about 100 rpm just to keep the bike going, whereas I am going about 70 rpm (any faster, and she won't keep up with me! And she's new to cycling, so I don't want to scare her away). Today, she said the chain felt more slack than normal, and I can see it's sagging a bit. Bleah.

We're retiring that bike for now and I'm going to do some maintenance on the bike I got for her. It's an old school retro- 80s bike, but it's a 12 speed, and if there's anything my sis learned, it's the importance of gears (which she phoo-phoo'ed about originally, thinking that gears are no biggie). We're going to take the bike I got her for a spin, and if it still doesn't work out, I've pledged to take my $420 worth of Performance coupons over to Performance and get her a nice new bike with all the extras and niceties. I like that she's enthusiastic about riding, and she wants to go more distance (as an ex-smoking, overfat, non-exerciser, she's doing great, with about 15 mile rides each time we hit the road together), but with those little wheels, crappy shifters, and slack chain, the Walmart bike ain't cuttin' it.

Don't get the Walmart bike if you are even a tiny bit enthusiastic about riding. It won't last long enough for you to ride it more than 6 times (she's only ridden 5 times, and we're already in trouble!).

Koffee

Sorry to hear about that Koffee.

The geometry looked nice - any chance you'd take the groupo from the other bike you're fixing up and try it out on the Walmart folder? I've improved bikes in the past with groupo switches.

C.

What's the gear range for the folder? What speed did she have to maintain 100 rpms to keep up with you?

Even cheap bikes can maintain their rear wheel position, so maybe a nut is loose back there leading to chain slack.

Like a lot of the cheap bikes, replacing some of the crap components will actually make them fairly decent. Of course, sometimes that's almost impossible for weird sizes. 7 (or less) speed shifting bikes are pretty smooth compared to quirky 9/10 speed drive trains, except on all but the nicest components.




My sis-in-law is frustrated with the bike. She says that she has to pedal about 100 rpm just to keep the bike going, whereas I am going about 70 rpm (any faster, and she won't keep up with me! And she's new to cycling, so I don't want to scare her away). Today, she said the chain felt more slack than normal, and I can see it's sagging a bit. Bleah.
Koffee

Another low cost ($99) walmart folder - 5 speed kent

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3596785

* Simple quick-release system folds from 58" x 43" to an easily stored 30" x 30"
* Opens and folds in three easy steps
* Rear band brake and front alloy caliper ensure quick stopping and easy maintenance
* 20-inch wheels deliver smooth rolling and responsive handling
* Alloy rims and quality tires offer a lighter, more comfortable ride and superior braking
* 5-speed index shifting makes it easy to find the right gear
* 10-inch and 18-inch quick-release seat posts allow height adjustments to suit individual riders
* Includes comfortable Velo saddle
* For riders 7 years and up
* Maximum height: 6'2"
* Maximum weight: 250 lbs.

Another low cost ($99) walmart folder - 5 speed kent

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3596785

* Simple quick-release system folds from 58" x 43" to an easily stored 30" x 30"
* Opens and folds in three easy steps
* Rear band brake and front alloy caliper ensure quick stopping and easy maintenance
* 20-inch wheels deliver smooth rolling and responsive handling
* Alloy rims and quality tires offer a lighter, more comfortable ride and superior braking
* 5-speed index shifting makes it easy to find the right gear
* 10-inch and 18-inch quick-release seat posts allow height adjustments to suit individual riders
* Includes comfortable Velo saddle
* For riders 7 years and up
* Maximum height: 6'2"
* Maximum weight: 250 lbs.

That's the one my sis is riding.

What we've both noticed is that the bike used to ride decently, but the more she rides, the more slack the chain gets. But it's all good. She's not riding tomorrow, so I get the chance to take down her old school bike and fix it up.

I'm not going to go through the drama of changing out components. It's not that serious! :eek:

I will reward her with a brand new bike if this other one doesn't work. She gave up smoking after 13 years and chose cycling as her exercise. I've been nagging her since I met her (about 9 years ago) to give up the cancer sticks. I even told her kids that she's gonna die if she keeps smoking and urged them to cry to her if she won't give them up, and they nagged her too. She's finally given them up. That should be rewarded if she continues to keep up with the good habits.

Koffee

Before you PERMANENTLY retire the Wal-Mart folder, you might want to have a kind, easy going tech at a good LBS look it over. Some techs get angry when asked to look at a Wal-Mart bike...sort of like a world-famous brain surgeon asked to look at a broken fingernail. So, find the "kind and easy going tech".

