mr geeker

over the last couple days i've been looking into folding bikes, you know, for when i travel but not touring, and i am wondering if the foldies in the links below are good entry level folders. or should i go with something drasticly pricier, like a dahon speed d7 in the third link?

Trinxx: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-LIGHTWEIGHT-ALUMINUM-FOLDING-BIKE-BICYCLE-GREY-/110834430214?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ce3f3106

citta: https://www.ebay.com/itm/110834430214...=p5197.c0.m619

dahon: https://www.ebay.com/itm/110827606451...84.m1438.l2649

HGR3inOK

Rider weight and height are factors that should be considered when evaluating folders. Can you provide yours?

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

snafu21

I'm an ex-owner of the Speed D7. It's a great mid-priced ride, about 21mph top speed, stiff steel frame, nicely built and finished, rear rack for the rucksack, and holds its value well. If you keep it for a year, you'll get a good price for it if you sell.

Good points: Lifetime frame warranty, telescopic handlebar post suits almost everyone, and 20"wheels give plenty of tire choice. Quality finish on all alloy parts, and frame which is etch-primed, painted, decal-ed then clear topcoated. It's good; D7's are nicely constructed and finished. Not light enough to carry very far, but you bought a bike, not luggage. It rolls when folded. Fits in the trunk of everything. Spacious cockpit, knees don't bang on handlebars if you're tall, responsive snappy ride, bespoke drive-train design with snug Dahon Neos derailleur. Saddle comfy for only 58 minutes. You'll change it. Keep it for when you resell. Doesn't do off-road in any sense, but plenty find them all-day comfortable on-road. V-brakes on alloy rims are perfect, slick SiS cable outers.

Downsides: Needs a spoke check after first six weeks or breakages can occur, a frame hinge check every six months, plus slight ability to keep everything lubed, clean and tight. Fold is good, but not tiny. Spares (in USA) OK by mail order. Hubs and bottom bracket are not maintenance free, but so what? Buy grease and hub wrenches. Seat clamps now grip, but threads need occasional lube.

Few further grumbles other than it will open a door to a lifelong, dangerous obsession of upgrade-itus from which there is no escape.

Nothing fell off mine, kept it for two years. Shop around for prices; last year's model is cheaper, and doesn't affect Ebay resale prices.

I'd have another, the best verdict possible.

mr geeker

i'm 10 lbs shy of max for the dahon and well withing its height ranges. same goes for the cheapie #1, though it has a higher rider weight allowance. dont know about cheapie #2.

social suicide

Shop around, and remember, generally speaking you get what you pay for. I think I could ride that saddle for 63 minutes!

snafu21

"i'm 10 lbs shy of max for the dahon"

Dahon or similar then, see how the Dahon chainstay supports the back of the seat-tube, and compare to the other two bikes.

mr geeker

snafu, id love to try each of them in person, but the only place folders are available in my area is over the net. and i'm sorry to say i can't afford to buy all three just to see which one fits / rides better.

the trinxx claims max rider weight of 250, i cant find anything on max rider weight for the citta and the dahon is 230.

i may go with the trinxx for that one reason alone.

feijai

The hard and fast rule for folding bikes is: you will get what you pay for. Folding bikes are not like ordinary bikes. They have additional technology which must be figured into the cost. Ask yourself this: a sub-$200 regular bike is already a dangerous, low-quality thing. So if a folding bike costs less than $200, what MORE did they skimp on in order to get to that price level?

Even if I was destitute, I would not buy any folding bike that cost less than $400. Below that price level, you should be buying a regular bike (and hesitantly at that).

As to weight limits: claims by vendors on ebay are outright lies. The only bike worth your time in your list is the Dahon. And if you're looking at a Dahon, talk to Thor instead, who will treat you much better than any ebay reseller.

Dynocoaster 

I second talking to Thor and see if he has any specials on some one off Dahons.

fietsbob

My 1st folding bike was a Brompton, so is my newer one.
they have kept making incremental improvements
but the mid 90's Mk2 one was OK ..

Both were Used Purchases ..

mr geeker

took a look @ that thor site, i think i like the sound of the tern link c7.

also, i heard back from the citta ebay person, they said the avanti held up to 280lb of rider. any one know if this is this true or the seller just blowing smoke up my backside?

snafu21

" I can't afford to buy all three just to see which one fits / rides better."

Evenutually, you will. It is the Second Law of Folders.

jur

Which immediately begs the question, what are the First and Third Laws of Folders. The First Law has yet to be discovered, but a good contender has to do with Warts and Virginity. The Third Law is of course the Law of Upgrades, which is actually quite a General Law.

feijai

Utterly blowing smoke. Even Bike Friday, which does custom heavy rider upgrades of their bikes, won't normally go above 260 without extreme measures. A typical bike like the Avanti will support no more than 200. Some Dahons will to 230.

Do not trust an ebay seller on a no-name folding bike. You have been warned.

SesameCrunch

Good topic for a new thread! Would love to see the responses....

Pinigis 

The Trinxx weighs in at 32 lbs., that is pretty darn heavy for folder, but that is probably reflected in the price as well. The second one claims to be "lightweight", but i don't see a weight listed. The Dahon is very nice, but doesn't seem to belong in the same category with the two inexpensive bikes.
There are a lot of options out there that are not as pricey as the Dahon, but still lightweight and high quality. Take a look at www.origamibicycles.com

brakemeister

dont have a used speed d7 .... working on a couple special projects bikes .. but they are all very much more....
Having said that .... rather than buying from an ebay specialist who claims 280 lbs .... for a substandard bike ... Thats not even funny, its criminal .... at least in my eyes...

anyhow, better to buy a used Speed D7 ( or even a Speed P 8 ) on ebay/Craigslist or or or ... calculate and extra 75 to 100 to get it well serviced from a reputable dealer, with the main focus on the wheels and you have a MUCH better bike, which you can actually use and enjoy for years to come....

Thor

denja

I am by no means as qualifies as most responders to your question, but have recently experienced the same thing you are going through. I took a lot of time looking at inexpensive folders, but am 6"2 and 225 lbs. The one that I ended up buying is the Greenzone. I see they are now advertising in this thread also. I was fully cognizant of the fact that I was not going to get top of the line quality at their asking price, but a retired and on a fixed income. I am more than happy with my purchase so far. So far the only thing that I will probably upgrade at the end of this riding season is the brakes. They have two models, the least expensive, which is the one I purchased, being constructed of high ten steel as apposed to moly. Again, I'm not an expert, but I am very happy with my purchase. BTW, it comes with fenders, water bottle and cage, rear rack and even a bell. The people are wonderful to deal with also.

Casbah

I tested that one out at REI a few days ago. It was very comfortable to ride and folds quickly. At the end of the month I'm possibly going to get either the Tern D8 or Dahon D7.