Folding Bicycle

Schwinn Hinge Folding Bike

This is a pretty nice little bike, within certain limits. I've had mine about 6 weeks now.

I've had various bikes before, including a Cannondale racing bike and a Brompton folding bike that I bought in 1997 for about $1000, which ended up getting stolen.

OK, so this Schwinn isn't quite as convenient to fold as the Brompton and it doesn't have gears, but it doesn't cost that kind of money, and it IS a nice little bike that is useful for running about on a campus type environment, in a subdivision, in a park, or around town for short distances.

I live in Florida where the terrain is all flat, and I find that the single gear gets me around briskly enough and that I can make adequate headway when riding into the wind.

As I am at the top end of the weight range for this bike, I find that the brakes are somewhat lacking in stopping power even when well adjusted, and wouldn't recommend this machine for running down steep hills.

I did replace the original saddle with one that has a bit more padding and springs to absorb the bumps, attached a pair of handlebar extenders to give a bit more reach, and buy a rubber tie-down strap to hold it all together when folded. It is really important to get the angle of the saddle adjusted just right, because you are sitting in an upright position with a lot of weight on your rear, which can become uncomfortable over time.

The bike runs very smoothly and I enjoy going out on it. Being a folder, you can easily store it indoors or carry it in the trunk of a car, which makes it more versatile than a full size bike. I use mine mainly for exercise.

By the way, I would disregard any spiel about the noble history of Schwinn bicycles. The company went bankrupt and the factory closed in about 1980. The brand name was bought by another company, and my bike was made in China. Still, it is a nice little bike and seems like a decent value. I don't think you are paying over the odds for the Schwinn badge. -- Nice bike, good value

I know there are a lot of folding bike enthusiasts who look down on the "cheap folding bikes" like this one, which I bought two years ago. But my mother-in-law made a good point: when I told her there were probably better quality folders on the market if you could afford them, she said, "Sure, and Cadillacs are better quality cars than VW Bugs, but not everyone can afford them - and they both get you to the grocery store!"

So if you're on a limited budget and just need a nice bike to ride around the neighborhood and occasionally toss in the trunk to have with you for the beach or the park, this is just fine. In fact, I just recently started riding it again, after letting my mother-in-law use it for a few months. While it's not all that comfortable, it did take me on a nice 10-mile round trip on a bike trail at the beach this morning, and last week I used it to get some packages to the Post Office when my car had a flat. For about $160 that's not too bad.

Also, yes, as others have mentioned, it is a bit heavy so probably wouldn't work if you need to carry your bike around a lot, or if you have trouble lifting heavy objects. But frankly I like the heavier weight, as it makes the bike feel more stable to ride.

Just one thing: DEFINITELY plan on replacing the saddle when you get it! -- Great for the price! Not every folding bike has to be a Caddy!

Arrived in crushed box, but bike was fine. Works like shown, and easy to fold. Rides fine. I had bike repairer check and adjust everything. I MADE A MISTAKE, was going to buy 7 speed but chose wrong. but my bike guy says maybe i did right. I get messed up changing gears. For now will build up my riding abilities til i can ride a geared bike. And i am afraid to ride on streets, so i can drive this where i want to go, cause it folds.
-- Great for the price, really folds

It's a great starter bicycle if you haven't biked in a while and have limited storage space. I really like it. I keep it in my trunk. It does take a few times to learn how to fold/unfold it properly and tighten the latches (I had someone who was familiar with bicycles help me), but once you understand what to do, it's fairly easy to assemble it. The bike is heavy (about 38 lbs), and I used to "feel its weight" in my car, but now I'm used to it. Also, it took some time for me to learn to put it in my trunk; nevertheless, I am happy I purchased it. In my opinion, the convenience of being able to take the bike with me and ride it whenever I want to outweighs any minor negative reviews I have. -- Great Starter Bicycle