Low budget bikes
 

Howdy
i'm sure there is a thread on low $$$ folders somewhere, but i did not find it. i'm looking for feedback on buying a folding bike to travel in my Semi truck. i can't get get my mtn bike mounted behind it with out getting in the way on non-yielding objects, so i want something to ride shotgun up front.
i'm not in anyone place for very long, so lurking on Craigslist/scouting for a used one is like playing the shell game. So i'm looking at new 2-350 dollar range. So far this
http://www.foldingcyclist.com/Origam...ding-bike.html
and this seem top be top choices
http://www.foldingcyclist.com/Citize...ding-bike.html

Anyone have any input on quality, likes and dislikes with these or other bikes ? :speedy:
Thx Cuz

We have a Downtube Nova and are happy with it (within your price range).

Do you have special rider weight requirements Do you plan to ride on pavement only? Any plans to ride in very hilly areas or long rides (e.g. > 20-30miles)? If it's 'no' to all, you should not have a problem finding a bike that matches your requirements.

Origami's owner is a regular here so you may get a good deal.

I ask happy to answer any questions that you have about Origami.

i'm about 200 lbs, riding would be bike paths,& mild trails and prolly less than 10 miles. No hard off road stuff, i'm too old and worn out. i just want something to ride to kill some time at the various places i go. Many of the places i sit have bike paths nearby and i need the exercise to keep my sanity, now that my knees won't let me hike much anymore.

J&B under their Origin-8 brand have a Dahon type folder, could even be rebadged by Dahon for those Importers.

find one of these hubs to build up in the wheel in place of a single or 3speed , its got 5..
http://www.sturmey-archer.com/produc.../id/64/specs/1

Thx i emailed you :thumb:

anyone know anything about Citizen bicycles ? i can't find anything good/bad or ugly about them

Anyone know anything about this ?
http://www.amazon.com/Columba-Foldin...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
Looks like it might be decent for the money

Try Reading only the threads about folding Bikes here: http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=7543609

About the other one: I only know it is a 26 bike and personally I would newer buy a 26" bike if I wanted a folder. It is not smaller when folded, just a different shape..

If you need a cheap bike then look for a fair quality bike second hand instead of a new cheap one.

My brother's family has 3 Citizen Tokyos. I think they had them for a while(1 year?).
I borrowed one a few times when I visited them last year, I even went off roading on
some dirt roads and dry river beds. I thought they were ok for the short rides that
I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...=XUUCaoVUtEI#!
#!

Thx, that's the type of riding i want to do, out and back for an hour or so

i bought the Origami Cricket, i just got home from my travels and it's in the box waiting.:rolleyes:

Took it to shop to get adjusted, it was kicking out of sixth gear. It rides ok, i'm happy with it but if i had the extra money i would have bought something better..... i named it after a Basset Hound that i lived with :lol:

The cable inners stretch and the cable outers compress on all new bikes in the first few hours on the road. On all bikes. This throws the gear indexing out. There's a user adjuster on the rear dérailleur to compensate for this:

Turn the bike upside down, operate the shifter and turn the pedals until the chain is on the smallest rear sprocket, then move the selector one click while turning the pedals. The chain should climb onto the second smallest sprocket. No? Turn the adjuster half a turn, go back to small, and repeat until you get smooth shifts onto sprocket #2, but not past it.

Then check all the sprockets, once you have correct shifting to #2, you should have correct shifting all the way up.

If you get it wrong, start on the smallest sprocket again.

Fine tune by listening for rattling noise on the middle sprockets and see if small turns of the adjuster remove it.

There's loads of vids on YouTube to help.

Cheap bikes can run well. Become the mechanic. Buy grease.

* Note for Dahon Neos users - do the adjustments starting with the chain on the largest sprocket, adjust for jump to second largest.

* Note for Dahon Neos users - do the adjustments starting with the chain on the largest sprocket, adjust for jump to second largest.

Thank you. That is the first time Ihave seen a quick and easy description on adjusting the Neos- and I have been searching! I`ll hand it over to my only begotten son and tell him to get rid of the "ratteling" in his drivetrain. The young man is happy as long as the wheels are turning..

You're welcome. I am a Neos nerd. The Neos is a 'high normal' in that if the cable or shift selector breaks, the mech jumps to the largest sproggit to get you home, so that is where we start.

Tensioning the cable moves it to the second largest, the reverse of 'ordinary' mechs.

Once the tension is correct for the first to second distance, it is correct for all the rest but may need final twiddling at the other end of the sprocket range.

Neos mechs are a superb design and sit under the chainstay to avoid damage. When folding, the trick is to have the mech on the largest sprocket as you stop the bike, the mech is then fully retracted under the frame.

What perfection!

Much like "rapid rise".

Been thinking more than once that I want one for my white folder but it is not built for it! I use a Deore that is almost touching the ground.

Ya 'Rapid rise.' Does anyone sell a 'slow rise'?

I put an MTB Deore-like Acera on the DownTube bike of a chum.With 20" wheels the mech looks dangerously low, but the bike never goes near logs, tree-stumps and so forth, so she is safe.

When Nexus 7 hub gears came out a few years ago, the MTB downhillers were all over them. 'Bullet-proof' they muttered, through mouthfuls of leaves and mud. They are now quite tempting, but a faff to retro fit.

Ooops.Way off-topic. Ignore my little rantings.

No problems, I am a huge Nexus7 fan! Grab whatever I can get my claws on that has a Nexus7 (and eagerly waiting for the new Simano 3 and 5 hubs to turn up) and build them into where I want them. Started oogeling my sons MTB (still only from a distance) thinking about a conversion (I have the chaintensioner ready) becouse the young man is not a "tinkerer". He need something bulletproof- always working. the young man is wery good with peopel so I am not worryed.

Trying to teach the young man the pleasure of conducting high quality maintenance we repaired the car yesterday. the rubber in the driveshaft was broken and all grease rapidly disapered. Quick wrap with clingfilm, next layer an old bike tube (28") split open and then kept in place with steel wire- plenty of it. Now THAT is of topic :rolleyes:.