My understanding is that $65 was for a tune-up, not "just to have a look". FWIW, if the diagnosis can't be done at our front counter (that is, the bike needs to be put in a stand) our shop charges $15 to do a service estimate on a bike that the customer did not buy from us. The $15 is applied to the cost of the service.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

Good old Norman, OK..... loved the bike ride along route 9 to Lake Thunderbird and further to Pink and back to Norman.... graduate school nostalgia...

Currently hanging in my office directly behind me as I type....


And, to make this "bike" related.... I bought the Giant Iguana bike that is currently behind me, under the poster, in Norman Oklahoma.

Dr. Joe

Most retailers do not unpackage and disassemble a bike that they receive directly from the factory and then reassemble it ensuring that everything is lubed and torqued properly. That is why when you buy a bike you either should have the mechanical aptitude to do a tune up yourself or buy the bike from a reputable source that does the tune up instead of merely forwarding the bike as is to the purchaser.

The $65 for a tune up is pretty much on par for the course. I've worked on and off as a bike mechanic for ~30 years and every bike we (the LBS) have received from the factory would get a tuneup before it hit the showroom floor... that's ~$65 worth of labor that you don't get when buying a Citizen, dept store or other such bike.

welcome back, Bass.. looking forward to the my-trip-abroad-travelogue-pictorial-essay-thread that we all know your going to post VERY soon...

Thanks... just posted a teaser although it's a quick and dirty one like I know you like it.

Here we go again..

Yea I personally feel $65 isn't much to tune up a bike, hell thats a PS3 game. But the fact the guy rambled on that the bike was cheap because it came pre-assembled in a box really put a bad taste in my mouth. But anyway I rode it this past weekend did about 5-10 miles on it, rode like a champ. But my 7th gear is still making a grinding noise. I'll probably take it for a tune up at another shop when I have the time. But so far I love it.

You're in NYC,take it to a co-op/bike kitchen. It'll be cheap and they'll show you how to do it so you'll learn.

It sounds like the derailleur simply needs to be adjusted a bit more. If you watch enough YouTube videos you should be able to figure out how to adjust the limiting screws to get everything in proper order. I'd also try contacting Citizen. They may be of assistance or offer some form of compensation for sending you a bike which had a derailleur out of adjustment from their warehouse.

I bought two of these Citizen folding bikes, the Gotham 2 for me and I forgot what model I purchased for my boyfriend. The horror story begins when, as I am riding, the actual pin holding the hinge together on the front of the bike starts to work its way out of position and before I see it happening, the handle bar and support disconnect from the bike AS I AM RIDING IT---I almost got killed! I was able to retrieve the pin, re-insert and push into place but this is a frequent recurring problem and no bike shop will touch it. Finally, while transporting the bike in the car, the pin fell out and is lost for good. I am sure as the bike is several years old now I can't even get a replacement part. Does anyone know what my options are?

It is possible to replace the handlebar stem. Post a photo, I may have that will fit.

Its hard to say options with out looking at what you have.

Things that come to mind are a replacement hinge pin from an appropriately sized bolt.
Welding the hing permanently unfolded.

I love people "that just want a professional to take a look".

The last time I went to my Doctor I just wanted him to take a look and give me advice--7 minutes in his office.... $150.

This shop was willing to take your bike, adjust everything on it, test ride it, have liability insurance and pay a mechanic to work on your bike for $65.

Go to a car dealer and ask them to just take a look so you can fix your car yourself. Just to hook up to their computer is $150.

I owned a bike shop for 30+ years. We have year around rent, labor but 6 months of business.

The lowest cost expert advice you will ever come by from a commercial operation ----a bikeshop...

I get a kick out of engineers accountants doctors lawyers or anybody making $20 to $50 per hour thinking $65 is expensive. Even a Legal Assistant is charged out at $100 per hour.

My lawyer charges me $250 an hour. $65 per hour for labor is cheap.

When you buy Cheap bike off the internet and you have no clue how a bike even works----you are a fool to turn down a $65 tuneup. The ride, safety, and long term durability (properly adjusted bearings) of a properly tuned bike blows away being cheap. The $65 tuneup was a bargain for you.

It sounds like the Mechanic at the shop you took it to was not very good at selling you on the shop. But do you have any idea how much the guy that owns that shop is paying for rent just to help some guy out that is not a customer ---for free?

I have owned two Citizen Miami's, and yes they do tune them before they go out.Both of mine were fully set to go without any problems,however mistakes do happen once and a while.Also,the OP did say it was his first bike with gears,the grinding noise may not be the bikes fault and we've all been there.

The option you have here is to post a picture, then see what the community can do to assist you.

A big difference between buying from Citizen vs Origami/Pinigis or from Thor is this!

Sometimes in shipping, depending on how it is packed, the tab supporting the derailleur can be bent, such that the pulley wheels don't align. Bike shops have a tool to check this.