jogya03

sorry, but you don't miss a lot in fact, just dtmini sat quietly inside bus compartment !!! hope click below works this time ..

[IMG]https://www.flickr.com/photos/hasa_rider/34915544043/[/IMG]

cplager

p10

I've been wanting a folding bike for a couple years but hadn't looked much further than Brompton, Bike Friday, and Dahon, none of which I really liked for the price. I finally found Downtube a few weeks ago thanks to this thread and mentions in a few others, and since then had been trying to decide between the 8H and 8C. I'd just about settled on the 8H, but then I found the Kickstarter that's going on now and saw the rewards included the 11H and 8H for even less than normal. I ended up picking the 11H because the backer price is the same as a retail 8H. I'm surprised it hasn't been posted here yet 3 weeks into the campaign, so I'm posting about it now for anyone who might not have seen it (and in the hopes it will get funded so I can get mine!)

I can't post links since I don't have enough posts, but the campaign is called Best Kids Mountain Bikes & Folding Bikes for Parents.

jogya03

my DTmini is taking another direction, 8speed SA has been replaced by simpler and cheaper 3speed nexus coaster brake, and sure with coaster brake then the rear brake and its cable are gone too.
I combine this 3speed hub with brompton sized rim, and 16T cog.
other than that everything else is stock.
shifting and braking are more "positive" now, I do need time to adapt to coaster brake, but after few weeks I am confident now.
I feel that the old SA 8 rolls better, anyway I need to loose few kgs from my belly so it is acceptable.
one problem with 3speed nexus hub is the shifting mechanism protruding out of the hub axle on the left side. it is not interfering with bike folds, but it is not as "clean" as SA8.
I just hope this bike is going to hold at least for few holidays before I have to buy another folder...

mirfi

Hello,

Sorry for the faux pas(?) but already posted this question on a previous thread before I found this thread. Again, apologies.

Looking at 16", airline suitcase compatible/limitation folding bike.

Wife and I did a vacay to Florida for a week, flew Southwest, between us we could have checked four bags for free. She suggested I take a bike, but unless I performed intensive surgery, none of my folders could get under the 62inch bag limitation.

So, been seriously looking at Bromptons, but put off by price(initial/repair/upgrade) and would prefer ubiquitous in a common resource (like a bicycle) over "hand made".

Then stumbled on the chain drive DownTube Mini. I already have a FS9 that has stood up well over extensive abuse (I'm 6' and 230lbs) for 10 years.

Any user input here? Unfortunately, it isn't like it's in a showroom anywhere close by.

Note: before I bought the FS9, I bought a Kent 16" Magnesium folder, that was an absolute "clown" bike. Besides which the gear inches ranged from 4 to 12, or so it seemed. I (or any family member who tried) would get exhausted trying to get to walking speed. Don't want to get burned again.

mirfi

Yan,

Any plans for a single speed NOVA?

downtube

I have plans for a few new models:

1. Single speed Nova
2. 24" folder ( named Dyan )
3. 16" wheel folder that is smaller than a Brompton.
4. 451mm wheel STI drop bar folder ( named Speed Race )

However I launched several new bikes in the past couple years ( 8C, mini w/chain , mini 11, 11H, 8S, 8FS, Race, Race 24 ). Sales have increased, but not enough to justify bringing in more new models. I will wait until demand catches up before I launch any more bikes. It maybe a year or two....maybe longer.

I am glad we can offer 50%+ less than our competitors on similarly spec'd bikes, but it is not easy. My family designs, imports, distributes, and warehouses everything we sell. It is clear now is not the time to expand.

Thanks,
Yan

tds101 

The 24" Dyan with an igh would be a dream bike for me,...or the Downtube Mini. Lol!!!

mirfi

Yan,

Thank you for the insight.

Roegmann

I’ve got the Mini. It is pure fun. I’d love both the Dyan and the 16” folder (folding tighter than a Brompton). I can’t wait for either.

Rob_E

Did you have any issues attaching the coaster brake arm? Do you have a photo? I've been considering replacing my Nexus 8 hub with a coaster brake version on my Downtube.

jogya03

Hi Rob, no problem to attach coaster brake arm, but sure enough it is not rolls as "free" as original SA hubs, and the shifter is protruding out too...

jogya03

" https://www.flickr.com/photos/aandhy2001/40437652294/in/dateposted-public/"
"https://www.flickr.com/photos/aandhy2001/41106239842/in/dateposted-public/"

not too much success for photos....however, just hope you can see them thru my flickr.

thanks

Rob_E

Thank you for that. I was able to see the photos on Flickr. Unfortunately for me, I could also see that you have very different dropouts from me, so I still don't know if I can use a coaster brake.

Khb

Can the DT mini be pushed in the folded position? Partially folded??

jogya03

possible but not at ease, it is not easy to control, mine in particular with coaster brake sometimes rear wheel felt "locked", so I would wiggled the bike back and forth before going again. the rear wheel nut also more protruding, so the width of the bike after folded is more than original one. and also because I changed the rear wheel to 349 while the front one still stock 306.....then it is not easier

umzug

What are the dimensions of the folded Downtube Mini?

