$169 Gekko Folding Bike

[cdltpx]

Looks like a great bike to take with you on a trucking job where you have to walk for miles to get papers signed or just want to get a meal away from the stigma of being a trucker. I used a folding bike when OTR perfer a solid bike but a folder will fit in places you can't get a full bike into.

[readingleejh]

will riders get quicker leg stress due to the small wheels? how about riding over city-obstacles like potholes and pavement cracks? would you recommend it for city use?

[RideTHISbike]

@readingleejh The gear ratio on the Gekko takes the small wheel size into account so the bike pedals like a typical single speed bike.

As wheel size decreases, more road energy is transferred to the bicycle frame and the rider; however, this bike was specifically designed for city use and works well as a short distance (under 5 miles each way) commuter bike.

[OpticalFascism]

The ugliest folding bike ever.

[RideTHISbike]

The Gekko is not near as classy looking as an IF Mode but it's affordable, folds quickly, rolls folded and really takes a beating.

[fisheye300]

I'm worried about doing a gave plant with those tiny wheels if I hit a pothole

[RideTHISbike]

The Gekko's designed to cruise at @13-14 mph. At that speed, you have plenty of time to avoid or slow down for a pothole.

[defblo2000]

exactly, and you'll be spinning like crazy. these bikes are for the slow lane. learn to slow down and know it's limits and you'll have a lot of fun.

[sierng2]

Can these be comfortably ridden for distances up to 10km?

[RideTHISbike]

Let's put it this way:

If you are comfortable riding a single speed bike 10km, sure. I've ridden this bike much further; however, a multi-speed like the CarryMe DS cruises much faster and would be my preference for a 10km ride.

[sierng2]

@RideTHISbike Apologies about the delay in response. I just got the Giant Boulder 2010 instead of a Fold up bike because Cityrail took too long to confirm their new regulations. 

[Brickmaker52]

Can it fit in a Backpack? Like a Normal School bag

[RideTHISbike]

Not any backpack you'd find in a store. Due to the bike's folded dimensions, it would have to be a custom made bag.

[flarpjr]

srry i meant the stem

[flarpjr]

sucks if the handlebars go forward while your riding

[RideTHISbike]

With this design, it is not possible for the handlebars to go forward.

[packleader87]

I think of the whole bike collasping while riding.

[RideTHISbike]

Anything's possible but that's unlikely. The pin is made of hardened steel, is quite thick and is locked in place.

[defblo2000]

when I first got this bike I tried it out in my building hallway. I forgot to put in the security pin. I sat on the seat and it collapsed. no biggie, it collapses down smoothly and not abruptly. and, look at the weight rating on the bike, quite impressive.

[RideTHISbike]

The bike is just not available in North America. No one will distribute it until the ownership rights to the patents are resolved. There is a factory that was making them illegally; however, if they won't pay for the rights to produce it, you have to wonder if they're skimping on anything else. If they're using substandard parts, there's a big chance of the bike having a catastrophic failure ... Pass.

[Gamakun]

What happened to this bike? I don't see it on the main site.

[whitegreent]

What a super idea! The carrying bag idea is really good because when taking any bike on a commuter bus or train most passengers get really anal about getting dirt on their clothing. It also needs a briefcase mount.

[hellspawndarkangel]

ive got a japanese folding bike, very nice, although it feels like its 6th gear is like a second on a big bike, veeeeeeeeery good up a hill in 1st, if the gears were better tuned i would ride it more often

[RideTHISbike]

I'm seeing more and more makers building small wheel folding bikes with electric hub motors. The ones with lithium ion batteries look promising because they don't weigh a ton like those with lead acid batteries.

[alien0princess]

any bike in london guyzzzzzzzzzz . give me a shout , i want to buy a folding bike in london

[tiberiusbeeteekirk]

the base strida is $500, I bought this used from a guy for less than $100. in exc. cond.

I saw a gentlemen with a bike that looks like the gekko but it folds the traditional way with a middle hinge. and it's a single chain system. next time I catch up with him, I'll ask him where he bought it.

