Buying a bike for my van to use as a dinghy.

[Basement Yeti]

Looking to buy a bike to stick on/in my van as a dinghy to get me around campsites, light trails, to the grocery store, etc. Since my old bike was stolen. I guess I am leaning more toward a mountain bike, not sure about any of the details.

If I were to buy a bike that didn't fold it'd be outside all the time 24/7 and I'm worried about rust, etc.

If I were to buy a folding bike I'd stick it in the van.

I have no preference either way, but I'd like opinions on a folding inside bike, or a standard outside bike with a cover, perhaps. Any bikes you guys would recommend?

Looking to spend about 200.

Thanks.

 

[southpier]

this is a pretty good read, too:

http://rovinghome.blogspot.com/2011/04/function.html


(i think your budget is low)

 

[Soobarubin]

I've always had great luck with all the Kona's I've owned. Currently a "Fire mountain." Agreed that your budget may be a tad too low, unless you do some craigslist shopping. IMHO, for the most part, you get what you pay for, especially with bikes.
Link to the bike I ride now, I take it all over, ride it hard everwhere, jump, singletrack, everything, and it hasn't ever complained.

http://www.konaworld.com/09/09bikes/large/2K9_FIREMTNDELUXE.jpg

My $.02

-Jaren

 

[Basement Yeti]

this is a pretty good read, too:

http://rovinghome.blogspot.com/2011/04/function.html


(i think your budget is low)

Good read. I am going to go with a folding bike to keep inside my van and up my budget a bit.

I do want one with full size tires though.

 

[southpier]

just for reference, try the West Marine catalog ( www.westmarine.com )

Montague is the Swiss Army Knife of bicycles; again budget weighs in.

 

[Basement Yeti]

Some of those bikes are awesome, but totally out of my league.

 

[ihatemybike]

Did I show you the bike under the sleeping platform in Green? It's a full bike, all I do is remove the front wheel then slide it under.

 

[Squatchout]

If you are just looking for a casual romp around the campsite bike I would go used. There are always good deals on slightly used mountain bikes on CL. You don't need full suspension and disc brakes to buzz around near camp or down to the store. Just find something that works and fits. Keep it inside the truck and then lock it to a tree or the bumper at night if you are camping.

 

[Basement Yeti]

Found this on Amazon. I wonder if it's any good. The price sure is right.
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Foldi...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1310452062&sr=1-1

 

[ihatemybike]

Crap component spec, aka Walmart quality.

If I were you, I'd get a used bike shop quality mountain bike, something that would have been $500 or higher new, off CL and rebuild the sleeping platform a bit higher so that with the front wheel off the bike slides under it from the back doors.

 

[Basement Yeti]

I moved my bed forward. I could probably put a full size bike behind it now without the front wheel.

Going to keep lookout for a good bike.

 

[Tahoe Diesel]

Dahon offer some decent quality and not unreasonable prices on their full size folders. I'm a private pilot and about 3 yrs ago I bought a new Dahon Matrix for stowing in the back of the plane. Just like you, I wanted a compact runabout to scout around whatever small town I visited.

Back then I paid around $500 and the quality is really decent; Aluminum frame and rims. Derailuer, shifters, hubs and disc brakes are all Shimano. Even the seat post has a built in air pump. Nothing chintzy about it. The folding frame is very cool and genius in design. Looking right at the bike most people, even bike enthusiasts, comment on how cool the bike looks and don't realize it's a folder. Until I start folding it, and then their jaws drop :ylsmoke: - Takes less than 30secs to fold or unfold. One upgrade I would add though, is a pair of folding pedals as they tend to get hung up.

The Matrix model has been around for a few years now, so you should be able to pick up a nice used one for a bargain.

http://us.dahon.com/bikes/1653/matrix