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-   -   Orbea Katu (https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/1100002-orbea-katu.html)

tdonline 05-05-20 04:20 PM

Racktime has 20 inch and 24 inch racks and they are available at a site where I can get special pricing. I emailed Racktime to confirm the length of the arms. Ideally the 20 inch works but I may opt for the 24 inch just to be safe. While I can buy at a very good discount, there are no returns.

tofudog415 05-06-20 11:03 AM

Take care about the angle of the rack arms. The Katu has its rack mounts pretty high up on the seat stays, which are already run higher than a lot of folding bikes. You can see in my photo that the rack arms are almost horizontal. For a rack sitting lower, like next to tire, you'd have to be able to bend the arms upward to meet the seat stay mounts, which may or may not be feasible, depending on the shape of the rack and the profile of the arms. If you do a Google image search on the Katu, it looks like all the photos with racks are of the standard, big-wheel type that sit higher.

tdonline 05-06-20 04:17 PM

Yes, it's my biggest concern and why I put off ordering it this weekend. I put in an order that included a Racktime front rack for my commuter but didn't include the back rack.

The arms/stays are 300mm or about 11 inches long. And it looks like there is some pivoting which would allow the stays to pivot up. That's critical, no pivot and I'm SOL.

I found a few photos of folders with this rack along with one BF thread. None are Katu specific but the rack does look to have quite good clearance on other 20 inch wheel bikes. I think all of it rests how much I can angle the stays up.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hardco...n/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hardco...n/photostream/

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...-vybe-c7a.html

xRyan 05-07-20 01:53 PM

Where are you guys ordering from? The website doesn't a buying option for the Katu model. What's the going price for them right now?

tdonline 05-07-20 09:52 PM


Originally Posted by xRyan (Post 21461454)
Where are you guys ordering from? The website doesn't a buying option for the Katu model. What's the going price for them right now?

You may want to confirm this with Orbea and/or one of their dealers, but I think they stopped selling the Katu in the US. Assuming you're in the US, it's why you do not see a purchase option for the Katu like you do for their other bikes. I think the amazing Black Friday deal was the last hurrah. I'm really glad I got it--both because it's great and also because it's no longer sold in the US.

xRyan 05-08-20 07:46 AM


Originally Posted by tdonline (Post 21462230)
You may want to confirm this with Orbea and/or one of their dealers, but I think they stopped selling the Katu in the US. Assuming you're in the US, it's why you do not see a purchase option for the Katu like you do for their other bikes. I think the amazing Black Friday deal was the last hurrah. I'm really glad I got it--both because it's great and also because it's no longer sold in the US.

Bummer, I did message them yesterday about the availability so we'll see what they say. They are very good looking bikes. There is one on ebay at the moment but Its pick up only in New York.

tdonline 05-08-20 10:36 AM


Originally Posted by xRyan (Post 21462621)
Bummer, I did message them yesterday about the availability so we'll see what they say. They are very good looking bikes. There is one on ebay at the moment but Its pick up only in New York.

To set expectations, I messaged them about a rear rack recommendation (say that fast 3 times!) and I haven't heard from them. That was about a week ago.

xRyan 05-08-20 02:06 PM


Originally Posted by tdonline (Post 21463008)
To set expectations, I messaged them about a rear rack recommendation (say that fast 3 times!) and I haven't heard from them. That was about a week ago.

:twitchy: I guess I'll continue my search for a different model lol.

dezzie 05-09-20 10:27 AM

Velo orange do racks that fit its new Neutrino and that has 20" rims so maybe it will fit this bike.

tdonline 05-09-20 12:05 PM


Originally Posted by dezzie (Post 21464738)
Velo orange do racks that fit its new Neutrino and that has 20" rims so maybe it will fit this bike.

Didn't find a 20 inch specific rear rack on VO's site but the Neutrino's a very nice bike.

tomstickland 09-23-20 10:04 AM

I've just bought a Katu on Ebay. I want to use it for grocery shopping. At the moment my heels catch on the panniers so I need to find a rack that sits slightly further back.

tdonline 09-23-20 11:14 AM

I ended up buying this rack in the 24 inch size. The arms angle up slightly to reach the bolt area. There is a little bit more room between the bottom of the rack and the wheel than I like. Just purely an aesthetic thing. Seeing now the room available, the 20 inch likely would have worked--with a more severe angle up for the arms. As I was buying from a source that would not take returns, I played it safe and bought the 24.

https://www.racktime.com/en/racktime...uct/foldit-fix

I'm doing my first transport of the Katu tomorrow. I'm picking up a compact rental car today--crossing fingers the Katu can fit in the trunk (with the back seat down). I'm a little bit worried the basket may need to be removed.

tdonline 09-23-20 03:31 PM

Eh, bad luck, no hatchbacks available. Got a Mazda 3 sedan. With the back seats down, I was able to get the Katu in only after removing the basket and front wheel. If there was another pair of hands so we probably could shimmied the bike in, I may have been able to do it without removing the front wheel.

Cue regretting selling the folder...

tomstickland 09-23-20 05:18 PM

I've ordered a "Topeak Super Tourist DX Rear Rack" because it has additional rails that look like they extend slightly further back. I've also ordered better panniers that have adjustable clip positions. I'm hoping these two purchases will allow me to shift the panniers further back and clear my heels.

It's a real pity that Orbea put so much thought into the front end and didn't offer an extended length rear rack.

cyclostam 11-02-20 11:19 AM

Hi, I am interested in Katu 20. I would like to ask the length of the crank arm. I can not find the length in the specs. If it is too short, is there enough clearance for longer crankset (170mm)?

tofudog415 11-03-20 01:27 AM

Seems like most of the Katus come stock with 170mm cranks.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1da2ee141.jpeg

cyclostam 11-03-20 04:26 AM

Thank you.


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