phinsup

Basically i want two folders to have on the boat for riding around town when we get to port, i like the 20 inch. We're not serious bike riders and just need something that will easily fold up and store and get us around town. I would like something that can be fit with a rack for provisions and various things we may pick up in town.

I was looking at the https://www.citizenbike.com ,but noticed in some older posts that people were reluctant to recommend it, however, like i said they are older posts. Anyone have any experience with them?

Is there anything i can get for under 250 that is worth throwing 250 at? I dont really want to wait for something to come up on craigslist, considering i need two of them i would like to have them be the same.

Anyhow, appreciate any help!

Avatar

Pay a little more and get a Downtube for $300 + $25 shipping (cheap shipping!)

Best value folder I've seen.

Wavshrdr

Only way to go is Downtube at that price!

Kenal0

We keep two Downtubes on our boat and they are great. Nicest bikes on the dock.
Kenal0

14R 

Downtubes are not expensive but offer the luxury to be upgraded in case you fall in love with them and decide to improve the quality of components, seat, handlebar, etc...Most folders do not use standard components and that may be a little frustrating in the future if you decide your bikes have room for improvement.

Come back and let us know what you got.

Rafael

phinsup

There's a downtube.com selling on ebay right now, says 2006 1/2 bikes, gonna see if i can't pick one of them up for about that, just watched one for 244

I'll keep ya posted as to what i pick one up for

grayvw

I've found a couple of good internet deals for <$200 on 20" wheeled folders.

Campingworld.com is selling what looks like a Dahon Boardwalk D7 (not available from Dahon distributors anymore) for $149.50 if you're a member plus $29 shipping. This seemed like a good deal to me.

Costco.com sells the Schwinn Run-A-Bout which is a six-speed 20" folder for about $180 plus shipping. Anybody have any experience with this folder? Is it a rebadged Dahon Boardwalk D6? I'm a little concerned about the hi-tensile steel and the advertised weight of 39lbs. It may also be a cheap knock off of a Dahon. Does anyone have any experience with this bike?

phinsup

that's a good buy on the dahon, that is actually the one that got me looking at folding bikes in west marine, i think they wanted 300 for it, but not sure.

VeloLisa

I just received my Boardwalk D7 from Camping World today and I am very pleased. (I took advantage of the above mentioned offer.) I took it for a short spin, and even though the derailleur needs adjusting, it rode really nice. It folds and unfolds easily and is pretty compact. It's a bit heavy, though. Seems very well-made. Can't beat it for the the price!

dubes

I happened to see one in Central Park recently...maybe over the weekend. From a distance it looked like a Dahon (i.e. very upright riding position), but the green color is quite spiffy looking. I don't know anything about the quality of the ride or the components, though.

Afterward, I did a search on Schwinn folders to get a better idea of what I had seen and likewise found it on the Costco website. I assumed that the 39 pounds was the shipping weight and that the bike itself would be a bit lighter, but that's just speculation on my part.

grayvw

I forgot to mention there is a six-speed Dahon Yeah advertised on the Camping World website. The Dahon Yeah appears to be produced by another company called Yeah! Bicycles by Dahon's suppliers in China, Taiwan, or Macau using Dahon-licensed technology. See https://www.yeahbikes.com . It has a Shimano thumb shifter and track dropouts, i.e. short horizontal dropouts.

Has anyone had experience with one of these?

phinsup

i ended up ordering two of the dahon's from campingworld, they already shipped them, I'll let ya know when I get them and what i think!

Avatar

I must admit that's a great deal for the Dahon D7 if you get it for $150. At that price, it's a steal!

phinsup

I paid $377 for two of them with shipping and with the club membership, so $188 a piece, they shipped the next day, so we'll see when they get here!

bikestoworkny

any advise on an aluminum frame (lighter than 30lbs)folder
and is one speed ie boardwalk dahon worth the small price or 5 or more speeds reccomended
components are they that important?
would a heavy folder defeat the purpose?

Wavshrdr

Bikestoworkny- I've had the cheap Dahons (Boardwalks) and the Downtubes. For the money I'll take the Downtubes as it is nice to have gears to adapt to the terrain you are riding on and some suspension. In general I've had spoke issues with the cheap Dahons. They tend to rust pretty quickly for me.