On the product site it shows as 13" x 22" x 31.5"
On the comparison table it shows as 10" x 20" x 29"

If the specs on the table are from the earlier version Mini there is over 50% increase in the folded volume when they introduced the newer version. Can this be true?

It is promoted as being slightly larger than Brompton (10.6" x 22.2" x 23"). Smaller folded size is about 7% larger than Brompton and the larger one is over 65% larger than Brompton.
I hope it to be closer to the smaller dimensions. Thanks.

downtube

The old mini was about the size of a Brompton, and the comparison table has the old mini size. The new mini is taller, longer and wider than the old one. I need to update information in the comparison page.

Thanks,
Yan

flyboy2160

As an owner of 2 highly modified 9 FS bikes, I want to bump this thread to rave about the performance and value of these bikes. Too often, we just hear about gripes.

One is ~2008/2009, the other ~2010/2011. I usually ride them 5 days a week, year round. I like them so much, I sold my other bikes and frames!

Aside from the wear slop in the fold joint (that I remedied as shown in a post years ago), they have been trouble free.

So, thank you Yan for the job you did with these. I tell everybody who asks; "It's a Downtube 9FS. I love it so much, I bought 2! They are a bargain!"

BikeLite

Could somebody repost the wear slop remedy post?

Pine Cone

DT Hindge Slop Fix

flyboy2160

BikeLite,

I didn't get a notice about your post, but Pine Cone did the job!

In case you're not a mechanical person, here's a picture of a slotted spring pin. I can't recall what size the holes are. I also don't recall if I reamed or lapped the holes a little to get them as close to the same size as I could. You don't want to try using the multi-coiled type pin. They are much too stiff and the hole up the middle is pretty small. I'll admit that the fold is now a little bit stiffer than when the bolt was free, but it's not significant. This picture shows a crappy rough surface on the pin. Try to get a brand that has a very nice finish so you don't score the soft aluminum hole bores. And use an anti-seize lube to avoid galling.

PacificSpray

We purchased two Downtube 11H's in February 2020 and toured in North Carolina until our departure from the Outer Banks when Corona virus struck. The bikes are great. The factory tires are perfectly adequate on road. We are now in New Zealand and will shortly ride the South Island Otago Rail Trail. The surface is mixed and my wife had some difficulty with her 26" road bike (narrow tires) on the 'loose over hard' last time we rode the trail. I had no trouble on my 26" MTB with 1.9" tires, so I decided to fit wider tires on the Downtube 11H's for our proposed trip, since my wife no longer rides either her road bike or her MTB, and just prefers the 11H, especially the the stationery gear changing feature of the hub.
The new tires arrived today and they have been fitted, hence this report for the reader who finds it useful.

Front:-
Remove factory Kenda tire 40-406 20×1.5
Remove factory Kenda tube Kenda 20x1.5/1.75
Fit Maxxis Ringworm 20x1.95 110psi wire bead.
Fit CST 20x1.90/2.15 tube

Rear:-
Remove factory Kenda 47-406 20×1.75
Fit Schwalbe Big Apple 50-406 20×2.00 70psi wire bead.
Re-use factory tube 20x1.75/2.125

No clearance issues.
Adjusted brake pads a little downwards towards the wheel hub to ensure they won't contact the tire sidewalls.
The BA's were trivial to fit onto the rear rims. The BA is a soft compound.
The Ringworm's on the front were not difficult to fit, but not quite as easy as the BA's. The Ringworm is a harder compound.
The Ringworms are half the price of the BA's in New Zealand, hence the mix. As a consequence, I can compare tire comfort, life and performance for the future.
Actually the high pressure Ringworms were a mistake made by the LBS; I actually ordered the lower-pressure Maxxis Holy Rollers, but I let it go and in any case I prefer the tread on the Ringworm. The Ringworm does not display the low pressure limit, but I will try 28 psi.

mirfi

The handlebar shifter on my 2012 vintage FS9 gave up the ghost. Seems I had folded the handlebars the wrong way with the wheel the wrong way and two wrongs made the shifter sloppy. Attempts to adjust it just made it break. Into pieces. With pieces failing out. On the ground.

Anyway, replaced it with a MicroShift Twist Shift Triple 9 speed Shifter Set from Amazon, Gap30Cycles, about $20..



A couple years ago I replaced the derailleur with this 'Microshift'

So I ordered a 'Microshift' shifter to match the derailleur.

Crazy thing is the bike rides so much better now. Really shifts nice. But everything feels better. I mean everything. I look for excuses to take this one to the store or to run errands.

Then again I feel my car drives much better after a wash and wax.

Pinigis 

Microshift makes really nice products, but they don't have the household name of someone like Shimano. We have been using their thumb-shift gear selector for years, and will be using their derailleurs on a couple of upcoming models.