Help Me Find a Downtube Mini
 

On Sunday evening I finally decided to order a Downtube Mini. I go to the Downtube website, credit card in hand, and there's no Minis anywhere! Vanished! No mention whatsoever. It's as if they never existed.:crash:

I see a phone number on the web page, so I dial it right away, on Sunday evening. Yan answers!:thumb:

Sorry, he says, no more Minis; we're all out, and don't know if we'll be getting any more in. Everyone wants the less expensive 20" wheel bikes. He says there may or may not be one somewhere in the system, in a warehouse or something, but he has no idea if or when one will turn up. I'll just have to wait, and he'll e-mail me if one turns up. :eek:

So, I'm asking all my fellow BikeForums Folder Fanatics for help in finding me a 2009 Downtube Mini.

If anyone out there knows of any place that has one in stock, and will ship to Canada, please let me know. You'll have my eternal gratitude and earn yourself an infinite amount of good karma too!

(Mrs. Autoworker might even bake you a cake or pie, but you'll have to pick it up yourself; they don't mail to well.)

Please send me an email to dmothersill_at_sympatico.ca, or just post a location here. I'll be checking for replies every 5 minutes! Thanks to all in advance for your help, and I'll post here if I'm succesful.

See eBay item number 230348824747 for a 2008. Auction ends 06/17/2009 at 16:00:00 PDT.

Thanks, I'm watching it. Unfortunately, after looking at the bidding history so far, it looks like it's going to go for higher than retail.

I don't know why people will bid up the price for an item so long before the auction ends. They're actually working against themselves.I always decide the maximum I'm willing to pay, and submit one bid in the last 10 seconds or so.

Anyone know the difference between an '08 and an '09?

Oh No! Say it isn't so. I had just about decided that it was a Mini that I would be saving to buy. Eventually, I'm going to want to replace my Citizen Tokyo, and I want another 16" folder because I like the compactness. Three speeds on a Dahon Curve D3 isn't enough, and a Curve SL is much more expensive than a Mini.

With no Mini, I may have to save up to upgrade the gearing of my Tokyo to something very similar to the Mini or the Curve SL. Got to find an LBS that likes a challenge - hope I have better luck with that than KitN.

My local bike shop has two downtube mini's in stock in Green. I am pretty sure he will ship just about anywhere. http://www.nicolletbike.com/

One has an Ahead-type stem (08') while the other has a height adjustable "inline" stem post (09'). Consequently, the 09 can stick the handlebar stem post inside the fold instead of outside like the 08.

Too bad you are not closer. My mini has not been getting a lot of use lately and I am thinking about selling it to make space.

Of course, if new ones are no longer available, then the "retail" price is a fairly meaningless number.:)

One reason is that some people can't be at their computer when the auction ends. I agree that, in most instances, determining your maximum and then submitting one bid is the best strategy.

"My local bike shop has two downtube mini's in stock in Green. I am pretty sure he will ship just about anywhere. http://www.nicolletbike.com/"

I just called them, and they've sold the last two already:notamused:.

Curiousity got the better of me ... I see it on sale at the Downtube site. $519.

http://www.downtube.com/mini_folding...rcher_hub.html

Is this an old page? I could put the product into a basket but for obvious reasons decided not to go through the pay process.

Thanks! I went through the whole process; gave them my CC# and all. I suspect I'll get a e-mail telling me that that's an old page and they can't process my order. Then on the other hand......you just never know.

I've tried calling all the dealers listed on the Downtube website. None of them have any Mini's in stock. Quite a few offered to get me one, and I had to inform them that there aren't any more available.

Wow! That was fast! I just got an e-mail from Downtube: "sorry we are out of these bikes. I will issue a refund."

Gaerlan has the Mini Capreo model. A little more expensive....


http://www.gaerlan.com/bikes/downtube/down.htm

PS: I'll bet the Mini Capreo's are not moving well, perhaps you could negotiate?

Thanks, but I really had my heart set on the S.A. hub.

I called Gaerlan this morning and asked if they had any Downtube Minis, and they said no. If they had a Mini Capreo, you'd think they would have tried to sell me that.

I can confirm, from talking to Yan today, that the Mini is, at least for now, discontinued. It, or another 16" wheel bike, may return in the future, but the focus for now is on the 20" wheel bikes. For whatever reason, the Mini just hasn't been a good enough seller. I really thought they'd go like hot cakes here in the UK, but in fact I only ever sold a couple, compared to loads of 20"ers. It's a shame, cos I have one and it's a great little bike, but c'est la vie.

Yeah, I'm saddened to see the Mini go out of production. It's a great bike. It's replaced all my 20" Downtubes. I guess Downtube's customer base is the "frugal" crowd....

Looking at their website, they're down to just the Full Suspension and Front Suspension models.

I wonder how their business is doing? Hope they are hanging in there.

It's down, like all bike manufacturers, but Yan thinks they're doing better than most. They're definitely not going anywhere.

I've got a 2008 version that I'm going to sell...too bad I'm in NYC and have no idea how to ship a bike.

Thanks to all who replied, and tried to help me find an Downtube.Mini.

I was finally able to track one down, and it should arrive some time next week. One of the dealers listed on Downtube's website had a 2009 demo, and sold it to me at a $50 discount. Because it's a demo bike, they've already checked it over and adjusted everything properly, so I don't have to take it to my LBS for a once-over.

They told me that they really weren't supposed to ship any Downtubes (something to do with their agreement with Yan, I guess?), but since the Mini has been discontinued and they won't be getting any more, they would ship mine out. It should go out today. Been busy this morning buying lights, mirrors, and a cycle computer for it. I also plan on replacing the tires with Big Apples, and installing some Speedplay Drillium pedals.

Once again, thanks to everyone who replied and tried to help me find one, and good luck to the rest of you who also want to buy one or sell theirs.

Congrats, it's a great bike, great value.