BikeNSail

I'm a 'clydesdale' (6'2", 220lbs). I prefer the Nova over the FS due to smaller size, lighter weight, and fewer things to go wrong, but the Nova has max recommended weight of 200lbs and height of 6'2". I'm over on the weight and max on height.

Any other 'large' riders out there ridden the Nova?

tds101 

The Forte might be more for you: EuroMini ZiZZO Forte

Doc_Wui

I own both of those downtubes. I didn't know there was a weight limit. s the 8FS higher? I didn't find a limit in the online specs.
Both are nice bikes, in my opinion, but if they are rated for size, then you have to go elsewhere.

The 8FS gives you a cassette, better as it allows greater selection should you want to change it. The Nova uses a freewheel, and its smallest gear is 13T while the cassette is 12T. Nova has a shorter seat tube, a lower steo-over height and uses a twist shifter. 8FS has a trigger shifter and of course, the suspension.

I prefer the steering tube latch on the Nova as it clamp tight/secure, The 8FS has a different style that can open and wiggle, On the other had, the frame latch on the 8FS seems more secure. I hardly ride my wife's 8FS, and she has never ridden the Nova.

BikeNSail

https://www.downtube.com/pages/foldi...son-table.html

It's not on the specs page, but found above on their site.

The Nova is 200lbs, FS is 245lbs.

How's the suspension on the FS? I'm not really interested in a 'mushy' ride. I ride a road bike and am OK with a few bumps and think the suspension will take away from peddling efficiency.

Never heard of a 'freewheel', but that doesn't sound good.....

Doc_Wui

Stands to reason the 8FS can take more weight, The seattube is much longer for one thing,

The only reason I ever heard of Downtube is because I saw a video by the owner, Yan, where he talks about why folders benefit from suspension, I initially planned the 8FS for myself, but did ask my wife for buy-in, and she said she wanted it. I then decided to get the Nova to save some money. Neither of us pedal hard enough to lose power on the springs. I will say the 8FS is comfy for a seniors like us, but the Nova is fine. I'd rather not stand on the folding pegs, but I do when I see something hard coming up.

tds101 

I'm 230lbs, and the downtube mini handles my weight just fine. I hate the tires, and I swapped out the pedals, but downtube is a solid brand.

mirfi

I have ridden the crap out of my FS9. Totally abused it, gone through several sets of folding pedals (they just don't last with my fat as smashing down on them). The internal gear FS8 is probably geared better. I'm 6ft, 250lb, but ride very tall. Had to get an extended seatpost. Downtube makes a very high quality bike and has little niceties included that are not immediately appreciated. The suspension although quirky, is appreciated by my lower back. And out of all my bikes, is still the "Go To" bike.

mirfi

BTW, have you looked at the "DownTube" threads? I know there is one for the FS9.

Zonker

Hi, did you get the extended seatpost from Downtube, or elsewhere? I was just on their site, contemplating.

mirfi

I'm pretty sure I ordered the longer seatpost from Downtube. If I buy a new folding bike/mini-velo I know beforehand that I am buying an extended seatpost and a larger chainring. It is sad that nobody makes affordable 20" folding bicycles in 'adult' sizes.

downtube

The seatposts we sell online are the same as the stock posts. They are not longer.

Thanks
Yan

mirfi

Yan,

Sorry, I thought it was an option so many yeeeaars ago.

:-)

And this is something good also. The Downtube bikes have standard parts that are easily upgrade-able and although it was 10+ years ago.

I would purchase again.