Maybe...just maybe, the folder could be made into a pretty good "around the block" bike with some careful reassembly and adjustments from a good tech. I've seen some Wal-Mart bikes that had heavy, crude frames, but fairly decent wheels with alloy rims, and decent Shimano shifters and brakes. BUT, the original factory assembly was awful, and the store "set up" was inept beyond comprehension.

If the tech can make it into a useful "mile or two" bike for $50 or so, you may yet get your money's worth out of it. And, if he tells you that the bike is "hopeless", well...at least you'll know.

This bike ain't goin' nowhere anytime soon. I bought it, and if my sister-in-law can't use it, then my smoking, overweight brother can use it to go the mile to work and home. He drives. It's a mile, for goodness sake! :rolleyes:

Koffee

What's the gear range for the folder? What speed did she have to maintain 100 rpms to keep up with you?

Even cheap bikes can maintain their rear wheel position, so maybe a nut is loose back there leading to chain slack.

Like a lot of the cheap bikes, replacing some of the crap components will actually make them fairly decent. Of course, sometimes that's almost impossible for weird sizes. 7 (or less) speed shifting bikes are pretty smooth compared to quirky 9/10 speed drive trains, except on all but the nicest components.

14T small rear, seems to be about a 40-44T ring. So that gives a top gear inch of no more than about 63.

A 53T big ring could bring it up to about 75 gear inches. Maybe replacing the rear freewheel with an 11/30 could bring it into the high nineties, but unless the rear is steel, spreading the dropouts would risk frame damage.

That's the one my sis is riding.

What we've both noticed is that the bike used to ride decently, but the more she rides, the more slack the chain gets. But it's all good. She's not riding tomorrow, so I get the chance to take down her old school bike and fix it up.

I'm not going to go through the drama of changing out components. It's not that serious! :eek:

I will reward her with a brand new bike if this other one doesn't work. She gave up smoking after 13 years and chose cycling as her exercise. I've been nagging her since I met her (about 9 years ago) to give up the cancer sticks. I even told her kids that she's gonna die if she keeps smoking and urged them to cry to her if she won't give them up, and they nagged her too. She's finally given them up. That should be rewarded if she continues to keep up with the good habits.

Koffee

Last winter we were discussing another Walmart folder on this and several other threads in this forum, the Stowaway-which had a softtail. The Kent recently posted is a hardtail. The Kent appears to be a steel bike as well rather than the Aluminum frame of the Stowaway.
Is the bike you bought your brother a hardtail or softail?

Since you appear to be with your brother now, if you have the softail, could you check whether it has a steel or rear triangle. A magnet will be attracted to steel but not aluminum.

Before you PERMANENTLY retire the Wal-Mart folder, you might want to have a kind, easy going tech at a good LBS look it over. Some techs get angry when asked to look at a Wal-Mart bike...sort of like a world-famous brain surgeon asked to look at a broken fingernail. So, find the "kind and easy going tech".

Maybe...just maybe, the folder could be made into a pretty good "around the block" bike with some careful reassembly and adjustments from a good tech. I've seen some Wal-Mart bikes that had heavy, crude frames, but fairly decent wheels with alloy rims, and decent Shimano shifters and brakes. BUT, the original factory assembly was awful, and the store "set up" was inept beyond comprehension.

If the tech can make it into a useful "mile or two" bike for $50 or so, you may yet get your money's worth out of it. And, if he tells you that the bike is "hopeless", well...at least you'll know.


Couldn't agree more!

I find it distasteful to be critical of an inexpensive bike.

If that's what someone could afford, rather than being critical of them, a tech should make it a challenge to see what they can do with what they've got on hand. Spending money's easy - using yer noggin' takes a bit more work. ;)

A local shop that unfortunately closed (owners moved cross-country) had a great bunch of techs. They kept a "box-o-stuff" around with spare chainrings, cassettes, pedals etc.

If someone came in with a Walmart bike and needed something (like a higher gear) they'd rummage in the box to see what they could do, usually only charging labour. (they kept whatever got taken off the bike to go back in the box)

***

I bet that bike has some real potential. Gears are easy to futz with so why not see if you can tweak it?

BTW: that other Walmart folder bears a striking resemblance to an un-advertised Norco model, the "Origami" http://www.jvbike.com/bikes/Origami.htm Built for Norco in China, not in their catalogs. Wouldn't surprise me if Walmart used the same supplier and got a slightly lower-end groupo put on to keep the price down.

GREAT discussion guys/gals! :D

Chris

convert it to a 1 speed around town bike or a fixed wheel ?

