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How small will the wheels go?

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How small will the wheels go?

Postby TheBikeBum on Sun May 18, 2008 4:08 am

The A-Bike Revision B is on my wish list. I'm a fan of folders and I was just thinking what will become the standard for smaller than 16" wheels?

Right now, the majority of folders take 16" (Brompton, BF Tikit, Dahon) or 20" wheels. They are standardized in the sense that you can get replacement parts (tubes, tires, hubs, rims) from many different companies.

But what about for smaller than 16" wheels? Is there a standard size or will there be one? If not, who's going to spearhead such a standardization?

It seems like for smaller than 16" wheels, everything is non-standard. For instance, if you want a replacement A-Bike wheel, you'd have to order it from Sir Sinclair himself. :)

I kinda like the 8" wheel size of the CarryMe. Is there a possibility of having spokes on such a wheel? I imagine once you get down to that size, it'd be sorta hard to build a wheel with spokes.

What are other people's thoughts?
TheBikeBum
 

Postby Sherlock Holmes on Sun May 18, 2008 4:34 am

I agree with you that there should be some sort of standard smaller size, but I have no idea how that would work since each small folder is so unique. It would be great if they could, though.

It especially would help us A-bikers in countries that do not have direct A-bike suppliers, in that we would not have to order tubes overseas and have them shipped.

My guess is that eight inches would be the best bet for standard tubes. I like the six inch tires on A-bikes, but I am guessing that there is a large group of people with other folders that think it is too small.

Do you have a 16" tire folder now?
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Postby weakling. on Sun May 18, 2008 5:13 am

Here in Europe we have Rollator wheels that comes in three sizes.

150mm 200mm and 300mm but only the 300mm have drum brakes.
All these are plastic with bigger spokes than the Strida has.
They only take 75kg so if you sit too close the rear wheel that one
get heavily loaded close to its maximum take.

There are reports of failures of them. Only the now out of production
foldable bike MicroBike used similar wheels that was custom made and
they was warrented for 120kg IIRC.

Carryme from Taiwan seems to have a custom made wheel in Alu?

Doesn't Moickt use 12" and SmartBike use 12" and the Kbike comes
in three wheel sizes? 8", 10" and 12"? Handybike maybe had 6"
and there are two more brands with such small wheels. Koma
and ... fail to remember name. 17bike has 12" I think. Not sure.

Doesn't Downtube Mini have 12". Many bikes for children have 12"
here.
weakling.
 

Postby weakling. on Sun May 18, 2008 5:16 am

Doesn't Moickt use 12" Correction that should be Doesn't Mobiky use 12"
and Clou from Austria use a small Vespa wheel that is very wide but the
diameter is close to 12" I guess.
weakling.
 

Postby Amuro Lee on Sun May 18, 2008 4:51 pm

I think 6" wheels with pneumatic tyres for tiny-wheel bikes are standardized. Whatever A-bike, Handybike or KOMA, the tubes and tyres are interchangeable among them.
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Postby Weakling on Mon May 19, 2008 6:00 am

That is practical but small countries like Sweden there is no market for such small wheels. I have not seen them in any shop yet. So one have to send after them on internet I guess.

If I had been handy me had also made wheels with drum breaks to use with them. I have wheels that are 200mm but there are no breaks that are madefor them I guess and no easy way to fasten it either.
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