fittybike

Hi,

I am living in Australia and there is only Expressway 2 2013 model currently available there.Cannot found any Expressway 1 model in there.

Here are the spec of Expressway 2. My max budget is within $500 including bike bag. They are selling $A450 in Sydney.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/...specifications

1. What do you think about this bike ? Does anyone have any comment or would like to share their riding experience on this bike ?

2. What is the folded dimensions of Expressway 2 ? I cannot found it in Giant website.

3. The Cityrail allow the bike (in its bag) must not exceed these dimensions: 82cm length x 69cm height x 39cm width with a maximum wheel rim diameter of 51cm. I am planning to bring it on the train during peak hour. Not sure if the bike is bulky to get it or not ?

4. What is the weight of the Expressway 2 ?

5. The Expressway 2 has Shimano tourney 7 speed derailleur.I heard that Tourney is lowest level of Shimano gear and usually found in the department store bike. Is Tourney derailleur good and reliable enough ? I have Acera in my MTB and happy about it. But not sure about the Tourney ?

6. Any pro and cons for this Expressway 2 bike ?

7. How easy for folding bike to go uphill ?

Thank you for your help !

FoldingLawrence

Some of these questions are probably better directed to the manufacturer.

cplager

Hi,

A friend of mine has another Giant folding bike (I'm not sure the model and I can't easily find it on their website).

Compared to my few-year-old Green Zone folding bike, I was very impressed with its ride. It rode much more like an upright bike than I was expecting.

As far as riding up hill, there are two things to keep in mind:

(1) It's mostly about the gearing. Having a folding bike with a low gear of 30" will climb hills from a seated position like a regular bike with a low gear of 30".

(2) I find it harder to stand on folding bikes (at least my Green Zone) than I do on upright bikes. This was partially due to geometry (which won't change too much on other folding bikes) and partially due to the quality of the handlebars on the Green Zone (which will be much better on the Giant). If you are used to standing, then you may have issues.

As far as the rear derailleur, I don't think I'd let that stop me regardless. I believe it will work fine, and if it doesn't, they are not particularly expensive to replace.

Cheers,
Charles

chagzuki

Looks OK but I doubt there's anything to recommend it over a Dahon or Tern. I can't see any reference to the 'Subway' 16" model on the Giant website, it'd be a shame if that were discontinued.

browngw 

Not sure exactly what the "1" and "2" actually mean, and our Canadian website has different colors and options but the specs are similar. My wife has an Expressway and it weighs about 27lbs. A fine bike, very solid and "untoylike". I have a Giant "Halfway" that folds a wee bit tighter, but the two bags are the same size. See our thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Pair-of-Giants

smallwheeler

wow... that is NICE :O

smallwheeler

ugh.. if somebody out there has one of these and is ready to move it along.. please let me know..

phillybill

it's a good bike.... had one earlier in the year before I brought a brompton. I had fun riding it and even put a trekking bar on it. goes up hills fine... very firm frame for a folder. I like it better than Dahon's.

I brought the brompton for the fold... otherwise I would have kept the giant.

fittybike

Thank you for your help !

Just wonder what is the folded dimensions of the Expressway. I cannot foud out from Giant website.

Just saw a Cell bike in ebay that costs $A268. It has better rear derailleur - Shimano Altus.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Cell-2013...item4abe716911

They has local store at Sydney and selling the same bike at $399.
https://www.cellbikes.com.au/Cell-Sid...ding-City-Bike


But what do think about this Cell folding bike comparing with Giant Expressway 2. There is about $A180 difference in price. The components looks fine. But will these cheaper version folding bike reliable ? Anyone has experience with the cheaper folding bike. Will they easy to break ?

Thank you !

Fenway

The Giants have a better frame hinge than the Cell.

The small thumbnails showing the Giant Subway depict internal cable routing and Herbie chaingliders covering the chainline to internaly geared hubs.

I'm not familiar with the Cell brand. The pictures make it look like a blend between Origami's and Citizen's/Greenzone's.

fittybike

For the Cell folding bike, what do you think about these locking mechanism in the stem ? Does it strong and reliable enough ?

Here is some pictures about that .

Dynocoaster 

Have you thought about a Raleigh twenty and upgrading it? Just another idea. https://raleightwenty.webs.com/

tds101 

Wow!!! The Giant Subway 16 is exactly what I want!!! Anyone know where to get it in the USA? I'll gladly trade my Melon Slice for one,....Here's the link to it: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/...ay/7850/45476/

smallwheeler

hehe.. yes, its a sweet bike. doesnt seem to be available in the US and selling new for 900 euros.. you'll have to trade a lot more than a melon slice to get your hands on a giant subway im afraid.

tds101 

I'd be willing to pay additional,...and the Melon Slice is only part of my offer.

smallwheeler

hehe.. i too, have a couple of bikes i would be willing to trade for a giant subway..

