Vilano Urbana Single Speed Folding Bike

For the price you can’t beat it. I did exhaustive ‘research’ into the right foldable bike for me and this one came out on top. I was skeptical because of some poorer reviews and concerns regarding the handle bars but bought one anyway. It turns out that those reviews are TRUE that there is an issue with the handlebars, namely that they are not securely attached to the frame. This IS FIXABLE though and I was able to resolve the issue for just a few cents. The handlebars can be extended (raised) just like the seat can. BUT the issue is that they slide up and down a shaft with a plastic guide at the top. The plastic guide can easily warp/break so you can’t tighten the bars too much and yet they will ‘wiggle’ if you pressure the bars from side to side. So the solution is to add extra material to the base of these handlebars so that the diameter of the handlebars is closer to the diameter of the shaft itself. I just used some foam tape to do this and the result is that the handlebars don’t wiggle at all. The only downside is that I can no longer extend the handlebars to the maximal height. But this is a minor issue as the handlebars still extend upwards to a very comfortable level. The 2nd modification I’d recommend for protecting the handlebar position/alignment with the wheel is to apply a steel duct clamp just beneath the screw that secures the handlebars in place. This will mean that you cannot adjust the handlebars without first loosening the clamp but if your bike is just for you or for you and people of your size then this isn’t an issue. By using the duct clamp, less strain is applied to the screw holding the handlebars in place AND you can apply more pressure to the lower part of the plastic ‘slider’ to ensure that a hard turn doesn’t strip the mechanism.

I carry the bike in my trailer and use it to get around at car shows or other events. Except for one issue, the bike is great for that purpose. But the issue isn't a small one.The threaded rod that is part of the clamping mechanism that holds the handle bar tube in place is cheap, cheap, cheap. It's awful. With not all that much pressure put on the handle bars (pulling on the handle bars as I was going uphill), the threaded adjusting rod stripped and pulled right out of the nut that holds it. Which left the bike unusable because the handle bars wouldn't stay in place.I contacted the mfgr. and got a replacement but when I unscrewed the new adjusting rod from the nut in preparation to install it, it stripped. Apparently it was cross threaded during assembly. I got another replacement from the manufacturer only to find that it was as badly/cheaply made as the first two. It also stripped out when little pressure was put on it.And no, I'm not a hack who doesn't know which end of a screw driver to use. I've worked on everything from cars to home appliances over the years with a fair amount of success and have the tools to do a proper job. The part is just junk.That said, though, the rest of the bike does the job for which I bought it well. I'm having a proper adjusting rod made by a machine shop and once that is done, I expect good service from this bike.

Like most who buy these, I am a train commuter (the other half seem to be boat owners). I had owned a Dahon Vitesse 5 many years ago, and that company's products are a great benchmark for what folding bikes should be. I'm just getting back into the folding bike setup and didn't want to drop the hammer on something expensive if I wasn't sure the arrangement would suit my needs. So, the Vilano. I had owned a Vilano fixie before so had a pretty good gauge of what to expect for quality, and I have to say that the quality and fit and finish of this bike is surprisingly good. I needed to do very little after unboxing. Fill the tires, loosen the chain (it was crazy tight), and go over every fastener to ensure they were within spec. They were.I chose this one primarily for its light weight and simplicity. Single speed and coaster brake: you don't get much simpler than that. Two things I wasn't prepared for were how much fun and how light it would be. To have a folder this light usually means buying something made of titanium and a Rockefeller I am not. It's so nimble, center of gravity low, fast, and surprisingly solid. It's geared perfectly for the terrain around Boston. You don't "spin out" because it's geared too low, and it isn't geared so high that you can't climb inclines. I added a front brake (I always prefer a backup) and a set of fenders. Once folded, it's very compact, in fact more narrow than a lot of other folders out there. It resides under my desk at work during the day and in my kitchen at night. There is a velcro strap included to tie the two halves together when folded, but I've found it largely unnecessary. I had intended to sell it once I got a more "serious" folder (Dahon Mu XL Sport), but I'm having second thoughts. I just really, really enjoy this bike.

This is an extremely sturdy and high quality bike. I ride this bike for fun on the weekends and it is great.Assembly: When it arrived I unfolded it put the center latch on and slipped on the handle bar. Assembly was as easy as that.Other: When you adjust the seat and handle bar height hold the knob swivel the latch to increase the tightness to max (that will still allow the latch to close) and close the latch. My center folding latch was nice and tight when the bike arrived. But that could be tightened too.What I like about this bike: Sturdy and well built high quality. Simple foot break, and single gear (no fiddly parts and thus low maintenance). A lot of adjustment room in seat and handle bar lengths. So, I raised the handle bar high enough for a straight back and good posture.