Folding bike help

xxamr_corpxx said:

I'm usually more into the "buy a 2nd hand steel bike and do it up" but I've been quite interested in folders lately.

What's your opinion on this?

trademe.co.nzauction 92933072.htmOpen ↗

I'll probably end up chucking the reflectors and switching what appears to be a chromed steel seatpost for an alloy one. The cranks seem to be steel as well so I might fit an alloy roadie one on as well. Also, I have a nagging question about the frame, which I'm guessing is 1020 steel. Is it any worse than 4130 for ride quality? What about rust resistance?

At the end of the day, would it be more worthwhile to spend $175 and a small bit extra on the parts for this bike or get a nice Dahon?

A 1020 steel frame will probably weigh about one pound more than a frame made with 4130 CroMo tubing.

Most CroMo steel frames try to emulate the ride COMFORT of a gas-pipe steel frame.

The ONLY non-stainless steel that has resisted rusting is a pillar in India which I think has been dated to the Gupta period.

Now, the question of how much you should spend on the bike is a matter only you & your wallet can decide ... better to spend less, IMO, if you aren't going to pony up for a BIKE FRIDAY or RITCHEY or a bike with the "special" S-and-S couplings.

Thanks, I always thought gas-tubing bikes were [censored] at everything, guess I was wrong.

Any thoughts about the weight (14kg)?

xxamr_corpxx said:

Thanks, I always thought gas-tubing bikes were [censored] at everything, guess I was wrong.

Any thoughts about the weight (14kg)?

Well, it is a bit porky, but there may be some lower-end components which can probably be replaced to reduce the weight and bring the weight down to about to about 12kg.

If the crank & chain guard are steel, then just changing the crank & BB could bring the weight down by almost 2 kg.

REMEMBER. Lighter bikes, as someone once observed, require heavier locks.

If you aren't carrying the bike far, I wouldn't worry about the weight since you will be carrying it more like a suitcase than needing to hoist it onto your shoulder.