Originally Posted by
rival85
@SunnyFlorida
You might be right
The thing is she lives in an apartment with her mom and brother and there isn't much room. When her sister lived with them she had a bike in the hallway that was always in the way. When my gf expressed an interest in getting a bike I thought that maybe a folder would be a good choice for her since they're so compact. However, I know her and after reading the responses here I know she'd rather have a bike that was ready to ride and not a fixer upper.
But new folders are so much more expensive! Isn't there such a thing as budget folding bikes out there?
I am familiar with the "cramped" feeling as I too live in a too small space with other family members. You are correct about a folding bike would do nicely in such a situation. At one time until recently, I had four of them stashed all around me. I sold one (16" Dahon Piccolo), donated the other to a bike co-op (20" Dahon Boardwalk), and kept the other 2.
Be warned that folding bikes are more expensive than a non folding similarly spec one. BUT, the price is well worth it considering the flexibility that these bikes offer over the other ones. Namely,
built in theft resistance &
compact storage in all types of situations.
Budget New Folding Bikes: I find that the Boardwalk S1 wins hands down for a fantastic introduction to folding bikes. I had mine from December 2003 (it was a purchased new 2003 model) to this August. Dahon is the largest folding bike manufacturer world-wide. It lends itself from none to simple upgrades all the way to fancy major modifications (like I done with mine adding a three speed hub & rear side pull brake). I do recommend that you involve your girlfriend with this major decision. Nothing is more heartbreaking than someone with a forced grin trying to appear happy with someone else' idea of a perfect bike-and never using it.
Used Folding Bikes I did not consider purchasing and cleaning up a used folding bike until I was far more knowledgeable about bikes in general and folding ones in particular. I had the Dahons and the Brompton for several years
before I was lucky enough to locate a dirty, but nice Raleigh Twenty. I used my other bikes as a foundation (many parts stripped from the Dahons & transfered to the R20, some limited off-the-shelf new parts purchased at the bike shop, sewed my own bags & covers plus did all the major cleaning before going to the LBS, and was already grounded with these type of bikes or the
BF members helped me greatly in other knowledge gaps) to revive this old bike. So I was able to keep the costs down to a minimum. I can tell you it was not cheap or a budget bike after the final total was calculated. But I just love my old/new/whatever Raleigh Twenty bike. I hope your girlfriend will love her bike just as much as I do all of mine.