cat0020

I work near Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay, Ave U on Q line.
I commute to Hoboken, NJ. Mostly ride across Brooklyn Bridge to WTC to catch the PATH train.

cat0020

Took some photos of side-by-side comparison of my two mini-velo..

glye

Hi cat0020, are you happy with your Java? Is it solid? I'm thinking to buy a frameset. It seems the best of the few disc brake minivelo options out there.

How fat tires do you think one could fit, given 406 size wheels? Is 50mm / 1.95" within the realm of the possible?

Thanks for any help!

cat0020

Java seems to have a much more refined frame than Sundeal, weld beads are sanded down, machined brake bridge, profiled top/seat tube, matt finish makes it feel like a carbon frame to the touch.
The hydraulic disc brakes that come with the bike seems overkill for me, since I try to use the brakes as little as possible.
OEM deep aluminum rims are super strong, combined with narrower tires witch are lighter weight than wider tires.
I think the manufacture spec the complete bike really well for its price, the shipping cost is what's killing the value.
Buying the frameset can save you some coins, but you miss out on the nice components like hydraulic disc brakes, deep dish wheels.







There is plenty of frame & fork clearance for wider rims/tires combo.

I don't think you need to worry about clearance if you use wider tires to ride it in the mud/snow.

I did upgrade the OEM aluminum fork to a carbon Java fork... little shorter in steertube length, but I used a high rise stem to compensate.

glye

Great, thanks for the response. I want very different componenets, that's why I prefer the frameset. My build will be more expensive than the original spec for sure, but still not a horribly expensive ride, I think.

RidingMatthew

thanks @cat0020 for the thoughtful response. I like the idea of the Java as well. I see it on Ebay is it really $549 or would there be more expenses regarding the taxes etc?
I have not bought much on ebay and the shipping does seem a bit steep.

cat0020

I don't think there is tax when I purchased mine.. I think only domestic seller would require tax payment.
$150 shipping cost is about $60-70 too much for package its size.
I regularly receive packages from China/Taiwan, shipping cost has gone insane in the last 2-3 year, with Trump tariffs, bicycle cost from Asia are likely to go up soon.
BTW, OEM saddle on the Java is horrible, might look lightweight, but very little cushion, stiff shell, very little comfort. Combined with stiff frame and wheels, the ride is very harsh with narrow OEM tires pumped up to 75-80 psi.

cat0020

So I've been riding my $125 eBay purchase Sundeal F2, 8-speed, folding bike with disc brakes for the last 7 months.
My commute on it 4 times a week is approx. 6 miles one-way, which include going through the NYC subway turnstiles.
The bike is working out great.
I have wore down the foam grips that I changed to 6 months ago, mostly because I use rubber bands to hold down the front brake when bike is inside the subway train.
I also changed the seatpost to a carbon one, to reduce the weight of the OEM aluminum seatpost, at 650mm length, that's quite a difference.
Narrowed handlebars to help me navigate among NYC traffic.
It's been a reliable and decent ride.
The disc brakes are mechanical (non-hydraulic), but enough stopping power and once setup proper, they never seem to rub.
Just recently they started to make noise when I come close to full stops, may just need to clean the rotors & calipers.
All in all, very good value for the purchase price.


The mini-velos have not been used as much as the Sundeal folding bike.
Mainly because my commute also involves subway rides.
If I plan to rider longer distance than my regular commute of 6 miles, I would ride the mini-velo instead.
The longest rides I've taken on the mini-velo is about 40 miles, I think I plan to put a riser handlebar to replace the flat bars on them currently.

Doc_Wui

I bought the V1 for $!49 in early 2018 from Nashbar. Wish I had bought two of them. It continures to be a nice riding bike for me.,

commo_soulja

I have a pink Sundeal that I bought last year and keep here at work to travel between buildings. We have a satellite building away from our main campus in the office park and it's been great for getting around. The stock disc brakes were junk so I put Avid BB7s and new levers on. Also swapped out the seatpost and saddle (heavy), handlebar, grips and pedals. Then I added a set of SKS fenders to keep puddle water off.

For basic transportation around the office park, it's not a bad investment for the $150 I shelled out.

jfouellette

Is the Sundeal frame the same as the Lombardo? Similar anyway…

cat0020

Maybe similar in geometry, but somewhat different frame designs.
My Sundeal minivelo has no caliper brake mounting points, seatstays are extended from the toptube;
Sundeal only has 8 speed with single chainring, not sure if frame is made to accommodate triple crankset.
For the last 3 years, the Sundeal has mostly been used as an errand bike within Brooklyn.
My longest single ride on it is probably 25 miles on a single sitting,
I really enjoy the minimalist and simplicity of riding a smaller sized bike with just the essentials for controls.
Cable activated mechanical brakes are very easy to setup, require minimal maintenance and offer plenty of braking performance.
Trouble-free operation in the city traffic with tons of potholes & poor road surfaces.
Bright color of the frame really deter the bike thieves.