^ my two folders came from my local Aldi supermarket (think I mentioned this elsewhere, not in this thread), I paid 139 Euros each. Last two in the shop, marked down from 189.

After changing out a bunch of stuff I don't think they're 'worth' less - probably better vehicles now and I'm quite attached to them) - but the resale value is certainly no higher than for a stock one. And mine have actually been cycled, there are plenty of new condition used folders about :)

Hi,

It is annoying when threads cross but the Aldi bike is the
the bike ES posted details about in this thread. It may
have been another thread where he said he thought
they are essentially worthless for resale, and was
another thread where links for it were given.

He's right about the updates not adding much to the
value, unless your selling to a friend or someone who
would want to do do the same updates, but given that,
they'd still be getting a bargain for all the updates.

I guess he really means they are far better than any
bike he could hope to buy for their resale value, so
selling them would be a very pointless option.

rgds, sreten.

Hi,

The left crank didn't take long to undo itself after tightening it, bummer.
I understand the precession tends to undo the left and tighten the right,
both being clockwise threads. So I'm trying a bodge, will see if it works.
(If it does I'll probably never be able get the crank off the crankpin,
if it doesn't I've toasted the left crank arm and need a replacement.)

On the plus side a trip to the £shop, a bit of drilling and 4 tiewraps
later I now have a (plastic) rear basket, which works very well, I don't
have to worry about stuff slipping off the rack, and can carry much
taller stuff on the rear rack than I could before.

rgds, sreten.

Hi,

Well the left crank issue is fixed it seems, after a ride today. It
didn't loosen at all over a period it was undoing itself twice before.

As it was a "bodge" and I'm not really interested in trying to take it
apart to show (or not) reverse serviceability, I'm not posting details.

I've a very good idea what would ensue if I did .....

PM me if your interested, or have the same issue.

rgds, sreten.

If you are interested in the Fox, its not too late. We have a few left and we have reduced to price to move out the remaining stock. Also, we are working on a modification to the Crane with horizontal dropouts. :-)

Thanks, Paul. The Fox is just a tad too small for me.

Good to hear about horizontal dropouts. It really does not have to be full horizontal, just semi-horizontal so there is enough to adjust chain tension.

In my reading of folding bikes, I found one that is almost identical to your Crane. I will send you a PM so you can see how similar they are. It uses the same kind of seatpost shim as your old model. Check the tires, chainring/cog size, etc. The only difference I can see is that one uses a secondary safety latch to fix the folding levers.

Thanks,

I checked out the bike you referred to, it is similar in overall shape, but that's all. The hinges, latches, headtube, and all of the details appear to be of lower quality. The devil is in the details.

Hi.

Latest additions are a "handlebar/bum" bag which strapped around the
right side of the small basket easily enough and the "handlebar loops"
fitted this application far better than any handlebars AFAICT, too low.
(Cut down the straps, it doesn't do bumbag anymore ....)

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/BUMPER-FIRE-P...L!Q~~60_12.JPG

Dirt cheap, holds the toolkit, has a useful flap for the pump, nice
drink holder, an energy drink can fits perfectly, a beer can doesn't * ....

Also holds the spare innertube. Its loop strap also holds on a bagged waterproof
the other side for the summer. Also got a very cheap bike computer to be fitted.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/BITECH-11-FUN...eyg~~60_12.JPG

Decided against the halftoe clips, too fiddly to fit, and very little benefit.

rgds, sreten.

* The basket is near perfect for a six-pack and a grab bag of crisps ....

May the <<<Fire power<<< be with you! :thumb:

Don't worry about the computer being cheap; almost all of them use the exact same chipset and the only difference is the housing and display.

Hi,

Researching said cheap computer (£3 delivered) seems it had a
much bigger fan base a few years ago with people with lathes.

It can work up to some very silly numbers for bicycles.

rgds, sreten.

Hi,

Installed the computer, it works fine. Has a RPM function hence the
lathe popularity. Not quite a cadence meter, but I can halve second
gear and third 5th for cadence, as they are 48/24 and 48/16 gearing.

rgds, sreten.

I am living in Oita,kyushu, I have bought 2 japanesse bikes , a folding bike (doppelganger), and a city bike (asahi), both of them is japanesse brand and made in china :)

Hi,

TBH a folding bike has the aerodynamics of a low flying brick
and is never going to be fast, so I've been looking at factors
that might affect the overall average speed of a folder.

I estimate with typical weight distribution and typical rear to
front tyre pressures with the same tyres the rolling resistance
of the rear tyre is about 3 times that of the front tyre. *

Which suggests just by upgrading the rear tyre to a better
rolling type will give you 75% of the rolling performance
gain for 50% of the cost of updating both tyres.

Upgrading the rear tyre is 3 times more cost effective
than upgrading the front tyre for rolling performance.