[raymondandanne]

I have had my Strida for one month and just got sold. The Strida has strange steering feel and is also single speeded. It is also way way too expensive for this economy. I have tried the Dahon MU P8, a very very very nice ride, but also a bit too expensive and big even folded. I am looking forward to more innovative products in this foldable bike category. Innovation wins.

[hobiadami]

i prefer my strida. much simpler, lighter, easier to fold & unfold and carry while folded. of course strida rolls too while folded.

[SeriouslyPissedOff]

I want to buy it :((!!!

[jel2003]

Is there a direct website to buy this bike from? All the sellers that claim to sell this bike don't have it in stock at this time.

[RideTHISbike]

No & here's why: the intellectual rights to the Gekko were sold to a new company that is looking for a factory to produce licensed copies. Meanwhile, several other companies are producing knock-offs but at least one of those knock-offs used substandard bushings at the fold points. As a result, those knock-off Gekkos' quickly become wobbly/unstable and unrideable... Hopefully, a licensed version will be available soon as this is a great bike when produced properly.

Larry

[tuncayeker]

STRİDA :)

[tiberiusbeeteekirk]

I've been riding this all summer.

however while hammering on it and standing on the pedals, the pedal stripped out of the crankarm. it was my fault for trying to go really fast on something that's not made for speed. I glued it back with epoxy and it's holding up so far.

Love the bike, components are better than what's on the low end stuff. kids luv it.

folds under a bar chair in the kitchen.

folding is a breeze, just push down or pull up. no bending, no getting dirt or grease on you.

[nanai5]

Please how heavy is it? and don't you have to pedal more because the wheel are smaller than others bicycles. thanks

[tiberiusbeeteekirk]

I weighed it on a bathroom scale,

it was 33lbs on the button. you can trust the specs unlike others who fudge their numbers.

don't know about the pedaling more because I don't have another small wheeler to compare it to.

[electricfire25]

the bike is amazing, it kinda looks cool to, but is it any fast?

[ThisCanadian]

*great* pricepoint. interesting. slower knockdown, but a great pricepoint. THE THING IS SMALLER than those SUV-Strollers the SnottyMommies like to plow through public spaces (& people!) in Toronto... & I'm betting it tidily fits under the average cubicle desk, too! I'm liking it! ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ BlueBerry Pick'n can be found @ ThisCanadian com ┄┄ "We, two, form a Multitude" ~ Ovid. ┄┄ "Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced" ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄

[robinmadrid]

If your serious about a folding bike, buy a bikefriday. Yes they are very expensive but they are beautifully made and ride like nothing I've been on.

[RideTHISbike]

Bike Friday's are great folding bikes; however, there are only a select few folding bikes that can roll when folded (A-Bike, Gekko, Mobiky, CarryMe series and the Bike Friday Tikit). Of these, the Gekko is the most economical; it also has the highest carry capacity because it's made of steel. Naturally, the steel frame makes the Gekko heavier than the others; however, for many cyclists, it's just right.

[spitfife9]

I hope the security pin is on a chain. It looks like a rider has to pump iron to be able to push down & pull up hard.

[RideTHISbike]

Actually, the bike folds & unfolds pretty smoothly. The real issue with the Gekko is weight. The bike is made from steel rather than aluminum alloy. That makes it strong but heavy. Naturally, the "rolls when folded" design decreases the need to lift the bike but there are still times when lifting is inevitable.

[brodrodough]

I have to ride through a dangerous neighborhood, could I mount a 50 cal. machine gun on that?

[RideTHISbike]

Well, the Danish Army has a mount for their sub machine gun to fit on bicycle handlebars. I've seen one on a Paratrooper folding mountain bike. Although I sell the Paratrooper folding bikes, I don't offer the machine gun mounts. Sorry.

