General

 How much does the Stowabike weight?

Its weight is 35 lbs, that is around 16 kilogram. As of its weight it is definitely in the upper middle class compared to other folding bikes, for example the Dahon Speed Uno. Because of its weight, the Stowabike is extremely robust and stable and therefore well suited against environmental influences.

How much does only the frame weight?

The frame is made of steel and is 20” in its size. Of these facts, the Stowabike is definitely one of the heavier folding bikes, with a frame weight of around 10 lbs, around 5 kilogram. Furthermore, my experience shows that this folding bike is more for adults than for children. This is mostly because of its handling and flexibility.

What are the dimensions of the Stowabike when folded? How small can it be folded?

The Stowabike has the dimensions when folded of W 24″ x L 34″ x H 32″. It`s dimensions are compared to other folding bikes extremely good. my experience shows that the Stowabike is easily storable in a small garage or also in a boxroom in a flat.

In which colors is the bike available?

At the moment the Stowabike is only available in silver. The main advantage of this is, because of it`s color you can also be seen in the night much more easy. My experience shows that the used lack is very reflective. However, the color silver does not make the Stowabike a stylish companion. Hence, if you are not satisfied with the current color, I believe that the easiest method to change it, is to use some spray paint. I highly recommend using the CRC All Purpose Enamel Spray Paint. Safety first is here the motto, therefore please also use a respirator assembly, such as the 3M R-7512ES Professional Half-Mask.

Is the seat adjustable? How comfortable is the seat?

The sit is adjustable in terms of height. Many people recommend to put the seat to the maximum height, especially if you are very tall. Even though there is a seat pre-delivered, it is recommended to buy a gel seat for the highest level of comfort. I have tried the Neewer® Black Silicone Bike Bicycle Soft Gel Saddle So if you are using the Stowabike everyday, when riding to work for example, a changing of the seat is definitely recommended! The Alternative is that you just use a seat cover with gel, such as one of the thickest alternative for bycicles the Bicycle Seat Cover / Gel Pad-Wide. Some of my friends have tried this option and are extremely satisfied, because they can use the pre-delivered seat.

How much body weight can this bike hold? Can the Stowabike hold a person with 250 lbs or around 114 kg?

The Stowabike is an extremely robust and stable bike, because of its steel frame and also of its weight. Therefore, the Stowabike can definitely handle a 250 lbs, around 114 kg, person. Because of its steel frame it is estimated that the bike can hold up to 280 lbs or 128 kg.

Is this bike for men/women?

There are many different opinions on this question. On the one hand many women claim, that because of its agile structure the bike is only for woman. However, on the other hand men claim that because of its practicability the Stowabike is only for men. The truth is, that the Stowabike was designed as an Unisex bike (suitable for both genders). Therefore, the Stowabike Folding Bike is definitely for both genders, men and women.

 

Speed

How many gears does it have? How fast is the Stowabike?

The Stowabike uses a Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TY18S with 6 speed shifters. We definitely recommend to drive your Stowabike at the middle speed (gear 3), when riding on a flat landscape. This will also give you the possibility to go faster with the 4, 5 or 6. If you are not satisfied with the Shimano RD-TY18S Derailleur, we recommend the Shimano RD-6700 Ultegra Rear Derailleur, which has 28 gears and is highly suggested by a lot of bike enthusiasts.

How does the bike perform on hills and old/bumpy pavement on the streets?

Compared to other bikes, the Stowabike is a designed as a city bike. Therefore, if you want to ride your bike outside the city it is recommended that you are riding it on designated bike routes. These routes usually consists of at least of a solid underground. Furthermore, because of the 6 gear derailleur, small hills or highlands are not a real problem for a Stowabike biker. If ride your Stowabike on bumpy forest roads or broken streets with many holes, you will have your problems in terms of speed and comfortability.

How well does the bike go uphill?

The bike is excellent for smaller bike trips on designated bike roads. I also recommend to change the seat, because of comfortability issues Neewer® Black Silicone Bike Bicycle Soft Gel Saddle, when doing such a trip. However, using your Stowabike as a mountain bike is definitely not recommended, because the Stowabike is designed as a city bike with its 6 gears and does not have any hard dampers on the front or the back wheel.

 

Assembly

Does the Stowabike require assembly? How hard is this bike to put together?

The bike does require assembly. However even for someone, who never has assembled a bike this should not be a real problem(assembly skills on Boy Scout level). Before riding the Stowabike for the first time you have to assemble the the handlebars, front wheel, pedals and the back rack. All the instructions how to exactly put everything together  will be delivered with the Stowabike.

Which tools do I need to assemble the folding bike?

