unboxing the corsa alton minivelo 7speed
08-16-12, 05:10 PM
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unboxing the corsa alton minivelo 7speed
So after finding no reviews or information on the Corsa minivelo - the 7 speed, not the fixie - I decided to give it a try.
My usual ride is a downtube nova, so my comparisons are to that.
specs on their website: https://altonus.com/products-page/cor...minivelo-lime/
Model name: Minivelo
Frame size: 470mm/18in
Frame material: 6061 Aluminum Mini Bike
Numbers of gears: MFTZ217-SPD 14-28
Fork: Changtong Steel Stem
Shifter: Shimano EZ-Fire 7SPD
R. Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30 Pivot Type
Crank set: Prowheel 165mm Alloy 48T
Chain: KMC Z-51, 1/2 x 3/32" x 112 Link
F. Hub: Joytech 821F(QR)
R. Hub: Joytech 821R(QR)
Rims: JHT HLQC-02
Tires: Kenda K-177 20" x 1.2
Brakes: Promax TX-117
Brakes lever: Apse V-Brake
Saddle: Cionlli
N. weight: 23.81 lbs (10.8 kg)
Arrived well packed. The box was surprisingly small.
"There's a whole bike in there?"
came 90% assembled, just had to put in the steerer, front wheel, seat post, and pedals.
Frame: welds look good.
There are numerous areas where it looks like the paint was rubbed off. My theory is there were stickers on it in Chinese, and when they got permission to export this bike to the US, they grabbed some domestic bikes and ripped of the chinese stickers and ran them on the boat. Could be. Not a big deal.
Seat tube 47 cm as advertised
top tube about 50cm
Standover height is 27"
Drive train: short 165 cranks. freewheel identical to the downtube, from experience the range will be great for flat areas but a bit lacking on hills.
Tires: kenda 30x406. spec is identical to the downtube, but my nova's tires have a kenda sticker, these do not. Perhaps they are a domestic china version.
Fit: Good.
I am 5'6" and like my seat up fairly high. On my nova the seat is almost as high as the handlebars. One complaint I have about the downtube is the handlebars don't go a bit lower. The corsa fit is much more aero, but a shorter person would have a less aero fit. I suspect the frame size was chosen to fit an average Chinese man, but short to medium sized American men and women should fit fine. Taller folks may need a space to raise their handlebars and may find the reach short.
Saddle: The stitching is right on the top, making it very hard on top.
forgot to take a picture...
Pedals: heavy, don't spin real well, and the teeth are very pokey (ok, I wear thin shoes, those with thick shoes probably won't notice). Weighed at 14.4oz for pair.
I may get something lighter with less aggressive teeth.
Came with an entirely useless 3xAAA LED light, and a very useful bell.
kickstand by rear wheel looks very heavy duty
ride report to follow
My usual ride is a downtube nova, so my comparisons are to that.
specs on their website: https://altonus.com/products-page/cor...minivelo-lime/
Model name: Minivelo
Frame size: 470mm/18in
Frame material: 6061 Aluminum Mini Bike
Numbers of gears: MFTZ217-SPD 14-28
Fork: Changtong Steel Stem
Shifter: Shimano EZ-Fire 7SPD
R. Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30 Pivot Type
Crank set: Prowheel 165mm Alloy 48T
Chain: KMC Z-51, 1/2 x 3/32" x 112 Link
F. Hub: Joytech 821F(QR)
R. Hub: Joytech 821R(QR)
Rims: JHT HLQC-02
Tires: Kenda K-177 20" x 1.2
Brakes: Promax TX-117
Brakes lever: Apse V-Brake
Saddle: Cionlli
N. weight: 23.81 lbs (10.8 kg)
Arrived well packed. The box was surprisingly small.
"There's a whole bike in there?"
came 90% assembled, just had to put in the steerer, front wheel, seat post, and pedals.
Frame: welds look good.
There are numerous areas where it looks like the paint was rubbed off. My theory is there were stickers on it in Chinese, and when they got permission to export this bike to the US, they grabbed some domestic bikes and ripped of the chinese stickers and ran them on the boat. Could be. Not a big deal.
Seat tube 47 cm as advertised
top tube about 50cm
Standover height is 27"
Drive train: short 165 cranks. freewheel identical to the downtube, from experience the range will be great for flat areas but a bit lacking on hills.
Tires: kenda 30x406. spec is identical to the downtube, but my nova's tires have a kenda sticker, these do not. Perhaps they are a domestic china version.
Fit: Good.
I am 5'6" and like my seat up fairly high. On my nova the seat is almost as high as the handlebars. One complaint I have about the downtube is the handlebars don't go a bit lower. The corsa fit is much more aero, but a shorter person would have a less aero fit. I suspect the frame size was chosen to fit an average Chinese man, but short to medium sized American men and women should fit fine. Taller folks may need a space to raise their handlebars and may find the reach short.
Saddle: The stitching is right on the top, making it very hard on top.
forgot to take a picture...