BenMc

Hi I Have been looking into folding bikes for about 6 months. As I already own x3 MTBs x1 Road bike and x1 Trailer I can't spend much without inciting wrath from my wife so the Expressway 1 is the way to go. I have ridden the 2 and found it to be very responsive and fun to ride (I'm 177cm 110kg so too heavy for a Dahon) Nice gear and great brakes. The only difference to the 1 is mudguards, carrier, extra cog, trigger shift and Scram chain and possibly shifter. The 2 weighs about 12-13kg and with the extras the 1 would still be less than 14kg. Take in mind the Raleigh 20 I tooled around on as a kid all over the Port Hills of Christchurch was way heavier and only had a 3 speed hub! I found the 2 to be a very zippy version of that. I was able to fold the 2 down easily and it fits into a bag not much bigger than the 20 inch wheels I think the PI web site (google giant expressway 2013 Philippines) had the folded dimensions. I have had discussions with the excellent staff of both Wellington and Auckland Giant shops and have come to the conclusion that selling only the 2 in Australia and NZ was a marketing decision. DaHon pulled out of NZ so Giant is probably playing it safe. Cheapest place to buy an Expressway 1 is to buy it new from an authorized dealer in the Philippines where you can get it for as little as P16,000 (aprox NZ$474) then get a Philippino/a from work to bring it back next time they are home! (I work in a hospital so a lot of my colleagues are from the Friendly Islands) I myself will probably buy one from an Arizona bike shop and get my brother to bring it over. The Auckland staff are happy to service an import as they would be hard pushed sourcing mudguards to make a 2 into a 1. If you decide to go with the 2 you could always change the derailleur but it would then cost more. You also will have to spend aprox $100 on mudguards and carrier. Back to performance, all in all a folder is a compromise bike, you will miss the multi gears and lower ratio of your MTB but being able to drop the bike at the check in desk at museums, clubs and under the table at cafes I think is well worth it. My friends in the UK who paid lots for their Bromptons still say they have their limitations and can be quite heavy if you buy an older one. Presently I park and ride with my Fisher Paragon and are in constant fear of getting it stolen. Besides it only just fits the luggage rack of my MX5 with the front wheel and peddle off! With an Expressway 1 I can fit it in the boot or footwell of the MX5 ride it and carry it into work and stash it somewhere. If it gets lifted I have only invested as much as a new ipad! All the best Ben

kawika808

Alas they don't even bother to include the weight on the spec sheet, much less anything like folded size. Seems lazy and arrogant. Would they support the product if necessary?

globalexplorer

I have an Expressway 1. I like it a lot and mine weights in at 27 pounds on my bathroom scale. That is with fenders and lights. I did put a lighter seat and changed the cranks with a set I had laying around. Also changed the fenders, kept the rack. The 1 has trigger shifters v the twist on the 2. The reason I bought it is because I got it for the price of a 2 and I prefer trigger shifters. Mine fits just fine in the back of my 94 Honda wagon. I find it's easy to fold but it is a little hard to carry around but then I don't commute by bike to work. Bus system in Indianapolis is not the most practical to get around. Lots of people here seem to be partial to certain brands and the status that comes with them. Get what you like and can afford. Indianapolis is pretty flat so I can' comment on going up hills but the ones I encountered were pretty easy with the stock gearing. Good luck.

xraytech

Different Model year but basically the same bike with a few upgrade of course.

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bi...-everyone.html

xraytech

1) Good Bike for the price, considering the usual suspects are almost 2 times the price.

2) 75cm x 70cm x 30cm roughly by eye.

3) It just might squeak in there by my measurments.

4) Pre upgrades, about 27lbs. Post upgrades 24lbs.

5) Tourney is fine but for longevity I'd consider upgrading to Tiagra or 105.

6) Pros: inexpensive, comfortable upright riding position Cons: Heavy Heavy Heavy but most Folders are, Components need to be upgraded.

7) In stock configuration, don't expect to go balsting up hills. Need at least a 10 Speed setup.

fietsbob

Again... the ratio range matters more than How many 'Speeds'. 11-20t, in sequence, is 10 speeds.

as a 5 by 2 ... and the 2 can be as different as 24 to 60, if you wish ..

xraytech

Okay...

To keep it simple, keep the stock rear cogset and change to smaller chain ring in front.