bbmike

Hi

Although I used to own a folder bike I had not owned or ridden a bike in past 10 years. Since I just concluded my folding bike search I figured why not share with a hope some will find it useful.

Bikes I considered:

Origami cricket/crane
Citizen Miami
GreenZone value edition
Dahon single speed
Kent Giordano
Others I forget

Folding bikes have many similarities, among them:
made in China
Shimano index shifter (except Dahon which is single speed)
V brakes
weight around 25lbs (except Citizen which is 32lbs due to steel frame)
20" aluminum wheels (I did not consider 16" due to potholes in my area )
fenders (except kent giordano)

Things I disliked:
Origami cricket - seat post cannot go all the way in due to suspension - it has to be stored outside of the frame for compact fold
Origami cricket/crane - handle bar stem cannot be height adjusted, thin (weak?) hinge
Citizen Miami - steel frame - hence 32lb weight
Dahon single speed - price and single speed, brand probably target for thiefs
Kent Giordano - fenders not included, unknown quality/reliability, cannot accommodate >2" tires
GreenZone - seems to be the same as no-brand bike from amazon and ebay - handlebar welded to stem, thin stem hinge, when folded it's 3" longer than others, 48t chain wheel (hm...GreenZone handle bar is not welded)
Edit: GreenZone bike is similar to Citizen Miami, as it has steel frame. Ebay and amazon bikes -although they look the same - they are aluminum frame and much lighter.

Things I liked:
Origami crane/cricket- no quick release on front wheel (harder to steal w/o tools)
Origami crane - frame looks really sturdy, looks like it could accommodate 2.35 big apple tires, good website with a lot of info/photos
Origami circket - suspension and disc-brakes yet still lightweight
Citizen Miami - low price caught my eye (still too much for a steel frame bike)
Dahon - good reviews/opinions all around (cannot go wrong?)
Greenzone/ebay/amazon - inexpensive if gotten from ebay/amazon, might accommodate >2" tires due to frame design

Comments:
origami crane's frame seems well designed, stands out from the folding crowd. Somehow cricket does not inherit the same frame design strenghts but offers more features. I think cricket could be a winner if it was mated with i-motion hub instead of derailleur (and perhaps sturdier stem hinge) - otherwise the chain is too low for the suspension features to shine (like going over a curb).

Citizen Miami - it's OK except the weight

Dahon - pricey and perhaps the bike that thiefs look for due to brand recognition

Greenzone/ebay/amazon aluminum lightweight folding bicycle. I figured that handlebar stem is not angled forward like on most folding bikes and is not good for taller riders like me. Price+shipping and no easy returns were also a turn off.

I picked Kent Giordano because of the price, sturdy construction (thick handle bar stem hinge, big frame hinge, rear triangle) and standard bicycle parts. There was one 5 star review on Amazon and few positive comments in bikeforums but not much info otherwise. Just in case, I got it from the place with free shipping and easy returns and I'm gonna keep it. (I do need to get fenders though).

badmother

We need pix, or at least a link!

kamtsa

it's called Downtube Nova. ;-)

bbmike

Kent Giordano folding bicycle

bbmike

You are correct . For my needs I dismissed it because of 46t chainring.

Dynocoaster 

This
https://www.thorusa.com/tern/linkc7.htm

kamtsa

It's a Dahon. Nice bike.

bbmike

It's very close to C7. The only thing different appears to be steering tube of different shape that lacks front basket mounts.

EDIT: another is that double truss of rear triangle is made out of three pieces (weaker) where C7 seems to be made out of two.

EDIT2: I have got to snap out of research mode...I already have a bike

kamtsa

And it has the trapezoide stand under the BB, like the Nova (also a Dahon frame). Useful when folding. Enjoy.

HGR3inOK

I think it might be more correct to say, "It looks like a Dahon." Take a look at some pictures of the folded Kent Giodarno. The main hinge and the handlepost hinge are not like any Dahon that I have seen.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

rex615

Seat post is smaller diameter than used by Dahon.