Seira321

My husband is in China and I told him to go look at bikes because I heard most people rode folding bikes in Asia. He went to the mall and said 80-90% of the bikes there were folders. The cheapest was $40 US and the most expensive was $600 US.
From the pictures, there was Ginevra, HR, Komda, Komda, Renault. I could be wrong.
He said he can buy the $40 for our daughter. He likes the $600 one.
What do you all think? Should he buy a bike there?

I am going to try to attach pictures.

snafu21

^^^^

"What do you all think? Should he buy a bike there?"

I think that if he cannot think for himself whether he should buy a bicycle or not, then he should return home at once and stop cluttering up China.

If you mean 'should he buy a $40 bike in China and then ship it home' for your daughter, then that is a different kettle of noodles. It's a long way to ship it back if a spoke breaks.

Don't they sell bikes in Scaramento?

jur

It's hard to tell because the pics are not side-on. I would not want to buy the one in pic #3. Any bike with extreme cheap front shock forks like that is likely to be a disappointment.

The black one in pic#2 looks OK, but has POS cranks.

The Renault is a puzzle. More details if poss. Its cranks looks the best of the lot. Could be an indicator of wider better quality.

See if he can find the lightest one - the lighter the better quality, usually, as long as it's reasonably stiff and not tiny.

I had a look at folders once in China and walked away once I saw the general quality. Those people don't earn much at all so the bikes are aimed at their pay level.

ShinyBiker

I would look for a brommie knock off. Remember the merc? There was another that was similar. It intrigued me because it had a Shimano 7 speed (!).

brakemeister

you better know exactly what you buy. I am sure that there are bargains to be have... but keep in mind that most bigger bike companys make special models for the chinesse market .. what looks to be the same not necessary is .... those differences can be minute ..like haveing stainless steel spokes in a different stainless steel ... yeah ..such a thing exists ... or bottom brackets and and and

some are bikes which have been built and the buyer refused them due to quality problems .... OR the buer had great ideas but no money to actually pay for them ... and and and

forget about any kind of warranty.......... from whom anyhow ....

I would be carefull and I have been around the block a couple times
thor

Seira321

Thanks everyone.
He is actually there on a business trip and I had just started to look into folding bikes before he left the states. I emailed him the link to the Downtube 8H (that I bought and am waiting for), and he thought that looked neat and that maybe he should get one too. I told him to go check out bikes there because I heard they were more common to see at the stores.

We are not bike people, so we don't know what is good or not by just looking at the bike and that's why I posted the pictures he sent. The only 'usable' bikes we have are my children's 16" and 20" wheel bikes. The bike I did have was a Walmart 26" bike that is waiting to be recycled because it sat too long outside not being ridden; the brakes squeaked, shifters clicky, and seat was uncomfortable. I know better now that I've read more.

That's why I thought I'd ask on this forum. You guys are the experts. I told him that I don't want our daughter riding a $40 and having it break while she is on it, and I'll find out more information before he purchases anything.

Based on everyone's response, I'll tell him to skip the bikes.

Thanks again!

badrad

you can't beat a $40 folder, but you get what you pay for. if the thought of your daughter riding something that can potentially be unsafe - paying $40 for a bike isn't worth it.

if you are going to pay up to $600 for a folder in china, you can buy something nice back home and still have a valid warranty in case anything fails or drops off.

ratdog

FWIW, I wouldn't get a bike while travelling in another country unless it was something I also could get back home & only if it was incredibly less expensive enough to offset the hassle of boxing it & carrying it back. This way I'll always have a local shop familiar with the brand to do major fixing if needed.

For instance something akin going to London & coming back with a Moulton TSR in my suitcase. My only problem is that I have no reason to go to London at the moment...

jefmcg

Yeah, you do. To get a Moulton :-)

ratdog

But,... I have a nearby LBS that sells Alex Moultons (Bfold), that's why I stipulated my conditions & also why I have got TSR 27/30 lust on my brain the last couple of weeks.... ;-)

puppypilgrim

For people who don't know much about bikes, I would advise you NOT to go through the trouble of buying a bike in China and transporting it back to your homeland. Whatever perceived financial savings can turn out to be a false economy if the bike is unsafe, has cheap parts that break and you have no recourse with a local dealer.

SesameCrunch

You are much better off buying a used name-brand bike off Craigslist. They're cheap, and you can get service at a local bike shop. Especially if you are new to bikes.

mulleady

I saw a folding bike shop in Shanghai but it was a dealer for some high quality Taiwanese makes. A different story but subject to shipping costs to determine if it was value or not to fly back.

I would not touch a $40 bike for your daughter. It is most likely a death trap at that price! As some other forum members have rightly pointed out, Chinese manufacturers make different quality levels for the home market and export. Now if he goes to Taiwan, that's a different prospect as it is a manufacturing hub of medium to high quality folding bikes.

mulleady

Two rules will always work:

1) Don't buy a cheap $40 folder as even the frame will probably crack

2) Don't buy some fancy special edition folder from Sesamecrunch or the chain will break!

Seira321

Okay, thank you. I told him not to buy anything. I'll see if he ends up buying one anyway just to play with it.
In the meantime, I am waiting for the Downtube to arrive. Ideally, I'd want him to enjoy my bike so much that he buys a more expensive, lighter bike that eventually becomes mine. LOL. In actuality, I think a folding bike would be great for him. His work is 3-4 miles from where we live, and if he can bike to work instead, his car gets to stay home and not use gas.
My mom does not like driving to work and look for parking spaces-she probably has to pay for parking too, so often times has my dad drive her to work. She has a bus stop near her house, and if she had a lightweight folding bike that is easy to fold and carry, I think she'd be more willing to bike to the bus stop to get to work. If she did this just one way, my dad won't have to go out of his way twice.

I really enjoy reading everybody's inputs in this forum. Thank you again!

mulleady

I just love a woman's logic lol!


Lovely to make your acqaintance too Seira321. Good luck with the Downtube!