[bangoopong]

it's too heavy and too big and too clumsy

[RideTHISbike]

What makes the Gekko work is that it rolls when folded, significantly decreasing the need to carry this bike. Combining that with the Gekko's comfortable ride (thanks to wide, low pressure tires) and great price makes this bike a winner for riding short distances in urban areas.

[636lover]

Hey it just occured to me that it would be awesome to get one of these to put in your car if you have to go distances longer than you want to ride. Say you're driving along and you run out of gas. You unfold the bike, ride to the nearest station and bring back fuel. lol! of course you could use the bike for shorter distances when running errands close to home, just be sure to return it to the car.

[skateguitar15]

i wish it was small enough to fit in my locker at school...

[RideTHISbike]

What size is your locker?

If the Gekko's too big, there's the A-Bike (as long as you weigh less than 185 lbs and ride on really smooth pavement).

[skateguitar15]

the a bike lookes like my crotch would explode the second i sit on it, and i live a little more than a mile away from school and up a hill. i would last that long on the a bike. my locker is about a foot wide. the stride looks like it could fit though.

[RideTHISbike]

The Strida is similar in size to a golf bag. If your locker is big enough, the new Strida 5 would probably be the right bike for you.

From what others have told me, the Strida 5 is a vast improvement over the previous versions. The US importer is sending me one to review so you may want to wait until I've reported on it.

[skateguitar15]

ok thanks.

[geniegogo]

Nice!  =)

[cresshead]

looks good...my sinclair A-bike lasted just 130miles of travel before the chain snapped.

currently looking for a UK shop that sells the

Gekko Folding Bike

[RideTHISbike]

I love the size & weight of the A-Bike; however, the trade offs required to deliver those results are substantial.

Though the Gekko is on the heavy side, the bike is sturdy and rolls when folded, making it far more practical than the A-Bike (it even costs less).

To my knowledge, there are no shops selling Gekko's in the UK at this time. With the strength of the Pound versus the dollar, it would probably be cheaper to fly to the USA & get one... Isn't that crazy.

[jobless4evr]

cool bike but available only in the USA. :(

[Saiga762x39mm]

btw, your videos are very helpful and it's what sold me. unfortunately these are sold out on your site. also, may i suggest more footage of you riding the bikes.

[RideTHISbike]

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, I do plan on doing more videos with the Gekko as soon as they are restocked.

[RideTHISbike]

Just uploaded a new video to my homepage today. I took the single speed $169 Ultralite folding bike for a ride through the New Orleans French Quarter. It was a blast.

[cdltpx]

That is a great place to ride you do a lot of walking in that part of town. Man I miss Going to New Orleans.

[Saiga762x39mm]

only questionable thing in my mind are the size of the wheels. when this small, they tend to bend and go out of round if they're low quality and you hit too many bumps, curb, etc. however, at $139 shipped you can't expect the best wheels. how about the availability of replacement wheels?

[RideTHISbike]

Although you won't find the wheels at Walmart, they are available; however, I've sold a lot of these bikes and have not received one report of a wheel failure.

[raven1234]

I bet you can't be too aggressive when you are riding this thing, right? ( by agreesive I mean doing things like sprinting and going up and down curbs.) thanks

[RideTHISbike]

Due to the gearing on this single speed, I haven't seen the point to sprint any further than across a stoplight in traffic. I did some curb hopping when I initially tested the bike and even jumped up and down on the rear rack - all without a problem. The bike can take punishment.

[Saiga762x39mm]

wow, this a very good design. being able to roll the bike when folded is a BIG deal. i've got a $500 iZip electric bike that's completely awkward, heavy when folded and no way can i take it on a subway or even carry it 50 yards and not break my back. the screw in safety pin is also good. the thumb latch that most folders comes with are cheapo Chinese crap that tend to break at the ends.

[RideTHISbike]

The capability for a folding bike to roll when folded is very important. Even if a bike weighs just 20 lbs, most people will have a sore arm after carrying it 100-200 feet. With the Gekko's casters, simply pull the bike along behind you...

[Averreos1126]

What I miss in most descriptions of folding bikes is the maximum vertical height position of the saddle. I am 1,91 m.

