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Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Chris Shelton From: Clinton, MO E-mail: chris.shelton@rocketmail.com	This is my second folder. My first was a cheap u-frame model that I picked up a few years ago at a garage sale. It gave me enough experience to realize the importance of good design. It is so difficult to get the frame locked closed that I tend to leave it that way all the time,negating the advantage of a folding frame. The frame also flexes so much that it robs me of energy that I should be putting into forward motion. It is also pretty darned heavy. I own a full size bike also. It is an 80's Motobecane Grand Touring road bike that I put upright handlebars on. As a road bike it is comfortable to ride on for longer distances (I'm talking 6 to 8 miles not a century run). It is a very light bike. I have a nerve disorder (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome) that makes it hard for me to walk quickly enough for me to get my heart rate up, so I've been using a stationary bike for exercise, but that gets boring. I bought a home a mile from a rail-to-trail conversion, the Katy Trail, so I've expanded to bicycling outside this spring. As many have done before me, I've read the reviews and done a lot of research online before making my final purchase. In doing the research, I think I've made the same mistakes many make. I get an idea in my head and look for testimony to support my idea. Don't get me wrong, this is a great product. There are definitely lots of pluses that I do think out weigh the minuses. I have several different criteria for a bicycle. I enjoy canoeing the Missouri River and wanted a bike I could fold up and take in the canoe so I could tour some of the towns along the way as I come to them. I have hopes of a sailboat in the future and wanted a rather weather resistant model for that idea. I also want to be comfortable while riding. With the Motobecane, because of my unsteady balance, my "take-offs" and "landings" are always the dicey part of the ride. As long as I am upright pedaling I'm feeling great. It's the starts and the stops that I dread. I wanted a lighter bike, something with a little lower center of gravity, and since I drive a silver New Beetle, I thought that the 8H in silver would be a fine match. I especially liked the price when compared to others that I considered in the same "peer" group. I put in my online order on a Sunday evening for a 2009.5 silver 8H model. I received an email notice that it would be shipped on Monday but that no tracking number would be provided. I'm not sure why because, correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think there is any charge to the shipper, and it would have let me know for sure when to expect it. No foul though, I received it Friday evening after work. And my silver bike turned out to be a grey bike with a silver fender and silver bike rack. Oh well, it's still attractive in its own right. Out of the box, the bike required very little additional assembly. I took it to the local professional bike shop as the instructions specified. They kept lowering the amount they were going to charge me for the tune up. The brakes were straight, and the technician said shifting was so smooth that it was hard to tell if the gears were shifting. What had started out as a $100 charge was knocked down to a final $15 charge, all due to them, I never said a word to argue the bill. My initial impression of riding the bike is mostly favorable. The starts and stops are easier with this bike. When cruising, the 8H is a little less comfortable than the Motobecane. That's the trade off for having a smaller bike. (If I could just start off on the Downtube and cruise on the Motobecane, but the world doesn't work that way.) The mini-bar ends on the handlebars tend to give too narrow a hand hold for me personally. I might try to remove them soon to give a little more open feeling. The gearing seems adequate. I haven't yet used the top gears. 1st through 4th out on the Katy Trail gets me where I want to go comfortably. The bike is listed as 26.5#s which does not sound very heavy. Compared to the u-frame folder it is not. Compared to the Motobecane, it is. Dahon makes a model that is 20.3#s. If I remember correctly, the Dahon was also priced about $500 to $800 more than the Downtube 8H depending on the vendor marketing it. As I gain more experience with the bike I'll report more about it later. Added: May 4, 2010
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Jim C From: Toronto Canada E-mail: bestintime@rogers.com	I would also like to add: - IMO this is the best folding bike I own even though one of the Dahons cost $150 more - this is first testimony I've written for a bike Added: April 11, 2010
