fold

I replaced with more comfy seat and high pressure(65psi) tires. For the past 5 months, I have been riding it every weekdays for at least 7 miles per day. It still runs great!

Ultralight

I scanned through the whole thread but may have missed it.

However, does anyone know which company in China makes this?

And is this only a single speed or has anyone successfully modified it to multiple speed?

Thanks!
UL

fold

According to 中山市三角镇聋仔机械厂 , it's invented by the owner of "'Deaf Kid' Machinery Factory, Triangle Town, ZhongShan City, GuangDong Province, China" and manufactured there.

Ultralight

Thanks!

UL

Ultralight

Apologies - I know this probably seem to be coming from the left field but nothing on this bike seem standard.
Question: Is the crank set standard in the bottom bracket - meaning can we install traditional cranksets (single ring) on this? If yes, this can give it 3 gears...

Gearbox | Efneo

UL

Ultralight

Quick note: Apparently they now have an updated model with 14" rims. The 14" rims supposedly rides easier and faster than the 12" model, along with more stability due to slightly longer wheelbase. However, the 14" still pack into the same dimension as the 12". They ship the 14" and 12" models in the same shipping box.

They also have an electric model in the 14" with a rear hub motor. That tells me with the 14", it is possible that one can use an internal hub - anyone for a Rohloff hub in one of these 14" puppies...

UL

cpg

That is very interesting Ultralight, have you got any links for the 14" version? I have been following these little bikes for some time and admire the design and engineering, but have not yet bought one.

Ultralight

I spoke to the factory directly.... Hoping to drag a couple home on my trip, airline permitting.

UL

cpg

That sounds great Ultralight. Looking forward to seeing some photos. Is the factory prepared to sell directly to customers?

fold

Link to 14" model on TaoBao(priced around USD 205.15), Factory's online store **********14**********??? ?? **********? **********?-**********?
Link to 14"+electric model on TaoBao (priced around USD 553.17 - 568.97), Factory's online store ???14******************************??,**********???-**********? @cpg

mancival

From the pictures on TaoBao it seems they have two electric versions, one with front wheel motor, and one with rear wheel motor. Does it say anywhere the motor type and power?

fold

let me check, didn't notice the diff at all

fold

checked again...
1. even though 1 picture shows a front wheel motor, when I chose colors it only showed rear wheel drive version. So I guess that they only offer that model? You might want to send them emails to find out more.
2. there was battery spec on the page, but there was no motor info at all. Again, you might want to send them emails to clarify

Ultralight

These have some kind of rear drum brake I think.... I actually got to spin one on the rear wheel and there was a fair bit of drag. Of course that is relative to a full blown road racing bike. But still, with these type of brakes in the rear which I've never seen before:

a. Is it safe to ride a bike just with front brakes and one brake judiciously?

b. Any owner here adjust the rear to spin more freely? How did you do it?

(And no, I've not gotten to actually ride one yet as the tires were not pumped up.)

Thanks,
UL

Azreal911

with the 14 inch wheeled version you can buy some higher pressure tires easily and make it better:

The new 412 folding bike tires 14 inch bicycle tire 14 * 1.75 free shipping-in Bicycle Tires from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

OR if you want a better ride at a little lower pressure you can go for the Big apples which come in 14 inch sizes:

Big Apple HS 430 | Schwalbe North America

Ultralight

Did you order the 12" or 14". Wonder if the 14" is really about the same size as the 12". Doesn't seem possible but then....I've not seen the 12". Congrats on the order.

marlonbraga

Looking at the images, I think that on the 12 inch version, the wheel doesn't occupy the total length of the folded bike. So they made a 14 inch version that uses this unused 'space', so it doesn't add extra volume when folded.

the page of the electric version, shows the 3 bikes side by side (folded) - the 12 inches, the 14 inches and the electric 14 inches

fold

you mean at folding position, the 12" wheels are not occupying the entire space?

marlonbraga

yes, that's what I meant. I might be wrong, but looking at the pictures, it's what it looked like to me. Particularly the picture with the different models folded side by side. What do you guys think about it?

I would like to buy one, but I prefer the 14in model, as long it's not bigger when folded.... But I'm not very sure about it.

Regarding the measurements of the bikes, I feel they are not to be trusted very much. I've seen different values in different pages, although it looks like the same model (34*40*45 or 32*37*48 or 25*38*48 or 25*30*40 or 28*35*45 etc, etc...). I believe there's only one factory building it, so it shouldn't be differences between stores.

Another thing... I don't feel very confortable buying it on TaoBao... But the only person selling the 14in model on AliExpress, is like twice the price!

bhkyte

I think it can be quite hard to measure a folded bike. Sounds silly at first but there are ridicous measurements of birdies and Mezzos on the internet as I nelieve they havent taken in to account the parrellegram shape rather than the sqaure folded shape of a brompton. This bike seems to fold to a squareish footprint so some issues may be does it include pedals etc. If there is just one item sticking out in one plane do you count it......etc

fold

I've seen them on Ebay. Hopefully it's cheaper than AliExpress. Also on AliExpress, there are so many vendors selling it, I had to go thru list ranked by price to find the cheapest (bike+shipping of course)

marlonbraga

I'll take a look on eBay then... Thanks!

Regarding the 14in being the same size of the 12in when folded, what do you guys think?

bhkyte

Maybe the 14 or 12 inch models price difference makes it worthgoing for the 12 inch and getting wheels built up in 14".?
I would sooner get some protection buying on ebay than other sources. Problem is return postage posts if its not as described or faulty. Need to sell my spare dual drive Mezzo first.

fold

I think it's highly possible that folding sizes of 12" and 14" are the same. 'cuz I recall reading it somewhere long before the 14" one came out: the owner claimed that there was a big potential to upgrade to bigger wheels, as one of the features/advantages of this bike!

fold

anyone knows a good non-folding bike with 12" wheels? My folding bike is way too heavy and I don't fold it much anymore.
I want a stronger 12" bike with light frames. It will be used to ride on sidewalks on very low speed. Twice the speed of a pedestrian's is fine...
Any ideas?