Originally Posted by
edwong3
To insinuate that you can't find a quality folder for under $300 is reeking of "elitism" that kills some of the fun of participating on this forum. And it is rare to see attacks coming from the budget conscious side as they would have jumped on the threads talking about the cracks on the BF Tikit frames or failing latches on the Dahons. Surely these bikes should have a "modicum of quality" but they can still malfunction, even catastrophically...right?
+1
Definitely smacks of "elitism". Not everyone wants to drop a ton of money on a bike, folder or not. That is their right and their prerogative.
There are a few good quality bikes in that price range. Will it be a Bike Friday Tikit (minus cracks!!)? Or a Moulton? No, not unless seriously used and/or abused. So you need to be realistic in what $300 can buy you.
There's the Citizen line of bikes which I can personally attest to their decent quality as I own one. They are a good bang for the buck. I would suggest if one is looking at Citizen bikes to get the "Gotham" unless you absolutely need smaller wheels, in which case, the "Tokyo" is a decent option. Note that the Citizens are pretty low geared which is great for hills but a little slow on the flats.
Dahon makes some very nice well-priced bikes. A Dahon Boardwalk S1 is a nice option.
Do some digging and you're bound to find some nice deals on folders in the $300 range.
Best!