Joe Remi

Because it's a "last mile" bike intended for casual rider-commuters on a budget. The huge chainring would be polarizing to new riders and raise the price.

kidshibuya

If I can buy any size chaining from china for the same price why would it increase the price of this bike by any significant amount? Also where is your evidence that it would be polarizing? What do you base that on? Isnt it just as valid to say "pick any other bike part" is polarizing ?

Joe Remi

It's based on I've been following the bike market for decades and I happen to know that itty bitty bikes with huge chainrings look weird to casual riders who just want to pedal to the train stop. They're not looking for weird or fast or a greasy chain sitting way up high to concern them. There's a million enthusiast bikes out there we can ride, the Wasp is just a cheap little folder. Modify to your heart's content if you want to, but you're not the market Pinigis is aiming at.

Abu Mahendra

no one is arguing for a 61T out of the box. You hang your response on something not asserted. Erecting the Straw Man so you can knock it down.

Simply a chainring in the lower/mid 50Ts providing more than gear-inches above the 40s. Yeah, cuz 52T chainrings are so much more expensive than the stock one.

Evidently what is, in fact, polarizing is the bike's sub-optima stockl gearing. Just on this thread alone we have two people reaching a for a larger.

Joe Remi

You asked why not higher gearing in response to a conversation about a 61t chainring, so I answered that question for you. The bike is geared lowed because that's what the market expects. Since you all are so certain of the ease and cheapness of doing the swap, BUY THE BIKE AND A BIGGER CHAINRING. I swear, you bizarre folding bike trolls will argue about ANYTHING.

Joe Remi

That's it, I've had enough. This little corner of the internet has become overrun by antagonistic trolls who treat a folding bike forum like Trump treats the press. There's some weird campaign going on here to intimidate people who just want to talk about their bikes, and it's a colossal waste of time. Jur was right to leave, I shall hop on my Brompton and join him. Goodbye.

Abu Mahendra

Saved for posterity.

Abu Mahendra

...and to put my concern in perspective, the equivalent of a 48T chainring on a 305 wheel, the stock set-up on the Wasp, would be roughly a 36T ring on a 406-wheel bike (or a 42T on a 349er, or a 41T on a 355er). To make matters worse, the Wasp's cogset's smallest sproket is only 14T. Double-whammy. To spec a 406er with a 36T chainring (and 14T smallest sproket) at any price point twould be unusual, and sub-optimal if the bike is to serve a general purpose. Ditto for the Wasp.

keke

Hi Joe, I don't think you should leave.
It leaves the forum poorer for your fount of knowledge.

I've just come back to bikeforums after a long hiatus (life) and my gosh, it's gotten rather unpleasant. Folks arguing ad nauseam about stuff that doesn't really matter.

Let's be calm and enjoy the bikes.

GTA

Nice practical bike, for 200 USD.

Pinigis 

tds101 

I like the bike either way,...

Stop the ridiculous arguing in my thread,...I'm tired of the constant bickering.

Pinigis 

I don't mean to appear argumentative, I am just trying to answer questions and provide any feedback that I can. I very happy to know that you like the bike, and I wish you many happy miles.

tds101 

Oops!!! Not you,...I meant the other people who constantly disrupt EVERY DAMN THREAD WITH THEIR BS!!!
So sorry,...

Joe Remi

I'm over it. Every thread gets polluted with a lunatic insisting on beating some drum he brought up months ago, and will literally chase people through several threads to prove his stupid point. Now he seems to have attracted friends who use the same bizarre confrontational style over folding bikes. FOLDING BIKES. The moderators refuse to police it so screw this. See ya at Thor's folder forum.

tds101 

This place will sorely miss you,...I know I definitely will.

Abu Mahendra

Bye.

tds101 

You BOTH need to cut the $#!+

Pinigis 

Oops! I checked the bike again, and this one has a 58T chainring. I am not sure what I did with the 61T.

tds101 

​​​​​​Dear lawdy!!! The 60t is gonna be huge on my bike,...LOL!!! I guess I'm also going to need a longer chain.

Pinigis 

Yes, I added about 6 links to my chain when I put this one on, so you may need to add 6 or 7.

tds101 

Thanks. I'll probably have to visit my LBS to get the correct links. All I have is single speed chain,... definitely not the correct size.

tds101 

I have the new 60t chainring, and it's definitely quite a bit bigger. I'm going to find a new chain, then install everything. I'll post a pic after I do the job.

tds101 

Update: I was told that a 60t chainring would fit in my Wasp, and it doesn't. It rubs the frame on at least 3 gears. I'm now stuck with a 60t, 110bcd chainring. I'm pissed!

Pinigis 

Crap! I apologize, I thought that I had a 61 on mine. Let me see what I can do from my end.