Japanese Arun folding bike (otomo brand) ?
 

Hi! I'm new to the folding bike world and I want to buy a folding bike for the "everyday use" , either commuting locally and/or going shopping at the store, going to the post office etc. I want a low budget bike and have been doing research on may folding bikes over the past couple of days and I narrowed it down to two.

I also want to mention that I am female and 5'3 so rather tall bikes are an issue for me.. I have a huffy which I never really liked to begin with because it was too big and too cumbersome for me to get on it (I dont remember the exact wheel size but i'm pretty sure it's 24) ... and the seat was just to hard.. I also want something small that I can store easily and lug up and down the stairs to the outside world. A folder just seems like the best choice for me. Im not really too concerned about folding it but when i'm outside though. Chaining it up outside is just as good :)

The Citizen Bike Tokyo
http://www.citizenbike.com/catalog.a...&product_id=10

(I would prob be getting the replacement comfort seat and bag) - with shipping $245

or the

Arun (otomo) Japanese folding bike
http://www.e-otomo.co.jp/products/arun/ky_16a.html

I would prob be buying it from Rakuten which would either end up costing me $273 or 283 depending one which shop i use... (after adding up shipping domestic +to nyc)

http://en.item.rakuten.com/zakkaroom/bicycle-ky-16a/
http://en.item.rakuten.com/goldstar/1465544/

as for color i'm not sure lol

Now you might be wondering why a Japanese bike? well, I've been to Japan on two seperate occasions and I am totally in love with their bikes. I hate sporty mountain bikes and I wanted something smaller and that looked like a Japanese bike if I could not get one.

Has anyone ever heard or used the Arun bike, are they any good? and between these two, which should I get? The max I would prob go is the price for the Japanese bike. No more than that.

any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks!! :D

Wow the arun bike is pretty cute and for the price i'm surprised you get full fenders as well as a rear and front rack, as if this bike is meant for you to go touring or something. with the chain protector is seems to be the complete deal. Only problem here is i'm not sure if this bike comes with gears or if it is a single speed. Also what are the gear inch range for this bike if it's too low you'll find it slow and not ride it ,too high and you can't ride it.. Usually the range is lower than you like it to be on some non mainstream folders.

hmm from what I could tell ( I can read a little Japanese), the Arun bike does not have gears.. prob single. "変速機" that means "Transmission" and there is nothing listed next to it. So for this case, since the "Citizen Tokyo" comes with Shimano 6 speed that would be a better choice?

Wow I didn`t know Rakutan now ships to the USA. Thanks! I think that 8 speed Bridgestone Mariposa Mini with beltdrive would make a great wedding present for my sister in North Carolina! hmmm

http://en.item.rakuten.com/s1-cycle/bs_mp28b/

I see the Arun fairly often on the streets in Tokyo and Yokohama. It is tiny and single speed but I think, if you don`t plan to go very far, it would make for a nice NYC bicycle. Certainly will be unique and a conversation starter.

Most Japanese 20" bikes are mini velo. That's the reason you see few real folder bikes in Japan. The reverse is true here.

Huh? There are folding bikes everywhere you look in Japan.

Since you do not appear to have a lot of experience on a bike (educated guess on my part) I would get a 6-speed Citizen, or equivalent. I think you might find a single-speed folder a bit limiting in situations like a moderate hill or getting up onto a bridge.

I like my single-speed Dahon, but it's not for all situations. We are currently riding on various bike paths around the U.S. and our 8-speed folders are quite satisfactory, but for longer rides or over more challenging terrain we prefer our 27-speed folders.

Lou

Owen, do you know if these Arun are slow to ride on?

Thanks for your input Lou, truth is your right, I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to bikes hehe. I just want to make sure that I make the right decision when it comes to buying a new bike. The only one I have ever had is my mountain bike.... and I hate it.. I took a look and it is 24' tire size.. I feel like I'm sadling up on a horse when I ride it. I think I might stick to buying the citizen. :)

That little Arun would definitely be slower than than a 6 speed Citizen, but an infinitely cooler NYC bike IMO. If you are looking for a simple errand bike it would be just fine and probably really fun. Depends - if you really place a premium on smallness I`m not sure the Citizen would be your best choice.

OK! thanks for everyone's suggestions and info! I did some more research and I think im deff going to stick with the citizen because I did some more research on other sites such as amazon.jp on this little Arun bike and well... the reviews were pretty bad :( They said that the max it goes is about 10 kilometers (6mp?) , it rusts pretty easily and it's made in china. ah well. the size diff does not seem to be that much.. maybe about and inch or .5 off here and there. :) Thanks guys !

From my experience, the decision is left to the vendor. Rakuten just forwards the request. I tried three vendors there and only one was willing to ship.

I checked with the shipping and it's more than the price of the entire bike there! in the end the arun costs more but you have to consider this...... with the arun are you really getting around $300 bucks worth of a bike?? because most of the cost was actually shipping cost, and compare that to a multi speed citizen for a lower "overall" price which also comes with all the bells and whistles.

With the 6 speeds it'll help alot with a novice cyclist and with the extra money saved you should take that citizen directly to a bike shop for a full tune up before you ride it then at least you'll get the best ride from it.

hope this helps with your decision.

one thing I want to know though, is that arun bike actually made in japan? also looked at some pics and the rear seems to be running on a hub brake for cleaniness. it's a neat bike though if it's made from japan, and probably try pick one up if I ever go visit later this october :). I like unique stuff like this and it looks like one might be able to at least change the rear sprocket if they're trying to go a little faster since the front is dictated by the chain cover.

My apologies, I just clicked the Citizen link - I actually didn't realize the Citizen Tokyo was that small- I'd say it does seem similar to a lot of the cheaper folders here in Japan if that is the style of bike you are looking for. I still think the Arun would be a pretty happening bike for poodling around the East Village and I could imagine people paying extra $ for something unique like that, but you're right, there is a reason it is super cheap here in Japan.

I'd like to hear from others that have actually gone the Ratuken route. There's some neat bikes that you never see in the U.S (esp minivelos). Thanks to the OP for pointing out those links. What did you pay (incl ship)? Satisfaction with purchase? Any hangups?

The shipping cost from Japan can be equal to the price of the bike. That's something to take into consideration having it shipped to the States.

I was under the impression there is a large mini velo market in Japan that doesn't exist here. And bike manufacturers have not produced mini velos for the North American market.

So far this has just been a trial for me. I ordered several small items, altogether from 3 vendors. I expected one shipment by Rakuten. Instead Rakuten just forwarded respective portions of the order to the vendors, each of whom were supposed to ship directly to me. Two of the vendors declined to ship abroad, but the third did. While I was able to place the order in English, all communication that came in thereafter from Rakuten and the vendors was in Japanese. With shipping included, I paid something like $28 for a basket rain cover, which has been fine with me, because the cover is very sturdy and fits my basket well. In the future, I am going to order from this one vendor (Dandelion or something) and build up larger orders.