Exactly - there are several cheap mods you can do to inexpensive bikes to make them run really well, especially those that have 7 or less speeds because things don't have to be as precise. For $50 worth of parts, a lot of weight and a lot of performance can be gained. Sure, it's not going to be a $300 boardwalk, but it only cost $150 with improvements.

I was given a Target Magna bike and it rides surprisingly well after dialing in the derailleurs and brakes and replacement the seatpost to give me proper height. There's not much that can go wrong on a 5 speed. It's going to be heavier than ideal, and maybe the bottom bracket/cranks could be replaced (total cost with budget parts around $40) with much lighter components. That's what's attractive about something at that price point.


Before you PERMANENTLY retire the Wal-Mart folder, you might want to have a kind, easy going tech at a good LBS look it over. Some techs get angry when asked to look at a Wal-Mart out of it. And, if he tells you that the bike is "hopeless", well...at least you'll know.

Any updates on that $99 Walmart folding bike:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3596785

None of my local stores carry the bike. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Yeah. The folder went kaput for good about 6 months ago. We had to trash it. Never again.

:(

Koffee

Thanks Koffee.

After I wrote that message last night, I decided to roll the dice and order one. $125 with shipping and tax isn't a large risk to me right now. If I end up getting in to the whole folding bike thing, I will upgrade to a better folder. I will post here about my experiences when it arrives. I plan to use it for casual biking, and have it live in the trunk of my car when I'm not using it.

Yeah. The folder went kaput for good about 6 months ago. We had to trash it. Never again.

:(

Koffee

Was that the Kent or the Stow-A-Way that went kaput?

Sorry, I don't know which one.

If you pay just a little bit more, you could have gotten a Dahan. At least they make solid folders.

Koffee

My Walmart folder arrived yesterday. It took about 10 minutes to get it out of the package and some very minor assembly (no tools) to get it ready to ride. I had to pump up the tires too. I only rode about 1 mile over various terrains (lawn, gravel road, and paved surfaces). I have to admit it was fun! It reminds me of the little BMX bikes I had when I was growing up. The main riding difference is that now I have 5 gears, which is nice.

I thought that I would have to worry about the bike falling apart, but that does not appear to be the case. It appears to be designed for a decent amount of durability. Then you have to wonder how they keep the price so low..... Taking the magnet to the bike tells that story. I guess for $99.44 you can't expect aluminum and titanium :D It's a pretty heavy bike for it's size.

I haven't put the bike in the trunk of my car yet. I'm guessing that I will just need to fold the handlebars out of the way to get it in the trunk. Of course to get a smaller package, I would have to fold the frame of the bike in half too.

I will post more as I use the bike more.

My Walmart folder arrived yesterday. It took about 10 minutes to get it out of the package and some very minor assembly (no tools) to get it ready to ride. I had to pump up the tires too. I only rode about 1 mile over various terrains (lawn, gravel road, and paved surfaces). I have to admit it was fun! It reminds me of the little BMX bikes I had when I was growing up. The main riding difference is that now I have 5 gears, which is nice.

I thought that I would have to worry about the bike falling apart, but that does not appear to be the case. It appears to be designed for a decent amount of durability. Then you have to wonder how they keep the price so low..... Taking the magnet to the bike tells that story. I guess for $99.44 you can't expect aluminum and titanium :D It's a pretty heavy bike for it's size.

I haven't put the bike in the trunk of my car yet. I'm guessing that I will just need to fold the handlebars out of the way to get it in the trunk. Of course to get a smaller package, I would have to fold the frame of the bike in half too.

I will post more as I use the bike more.

The curently WalyWorld available Kent folder never advertised a material, so you have to expect hi-tensile steel. Also, the hardtail Kent had a shipping weight 2 pounds heavier than the earlier softail Aluminum Stow-A-Way.

I have folded it and put it in the trunk of my car a couple of times. It is best to fold the handlebars, frame, and pedals. That makes a smaller package. I didn't time myself, but I would guess the process takes about 30 seconds. About the same to unfold.

I did some more riding on the bike. This involved climbing hills and going down hills. I could sit and spin to climb what I consider steep hills. Going down long hills, I ran out of gears and ended up coasting. So, downhill this bike is slower (when pedaling) than my Rans Tailwind recumbent.

I thought for sure that my upright position would really be a drain on aerodynamics, but it didn't bother me. I like being upright and looking around as I ride. It's also significantly less pressure on the wrists/hands and much less numbness or pain.

I ended up stopping at the local bike shop on my ride and swapped my seatpost for a slightly longer one. Kent included a long seat post, but it weighs a ton. The short included seat post really was too short for all but the shortest of riders.

Overall I'm liking my purchase so far.

So what is its weight?