Yes her name is Nekohime and she is 5'4" . The bike only fits people up to 5'7" properly.

So mulleady helped me find this sweet deal on this 2005 Downtube VIII FS.
It's only 65$ and the guy wasn't orignally willing to ship. I pm'd him and he said shipping is fine with him, and it'd probably cost 35-40$. So that'd be 100-105$ total for a used 2005 Downtube VIII FS.

Here's some info on stuff that needs fixing.

" Up for auction is my Downtube folding bike. It folds quickly, it's about 25 pounds and I have used it a lot during my last three years in philly. There's a couple things you need to know before bidding: 1) It has scratches associated with three years of use. 2) One of the links in the chain is missing a rivet (see picture 3) and makes the chain fall from time to time. 3) The chain is also missing the cover/protector, not sure what's it called (look for a new downtube image and you'll see what I mean. I still use the bike daily, but I would strongly recommend taking it to a bike shop for a tune-up and to fix what I mentioned above. I'm moving overseas and I'm not going to need it. "

Seems like everything mentioned is minor, and wouldn't cost but a few bucks. Should I finalize this deal? It seems like it'd ride alot better than a Boardwalk S1 and fit me alot better than a Kent (not to mention its cheaper than either), anyone have experience with this bike? Any recommended modifcations or anything of that sort?

I'm pretty excited.

I hope you did! If you needs parts go to the downtube website and contact yan www.downtube.com. I won't post his email here and encourage spammers. The great thing about the FS is it suits a tall guy like you who's over 6 feet perfectly. Also it takes a lot of standard bike parts but I'd check about the chain cover with Yan. Yes this bike is VERY upgradeable and I'm just having my black FS modded with Shimano Deore derailleur + trigger shifter and Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, plus a new Sacxhs chain. Can't wait.........

Hope you took the bargain this is a steal for you on a budget and you will love it no doubt1

A lot of peeps here like them, might need a new chain and or sprockets, brake pads etc, but you'd still be in budget. Orange too. Yum Yum. There's a link to Downtube on the right of the page, for more info. Nice looking bikes.

Buying older isn't a problem, if you keep an eye on wear items. My pal is still riding a fifteen year old MTB I sold him five years ago. He's just replaced the chain. :-)

Bit of humour intended there

Figured in the end that RH was over 6 feet and the Kent was a no-goer. Hopefully he went for the Downtube FS bargain on ebay.com.

for some info put Downtube FS in the 'search' feature at the top of the forums. also see some interesting threads below:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=fs+downtube (Happy buyer)
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=fs+downtube (Shows upgrade potential, this guy chose some lovely mods, that you can do in time and you can get loads of advice on here )

Will post pics of my Downtube FS once its upgraded next week.

Yep I went for it! The guy thinks it will be 35-40$ more for shipping, waiting for him to get back to me with the total so I can pay him. Thanks for the help guys. If everything pulls through, I'll let you know when I get the bike. Might need some help with tuning, as I know little to nothing about bikes. I'm not sure I'll be able to spot worn parts or anything like that. Can't wait to ride it, it just needs a new chain and chain guard thing. Should I contact Yan? I don't see these items listed under his parts section.

Sent you details of how to contact him by PM

Good luck RK very pleased to see you introduced to the world of folding bikes! noy a bad start either as downtubes are so upgradeable in the future and very capable bikes as they are! You will have fun on this one on roads or trails!

Don't forget to change the blinker fluid!

Damn... So that bike didn't happen. I bought it for the 65, and like I said he was only interested in selling locally. He decided to sell it to me though, so he went out of his way to check for shipping costs. The UPS near his house told him it'd be 55$ 35$ for shipping and 20$ for the box. I thought that was pretty insane, so we both tried to find cheaper service. After all that, we settled last Saturday on the 55$ shipping cost. Well, he went to go ship it and they told him it'd be 125$ total for shipping. The 55$ was just for the packing service + box, and it'd be an additional 70$ for shipping. So he refunded me and sold the bike locally. I'm really bummed. I was looking forward to commuting and riding/folding my bike. I think he was just jerking me around, probably found a buyer near by and sold it to him and changed his mind about me. I dunno what to do now, I guess I'm back to the Boardwalk S1 route... Would love to get my hands on another sweet deal though.

[QUOTE=Ragekage;6888808]So mulleady helped me find this sweet deal on this 2005 Downtube VIII FS.
It's only 65$ and the guy wasn't orignally willing to ship. I pm'd him and he said shipping is fine with him, and it'd probably cost 35-40$. So that'd be 100-105$ total for a used 2005 Downtube VIII FS.