To assemble the Stowabike you can use on the one hand the tools which are delivered with the bike, allen wrench and multi sized hexagon wrench. However, we definitely recommend to check your home toolbox, for the following items: an ~ 8 inch crescent wrench, a slot and screwdriver, a couple hex wrenches (for the brakes), box cutter, scissors, common pliers and WD-40 or equivalent. If you feel that you won`t have some of these tools we recommend the BIKEHAND Complete Bike Bicycle Repair Tool Kit.

What do I have to do to fold the bike? Do the pedals fold?

The Stowabike can be folded with a lock(see picture below). The mechanism is in the middle of the frame near the pedals. After opening the locking mechanism and folding the bike you can also put down the seat. Then the bike is fully folded. The pedals cannot be folded, but because of the bike`s compactness this is not a real problem if you want to store it.

 

Usefulness

Can I safely attach a child seat to this bike? Which seat would work best?

Even though you can install a toddler seat on the Stowabike it is not recommended to use it on the back or on the front of the bike. The reason is mainly, because Danger-20″ wheels are very small and a child can get its legs caught in the wheel spokes. Therefore, we recommend to use a bike trailer instead, such as the InStep Take 2 Double Bicycle Trailer, which will be easily assembled on the Stowabike and is a safe way to carry children around.

Does it come with a storage bag? Which storage bag can I use for my bike?

The Stowabike does not come with a storage bag out of the box. However, it is recommended to use one, because this will keep your bike save from influences such as rust. For the Stowabike, I recommend two bags which are great for regular use. On the one hand there is the MOBIC Folding Bike Protective Carry Bag, which has the perfect dimensions for the Stowabike, on the other hand I recommend the Enjoydeal Bike Carrier Bag, which is waterproof and lightweight.

Can I install training wheels on the bike? Can I install stabilizer wheels?

You can install further wheels on the Stowabike. However, because of it 20” wheels, you have choose the training wheels with the right dimensions. I recommend the Trail-Gator Flip Up Training Wheels, which are perfectly for 12-20” bicycles. If you are looking for stabilization wheels to make riding much more comfortable, I recommend the Bike USA Stabilizer Wheel Kit

Which bike bags or baskets can be used on this bike?

To use your Stowabike for shopping trips or long weekend tours you can install a basket or a bag on the Stowabike. Because of its city bike design the it is extremely easy to install a basket/bag on the bike. Before, buying a bike bag you should definitely have a look at the dimensions and also the “luggage” you want to carry. For shopping trips I recommend the Wald 582 Rear Folding Bicycle Basket, this basket is over 13 x 9 x 1 inches large and can hold over 26 pounds and is extremely easy to attach on a bike`s front bar. If you prefer a basket which you can easily detach/attack on your back wheel, we recommend the Topeak Trolley Tote Folding Basket. This basket is very sturdy and easy to use. One of it main advantages is, that it clips right onto the rack in seconds.

Is it possible to convert the folding bike to an electric bike?

The Stowabike can be converted into an electric bike with a conversion kit. When looking at different kits you definitely have to have a look which wheel size you have. The Stowabike has 20” wheels, therefore from my experience with other bikers the Rear Wheel 48V 1000W Electric Battery Powered Bicycle Motor Conversion Kit is recommended. This kit comes with everything you need to convert your bike into an electro bike. Furthermore, your speed level will also be around 28 mph.

Travel

Can I take it into an airplane? Can I take it into a train?

The Stowabike has the folded dimensions of W 24″ x L 34″ x H 32″. If you want to take it by plane you definitely have to put it into a box and also check it in with your luggage. So to put your Stowabike into a box, the box has to be at least around 117 x 20 x 56 cm. There are also some carrier bags for folding bikes, I definitely recommend the Allnice® Multi-Functional Folding Bike Bag, which I personally use every weekend for the transportation of my bike. If you want to take your folding bike by train, we definitely recommend to fold it as small as possible and also take your seat of. You could carry the seat separately or put it in your luggage. Furthermore, before doing a train trip you also have to find out how much it gonna cost you to carry the bike with you, because even though its folded it still counts as a bike for the train company.

Can this bike fit into a trunk?

The Stowabike can easily fit into a trunk because of its small dimensions. Some good examples are trunks like the Toyota Corolla LE or a Honda Sendan. However, if you have a much smaller trunk, then you could also remove parts like the pedals. For this you would need the allen wrench and flat wrench provided with the bike. If your bike does not fit after removing the pedals, you could also remove the front wheel and store it in the passenger area. Therefore, if your trunk is too small it is highly suggested to carry the two wrench in a small fabric bag, with you.