That seems a budget no-brainer - so I'm trying it.
Will report back on results.

FWIW the tyres fitted appear to be budget "low
rolling" 20" BMX tyres. Makes sense, BMX tyres
must be cheaper in bulk than any 20" tyre that
is specifically designed for 20" road bikes.

Still they are BMX tyres, not road tyres.
Expecting it to work very well.

rgds, sreten.

* I don't use typical rear to front pressures.

The Tracer tyres you mentioned ordering should be an improvement. The only hard decision might be what side you want the reflective ring on ;)

Stock tyres are often pretty dismal (I've since learned that the ones I had are standard issue on many bikes five times the price - so not just a tip for the cheapskates among us). They make a big difference for the price and you might well be shedding a few hundred grammes on the bike too.

Re. slow - I'm not convinced. Everyday riding seems to indicate a folder swims along just fine. They are also very quick off the mark to start up. Any accident I've ever had involved too high a speed - so the limitations of the 3-speed may be a blessing in disguise.

Hi,

Yes, I've been considering that, it involves conjuring
up scenarios, that are all a bit grim, to say the least.

I'm going for the left side, crossing oncoming traffic
turning right (for the UK) as the best option AFAICT.

Should be good for roundabouts as well, or too late.


Top speed is never going to be impressive is what I
meant. Average speed is the thing to work on I think.

rgds, sreten.

Hi,

Well the rear tyre upgrade worked so well I've ordered
a new front, together they should make it feel like a
totally different bike.

Lots of nice, and expensive tyres out there.
These are very good value and high quality :
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/schwalbe-...06)-prod29280/

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/core/spacer.gif
£7 each, £19 a pair delivered.

I've ordered one for the front to go with the Tracer rear, but
ordered some other stuff due to the fixed £5 postage charge.

The Tracer rear : (ignore the blurb, its for a different tyre)
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=94600

£9 each delivered.

Quality is a world way from the stock tyres, and bizarrely
replacement tyres similar to the stock cost not much less,
(and in some silly rebranding cases i've seen a lot more).

rgds, sreten.

Becoming a fan of Schwalbe tyres - you can find good
ones at very reasonable prices - if you look around.

i went thru this cycle when i had my first ever folding bike (citizen tokyo). thought of upgrading it to make it comparable to dahons. but i decided to just sell it and get a used dahon and i never looked back. upgrading a bike is quite an expensive hobby. you're better off just enjoying your bike at it's bare state and once you get the feel of a folding bike, you then upgrade to a nicer folding bike. and the fun begins.....

Hi,

I could have left the bike as standard but :
(£95 delivered)

Not getting a decent (sprung) new saddle was not an option.
(£10 delivered)

I didn't plan on upgrading the tyres when I bought the bike, but
I now think going from very cheap BMX tyres to high quality road
tyres is not a false economy, they transform the bikes feel IMO.
(And you get much improved comfort, puncture resistance and speed).
(~ £20 a pair delivered)

The only other changes are ergonomic grips and bar ends.
(You can find combined ergonomic grips and barends for ~ £10)

No plans to try and turn the bike into something it isn't.
Seat, tyres and grips, that is it. (Some would include pedals).

rgds, sreten.

Does any reasonably priced folder come with decent tyres ?
I'm now convinced tyres make the biggest difference to a bikes feel.

Agreed, no sense in 'upgrading' to some hypothetical level.

But then I'm sure many riders swap out saddle, grips, pedals on any bike - and tyres sooner or later - anyhow.

Any changes to the bike should be for the sake of comfort and safety alone. Leave beauty and 'performance' to the others.

The advantage of sturdy frames and proven run-of-the-mill standard components has to be seen as just that. I'd bet that more than a few of us have just that kind of bike as a second or third vehicle.

Hi,

The front tyre upgrade worked well too.
The tyres I chose were based on good pricing,
and my ideas too, so YMMV for good tyre choice.

rgds, sreten.

Greetings to everyone,
Hi sreten,
reading the thread i could not find any reference to the weight of your Hi-ten bike. Please, tell something abot it.
thanks,
des

Hi,

~ 14 Kg. ~ the same as my alloy framed road bike.

rgds, sreten.

Similar : http://www.bicycles4u.com/20-6.html

Your road bike weights 30 lbs? Really?

(Not that it really matters much, but that seems quite heavy - 22 lbs - 25 lbs for a road bike is pretty much the upper end I'd expect - if you've got racks and fenders and ..., then it starts adding up).

Oooo...o... "Not that it really matters"
I think it's really matters.
My biking life is a continous
fight for the less weight gram by gram. The Airwolf looks
like a tiny, nice vehicle..., but 14 kg is like a dinosaurus...
Are you sure, sreten?
(my Kona Dew Plus with Kryptonite U-lock is 12.8 kg)

deso