fold

Anyone knows a good non-folding bike with 12" wheels? My current 12" folding bike is a perfect fit except it's way too heavy(30 lb.) and I don't fold it much(once per year) anymore.
I am looking for a stronger 12" bike with less moving parts and lighter frame(aluminum?). It will be used to ride on sidewalks with very low speed. Twice the speed of a pedestrian's is fine... Single speed or less than 3 speed is acceptable.
The ideal bike should be short too since I want to be less intrusive on the sidewalk among pedestrians. Preferred biking position is "sit up". Budget is below $400.00
Any ideas, bike gurus?

"I am handicapped and ride very slow. Bike lane is quite dangerous for me. Walking takes 1 hour, riding a very slow bike takes only half of the time.As Beth pointed out, riding on Embarcadero is legal in the city too. That's why I try to ride in harmony with pedestrians by having a slow, short and less intrusive bike/scooter."

Beth W

I see you live in San Francisco. It's illegal for adults to ride on sidewalks in the city, except on those sidewalks that border water, such as the Embarcadero.

fold

Yes, you are right. My daily commute is on Embarcadero along public shoreline.

TenSpeedV2

My suggestion is to not ride on the sidewalk, anywhere. Bicycles belong on bike paths, bike lanes, and the road. They do not belong on the sidewalk unless you are a small child with training wheels on and learning how to ride for the first time.

bmthom.gis

Look at mini velos. I could't recommend a brand, but get to Googling! They are supposedly pretty popular in Japan

fold

I am handicapped and ride very slow. Bike lane is quite dangerous for me. Walking takes 1 hour, riding a very slow bike takes only half of the time. As Beth pointed out, riding on Embarcadero is legal in the city too. That's why I try to ride in harmony with pedestrians by having a slow, short and less intrusive bike/scooter.

fold

thanks, I will check mini velos out.

Darth Lefty 

Wow, this guy's being given a lot more grief trying to navigate Bike Forums than he ever would while riding on the sidewalk on Embarcadero.
@fold I don't recall seeing a mini velo with 12" wheels but maybe someone else has. Most have one of the 20" wheel sizes

Mr Pink57

Something like a Cannondale Hooligan, they are discontinued now I believe but still seen for sale around. You could also talk to Bike Friday up in Eugene about making a bike that is non folding, maybe use the Haul A Day frame which just shrinks down for different reaches but does not fold.

fietsbob

A 12" Wheel In superlight materials "Budget is below $400.00" seems like you are dreaming



there may be some Asian made folding bikes, but not for only $400.

Sell your IT stock portfolio and put More money on the table.



Bike Friday In Eugene Oregon has Made Custom bikes for individuals with very special sizing needs .

Dwarfism and forth .. Look for the Bantam builds.. they build to order. call the 800 number , or eMail..

Beth W

Fair enough! Sorry if my response came off as too aggressive -- I cycle and walk a lot in the city, and see plenty of cyclists who view the city's sidewalks as their personal high-speed commuter lanes. Glad you're aware and looking for an option that works well for you; I don't have any suggestions, but good luck to you.

fold

@fietsbob, it doesn't have to be super light. Lighter than my 15kg folding bike will be just fine.

fold

@Beth W, thanks

fietsbob

Razor scooter ?

Still ,, I repeat Call Bike Friday in Eugene Oregon https://www.bikefriday.com/ 1-800-777-0258

https://www.bikefriday.com/bicycles/bantam

they will build to suit your needs and stature it will not be cheap, but you are in SFO nothing is cheap there anyhow.

( Barely scraped by in the 80's there & had to pack up and leave, )

CliffordK

Apparently not all of the Bike Friday bikes fold.

OSATA Bike Friday - $600 (West Eugene)



However, I assume the limitation is not that the bike can't fold, but rather that it doesn't need to fold.

I don't believe I've seen any Bike Friday bikes with smaller than 16" wheels, but they still maybe able to make up something custom. Although a full custom bike would likely be quite expensive as most manufactures have a set of jigs desiged for the bikes they make.

One of the issues one runs into is that the smaller the wheels, the shorter one can make the wheelbase. But, super short wheelbase bikes become very difficult for climbing hills. If the OP is only riding on flat boardwalks, then that isn't a significant limitation.

The design of the mini-bikes gets a bit awkward as one still needs adequate crank clearance.

30 pounds is a bit heavy for a 12" bike. But, I've noticed that the smaller bikes don't necessarily shrink in weight as much as one might expect, especially if they're designed to support a normal adult.

fold

found some pedaling/stepping scooters: Micro Pedalflow, half bike II, me-mover, Zike.. never tried them before. Me-mover looks comfortable but quite expensive...

fold

@CliffordK, thanks!

kickstart

Total fail, like with anything else its situational and conditional, to suggest anything else is negligence.

noglider 

Riding on the sidewalk is illegal because so many who do it do it dangerously and inconsiderately. If you were to ride at a walking pace when near pedestrians, you can be safe and courteous. If you have a handicap, I think this is entirely justified, even if it's illegal.

kickstart

It's legal in my area, and even encouraged in a few locations near me where the sidewalk is marked and posted.

Situational and conditional.

TenSpeedV2

Negligence is putting pedestrians at risk, and putting yourself at risk because pedestrians are extremely unpredictable, dare I say more than vehicles. Bicycles don't belong on the sidewalk. They belong in the road with traffic. Part of the reason there is so much confusion on the road is because bikes are all over the place, paths, sidewalks, the road, etc. I cringe every time I see a bike on the sidewalk making their way through pedestrian traffic, especially where there is a bike lane right there on the road. Living near a campus, it is a common occurrence. The sidewalk is for walking and very slow moving pedestrian traffic. It is not the proper place for a bicycle.

kickstart

Situational and conditional.

I ride a section of sidewalk of my pm commute ever day without issue as there's very few if any pedestrians, and in 20 plus years I've never seen a cyclist use anything other than the sidewalk on that particular hill.

The truth is there are times and places where the sidewalk is the best choice and has no negative on others. An inability to know when and where its OK has nothing to do with its actual suitability.

Leisesturm

Of course situational, and laxly enforced in any case. The o.p. could ride on the sidewalk for years without being cited if they rode in a courteous manner. That said, "dangerous" is a perception. I know very fit and able bodied persons who think bike lanes are instant death and do not use them, ever. They ride full size bikes on the sidewalk with perfectly serviceable bike lanes right next to them. OTOH in many areas of my city (and I am in downtown!) don't have sidewalks. Pedestrians, skateboarders, people with motorized wheelchairs, all have to, and do, use the bike lanes because the grass verge that stands in for sidewalk in these areas is lumpy and full of holes, debris, etc. FWIW.

There are 16" bikes, 20" bikes but 12" sounds like a juvenile size and $400?/30lbs.?? Does not compute. I think we can scratch the custom Bike Friday. A Dahon Boardwalk? 20" I think but perfectly reasonable for sidewalk use. A Razor scooter as someone above suggested would be ideal if one really needed something a lot smaller than 16" wheels with reasonable build quality.

NormanF

Respect Cycles - $389.99

Respect Cycles Mini Velo (Minivelo) V2 | Respect Cycles, Innovative bikes, for The Urban Environment.

CliffordK

I doubt a 12", 16", or 20" bike is any safer than a regular bike. But, I can imagine it fitting in a bit better, appearing more as a mini-scooter than a bike.