Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Folding Bikes
Reload this Page >

Vilano Apex 16" folding bike

Notices
Folding Bikes Discuss the unique features and issues of folding bikes. Also a great place to learn what folding bike will work best for your needs.

Vilano Apex 16" folding bike

Old 06-25-14, 11:44 PM
  #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.
NormanF is offline  
Old 06-26-14, 05:44 AM
  #27  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
atombikes's Avatar
 
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.
atombikes is offline  
Old 06-26-14, 06:01 AM
  #28  
The Recumbent Quant
 
cplager's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Fairfield, CT
Posts: 3,094

Bikes: 2012 Cruzbike Sofrider, 2013 Cruzigami Mantis, 2016 Folding CruziTandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by atombikes
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.
The issue with the lower end folding bikes is that they can work out well if you have the inclination to do a bit of maintenance (or take it to a shop). Note that this is also true for used folding bikes as well. I was recently in the market for a tiny-fold folding bike and I did look for used bikes and did not find anything reasonably priced in my area (I was not looking for a very long time - with patience one can sometimes do very well).
cplager is offline  
Old 06-27-14, 02:07 PM
  #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.
EarlVanDorn is offline  
Old 06-27-14, 08:03 PM
  #30  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
atombikes's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by EarlVanDorn
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.
Haha- OK now I feel dumb!

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.
atombikes is offline  
Old 06-30-14, 11:39 PM
  #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.
EarlVanDorn is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
atombikes
Folding Bikes
390
07-13-23 12:56 PM
Lovespicyfood
Folding Bikes
114
02-19-19 06:59 AM
makeinu
Folding Bikes
86
06-26-18 12:04 PM
Ultralight
Folding Bikes
8
10-23-15 07:38 AM
bbmike
Folding Bikes
10
03-28-12 07:26 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.