mirfi

Just bought a 8H, probably 15 years old. Been in storage, needs TLC/pedals.but that 8speed IGH is sweet. Pictures to follow.

mirfi

Some friends of mine finished restoring a cabin cruiser and were interested in folding bikes. So we looked around and they ended up with the two Dahons (5 speed Stowaway/Speed UNO). When the 8H popped up on facebook, they weren't interested. So I bought that for my son who wanted a 'small' bike to take with him when he rides with our granddaughter.

On Saturday we got together and went for some rides through the neighborhood.

We all tried each others bikes and while each bike had it's own +/-, the Downtube 8H was hands down the most impressive.

(I should have kept the 8H and given him another one.)

:-)


I was riding with friends and everybody rode it.

Hanging with other folders

JosephLMonti

I just happened to check out the Downtube website blog and saw this posting:

Dr. Yan will leave Downtube in 2022

Posted by Dr. Yan Lyansky on Mar 24th 2021

Does this mean Downtube will be under new ownership/management or permanently shuttering its doors?

downtube

Joseph,


2022 is 20 years. That is enough for me. It's time to move forward. I will begin a startup, MathPhD.com in a matter of weeks. I have no idea what the future holds for downtube. I may sell it, I may close it, I may gift it. Life has a interesting way of paving the proper path.


Thanks,

Yan

Civilguy

Whatever that path is, I think that's definitely the way to go.

Doc_Wui

Then I'm glad to own a pair of your bikes, Yan. Into our 5th season on them. and about 4000 miles accumulated on both the 8FS and Nova. Only folded them about a dozen times. Mainly to stuff in a car. Great fun. Thanks.

mirfi

Yan,Thank you

yabangmo

I always wanted a folding bike but not sure when to bite the bullet for one

rhenning

If you are not sure then do not buy one. Try them and test ride them and when one speaks to you buy one. Roger

Chevroen

Have two of the full Suspension bikes a 8 and 9 speed fitted Bmx tyres and ride them on the muddy tow paths of the canals in the uk. fantastic bikes thinking of converting one to electric would never sell them.

captkkk

404 now

Doc_Wui

Downtube website still working for me.
https://www.downtube.com/downtube-no...-folding-bike/

mlau

Glad it's still working. I'm planning on getting a bike for a friend's retirement soon.

I figure that Yan's been a standup guy as long as I've been on BF....quite a long time! Maybe 16 years?

jhoff80

I continue to really like the ride of my 8H, even more so now that I changed the saddle from my Brooks Cambrium C17 Carved that I wanted to like (due to the waterproof material and less care needed) back to my Brooks Flyer (basically a B17 with spring suspension). Huge difference in my comfort. (Though I'll note I didn't even try the saddle that was included with the bike). I know it's nothing crazy compared to some people, but I'm now up to about 650 miles on this bike since March.

That being said, I still find the fold to be incredibly awkward. I basically have to lean the bike against the wall so that it doesn't tip over when folded, the grip of the handlebars tends to press against the fork and make imprints, and it just overall is more awkward than my Tern or Dahon. I'll take the awkwardness in folding and unfolding to have the superior ride, but it definitely annoys the hell out of me before and after the ride.

LondonTourer

Downtube 11H customization

Excellent bike - the only comparable bike is Dahon Mu Rohloff which sadly is out of production now. Quite pleased with the support from Dr Yan Lyansky. Alfine IGH, Gates Carbon belt, suspension fork and foldable, at a very reasonable price.

I bought this bike for touring - it's quite tedious to carry full-sized bikes on UK trains (and Eurostar stopped allowing them on their trains because of...Covid!). Not really into off-road but to tackle the tow paths, country lanes and hills, I have had a few customizations done:

1. Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes (front and back). Rear brakes were difficult to install.
2. Schlumpf Mountain Drive - required a custom bracket
3. Redshift stem suspension - required sawing off the stem!
4. Kinect seatpost suspension - required a shim
5. Brooks saddle
6. Schwalbe Big Ben Plus puncture resistant tires - fat tires on low pressure for bumpy roads - had to raise the rear mudguard which was too low
7. Slime tubes, puncture resistant
8. MKS foldable pedals (Japanese) - quite rugged
9. Carbon handle bar, 600 mm from Amazon
10. Ergon grips
11. Spurcycle bell
12. Seatpost lock (custom-made)
13. Busch & Muller Rear sensor light
14. Audax luggage rack behind seat and Redshift accessories for light/Garmin etc.

All customizations were done by Mr. Andrew Jones at Moss Bikes, Nantwich, UK.

Unable to post photos as I need to have at least 10 posts apparently, and this is my first

Happy to answer any questions!

LondonTourer

This forum was my primary source for evaluating the Downtube bike - I read ALL the posts in this thread. Big thank you to everyone here for their advice and time.

Reddleman

How’s it been taking 20” wheeled folders on Eurostar? I’m not on that side of the world right now, but I imagine in some point in time I’ll be back that way with a folding bike or similar size. I’ve only seen it done with Bromptons in the past.

LondonTourer

@Reddleman, from the Eurostar website: "You can still bring a folding bike or children's bike on board as long as it's no longer than 85 cm in length and it's carried in a protective bag which covers the whole bike." so it seems there is no restriction on wheel size, just that the bag should be under 33.5 inches.

LondonTourer

Numerozero

Very nice!

jhoff80

I don't have calipers but I want to replace my seatpost clamp on my 8H, does anyone happen to know the correct size clamp for the 20" Downtubes?

Edit: Used the circumference to get an estimate, received today. 34.9mm is definitely the correct size for my 8H.

Sonic_boom

I had a updated 8FS (welded gussets), now I have what I think is the first 8FS. How likely am I to have problems with stress cracks etc?

rider is about 170lbs.

Klaw

I have a 2008 9FS, and am 190ish and weekly carry 50lbs of groceries, with no issues. Not sure if it's an updated one but I've updated mine to electric and it's essentially my car, have beaten the crap out of it with zero problems.

Sonic_boom

In post #473 of this thread from 2006, the 9FS has the gussets so mine is older than that and ??possibly? Flawed? Or just fine I’m not sure. A gravel bike drivetrain would really be easy but I don’t want to spend $$ if the frame is fundamentally going to crack.

mirfi

Post #2331-#2338 shows a repair. Pipes added some weight, but are solid.