Here's some info on stuff that needs fixing.

" Up for auction is my Downtube folding bike. It folds quickly, it's about 25 pounds and I have used it a lot during my last three years in philly. There's a couple things you need to know before bidding: 1) It has scratches associated with three years of use. 2) One of the links in the chain is missing a rivet (see picture 3) and makes the chain fall from time to time. 3) The chain is also missing the cover/protector, not sure what's it called (look for a new downtube image and you'll see what I mean. I still use the bike daily, but I would strongly recommend taking it to a bike shop for a tune-up and to fix what I mentioned above. I'm moving overseas and I'm not going to need it. "

Seems like everything mentioned is minor, and wouldn't cost but a few bucks. Should I finalize this deal? It seems like it'd ride alot better than a Boardwalk S1 and fit me alot better than a Kent (not to mention its cheaper than either), anyone have experience with this bike? Any recommended modifcations or anything of that sort?

I'm pretty excited.

[QUOTE]

When I was in college struggling to get my degree, I went to the thrift stores or yard sales for a bike. This was way back before the internet and all that fancy tacking on shipping costs (you can't beam a bike through the World Wide Web yet). I bought a bike 25 dollars or less and that was that. Everybody I knew did this whether it was a car purchase or a bike purchase. Perhaps simple does not cut it anymore I don't know. It does not matter. I now no longer buy used bikes, cars-anything. When I buy I purchase only new intended for at least several years use. I don't dump a folder that I don't like on someone else-especially in rather poor condition like that bike seems to be. The costs of a tune up, replacing a chain, perhaps tires and possible corrosion on the frame is too steep even at that supposed bargain. Plus you have no warranty garantee on that bike (you are not the orignial owner). And I don't deal with unknown private party characters on the internet-way out of my comfort zone. I do order from established small & large business-someone(s) who has a PayPal or like account and is customer service orientated (or at least tracable history)-alike over the 'Web, but not hazy E-Bay or the like-too much time wasted and too risky for me. Simpliiciity is the best way even today. If you are not happy about purchasing a Boardwalk S1 (a better bike compared to those aluminium framed Downtubes IMO) don't do it. Make peace with yourself and get more comfortable about bikes before you buy any bike. That way you will be happy with the money you will have to fork over.

Oh hai! I'm the Kent-riding, raw-lacquer-brommie-coveting student they're all talking about. I've had the Kent Ultralite for almost a year now, and I'm pretty happy with it. Just don't expect much from it--it is like a cruiser in speed and riding position (waaay slow and upright sitting, which is good for riding in traffic anyway). Thing is, I'm waaaaaaay smaller than you, and at 6'1", you will be cramped.

I'm thinking if you buy the Kent and put different handlebars and stem, it'll do a lot to improve rideablity, especially if you're over 5'7". I actually want clip on aero or drop bars...it'd make my riding so much better. A bigger chainring would help with the undergearing, although that'll nullify one of the nicer things about this bike, which is the chainring cover.

The Kent can still be bought at https://ridethisbike.com, although they only have the three speed hub and single speed versions left.

The ability to fold comes at a premium. Skip out on it if you can. Get a 20" BMX style bike that will take up less space in an office but will cost less than $100, especially used. Multiple gears, folding, fancy brakes, etc. all cost money to maintain and aren't necessary. Use the money you save on buying the bike to buy protein shakes so you can build muscle to pedal up the hills. You don't need no stinkin derailers. If I were you I'd build a frankenbike and put drop bars, a longer stem, and a long seat post on a Huffy I got from Walmart for $50 and whatever crap I could find on craigslist. Check Goodwill and Salvation Army stores for bikes and parts, too. Re-use is the ultimate in green living. Another option would be a kick scooter. They get you around, too, and are cheap.

There you go the Princess of Kent has spoken!

Disagree with getting a base BMX. Lots of good folders to be had under $400 if not $300 if you search around and also browse ebay constantly under 'folding bike'. They are much more versatile than a BMX and suited to more extended riding. Always ask here when you want to know if something is worth bidding on. Sorry you missed out on Downtube FS from ebay and guy didn't send it. You will get a good one in the end! Stick at it!

I here you... Still less than $100 is better than $400 or $300 when money is tight and will still do the job admirably.

well you could always do what some of us do and that's hire on at a bike shop part time, put in your 90 days and pro-deal a bike for cheep. It also doesn't hurt to go in to your local bike shops and read the boards and meet people, sometimes they have goodies stashed in their garage that they forget about and all it takes is a little prompting for them to remember. I got a SWEET lemond alp de huez for 150$ from a guy who had it hanging from the ceiling in his garage