Just came across an article at BikeHugger about a style of bike called a Mini Velo that Masi is thinking about offering in the US. They are regular road frames with 20" wheels designed for those with limited space. They are not folding bikes though (which is good as folders have frames that are a real compromise performance wise in my opinion.) Apparently they are very popular in Japan where space is a premium and Gios and Bianchi currently make Mini Velos for that market.


Does anybody have one these things? If you have one, what do you think? Do you think it would be a good commuter bike for those with limited space or multi modal transportation?

(NOTE: These look like folders but they're not which is why this is not in the folder section of the forum.)

Someone's bound to call that a road bike any minute now due to the drop bars.

They aren't really anything new; Pashley and Moulton have been making small-wheeled road bikes that are at best separable, not folders, for decades. Unlike the Masi pictured, Moulton have recognized the importance of a damping suspension in small-wheeled bikes and have designed theirs with both wheels suspended. The Moultons are very much road bikes with exotic wire truss pylon constructed frames. If you have the cash--over USD 10,000 at this point with exchange--and you want something that goes fast that no one else will be riding, that might be for you.

Isn't it?

dorky. especially if it could fit me.

I prefer to be able to fold it, if its going to be small.

It really doesn't save all that much room either. And the ride of that size wheel over lumps and potholes would be vicious.

There's talk of these bikes in the Folding Forum if you look around.

I think they are really interesting. Dahon made (makes?) a model that they equip with moustache bars, I think it came with leather grip tape and brooks saddle as well. Bianchi, as was mentioned, and a Japanese outfit called Tyrell who make lightweight racers. The dahon model is built to become thin, with folding pedals and a quick release handlebar clamp that allows the bars to fold in plane with the frame, so you can squeeze it into a very thin space for storage.

That Masi seems to have some pretty substantial wide tires on it, maybe to even out for the small wheels in real world (pothole) conditions?

But yeah, if I was going that way, I'd probably get something that folded anyway, like a Xootr Swift or a Pacific Reach.