The weight isn't as much of an issue unless you are carrying it a lot or have trouble putting it in the back of a car. A lot depends on how much you want to spend of course. For the $200-$450 range the Downtubes are the bikes to beat.

If you buy a cheap Dahon (i.e. Boardwalk) they have cheap spokes, crappy seats, no suspension and all around pretty low spec components. On the plus side they are cheap, have fenders and a rack. One thing you need to decide if you want internal hub gears or a derailleur. The internal hubs on the Downtubes far outclass anything else in this low price range.

bikestoworkny

any reccomendations on where to buy a downtube light 20inch foldable?

Scooper

You can order directly from Downtube, or visit their shop at 956 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA. Phone 215-245-4032.

matt52

get a great deal on one new (the only way to buy one if you're in the UK). Just got my IXFS on Friday - lovely bike, and had great help direct over the phone from Yan L to ensure properly set up. Well recommended.

belfast-biker

Hi matt, I've went from wanting a Brompton to this now, as funds dictate! Did you order direct from his website or via his ebay site?

What were your importing charges?

matt52

I bought my IXFS off ebay.co.uk (search for seller "downtube1") for £180 + £35 or so VAT and £25 postage. No import charges as the bikes are already in the country - Downtube have some sort of depot in Folkestone and sell all their UK bikes through ebay. £180 seems about the going rate for IXFSs (though some have gone up to above £200); about £150-160 for the other Downtube models. At that price, it is hard to make a case for buying anything else (unless you have money to burn).

Everything was very easy - couriered to by FedEx, arrived with me in two days. It needs a bit of set up on arrival, probably best done by a shop unless you're the sort of person who likes adjusting, lubing and all that stuff. Despite a tune up by my LBS, the gears were still a bit off, but a quick email to Yan at Downtube and subsequent phone call sorted the problem out (the LBS hadn't properly tensioned the cable) and the bike now rides very nicely indeed. Customer service at Downtube can certainly be recommended!

Have now ridden it a fair bit and very pleased with my purchase. The only kit I've added are lights and a Topeak EX beam rack https://www.topeak.com/2006/products/...beamrackex.php. for £25. It doesn't fold as small or as neatly as a Brompton (not much does) - rather than a small neat package what you get is a bike folded in half, with flipped down handlebars. And unless you tie it up with bungees, it doesn't stay as one tidy package. But the Downtube is cheaper, has more gears, bigger wheels, and is eminently luggable - I've taken on the bus folded up with no problems. And getting it into a car boot would be problem free.

Your choice of Downtube will need to reflect your size and intended use. The IXFS is the heaviest, but can capably accomodate my 6'2" frame. The front suspension and no suspension bikes are apparently less well suited to tall riders, but are cheaper, a bit lighter, less bulky and have a fixed rack at the back, so no need to mess around with fixing on a beam rack.
y
One thing about the Downtubes (particularly the FS) is that they look fairly startling by UK folding bike standards. I guess if you want that Brompton look you could always go for a Merc - essentially a Brompton clone, sold with lots of accessories. The pros and cons of them are well explored elsewhere on this forum. There is a new 3 speed Merc on ebay.co.uk at the moment for £330.

Best of luck, whatever you decide to buy.

belfast-biker

That price is breathtaking. I'll buy at the end of September.

I'm 5ft 6in, at 255lbs. Heaver than the spec the bike allows, but my current Bianchi and previous Sirrus were both well under-specced weight-wise too, with only a spoke replacement needed once on the Specialized.

I was aiming at the front suspension model, but the side by side pic of that with the mini made me lean again towards the mini...

matt52

I'm not sure if DT are importing minis into the UK yet (though I guess just a matter of time). When they do, I'm v tempted to buy the mini for my girlfriend - she current rides one of these huge german beasts https://www.bikefix.co.uk/index.php?u..._sgl_id=33#a13 - beautifully made, but so inordinately heavy she finds it a strain cycling it uphill...course if she does get a mini, I'd expect to be allowed the odd spin round the block myself...

bikestoworkny

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true
this looks light and has some features of down tube and dahon
any one have any advise on the brand?

downtube

Nothing that cheap can be any good
Just a joke.....so many people say that about our bikes, hence I think it is hysterical for me to say it about someone else

Give it a shot and tell us your thoughts.

Thanks,
Yan