20" Folding bike disadvantages/advantages

[Ypedal]

Can a six foot 190lb male ride a bmx comfortably?

If you don't need to pedal it.. yes.

 

[desertcodfish]

Thanks for all of your ideas guys,
for my lifestyle, and purpose, I think the Dahon folder w/electric is the most suitable.
I'll pursuit something along those lines.
I'll check in every so often.
The biking community is saving the world. Keep on biking!

 

[melodious]

Ran into this thread today and have real world experience with my 20" Tern folder. I bought the folder only because it's required on trains.

I had a major malfunction on it a few weeks ago. It was a brand new bike. The aluminum handlebar just snapped off while I was doing a small manual (wheelie) over a manhole cover. I indo'd into the street and grinded my knuckles to a stop. I believe it the long stem that was the cause. All the constant back and forth forces while riding will take it's toll on the metal. If it was steel, I'd have prior forwarning before it happened.

Just a FYI. If you ride the bike rather smoothly and aren't hucking curbs like a reborn teenager, I think you'll be OK. For some reason I ride every bike as if it's made for mountainbike riding. :| Live and learn. I'm lucky I didn't get run over by a bus when this happened.

 

[glend]

Thanks for all of your ideas guys,
for my lifestyle, and purpose, I think the Dahon folder w/electric is the most suitable.
I'll pursuit something along those lines.
I'll check in every so often.
The biking community is saving the world. Keep on biking!

Think its a great idea. Remember watching an electric folder catching up to a lycra racer up a very steep hill in youtube (lycra racer yelled out you must have electric motor on that thing!). The small wheels allow great torque from even smaller motors (at cost of speed) so no need turn the bicycle into a heavyweight. 6 llb SWXK with 8 llb 10ah battery and your bicycle is still at a very respectable 37llb which is about the weight of my recumbent bicycle without any electrics. Smaller 20" wheels are generally stronger but if you are concerned you could always upgrade to 20" Sun Rhyno Lites rims (very strong). Many take folders on world tours laden with camping gear so weight should really be a concern if the bicycle is designed to take your weight.

 

[glend]

The trek is way over budget for me. The light weight and low cost of a folder that I can convert to electric needs to be
around $1000.00 to 1400.00 with everything. I need it to be lightweight enough and compact enough to throw it
in the back of my Ford f150 pickup cause I have too many loose dogs in my neighborhood to ride near home.
Would a birdy make a decent conversion? I don't need high speed, I'm just joyriding.
Do they make any kits for little lightweight folding bikes under $1400.00 total cost?

Perhaps a tern link p9 at ~900 which would leave enough for Bafang SWXK and ping battery to meet your target of $1400. Was reviewed by nycewheels in youtube here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3DwLVAaYz4&list=TL0U_rZSfuxBRWDdeoZPpurjFR3XgIoN0f They also have reviewed other folders under their youtube account. From memory the reviewer is 6'3 something and probably weighs close to 200 pounds so folders can be used by anyone.

 

[-dg]

Xootr Swift. Nuff said.