Toying around again with the cheap Japanese Ignio folder
12-15-08, 02:27 AM
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Toying around again with the cheap Japanese Ignio folder
I reclaimed my Thudbuster and put it on my Trek SU 2.0. This Ignio is my kids bike but I did need something temporarily to test it out.
Anyway I put the stock seatpost back on and put a Biologic saddle on it.
Also I took my Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires off my Dahon Jetstream XP and put them on here. Put a brand new pair of the same on my Jetstream XP.
Anyway this bike is shaping up nicely. Next I want a flat handlebar. I can't stand the handlebar that it on it now. Some black Dahon SKS fenders might look better as well.
John
Anyway I put the stock seatpost back on and put a Biologic saddle on it.
Also I took my Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires off my Dahon Jetstream XP and put them on here. Put a brand new pair of the same on my Jetstream XP.
Anyway this bike is shaping up nicely. Next I want a flat handlebar. I can't stand the handlebar that it on it now. Some black Dahon SKS fenders might look better as well.
John
12-15-08, 02:47 AM
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Another pic in Black and White
Sometimes I think I'm artistic.
09-09-09, 07:14 PM
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advice....
Hi TrekJapan,
I am in Shikoku and thinking of buying Ignio folding bikes for me and my girlfriend as they seem like good value at around 15k yen. They'll be used mainly for riding around town and for weekend jaunts - probably half-day rides on/off road (nothing hardcore).
Do you think they would stand up to the daily use and these kind of trips? Are they comfortable to ride for an extended period?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I am in Shikoku and thinking of buying Ignio folding bikes for me and my girlfriend as they seem like good value at around 15k yen. They'll be used mainly for riding around town and for weekend jaunts - probably half-day rides on/off road (nothing hardcore).
Do you think they would stand up to the daily use and these kind of trips? Are they comfortable to ride for an extended period?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
09-09-09, 08:39 PM
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Shikoku. Cool. I'm actually now in Iwakuni Japan. Just changed my profile to reflect.
The frame itself on the Ignio is a tank. Heavy steel frame. It's certainly up to about anything. Of course to get a bike this cheap all the components are low end. If I was going to do anything but local riding I'd probably want to change the wheels and tires.
Depending on how far you want to go and how much stuff you carry I had a heck of a time getting a rack to work on the back where I could still fold it.
I bought a Minoura rack available all over the place here (at least in Okinawa) that clamps to the seatpost. The thing that attaches to the seatpost curves up. I turned it upside down, got some longer machine screws and made it so it now curves down. I was able to get it to attach to just below the seat clamp on the frame itself.
That Minoura seat post was pretty cheap as well. 3000 yen or something.
By the time I did the upgrades I did, new brakes, new tires, new pedals, rack, flat handlebar, Thudbuster, basket I could have bought a better bike. Anyway it's my kids bike now, not mine.
Most of the stores that sell the Ignio's also sell those DLT (Dahon Licensed Technology) bikes based on some older Dahon design. I forget the name of them and in my mind are a lot better folder for not very much more money. Maybe 20000 or so.
John
The frame itself on the Ignio is a tank. Heavy steel frame. It's certainly up to about anything. Of course to get a bike this cheap all the components are low end. If I was going to do anything but local riding I'd probably want to change the wheels and tires.
Depending on how far you want to go and how much stuff you carry I had a heck of a time getting a rack to work on the back where I could still fold it.
I bought a Minoura rack available all over the place here (at least in Okinawa) that clamps to the seatpost. The thing that attaches to the seatpost curves up. I turned it upside down, got some longer machine screws and made it so it now curves down. I was able to get it to attach to just below the seat clamp on the frame itself.
That Minoura seat post was pretty cheap as well. 3000 yen or something.
By the time I did the upgrades I did, new brakes, new tires, new pedals, rack, flat handlebar, Thudbuster, basket I could have bought a better bike. Anyway it's my kids bike now, not mine.
Most of the stores that sell the Ignio's also sell those DLT (Dahon Licensed Technology) bikes based on some older Dahon design. I forget the name of them and in my mind are a lot better folder for not very much more money. Maybe 20000 or so.
John
09-09-09, 09:03 PM
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Iwakuni!! Not too far from the Shimanami route i think. We are hoping to cycle it once we have our bikes.
Thanks for the info.
We currently have Japanese standard-fare town bikes, but mine is borrowed and soon to be going back and my girlfriend wants gears and a little more comfort.
Yeah it sounds like it would be pricey to start upgrading all the parts, we are novices when it comes to buying bikes and are looking to keep it cheap to start with. I guess the ride is quite firm on these bikes - I was thinking that just a seat cover upgrade would do the trick, if not go for a new saddle.
Also, I've read a little about stability issues on folders as they have smaller wheels. Neither of us are big. Do you think it's an issue? I guess having better tyres would help...
And regarding luggage, i was looking at the quick-release front baskets. Coming from the London - i'm a little paranoid about things being out-of-sight!!
We have a Sports Depo locally which is where i saw the bikes. I'd never considered a folder before but as I said they seem like good value and usefully portable. Do you get your components online (if so, are there any online shops here that you recommend?) or go to local shops??
Hope you don't mind me picking your brain so much!!
Cheers
Alex
Thanks for the info.
We currently have Japanese standard-fare town bikes, but mine is borrowed and soon to be going back and my girlfriend wants gears and a little more comfort.
Yeah it sounds like it would be pricey to start upgrading all the parts, we are novices when it comes to buying bikes and are looking to keep it cheap to start with. I guess the ride is quite firm on these bikes - I was thinking that just a seat cover upgrade would do the trick, if not go for a new saddle.
Also, I've read a little about stability issues on folders as they have smaller wheels. Neither of us are big. Do you think it's an issue? I guess having better tyres would help...
And regarding luggage, i was looking at the quick-release front baskets. Coming from the London - i'm a little paranoid about things being out-of-sight!!
We have a Sports Depo locally which is where i saw the bikes. I'd never considered a folder before but as I said they seem like good value and usefully portable. Do you get your components online (if so, are there any online shops here that you recommend?) or go to local shops??
Hope you don't mind me picking your brain so much!!
Cheers
Alex
09-10-09, 03:01 AM
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Alex,
I put a KlickFix fitting and Rixen Kaul basket on the front of the Ignio for the kid. She loves it. I bought mine at Sports Depo in Okinawa. I didn't think there were any up this way but looks like there is one in Hiroshima after checking their web page.
I don't think stability is a problem but it's definitely harder to go no hands. The only shops I know of around here is UKEI in Otake which is about 10 km north of Iwakuni and Hiroshiga in Yanai about 35 km south of here. Everything else is a Bridgestone bike shop and there are a hundred of them.
Sports Depot in Okinawa occasionally carried Dahon's. A Dahon Boardwalk is probably 30K here give or take. Those are nice little bikes.
John
I put a KlickFix fitting and Rixen Kaul basket on the front of the Ignio for the kid. She loves it. I bought mine at Sports Depo in Okinawa. I didn't think there were any up this way but looks like there is one in Hiroshima after checking their web page.
I don't think stability is a problem but it's definitely harder to go no hands. The only shops I know of around here is UKEI in Otake which is about 10 km north of Iwakuni and Hiroshiga in Yanai about 35 km south of here. Everything else is a Bridgestone bike shop and there are a hundred of them.
Sports Depot in Okinawa occasionally carried Dahon's. A Dahon Boardwalk is probably 30K here give or take. Those are nice little bikes.
John
