Diode100

So what's it doing propped up against a 1966/7 UK registered van type vehicle ?

Abu Mahendra

It is the van of the Bannard dealer in Singapore. He took the bike out of the van, I propped it against the van, and snapped the foto. Said bicycle now resides moth-balled in my home in Indonesia, the basis of a custom build for the future. Here it is just a few days when I took inventory of my stock:

Abu Mahendra

here you go. here's another look...

chaadster

Really beautiful, but damn, saddle-to-bar reach is probably best measured in microns rather than millimeters! That thing is short short on the front end!

At my height of 6 feet and long inseam, I could not ride ride that, probably not even bolt upright with high-rise handlebars. Maybe if they steepened the HTA a couple of degrees...

It's really handsome, and as a Nano rider, I get your point about wheel location in relation to saddle; a bit more wheelbase would smooth the ride and reducing pitching over bumps, making for a more "normal" ride feel. Not that stubby/rear weight bias bikes aren't fun, they're just particular.

I guess that minivelo manufacturers, largely, are designing for the peculiarities of their key Asian markets (in terms of average height, physique, etc.) which is totally appropriate, but I can't help but think that if someone could bring a minivelo to the USA market which was fully targeted to and designed for that market, that it might have a good little run of sales.

I think Cannondale did alright with the Hooligan, but it was atypically designed and not clearly targeted. I believe BikesDirect did a ground-up design on the Nano, but aside from the aforementioned short wheelbase issue, spec'd materials and component choices which were odd (e.g. JIS threaded 1" headset) or just plain junky (e.g. stamped steel chainrings) and which really reduced the appeal to experienced and geeky cyclists, the crowd which needs to be captured to create a market base, IMO. That, or it needs to be deftly marketed to a "lifestyle" set, which we probably haven't had in a cycling sense bere until fairly recently.

I ramble, but anyway, that Bannard is beautiful.

Abu Mahendra

Measurements are as follows:
Chainstay: 44cm
Wheelbase: 103.5cm
Seat tube: 46.5
Effective top tube: 51cm

Thanks for the kind words. I finally unwrapped it yesterday, the first time seeing it unwrapoed since the first in that image leaning against the van. The frame and fork are in mint condition. A fitting reward for my troubles tracking one down, and then flying it back home, including negotiations on import duty with Customs.

I reckon it could fit you with a longer seatpost, longer stem and drop bars. The stem in the image is only 7cm. 11cm stem with 12cm reach drop bars would put the seatpost to bar hoods distance at 74cm. Still too short?

thugpipe

OMG I am so psyched, I managed to snag a mk2 piccolo frame set in black new off eBay I cannot wait to build it(I am all about single speed at the moment). There are still like 2 framesets on ebay somebody should jump on that!!!

Abu Mahendra

Sweet. how do you plan to do it up?

thugpipe

Well, I am debating between sitting on it for while and doing a ground up build using 451 wheels or taking all the parts from my respect cycles build i.e. the Java fork, and my custom disc/cassette hub 406 wheelset and then turn the respect into a bad weather beater bike.

Abu Mahendra

i say, go with the first option.

FietsDontFailMe

I would buy any of these bicycles in a moment. The Bianchi products are not available in North America, confound it.

Tokyobike:
https://www.tokyobikenyc.com/bicycles/mini-velo

Bianchi Japan
https://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2012/bi...inivelo-7.html
https://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2012/bi..._flat_bar.html
https://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2012/bi..._flat_bar.html

fietsbob

Yea Bianchi USA is a Different Company than the Old Italian or its Japanese user of the name.


Maybe not a mass produced for the asian market, but a bicycle framebuilder worth their name
can build one just for you,

now if they are booked up with orders for Race bikes for 5 + years the queue may be too long..

Rob English in or around Eugene has his own custom bike building company

and has helped design the Bike Fridays over the years.. so is familiar with 20"wheel bikes..




...

mlau

Not sure if the OP is still following this?

FWIW, the Swift is a great minivelo that sorta folds.
It's nor great for a cramped trunk, but fits great behind an apartment door.
The ride is surprisingly excellent stock.

I honestly think that I futzed up my bike with upgrades (fenders, adjustable stem, thud buster, custom rack, kickstand, etc). The big apples, crane bell, and retrospective tape were all worthy upgrades.

If I were inches shoes, I'd seriously look into getting one.

Haffassa Tempt

Sillgey Piccolos still pop up for sale occasionally. Keep your eyes peeled! There was one built up and sitting in a LBS for a couple years at a "snatch it now" price. I already had a Sillgey Phantom and passed on it. The ones I've seen around town have mostly been set up as polo bikes.

gilga

Im thinking about selling my sillgey piccolo it's been in storage since 09 I think maybe 2012 I can't remember

Haffassa Tempt

Post a picture of it?

gilga

It won't let me because I am a new member and have to post 10 times before i can.

HighValleyRanch

No, you can post an pic by using the attachment method. Go advance, and it will allow you to upload directly from your desktop a small jpeg or pict. It must be 150 kb or less. I use my email mode on my camera for the right size.

The 10 or plus posts requirement is for a link to an image URL.
I now, because I posted a photo on my very first post on these forums.

That Barnnard is a beautiful bike!

mkatz

Another option: Riese & Muller Tinker E-bike. 20" wheels. A bit heavy, but that's difficult to avoid in the e-bike category.

JohnRC

I have been following this tread because I am also looking at a mini velo.

Has anyone got any knowledge or experience of the Java cl 16? It comes in aluminium and cro molly.

Thanks,
John

gilga

Here's a pic of my piccolo

Rick Imby

My kids and biker friends all ask me where did I steal the clown bike when I ride my folder. I don't want to hear the noise if I rode that bike----Grin----

Rick Imby

The geometry of your Picolo looks like it has a long top tube and pretty steep seat angle. The cranks seem further back----all optical illusions from a picture.

I'm guessing you did not ride it much. Cool bike anyway.

Robert C

My daughter uses a 20" bike for touring and commuting.


It is called a 6-pack from Rodriguez Cycles. It is more suited to frequent flying, which she does. But it is a good bike (really expensive, by my standards, but good).

tds101 

$4,999 to start??? And I thought the Dahon Clinch was expensive,...

Robert C

She doesn't have a car, that frees up a lot for cycling.

. . . but yes, I consider it real expensive (but then, I am considering a velomobile; it is all just a matter of perspectives and priorities).