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Jim C From: Toronto Canada E-mail: bestintime@rogers.com	This Downtube 8FH is my 7th folding bicycle after leaving 3 dahons in Florida after moving to Canada, and then purchasing 3 more (1 Bazooka and 2 J-Rock) up here. My friends and I go for day long bike treks and folders are just the ticket. The 8FH is a very nice bike and a truly excellent buy for the money. I very much like the 8 widely spaced gears of the SA hub, the big heavy welds on the frame including extra reinforcements at major stress points, excellent design and looks, great ride and comfort, and the overall use of very decent components. My gut tells me this bike will last. Thank you Downtube. Added: April 11, 2010
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Patrick From: San Francisco area E-mail: patricksptang@gmail.com	I just got the Downtube Nova and I think it is an excellent bike and it is inexpensive. I have multiple road and mountain bikes so I do a lot of shopping online and at EBay. The Nova is the best deal I ever had. Added: January 14, 2010
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Asep Kamaluddin From: Jakarta - Indonesia E-mail: tanjidor@gmail.com	675km touring with 9FS On 5-9 June 2009 me, Adams (a bikepacker from Polandia), Mito & Muhammad Firdaus done a 650km bikepacking trip from Jakarta to Jogyakarta with my Downtube 9FS. I carried about 15kg on my pannier rack mounted on the back of my 9FS. Since, there's no bolt hole for the pannier rack I made it my self using an electrical drilling machine first then taped the right hole for my Toppeak pannier rack. With a 15kg luggage on my pannier rack my 9FS still stable on way down and pretty fast on uphill, and off course thought on a rough road. I still using a kenda 1.50 in front & 1.75 tyre on the back. Added: June 16, 2009
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Peter Colley From: Los Angeles E-mail: peter@petercolley.com	I bought my Downtube FS a couple of years ago. I love it. I bought it to use on the Los Angeles subway which has restrictions on full-size bikes during rush hour, but it's also handy to throw into the trunk of my car. Amazing how much attention it gets. In one trip a kid on the platform of the Hollywood subway says: "Is that some kind of new BMX bike?", another passenger asks: "Is that an electric bike?", and cycling down Hollywood Boulevard someone shouts: "That's a cool bike, man!" And it works as good as it looks. Added: April 30, 2009
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Asep Kamaluddin From: Indonesia E-mail: hwarakaduh@yahoo.com	Hi Yan .... I'm Asep Kamaluddin from Jakarta, Indonesia. I'm one of many Downtube 9FS owner in Jakarta I bought my first 9FS Downtube 8 months ago ... since then I promote the 9FS to some of my friend and did a lot off touring using this bike, mostly uphill 10-12 April 2009, me and my friend Daus, did a 402km touring trip using a 9FS Downtube, From Rangkasbitung - Cileles - Mt Kencana-Malingping- Pelabuhan Ratu, Cikidang-Cibadak-Bogor then back to Jakarta, a duo downtube touring trip. the trip was realy torturing, because almost 50% of the route was an extreme uphill. The highest speed we reach when down was 80km/hrs ..... Amazingly, the downtube handled everything from an extreme uphill to the fast downhill, an ability that others folding bike dont't have. Pls come visit to our multiply, bikepackerindonesia.multiply.com to see some photo. Rgrds Added: April 22, 2009
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Chris M From: Ny, NY E-mail: feedyourego@aol.com	I ordered my bike at 2am on sunday morning ( i was up late comparing models- wink wink). I called Monday morning and Yan answered the phone and told me my bike had already been shipped. Here i am 2 days later and its sitting on my doorstep, how great is that!! It didnt fold as small as i thoguht but every other feature far surpasses that point. It rides super smoothe and for the money ($300) i am super satisfied w/ my decision. You know the same style bike cost like $1200 at the bike shop!?! Great job Downtube!! Added: March 24, 2009
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Jay From: NOLA E-mail: jayreimers@msn.com	After owning my DownTube for a month, I couldn't be happier. I am hard on bicycles, and recently destroyed a competitor's, folding bike after having it just two years. From the first time I took it out of the box, I feel like I've upgraded with this bike...for less money. The quality, convenience, and comfort can not be beat--at 6'2" this is the first time I don't feel like I'm riding a clown bike, when I'm on a folding bike. Added: March 7, 2009
Submitted by	Testimony:
Name: Michael From: Alaksa E-mail: msoller68@msn.com	I received my orange 8FS aout a month ago and since have upgraded most all components. Rides like a dream; even managed to make it a 16FS now (more to come in the forums). Thanks yan for such a remarkable product and the best foldable out there. Added: February 23, 2009

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