Folding Bike advice

[Peaceseeker]

Saw this Craigs ad and called.  Two folding bikes at a consignment store.
The blue one is a Neobike (offshoot of Dahon) and the other is a possibly a Dahon (only label able to be read is Sturmey Archer).
Both single speed.  I would prefer a 3 speed, but maybe this would be a good one to start with.  Easier to fix if chain falls off!
Both made in England. 

Have no idea their weight or anything else.  
I called and was told neither have rust.  
Tire sizes and weight appear to be the same for both.  

One has fenders which is helpful in wet, muddy conditions.  Do I really care? 

I'm planning to go and take a look this morning.  Any advice?
Price is not negotiable.

btw, have a mini van so not much room.

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/bpo/5536100517.html

 

[WheelEstate USA]

The blue one looks like a 3spd to me also. Didn't look at other one closely. 
Price sounds ok.

 

[66788]

I just sold a Dahon in original excellent condition for $25.00.

My thoughts on that bike are this:  Good design for space saving.  Lousy riding bike, borderline dangerous.  The steering is so quick you can crash by just turning the handlebars too fast.   Not good for a distance of more than 1/2 mile.

I ended up buying a hitch mount bike rack for my Gary Fisher mountain bike.   I'm happy, I have a great bike to ride and it's not in the van.

 

[Peaceseeker]

I just sold a Dahon in original excellent condition for $25.00.

My thoughts on that bike are this:  Good design for space saving.  Lousy riding bike, borderline dangerous.  The steering is so quick you can crash by just turning the handlebars too fast.   Not good for a distance of more than 1/2 mile.

I ended up buying a hitch mount bike rack for my Gary Fisher mountain bike.   I'm happy, I have a great bike to ride and it's not in the van.

I now have a cheap crappy mountain style bike that if it were on bike rack, I wouldn't lose sleep over if it got stolen.  Bike theft prevention has probably been covered on another thread, but that would be my concern.  I assume a standard bike on a bike rack on minivan would need to be dismounted each time the rear hatch needed to be opened.  Not sure. 

 If so, it might still be doable, just a pain in the butt.  If not, maybe looking on Craigs to replace my crappy bike with something better would be a consideration instead of the folding bike.  

My concern is the theft issue and opening/closing the hatch repeatedly with bike on rack.  Maybe not a big deal?

 

[donaldelectrician]

I just sold a Dahon in original excellent condition for $25.00.

My thoughts on that bike are this:  Good design for space saving.  Lousy riding bike, borderline dangerous.  The steering is so quick you can crash by just turning the handlebars too fast.   Not good for a distance of more than 1/2 mile.

I ended up buying a hitch mount bike rack for my Gary Fisher mountain bike.   I'm happy, I have a great bike to ride and it's not in the van.

I first bought a 20" Citizen and sold it .

I got a 26" folding Dahon and tha t is a keeper . The larger wheels make all the difference .




 D

 

[66788]

I now have a cheap crappy mountain style bike that if it were on bike rack, I wouldn't lose sleep over if it got stolen.  Bike theft prevention has probably been covered on another thread, but that would be my concern.  I assume a standard bike on a bike rack on minivan would need to be dismounted each time the rear hatch needed to be opened.  Not sure. 

 If so, it might still be doable, just a pain in the butt.  If not, maybe looking on Craigs to replace my crappy bike with something better would be a consideration instead of the folding bike.  

My concern is the theft issue and opening/closing the hatch repeatedly with bike on rack.  Maybe not a big deal?

I use the hitch mounted bike rack on my high top Dodge van, and it does somewhat block the use of the rear doors.   I seldom use them, so for me it's no big deal, as I enter/exit the side doors always.

As an alternative, you could mount your standard bike on the front of the van, leaving all doors accessible.   I plan on doing that with my step van.

 

[Peaceseeker]

I first bought a 20" Citizen and sold it .

I got a 26" folding Dahon and tha t is a keeper . The larger wheels make all the difference .




 D

Just a bit taller when folded?

 

[Peaceseeker]

I use the hitch mounted bike rack on my high top Dodge van, and it does somewhat block the use of the rear doors.   I seldom use them, so for me it's no big deal, as I enter/exit the side doors always.

As an alternative, you could mount your standard bike on the front of the van, leaving all doors accessible.   I plan on doing that with my step van.

Thanks!
Different mount for the front?  
Legalities?
Theft prevention?

 

[66788]

Thanks!
Different mount for the front?  
Legalities?
Theft prevention?

Unless you have a 2" square receiver on the front of your van, it will be a different mount.  I don't think there is a problem with legality as long as your headlights and turn signals are not blocked.

As for theft prevention, a good quality aircraft cable lock should do the trick, and secure it to the vehicle.

 

[Peaceseeker]

Unless you have a 2" square receiver on the front of your van, it will be a different mount.  I don't think there is a problem with legality as long as your headlights and turn signals are not blocked.

As for theft prevention, a good quality aircraft cable lock should do the trick, and secure it to the vehicle.

Thanks for the advice!  Will rethink the direction on this.    :shy:

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I have a citizen 6 speed folding bike alluminium frame 20 inch wheels, rear rack rear panier and front handle bar panier. it folds up and goes into storage bag and can be bungied tidyly to something fairly easily but still often in the way, it is ok, I used to have a Raleigh three speed folding bike I liked it a lot even though it was heavy, the citizen is a bit light in the front, you have to be careful when going up steep grades, there are some very good folding bikes out there that cost a lot of money, I didn't know this but I recently heard from a guy that had a very expensive British hand made folding bike 20 something speed (which I took for a spin and was very nice to ride), that the smaller wheels are a lot faster then the big wheels if gearing is good and the surface is smooth. I find it hard to believe. Small wheels are apparently band from track racing for that reason, they have wheels size rules.

 

[donaldelectrician]

Just a bit taller when folded?

 It is a bit bigger but worth it .

 Came with a carry on bag , never used it . I do not like constant pedaling of the Citizen



 D

 

[Whitey]

I have a citizen 6 speed folding bike alluminium frame 20 inch wheels, rear rack rear panier and front handle bar panier. it folds up and goes into storage bag and can be bungied tidyly to something fairly easily but still often in the way, it is ok, I used to have a Raleigh three speed folding bike I liked it a lot even though it was heavy, the citizen is  a bit light in the front, you have to be careful when going up steep grades, there are some very good folding bikes out there that cost a lot of money, I didn't know this but I recently heard from a guy that had a very expensive British hand made folding bike 20 something speed (which I took for a spin and was very nice to ride), that the smaller wheels are a lot faster then the big wheels if gearing is good and  the surface is smooth. I find it hard to believe. Small wheels are apparently band from track racing for that reason, they have wheels size rules.

The English bikes are made by Brompton and the American high end ones are Bike Friday.  Both are well made and people do extended touring on them.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=tS&doc_id=15328&v=pt

This guy has done several long trips on his Bike Friday, the link is to his trip from Mexico to Costa Rica.

 

[wagoneer]

As I bike almost every day a good fit is very important, and came across a Montague "Fit" with 700 road bike wheels made for the urban commuter at a pawn shop for 149 bucks. folds up nicely being a full size bike. it will travel with me in the truck.

 

[BeachRVer]

Folding bikes are great for saving space, but can be more work and tiring to operate. 

A lot of people just get a bike rack for their existing bike and attach it to the RV. 

We did that for about 8 months, but since we never used them we just put them into storage.