Aldi Folding bike - 6th August.

[DevonDamo]

Aldi are flogging folding bikes for three hundred quid on Thursday:

https://www.aldi.co.uk/classic-lightweight-folding-bike/p/708372411115300

It's very similar, if not identical, to a Dahon Mu, so would be a bargain at that price if the build quality was comparable. (I've owned a Dahon and fallen foul of that hinge clamp repeatedly breaking, but that might be because I'm particularly tall and heavy so putting a lot of leverage on the frame via the extended seat-post which I stuck on it.)

I don't intend to buy one, but would be keen to know how they work out if anyone does. Given the current bike-buying mania, they'd probably be quite a lucrative purchase for the profiteers that buy Lidl/Aldi specials specifically for selling on at a higher price.

[mercalia]

ah reminds me of the day when wooolies sold mopeds , Tomas mopeds in fact. that I got from the Croydon branch

[gaz]

.

[DevonDamo]

Is the Aldi a rebadged Freespirit Ruck/Orus?
https://outlet.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/bike ... gLw8fD_BwE £380

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium-Fo ... SwFPhfDyGD £210 (Distributor refurbished).

Looks like you've hit the nail on the head there. So nowhere near as big a discount as if it were a rebadged Dahon. The lack of online reviews for the Ruck doesn't bode well - it's been out for a while but nobody's saying anything good about it, which suggests it could be a dreadful 'supermarket bike.'

[2_i]

Most alu bikes in the world are produced by the Chinese Fuji-ta (Battle):

https://www.fuji-ta.com/folding-bikes

[Brucey]

reports suggest that the 'lightweight bike' actually weighs close to 15kg. In addition the spec isn't detailed enough to be sure but it looks like a chainset with about mid-forties teeth, wheels that roll at about 18" diameter, and a cheap 7s freewheel. Quite probably the top gear will be 44/14 x 18" = ~56". I know some folk might be happy with that as a top gear but most wouldn't.

cheers

[Jamesh]

Simalar to the Argos folding bike I expect.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8887328

Cheers James

[philvantwo]

It's a different colour james!

[zenitb]

Is the Aldi a rebadged Freespirit Ruck/Orus?
https://outlet.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/bike ... gLw8fD_BwE £380

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium-Fo ... SwFPhfDyGD £210 (Distributor refurbished).

good spot Gaz...thanks for posing!!

[mumbojumbo]

Here ia a review poste

Definitely not lightweight and why is the weight not advertised?
I cannot lift my bike and struggle to fold it without my partners help.
The bag supplied is too small and the saddle is not what I would call padded.
Nice looking bike but as a middle aged female who hasn’t bought a bike/ ridden for years and just wanted something lightweight, simple (not too many gears) and comfortable that I could easily put in my car to get out and about in I’m very disappointed

I do not know if the opening is a reference to the bike or the rider.It shows need to test ride,and may not be a bargail in long-run.Audi really should focus on making cars!

[RickH]

... Audi really should focus on making cars!

What have Audi got to do with this? It's an Aldi bike!

I note in passing that the other 2 comment on the Aldi (not Audi ) page also comment on the weight of the bike.

[foxyrider]

Acording to Cycling Weakly (pun intended)

It weighs 14.5kg
It has 20" wheels
It has 7sp derrraileur gears
Its a 2 point fold
Its only available mail order from their site so the actual price is £307

Looking at the reviews quoted above i can't help thinking people have too high expectations for what they are paying out. Heavy? yes but so would any £300 bike be and fold size - well it has 20" wheels, its not a Brompton, its not trying to be super light, it is what it is, a cheap folding bike which for Aldi to be selling will have been TuV tested and have the usual warranties. You cannot compare it to expensive brands using more expensive. lighterweight components and heaven forbid it was Audi, there would be hundreds of them tearing up the cycle paths, parked inappropriately and doing close passes!

[rjb]

The aldi guarantee is a bonus. I had a security led light fail after a couple of years use. I took it down and binned it. Recently by chance i found the original instructions and receipt which showed it had a 3 year guarantee. Quick email and they have offered to refund me as replacements are no longer available. Result

[Bonzo Banana]

Most alu bikes in the world are produced by the Chinese Fuji-ta (Battle):

https://www.fuji-ta.com/folding-bikes

I wouldn't say most but they are the biggest bicycle manufacturer in the world by volume and an absolutely huge player. They have factories in China, Vietnam and Cambodia as well as somewhere else I've forgotten. A few years ago when I was looking into bicycle manufacture so many brands were clearly sourced from them.

Seems quite possible this Aldi folding bike comes from one of their factories as has many Dahon models. I believe the Carrera folding bike models 'Transit' and 'Intercity' are sourced from them.

I have a folding bike which I believe is from them;

https://web.archive.org/web/20150202002 ... s-explorer

Which I picked up s/hand for £30 a couple years ago.

[Bonzo Banana]

Acording to Cycling Weakly (pun intended)

It weighs 14.5kg
It has 20" wheels
It has 7sp derrraileur gears
Its a 2 point fold
Its only available mail order from their site so the actual price is £307

Looking at the reviews quoted above i can't help thinking people have too high expectations for what they are paying out. Heavy? yes but so would any £300 bike be and fold size - well it has 20" wheels, its not a Brompton, its not trying to be super light, it is what it is, a cheap folding bike which for Aldi to be selling will have been TuV tested and have the usual warranties. You cannot compare it to expensive brands using more expensive. lighterweight components and heaven forbid it was Audi, there would be hundreds of them tearing up the cycle paths, parked inappropriately and doing close passes!

Not so long ago £300 was the start of some fairly decent folding bikes with freehub gearing and decent parts but in recent times what used to be £200 bikes are now £300.

It's always an ideal time to buy a bike if you need a bike but its certainly not an ideal time to buy a bike and get a great price.

A year ago you could get a great folding bike for about £200.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/compas ... ls-3264223