aadhils

Hello All,

I came across this bike on Nashbar:

Sundeal V1 City Bike - Nashbar

20" wheels, disc brakes and 8 speeds for $150. What do you guys think?

It'll be for my wife you cannot yet drive. It beats taking the bus everywhere! I will also need to add a toddler seat to it.

I usually check youtube while doing research but there isn't a single video about the bike!

noglider 

It looks great. The price seems too good to be true, but maybe it isn't.

SloButWide 

It's half "list" price, and the bike is in the Clearance Zone. Altus components, so it's probably closer to a $300 bike than a $150 box store bike.

RubeRad

It's basically a folding bike that doesn't fold. Check out also the Fuji M1 and M2 bikes they have, they seem comparable, and Fuji is a recognizeable brand name (if that matters to you)

aadhils

Thats what I thought too. Disc brakes on a $150 bike?! Maybe they're some super low quality disc brakes?

Its $150 on Amazon too with like a $20 shipping fee.

I was thinking that too but then the Sundeal also has disc brakes.

bigbenaugust 

I gave up on my mini-velo, got rid of the last 451mm-specific parts in my stash a couple of weeks ago. I *want* to like small-wheeled bikes, but I've never had good luck with them.

ussprinceton

I was tracking how many SunDeal bikes sold on eBay, and there were a ton

RidingMatthew

May I ask what do you mean never had good luck? do they not ride well or what? were some pro/ cons. I saw the same bike and was wondering about it instead of a folder for camping and riding with my 8yo son around campgrounds and stuff.

bigbenaugust 

My mini-velo somehow developed a bent frame and was a 451 oddball, so I junked it. I never could get the ergonomics right on that bike. Fatter tires than 451x28s (or a 406 conversion of some sort) and a flat bar would have helped a lot.

RidingMatthew

thanks @bigbenaugust I am intrigued with one as an option to goof around with my son on.


if it fit in my utility trailer for camping I would be sold.

bigbenaugust 

I've also owned two folding bikes, both 406mm tires, one was stolen years ago, the other was a poor impulse buy. I may fix it up for Mrs. A. Just need to find a good seatpost shim for it first.

MichaelBrown86

I just ordered two of them from Amazon for my fiance and I. She's 5'3", I'm 6'1". We'll see how this goes.

I've been looking for an affordable Mini-Velo for a long time, and this one has an aluminum frame, disc brakes, and I think Atlus shifter/derailleur? It's sounds like a great deal.

RidingMatthew

I borrowed my 73yo dad's folding bike from china last year. I think I would rather have the minivelo vs a folder. the folder felt a bit wobbly and sketch sometimes.
I just have to figure out a way to get our bikes on the trailer for a family camping trip.

RidingMatthew

did you get it? what do you think about it? now all they have is a pink one

a1penguin

I would guess that a bike that cheap has the worst quality components. Take a look at a $150 Walmart bike and you'll get some idea of the level of quality to expect. I looked at the brakes on a BSO and they were fairly thin stamped sheet metal and looked like would flex easily. Of course these could be the last 20 bikes from four years ago that they just want to get rid of and might be comparable in quality to a $500 bike. Reviews are tricky, because you don't know much about the reviewer. I would put more faith on a review seen here on the forums by someone with more than 5 posts :-)

I've started doing weekend errands by bike because driving in the bay area has turned into mostly waiting. So much high density housing going in, and road diets and you end up with more lights and stop signs. The 8 mile bike ride from Satan Clara to Mountain View is easy enough.

aadhils

I wanted to get it for my wife but now she's pregnant. So I'm waiting. Ill probably get something with an Xtra Cycle attachment in a couple of years so she can haul around a toddler and a kid.

noglider 

Congratulations, @aadhils.

aadhils

Thank You

cat0020

I bought one of the last remaining pink ones for $139 shipped to my door..

I ditched the foam grips & disc brake calipers right away, put on some old gel grips & Hayes mechanical calipers..
Longer reach & higher rise stem to fit better for my riding position.

I cut down the handlebar about 1.5 in. from each side, since I will be riding this bike in Manhattan, narrow handlebars saves lives when you are just inches away from cars.
Gearing is a bit tall for city bike, but smaller chainring would easily compensate.
Pink color stands out nicely in traffic, and not likely to be the first target for thieves.

RidingMatthew

@cat0020 how does it ride?

cat0020

Sundeal rides pretty well, I've put about 200 miles on my other minibike, JAVA; commuting between Brooklyn (Coney Isl.) & Manhattan.

The Sundeal has taller gearing, which is more difficult for city commute that sometimes require hopping onto the curb to avoid car traffic and pedaling among foot traffic.

I like having smaller gear to ride a walking pace and easy acceleration from low speed, which is crucial for a commuter bike in traffic pattern like NYC.

