Vilano Apex 16" folding bike
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,737
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 147 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
There's no reason it can't be disassembled at the hinge and packed with the wheels and bars into a suitcase. Its a folder after all.
A compact version of the Nottingham Raleigh three speeds. Sheldon Brown has a write up on it.
A compact version of the Nottingham Raleigh three speeds. Sheldon Brown has a write up on it.
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Orlando
Posts: 302
Bikes: homebuilt FWD recumbents, Genesis 20" folding bike, 1986 Schwinn Tempo, Cannondale Beast of the East, 70's Peugeot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I get the impression that the OP is not looking to get into a whole modification process with his bike. I think he wants to buy it, unfold it and ride. While I'm positive the Raleigh Twenty is a really fine bike, I don't get the impression from my online readings that it is not without it's shortcomings and requires modifications to bring it up to modern-days specs. And there are some gotcha areas, like the BB and headtube bearings that are not common by todays standards and may require some ingenuity to modernize.
In contrast, there are several modern-day options that might yield a better long-term bike for not a whole lot more money, but perhaps that is also what the OP is not looking for? If you are looking for a OK bike to travel with, this Vilano might be OK. With the 16" wheels, it folds and easily packs into a airline-legal suitcase, as is stated above.
Having owned both bikes, I can emphatically say I endorse the Genesis 20" bike over the Vilano, and with the recent $20 rollback at Walmart, the Genesis is now only $179. It's a heck of a lot of bike for the money. But there are other good options as well, such as Downtube and Origami. But ultimately, I think the Vilano will do what the OP wants to do, and it's a fun little bike.
In contrast, there are several modern-day options that might yield a better long-term bike for not a whole lot more money, but perhaps that is also what the OP is not looking for? If you are looking for a OK bike to travel with, this Vilano might be OK. With the 16" wheels, it folds and easily packs into a airline-legal suitcase, as is stated above.
Having owned both bikes, I can emphatically say I endorse the Genesis 20" bike over the Vilano, and with the recent $20 rollback at Walmart, the Genesis is now only $179. It's a heck of a lot of bike for the money. But there are other good options as well, such as Downtube and Origami. But ultimately, I think the Vilano will do what the OP wants to do, and it's a fun little bike.
#28
The Recumbent Quant
I get the impression that the OP is not looking to get into a whole modification process with his bike. I think he wants to buy it, unfold it and ride. While I'm positive the Raleigh Twenty is a really fine bike, I don't get the impression from my online readings that it is not without it's shortcomings and requires modifications to bring it up to modern-days specs. And there are some gotcha areas, like the BB and headtube bearings that are not common by todays standards and may require some ingenuity to modernize.
In contrast, there are several modern-day options that might yield a better long-term bike for not a whole lot more money, but perhaps that is also what the OP is not looking for? If you are looking for a OK bike to travel with, this Vilano might be OK. With the 16" wheels, it folds and easily packs into a airline-legal suitcase, as is stated above.
Having owned both bikes, I can emphatically say I endorse the Genesis 20" bike over the Vilano, and with the recent $20 rollback at Walmart, the Genesis is now only $179. It's a heck of a lot of bike for the money. But there are other good options as well, such as Downtube and Origami. But ultimately, I think the Vilano will do what the OP wants to do, and it's a fun little bike.
In contrast, there are several modern-day options that might yield a better long-term bike for not a whole lot more money, but perhaps that is also what the OP is not looking for? If you are looking for a OK bike to travel with, this Vilano might be OK. With the 16" wheels, it folds and easily packs into a airline-legal suitcase, as is stated above.
Having owned both bikes, I can emphatically say I endorse the Genesis 20" bike over the Vilano, and with the recent $20 rollback at Walmart, the Genesis is now only $179. It's a heck of a lot of bike for the money. But there are other good options as well, such as Downtube and Origami. But ultimately, I think the Vilano will do what the OP wants to do, and it's a fun little bike.
#29
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 46
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Atom called me the OP, but actually he was the OP in this thread. But to make it clear, I am not mechanically inclined. If my car gets a flat tire I call a tow truck.
The thing I like about the Vilano is that it folds (kind of a hard fold) and just fits right into a suitcase. The only work is taking off one pedal and pulling the seat stem out, which also fits into the suitcase. And the suitcase is actually two liner inches smaller than the airline maximum of 62". They make some 66-68" suitcases, and I was thinking about getting one and praying, but no need.
As I posted, all I want to do with this bike is ride along the Rhine River and Lake Constance area from town to town, about 20 miles a day at say seven miles per hour. We're just going to toodle along.
The thing I like about the Vilano is that it folds (kind of a hard fold) and just fits right into a suitcase. The only work is taking off one pedal and pulling the seat stem out, which also fits into the suitcase. And the suitcase is actually two liner inches smaller than the airline maximum of 62". They make some 66-68" suitcases, and I was thinking about getting one and praying, but no need.
As I posted, all I want to do with this bike is ride along the Rhine River and Lake Constance area from town to town, about 20 miles a day at say seven miles per hour. We're just going to toodle along.
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Orlando
Posts: 302
Bikes: homebuilt FWD recumbents, Genesis 20" folding bike, 1986 Schwinn Tempo, Cannondale Beast of the East, 70's Peugeot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Atom called me the OP, but actually he was the OP in this thread. But to make it clear, I am not mechanically inclined. If my car gets a flat tire I call a tow truck.
The thing I like about the Vilano is that it folds (kind of a hard fold) and just fits right into a suitcase. The only work is taking off one pedal and pulling the seat stem out, which also fits into the suitcase. And the suitcase is actually two liner inches smaller than the airline maximum of 62". They make some 66-68" suitcases, and I was thinking about getting one and praying, but no need.
As I posted, all I want to do with this bike is ride along the Rhine River and Lake Constance area from town to town, about 20 miles a day at say seven miles per hour. We're just going to toodle along.
The thing I like about the Vilano is that it folds (kind of a hard fold) and just fits right into a suitcase. The only work is taking off one pedal and pulling the seat stem out, which also fits into the suitcase. And the suitcase is actually two liner inches smaller than the airline maximum of 62". They make some 66-68" suitcases, and I was thinking about getting one and praying, but no need.
As I posted, all I want to do with this bike is ride along the Rhine River and Lake Constance area from town to town, about 20 miles a day at say seven miles per hour. We're just going to toodle along.
Anyway, I also noticed the hard-to-fold main frame hinge. A little WD40 on the pivot joint helps work it loose.
I also appreciated the small folded size of this bike.
I think it will serve you just fine.
#31
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 46
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, I've got to report that the folding bike issue is settled as far as Europe is concerned. My daughter has made it very plain that she doesn't want to tour on folding bikes. Let's face it, they do look like they ought to come with clown suits. I now have two of these folding bikes, one of which is still in the box. I think I'll just keep both, and at some point we'll use them. But as far as Europe is concerned, we'll buy or rent in Europe. There are some decent 150 euro bikes in Heidelberg; I just hope I can get a bike train ticket to go with the ones I already have.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ultralight
Folding Bikes
8
10-23-15 07:38 AM