Pedals: heavy, don't spin real well, and the teeth are very pokey (ok, I wear thin shoes, those with thick shoes probably won't notice). Weighed at 14.4oz for pair.
I may get something lighter with less aggressive teeth.
Came with an entirely useless 3xAAA LED light, and a very useful bell.
kickstand by rear wheel looks very heavy duty
ride report to follow
Last edited by bikebreak; 08-17-12 at 11:45 AM. Reason: political correction
08-16-12, 05:32 PM
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Congrats, I have been looking at the fixie version. I have the Mercier Nano and it was recommended to install good rim tape, grease the bearings, tighten all bolts, and check the brakes for stopping power.
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08-16-12, 06:35 PM
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Very cool... congrats. Hope it serves you well.
I would like to suggest you inspect/torque the wheel bearings and bottom bracket. I've seen too many bikes (even in the $1500 price range coming straight from the factory) with over-torqued and insufficiently greased bearings... a recipe for drag and premature wear/failure.
I would like to suggest you inspect/torque the wheel bearings and bottom bracket. I've seen too many bikes (even in the $1500 price range coming straight from the factory) with over-torqued and insufficiently greased bearings... a recipe for drag and premature wear/failure.
08-17-12, 08:17 AM
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Dude.
I don't think you were trying to insult anyone, but you need to be aware that the term "chinaman," like "colored" or "mulatto," is inextricably linked to American racism, and as such, often taken as a derogatory term.
The fact that it's not even capitalized is additional indication of brutish insensitivity, and again, although I'll assume you didn't mean to come off that way, that Alton refer to South Korea as their domestic market (on their website) and as such may not even be Chinese, makes this a really, really bad usage.
On top of that, there's a certain ethnocentric assumption that "Chinese" don't have the sensibility to design and market a bike for a global clientele. I mean this is a "mini-velo" after all; it's supposed to be small, right?
Anyway, all of this paints you as rather ignorant and insensitive, which I'm sure is not accurate, and which is why I wanted to point all of this out to you, so that you can represent yourself accurately and how you wish to be seen.
I don't think you were trying to insult anyone, but you need to be aware that the term "chinaman," like "colored" or "mulatto," is inextricably linked to American racism, and as such, often taken as a derogatory term.
The fact that it's not even capitalized is additional indication of brutish insensitivity, and again, although I'll assume you didn't mean to come off that way, that Alton refer to South Korea as their domestic market (on their website) and as such may not even be Chinese, makes this a really, really bad usage.
On top of that, there's a certain ethnocentric assumption that "Chinese" don't have the sensibility to design and market a bike for a global clientele. I mean this is a "mini-velo" after all; it's supposed to be small, right?
Anyway, all of this paints you as rather ignorant and insensitive, which I'm sure is not accurate, and which is why I wanted to point all of this out to you, so that you can represent yourself accurately and how you wish to be seen.
08-17-12, 11:44 AM
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Well Chad, thanks and please accept my apology on behalf of chinese people everywhere.
I didn't capitalize "americans" either.
I didn't capitalize "americans" either.
08-17-12, 04:33 PM
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It looks like I was wrong about you, and that we'll have to add ungracious and lazy to your list of unfortunate attributes.
I hope you get some enjoyment from your bike.
08-18-12, 09:23 AM
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Good looking bike. Is it possible for you to measure some specs on the bike ?
Wheelbase length ? Dist from fr and rear axle.
Chainstay length ? Dist from bottom bracket center to rear dropout.
For the price, it is almost like buying just the frame with the parts thrown in for free.
We've been riding mini velos and folders since the late 80's.
With the specs, we can compare it with std big wheeled bikes.
Wheelbase length ? Dist from fr and rear axle.
Chainstay length ? Dist from bottom bracket center to rear dropout.
For the price, it is almost like buying just the frame with the parts thrown in for free.
We've been riding mini velos and folders since the late 80's.
With the specs, we can compare it with std big wheeled bikes.
08-18-12, 09:27 PM
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Good looking bike. Is it possible for you to measure some specs on the bike ?
Wheelbase length ? Dist from fr and rear axle.
Chainstay length ? Dist from bottom bracket center to rear dropout.
For the price, it is almost like buying just the frame with the parts thrown in for free.
We've been riding mini velos and folders since the late 80's.
With the specs, we can compare it with std big wheeled bikes.
Wheelbase length ? Dist from fr and rear axle.
Chainstay length ? Dist from bottom bracket center to rear dropout.
For the price, it is almost like buying just the frame with the parts thrown in for free.
We've been riding mini velos and folders since the late 80's.
With the specs, we can compare it with std big wheeled bikes.
Chainstay length ? Dist from bottom bracket center to rear dropout. 42.5cm
the downtube nova is 102 and 39, the bikes are very similar in size, but feel different. see my ride report https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...o-ride-report?
(though I have the saddle above the handlebars on the mini which I can't do on the nova)
I'm pretty impressed with the frame for $200. the concept of the minivelo is sound.