[ZO6]

This is one of the best folding designs i've seen.

other ones have some major weakpoint in the frame.

this bike having a lot of triangulation is an understatement.

best part is that the front and rear loads are sent to the same point opposing each other which is also that safety pin area and that also helps to pull the frame together when folding.

it's similar to the Mobiky Genius except nearly 4x cheaper

[dinklehopperstopper]

what the hell can you say that in english please you stupid geek

[RideTHISbike]

Geek to English Translation: The frame design of the Gekko makes this folding bike far sturdier than most; yet, it's also very easy to fold for the same reason.

[cmdeane]

cool

[adias06]

cool you can just carry it around thats neat thanks for the demo

[movinon20]

the freaken thing was already small to begin. so what is the point? he just took about two inches away from the bike by folding it.

[RideTHISbike]

The difference is huge when taking your bike into a confined space or area with lots of pedestrian traffic - think bus aisle, office corridor, subway, etc. Also, the Gekko can be stored out of the way under an office desk or table when folded. Try that with a regular bike...

[deadteddiebear1177]

Think about all the money you are wasting on gas. i mean if you need a car to get to simple places and its not raining then you must be some idiot. But i see this buy a good idea for just goin to sipleplaces and stuff like that...

[jensarn]

BROMPTON RULES!!

[RideTHISbike]

No doubt about it; Brompton's are great folding bikes. On the other hand, the most basic Brompton (model C3E) costs over $700 USD. OUCH! You could buy 4 Gekkos for that and still go to dinner and a movie...

[tyrantmind]

that is so cool and really cheap. keep inventing cool stuff u could be big lol

[phoenix171]

Dude this is Genious. If this guy keeps designing. Who knows. there will be a bike where you push a button and it folds itself into a case of some sort

[spykeku]

thats 5 inch rims thats nasty

[RideTHISbike]

The Gekko has 12" rims.

[terrabaka]

aw man, this would be great to put in my car. emerency usage or for college/university, you know what i mean? just park far away, and use that bike to get to school. no more skateboard or rollerblade.

[Bibbly53]

The handlebars need to extend.

Not seeing that does not take away from the awesome glory of this thing.

[RideTHISbike]

I thought the fixed length handlebar would be a problem too but in the bike's review by Pedal Pushers Magazine, a guy that's 6'2" rode it without a problem.

[Shnurillo]

What if it folds while your riding it? lol

[RideTHISbike]

The hardened steel retaining pin that locks the bike in the riding position can only be removed by spinning it out and then pulling the pin from the slot. The only way to perform this action is for the rider to dismount the bike. Also, the bike can only be ridden once the retaining pin is inserted.

[fatcobraman777]

im totally going to buy one

[RideTHISbike]

Cool. I have about 30 or so left; they can be ordered from RideTHISbike(dot)com

[RideTHISbike]

Actually, the Gekko was developed by Australian Jamie Herdern. It took him 10 years to perfect the concept.

[pepietheman]

nice invention believe the dutch had that for a long time :P

[RideTHISbike]

The price of the Gekko is $159 including shipping within the USA (lower 48 states).

[bender5333]

cool! i didn't like it untill you folded the handle bars down, because they would be in the way, but AWESOME job!!!!!!!

[adityatib]

Killaa......!!!!

[RideTHISbike]

For several weeks, the folks at Pedal Pushers Online (dot) com have been testing a Gekko on the streets of Manhattan. Check out the detailed review they just posted.

[nhgypsy95]

I want one. Are they good for seniors ?

[RideTHISbike]

Yes, they're great for seniors. The bike is easy to mount, easy to ride, easy to fold and roll easily when folded - thanks to the casters under the bike's center.

For more about the bike, visit the Folding Bike section of RideTHISbike (dot) com.

[ProProzach]

hmm seems cool

[yuwnttnwuy]

woah!

[mintsk8er]

pretty cool!

[JG48]

Hey that was pretty awesome. Thanks for the video.