I hardly ever get above 17-18 mph, because chances of serious injury is much higher at speed above that in NYC traffic.
Sundeal has nice wide tires, keeps the momentum once the bike gets up to speed, like heavier rims.
Bike with smaller wheels lose momentum really fast whenever you're not pedaling, heavier rims or tires will keep the momentum better for them to ride like bike with larger wheels.

Handling/steering of Sundeal is very similar to my JAVA minibike, steering is quick at low/walking speed, but once above 12-15 mph, they ride pretty much like a full sized 700c bike. But you have to make sure that the stem is sized to suit your riding. OEM stems on these bikes are usually too short/low for adult riders.

I'm 5'9", I ride my minibikes with 130 or 140mm stems 17 deg rise, longer stem also slows the steering for minibikes.
My commute also involves taking the bike onto a train to cross from NYC to NJ; minibikes or folding bikes take up far less room on the commuter train and little lighter to carry up and down steps to get to the train platform.

For the winter months I ride my folding bike and get on and off NYC subway train with my folding bike, 16" wheels are slow, but still beats walking.

'Hopefully, I get to put some miles on the Sundeal soon.

So far I've only put it together and test ridden it around the neighborhood for riding position feel..
You have to set your expectations with these minibikes, they are not meant to ride like a full sized road or mt. bike. Not meant for speed work in a paceline. If you want to cruise above 20 mph most of the time, look elsewhere.

If you have limited storage for a full sized bicycle and ride among city traffic, smaller, lighter bikes make sense; they take up less room when not ridden, less chance to get hit by car when you are a smaller target. Fatter rims/tires with small sized wheels will survive the potholes better.

For $139, the Sundeal is a very good deal for what you get, good baseline bike that will likely last longer that most department store bicycles. Good solid frame, decent riding geometry, important components are quality items.

It's not going to ride like a top of the line bike, but after working in the bike industry for over two decades; this one is a sold bike IMO.

noglider 

I like it, though the short wheelbase might make it feel "busy." Do you think it would be easy enough to install a rack and fenders?

cat0020

There are no mounting points or braze-ons for rear rack on the frame..
Could probably just use one of those seatpost-mount rear rack.
But with 27.2mm diameter seatpost, likely it's not going to carry more than 10 lb.

cat0020

I put about 18 miles on the Sundeal bike this week, 2-3 miles daily and a longer 8 mile ride.

Typical of minibikes, very stiff frame, small sized, stiff wheels; out-of-saddle efforts produce instant response in acceleration.

I'm glad that I swapped the OEM saddle rightaway, propably would fit a suspension seatpost for longer rides.

Handling feels pretty stable, hands-free riding took some practice, but still manageable.

Originally I though the gearing might be too tall for city commuting, but turned out ok, just the top gear is tall.

Heel clearance of the frame is a bit tight.. I have size 9.5 shoes.. sometimes strikes the chain/seatstay on the non-drive side.

slappy76

I just picked up a Sundeal F2 folding bike off eBay for about $200 from seller Crosslake Sales (d/b/a Random Bike Parts). They are surprisingly well built for the money. Mine was dated April 2015, so it's been sitting for a 3 years. The rubber on the Kenda tires were still good though. Hydroformed aluminum tubing. Good welds. Good paint (found a small scratch underneath), Acera derailleur and 8 speed Shimano cassette, Jagwire CEX cable housing, quick releases all over, mechanical disc brakes are all nice touches. I can see this selling for 2-3x as much if there was backed by a fancier label. It's nicer than any bike I've ever seen displayed at Walmart or Target which sometimes sell for more than this with crappier components. For reference, I own a full sized folder, Montague Paratrooper Pro ($1000), while it's a nice bike I'd buy this for 1/5 the price all day long. I owned a 20" Dahon briefly 15 years ago and it really felt like a toy bike and much less adjustable. I also tried the 16" Brompton at REI selling for $2k. Super twitchy steering. Aside from the slight flex in the adjustable stem (it's long since I like sitting upright) this feels like a full sized bike in every way. I can adjust 8" from the handlebar and about 14" from the seat (don't quote me.. I'm guessimating). Unlike Cat0020, I found the gearing perfect for me. I can see myself getting up to 20MPH. Mine clocked in just under 28lbs. About 28.5lbs after I swapped the seat for a wider one. The wheels, hubs, and calipers were no-name brand but they're perfectly adequate. The plastic folding pedals are serviceable but don't spin well, so that'll probably be next to go. I wish it had horizontal rear dropouts so I could easily convert this to a belt / IGH. This seems like a good candidate for a cheap folding electric hub bike conversion.

The package arrived from Advanced Sports Inc. who sells under Fuji, Kestral, Breezer, Oval, Phat, Tuesday, and SE brands. They're made by Ideal bikes based in Taiwan. They also have factories in China (where my Sundeal F2 was made), and Poland.
Highly recommended.

CAT0020, I'm in Brooklyn too. PM me., curious to see your bike.