"BEWARE!!!!!I CALLED THE OWNER (YAN )OF DOWNTUBE TWICE AND HE WAS SO FRIENDLY TO ME ON THE PHONE AND ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AND I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A BIKE. HE TOLD ME IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE, THEY WOULD GLADLY REPLACE IT. I ASKED HIM THIS BECAUSE I READ SOME NEGATIVE COMMENTS ON THE BIKE FORUMS ABOUT HIS COMPANY AND THE QUALITY OF THE BIKES. HE TOLD ME THAT THOSE PEOPLE WERE JUST IDIOTS WHO DIDNT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO BIKES AND THAT THERE USED TO BE SOME DECENT PEOPLE ON THAT SITE BUT NOT ANYMORE. HE SEEMED SO NICE BY PHONE, AND I DIDNT TAKE HEAD TO THE REVIEWS THAT I HAVE READ. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE BIKE IS OK FOR 389$..U CANT EXPECT BETTER FOR THAT PRICE AND YOU WILL GET A LOT WORSE FOR THAT PRICE WITH OTHER COMPANIES. HOWEVER, THE WIRES THAT ATTACH TO BRAKES ON THE HANDLEBARS ARE SO TIGHT THAT IT IS HARD TO REVERSE HANDLEBARS TO GET THEM CLOSER TO U OR TO PUT THEM AS HIGH AS THEY GO...THERE IS ONLY ONE FENDER IN BACK, THAT BACK TIRE IS A DECENT WIDTH BUT THE FRONT IS SMALLER AND MORE SKINNY. HE SAYS IT IMPROVES SPEED BUT I NOTICED IT ALSO MAKES FOR A HARSHER RIDE....THE BIKE FOLDS UP BUT IT IS NOT COMPACT. U CANT TELL FROM THE PICTURE BUT THE HANDLEBARS ACTUALLY STICK OUT ON THE SIDE, MAKING THE SIZE WIDER WHEN FOLDED AND IT ALSO MAKES THE BIKE FALL OVER TO THE SIDE WHEN FOLDED BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT. IT ALSO DOES NOT STAY FOLDED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE TO BUNGY CORD IT CLOSED. THE SEAT IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND AND NOT VERY CUSHIONED SO WE DECIDED TO CHANGE IT. HOWEVER, WE COULD NOT GET THE ALAN KEY TO OPEN THE SCREW BECAUSE IT CAME IN THE BOX ALREADY BEING STRIPPED SO WE COULDNT REMOVE THE SEAT. SO I CALLED YAN TO ASK THAT HE REPLACE THE PART AND FIRST HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SEND IT TO HIM AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AND THEN HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY SHIPPING TO SEND THIS PART BACK AND WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS VERY UNFAIR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WHEN IT CAME DEFECTIVE, HE THEN WENT ON TO SAY, THAT NO ONE HAS EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SCREW BEING STRIPPED BEFORE AS IF I WAS LYING. I JUST RECEIVED MY BIKE TWO DAYS AGO. AFTER EXAMINING THE SEAT POST , I NOTICED IT HAD NICKS, SCRATCHES AND HALF THE STICKER MISSING, I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A USED PART. IM NOT SURE IF THEY SENT ME SOMEONE ELSE'S RETURN BUT HE BECAME VERY DEFENSIVE AND I WAS TALKING TO HIM NICELY. HE SAID" I THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO BADGER ME COMPLAINING SO THAT I CAN SEND YOU A NEW SEAT POST. I TOLD HIM THIS IS BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE ORDERING MY BIKE FROM HIM(IM SO GLAD I ONLY ORDERED MY HUSBANDS SO I COULD SEE THE BIKE FIRST)AND HE INSULTED ME BY SAYING THAT I WAS ACTING COMICLY AMUSING AND I TOLD HIM I WAS GONNA RECORD THIS EVENT ON THE INTERNET. HE SAID A FEW CHOICE WORDS AND THAT THIS CONVERSATION WAS OVER AND NOT TO CALL HIM, BUT TO EMAIL HIM IN THE FUTURE AND HUNG UP ON ME. THE PART I NEED IS 40 DOLLARS ON HIS WEBSITE. SO BEWARE IF U ORDER FROM HERE. AND IF YOU READ OTHER COMMENTS ON BIKE FORUMS, U WILL SEE SOMEONE ELSE SAYING THAT DOWNTUBE DIDNT HONOR THE WARRANTY. IF YOU ORDER AND YOU GET THE BIKE IN GOOD SHAPE, THEN U LUCKED OUT AS LONG AS YOU DONT MIND THE FEW THINGS I LISTED ABOUT THE BIKE. BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, JUST KNOW THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT HE WILL MAKE U PAY TO GET IT THERE AND THEN HAS THE OPTION TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROBLEM IS YOUR FAULT AND NOT REPLACE IT EVEN AFTER YOU PAYED TO GET IT THERE. WHAT IM GOING TO DO THIS TIME IS HAVE THE BIKE STORE ORDER THE DAHON I WANT SO I CAN PURCHASE IT FROM THEM AND IF THERES ANY ISSUE I CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE STORE."

"(Edit: re-write, addressing some criticism that's been posted on bikeforums)

Bottom line: Worst. Experience. Ever.

Ordered a Downtube IXFS, a 9-speed folding bicycle, off of Downtube’s website. A few days later a big box arrives, I excitedly unpack the new bike, and the horror begins…

Blow-by-blow:

The bike’s frame is decent, good even, although the finish quality is disappointing. Downtube brand stickers were crooked, off-center, and peeling up at the edge even when brand-new. Stickers were not under the clearcoat, leading me to wonder if these frames were actually “designed by Doctor Yan” as Downtube claims, or are simply badged for Downtube by one of the smaller Chinese bike manufacturers. Since my ill-fated purchase I’ve seen several bikes on Asian ecommerce websites that are identical to several bikes that Downtube offers, loyal fans/evangelists/shills on bike forums claim these are copied from Downtube’s “designs” by competitors. Kinda doubt that. Why copy the lowest-priced brand out there (probably smallest market share too, at least in the US).

Bike is poorly assembled and adjusted, would be substandard even for a ‘mart’ offering. Wheel hubs, headset, and crank turned like they’d been lubed with sawdust. Probably fixable with some real grease and adjustment, but bearing surfaces might be damaged beyond repair if not fixed before initial ride. I’ve ridden bikes that were originally from a ‘mart’, that had been stored outside, exposed to the elements (water mostly) for years, that were in better working condition .

Components are off-brand, ill designed, and function at best just adequately. Gripshift-type gear shifter slipped out of gear with a slight touch. Rear derailleur was so cheap it acted like one that was worn out. It had so much play that shifting was unreliable and rendered the bike’s gear system practically worthless. The suspension fork seems more suitable for a child’s mountain bike, it pogos unnervingly and bottoms out on even moderate bumps. Cheap plastic covers over rear triangle pivots fell off and found in bottom of shipping box. This is a critical piece of engineering as it hides the rust that immediately begins forming on the steel pivot because they didn’t even bother covering it with a single layer of clearcoat. I could go on and on, I’m just hitting the high points.

Had a difficult time returning the unused bike per Downtube’s 30-day money back guarantee. In fact my credit card company ended up paying me back out of their own pocket when Downtube disputed the return of the bike, this despite the easily-obtained proof of their employee’s digital signature on the UPS delivery ticket.

And finally, to address some shill’s claim that this review was written by a competing folding bike manufacturer or distributor…you’re nuts, or a liar, or both. Like the guy that signs your paycheck, or whatever compensation you get for crowing on and on about Downtube. Get a life shillbert."