Well I can't speak for the OP but instead I am going to pretend that I was the one who started this thread. The question as I see was to name a number of decent folding bikes that sell for up to $300. There are several in that category and the intention is not to compare them with bikes selling for much more. That's the problem I have with some of the responses that have effectively hi jacked this thread away from the OP's intended purpose.
Some people (I'm not mentioning names) have this knee jerk reaction to jump on and take advantage of any occasion to trash any mention of a budget priced product just because they have this psychological need to justify the big bucks they dropped on the higher end products. Deep inside their minds they question themselves, "Did I do the right thing in spending one third, or one half, etc., of my month's salary on this bike?". And so they must look for opportunities to solidify their decision by berating not only lower end products, but sometimes it get's to personal attacks against anyone who "dares" to promote the idea that these products have any actual use or worth to own at all. Someone even insinuated that low cost bikes are "dangerous". Next someone else will say that if you don't own and ride bicycles that sell for over $400, you'll get cancer!
Most people are not going to use a folding bike to the extent that a rabid long distance commuter or tourer would, and therefore some of the responses in this thread are of no use to the OP or the other readers, however well intended they might be. A $200 bike can serve a casual rider quite well, and provide a nice low cost entry into our life style, rather than shutting them out with a required higher investment. To me that's a win win situation.
Just some "food for thought" next time another thread like this surfaces in the future.
Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder
Originally Posted by
brakemeister
I can see both points ...... Its super tough to recomend something which one hasnt ridden for a extended peiod of time ..and I expect that you invest even300 dlr for a bike that you can find somebody at least partially feeling responsible when there is a problem. Most of those ebay bikes are a disaster waiting to happen.... They are made for the chinese market , are generally sized for much smaller people and I get emails to buy container loads for 75 bucks a pop every week.... And 75 dlr they are worth ....some of these bikes have "walked" out of the companies over there all by themselves .... shipping is usually way up there, and there is no duty/customs paid either ...I know of cases where the buyer got caught paying hundred of dlr late customs/duty fees ..or that the bike never arrived.... just to see the ebay seller vanish and starting a new outlet with a different name ...
These bikes will work for a limited time , but than usually fall apart and it takes a skilled mechanic to keep them going
A boardwalk is a good bike , not fancy but worth the money. One can find some older deals at Campingworld maybe, The Eco slightly higher than 300 is great .... I suggest at the time to have that bike at a pricepoint of 299 instead of 370 isch .... but the lesser quality components this would have meant wasnt worth the savings.... you get a lot of bike at Dahon cause they get their parts for much less money than most other folding bike companies ( simply casuse they buy a lot more )
Anyhow .... there is always the chance you find a cool raleigh 20 or a barely used Dahon ......
keep looking
thor