need a bike for Maya jungles.....
 

I am happy enough with my Dahon MU P8 for riding in the US and on my Tuesday rides with road cyclists of the Wilmington Trail Club, but for my international travels I think I would like something similar, but cheaper. This would be especially important if the bike were stolen.

My many trips to Maya lands over the years have more recently been to much harder to get to ruins and, because I travel in the dry season, I have found that jungle tracks would be easily passable by a bike with the regular 20 inch wheels on my Dahon. My ideal bike would:

1. Be made somewhere besides China.
2. Would cost $500 or less.
3. Would weigh 25 lbs or less.
4. Would fit into roll-on airline luggage that doesn't cost a lot to purchase.
5. Would have at least a few different gears.

If you have a suggestion that only covers three of the four previous criteria, I would still like to see it. There is no perfection in this World.

i can sell you an airnimal joey, suitcase and all, for about 3X your proposed budget....
I live in Chiapas.

To clarify, does that mean you won't consider ANY bike that is made in China?

Is Taiwan considered China? Find a frame you like and hack it in two, bilenky.com sandsmachine.com

I should have written that costing $500 or less is very important, because if the bike got stolen in Guatemala or anywhere else, I wouldn't want to be out much money. It would just be the one I travel with, so that is another reason for thrift.

Chinese bureaucrats presumably think that Taiwan is part of China, but most people, especially the Taiwanese, don't seem to. I suppose that buying from an actual Chinese owned company wouldn't be as bad as buying from an offshoring US one.

I think you should rethink this position.:) Dahon is a US company whose primary production facilities are in Taiwan and China. My understanding is that, early in their development, Dahon initially tried (unsuccessfully) to establish US production with some of the then-pervasive US bike manufacturers. None of those companies were interested. Since Dahon did not move production from the US to a foreign country, one can argue that they should not be characterized as "an offshoring US" company. For a US folder for less than $500 see:
http://www.bikeforums.net/newreply.p...reply&t=563167
However, your requirements 3 & 4 might not be met.

Downtube full suspension (with internal hub) is the only model that I can think of that might fit your needs.

Is a second hand IGH Bike Friday possible at that price? Maybe contact them and ask if they would sponsor you if you provide pix + a blog or something.

I wonder what is the reasoning behind this requirement? Product Quality?

Kam

For a long time I have tried to buy from US firms, but for more than a few years, while faced with an ongoing decline of the US, I have been happy if I can just avoid buying things from China. Maybe that will now change, and one can possibly have some hope.

Badmother, you may have a better point than you can imagine. I will likely explore that avenue while also considering borrowing my wife's Speed D7 for my next effort. In the event that I need to use the Dahon and I also succeed in the effort, any articles I write will only generically refer to using a "folding bike".

There is no such thing as an inexpensive luggage that does not cost a lot to purchase. In particular, one that is large enough is going to cost almost as much as your budget! I would just buy a couple of 26' inch Schwalbe Marathons, brake pads , grease, rear rack along and some good quality Park Tools. This whole setup should cost less than $200.00 dollars in total.

When you arrive at your destination, buy a cheap used mountain bike or even a department store bike. Install the Marathons, brake pads, rear rack and do a good tune up. You now have a solid bike ready for the islands.

After the trip, put the cheap tires that came with the bike and take the Schwalbes back with you. You might be able to sell the bike for a song and get some of your money back.

Great stuff can be forund at thrift stores and garage sales some times, but you need to tolerate some "out of fashion stuff" and be patient. I found a Samsonlite free in the "recykle corner" of a local dumpster. It is one day going o be a BF- like folder trailer.

get cake and eat it too..... mostly doesnt work

Point 1 ... show me an American company who builds bikes over here with the quality components Dahon is using at every pricepoint. ( under 400 under 600 under 800 dlr )
Point 2 ...if such a bike company exist ( which doesnt ) than I will start selling their bikes
Point 3 ... do you have any idea how many American folks ( me included ) are making money selling Dahons ? ( at least tryimg to make a living...... sounds better )



there are more, but thats it for the moment ..lol

thor

Hi duende
I really don t understand,why your are thinking before you go travell that your bike maybe will get stolen,if is like this don t go by bike,anyway I don t know in USA but you can also have a bike ensure.
No risk no fun
saludos