jfouellette

Over the summer I started riding a used Dahon speed. I now use it to commute everyday (until winter anyway). I ve really come to enjoy the agility of smaller wheels. This leads me to now look at Mini velo bikes but it looks like they are not available in North America except a few which are highly priced.

Does anyone know of a reliable seller of these bikes in ASIA who would offer brands and shipping options?

Thanks

3speedslow

Bikesdirect offers a MV at times, the Nano. Also in Asia there is Aliexpress. I’ve ordered parts from Ali and was happy with the service.

My BD mini Velo is a great ride and loads of fun to upgrade.

mirfi

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...de-thread.html

jfouellette

Thank you for the information. It looks like Bic Direct has discontinued the bike. The search continues…

Doc_Wui

I originally lucked into a minivello clearance of Sundeal mini's on Nashbar a few years ago, and became a fan on minivellos.

This year, I ordered this one last January. Arrived in May. No longer available. I want to get a smaller gear on the rear wheel.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...62c04c4dtJy1bC

Another aliexpress vendor with mini's. I have only bought a 20" fork from him, but it was delivered and was satisfactory.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002425756531.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000060.2.277720c1C8GYD8&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.169870.0&scm_id=1007.13339.169870.0&scm-url=1007.13339.169870.0&pvid=048c919a-6231-4875-b15c-e88240792d1e&_t=gps-idcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller,scm-url:1007.13339.169870.0,pvid:048c919a-6231-4875-b15c-e88240792d1e,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238115%232000&&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sceneId%22:%223339%22,%22sku_id%2 2:%2212000020610017478%22%7D

jfouellette

I'll look into this. Thanks

anga

https://velo-orange.com/collections/neutrino-mini-velo

3speedslow

Discontinued or sold out?

tds101 

It's discontinued apparently, according to their website. Shame really,...

3speedslow

Strange... sold out of them every time they made a run. Market strategy: time to change up the Nano or wet the appetite by telling consumers a popular model is no longer gonna be made?

I will be hanging on to mine!

jfouellette

Hi. Here is an update for my search for a mini-bike. First thing I found is that there is only two models available in North-America (I'm in Canada) from two different vendors. There were more available 5-10 years ago. This says something about a market for these bikes here. The big-wheels syndrome maybe? Average size of population? Focus on road use rather than urban situations?

Well I found one at a reasonable price. It's a new old stock (in original box) Fuji Boulevard which should be here in about 2-3 months, just in time for winter...A Christmas gift to myself? I'm sure some people will offer comments about this not being the best buy for a mini-velo but the choices are limited. Japanese retailers rarely offer shipping outside their country and when they do the cost is close to that of the bike. I did find a another chinese retailer which has an interesting mini velo. That was my second choice.

This buying experience does require some level of risk tolerance and patience. You don't get to see or ride the bicycle. Is the seller reliable? Will he ship? What if the product is damaged? etc etc etc. It's important to be able to sleep well at night. If you can't, you'll have to settle with what's available.

Maybe a group buy could be organized or a reliable contact found in Asia to help us in the transactions with local retailers (maybe a member of this forum?) in exchange for a fee.

I'll post pictures when I receive the bike, if I do...

PS: I did get a shipped notification

Falconista

I have never ridden a mini velo. What is it about them that people like? I assumed that they rode like a folding bike but without the flexibility of actually folding.

jfouellette

I think the ability to fold is sometimes overrated under certain circumstances. Some models rather heavy to carry on public transport for example. They do save space in homes and while in a vehicle.

I think there is a fun factor when using a smaller bike. They are more agile and have some of the features of folders such as space saving. They usually are lighter also.

The last thing is the human body. We come in different sizes and so do bicycles. In North-American the average human size is taller than in Asia (and other places) which leads to less interest in smaller wheels on bikes (for adults).

The bike industry is also less willing to import mini-velos because the demand is so strong with other sizes.

anga

https://tokyobike.us/collections/bic...lo-matte-ivory

jfouellette

Yes that's one of the available mini-velo. They also have accessories for it.

Nyah

One advantage of mini-velos that people cite is that a non-folding bicycle is inherently stiffer than a folding one.

I like my folding bicycle, but I decided to try a mini-velo anyway. The advantage that I see in them is the latitude for design variety. Folding bicycles are mostly made up of a small number of designs that are OEMed to whoever wants to re-brand them. There are a wider variety of mini-velo designs because they're easier to design and manufacture.

I wanted a mini-velo that has chainstays long enough to afford regular pannier use. I examined every photo that exists on the internet for the one with the longest chainstays. What I found was more expensive and a little more difficult to get than what the OP was looking for (thus I didn't mention it). It's the frame developed by Simon-Bikes. Hopefully I'll have it built up by this Spring (if not sooner).

anga

It will help others.

Why not post a list of mini-velos you came across?

jfouellette

Of course,

Biria- now showing out of stock https://biria.com/series/mini-20-out-stock

Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...4d192e0entlP35

Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...4d192e0entlP35

And this from the previous OP (High end from Germany)
https://www.simon-bikes.de/fahrraeder/minivelo-custom/

tdonline

Yes. I had a Dahon that I never folded and I disliked the handle bar flex. With my Orbea Katu, I have a really solid smaller wheel bike. It's a much better ride than the Dahon. And I love the oversize front basket. It's a great grocery bike. The only minor negative is that the wheelbase is much longer than the Dahon so the footprint is not quite as small. Still, it's easier to roll into elevators and onto trains than my regular-sized bike. My local train system no longer bars unfolded bikes during rush hours.

The only time I regretted selling the Dahon was a trip to Gettysburg for a bike tour. I couldn't get a hatchback rental car and I couldn't fit the Orbea into the trunk of a four-door compact . That's when I wished I still had a folder. I ended up having to ride a crappy rental bike for the tour.

jfouellette

Here is a picture of the mini velo I ordered

tds101 

Would you happen to have a link to the site where you ordered this beauty?

jfouellette

Mini Velo available on auction site:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38445021775...Cclp%3A2047675