Should be a Taiping guy by this 15th March. Will try to ride with you !

Anyone here have any experience on Oyama CR16 folder before? Dont think this brand is available in Msia.

Well, I have just bought this Birdy! It has the same Sram Dual drive 24 speed as the Speed TR. It has full front and rear racks which will be handy.

It will be transported by road, and it is 4446 kms away at present! Probably will take two weeks to get to me.




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got pedal spot is selling oyama....

Hi Guys and Sifus,

Newbie here, just started cycling foldies recently. anybody from cheras damai indah in here? maybe could join you guys cycling one day.

Thanks for the link. Got offered an used Oyama CR16 or a new KA2016 at the same price, go for the CR16?

Hi Everyone,

I just got my Java Decaf folding not long ago. After my first 20km ride, I feel that the speed is slightly slow.

It might be due to only 7 speeds on this bike. First thing in my mind now would be upgrading the crankset to a bigger one. Hope to get some advise from all the experts here



Thanks.

It's not due to the chainring but rather the bigger minimum teeths in the rear. 7 speed means the rear cogs starts at 14 teeth till 28 teeth. Usual 8 speeds or above starts with 11 teeths only. So, you are missing the 11, 12 ans 13 teeth cogs on the high speed. Nothing you can do about it. Chainging a bigger chainring is one way but looks ugly and also you might need to lengthen the chain and also if yours is already the 52 teeth chainring, you need to get 58 or even 60 teeths which is hard to source and also expensive.

My guess is you don't really do hilly rides so chainging to road bike groupset will be ideal. But you might also need to change the hubs if yours are the regular 7 speed hubs. It's not going to be cheap though. Many riders have the idea that modifying costs must not exceed the price of the bike, while I think differently. I am more into the quality of the components. Means, I rather go for the top notch components on a lousy frame rather than a top notch frame with lousy components. That's why I can't comprehend paying 7K for a Birdy with a groupset that is not even entry level for a moutnain bike. I rather have a Trinx with a Di2 Ultegra groupset. So, it depends on which group you fit into. Hahahaa

So, the solution is mod till max or change a better spec-ed bike.

I will answer again in easier to understand terms. If yours is 52 teeth in front and on the highest gear (14 teeth) that means when you turn one time on your crank, the rear wheels turns 3.71 turns.

If you have the regular 11/28 or 11/30 teeth cassette at the rear, it means 52 teeth in the front and 11 at the rear, you turn the rear wheels 4.71 turns. That means on a 406 wheel, you are actually travelling an extra turn or 1.5 meters at each turn. Or in other words, if you want to chase the guy in front of you, you have to spin faster or what we called , increase your cadence which will tire you out faster or no problem if you are a strong rider.

On the other hand if you change the front chain ring to 60 teeth (which is riduculously stupid looking ), you will turn your rear 14 teeth, 4.28 times, still much slower than the using 11 teeth at the rear.

compare the spec, built quality, condition of the bikes....

i tot u wana get smthing like this.....

B without the ahpek or aunty feel.....





This post has been edited by H2D: Mar 12 2016, 01:57 PM

Thanks for your reply and details explanation. As a beginner, reading your reply it help me a better understand about the gear ratio on the bicycle. I guess my move now would be source a better cassette which have 11 teeth on the high gear

Thanks alots.

java decaf using freewheel, one with 11t might be difficult? to get here, unless u go taobao....

with 46t crank is way too small, can easily get cheapcheap 52t crankset frm taobao n swap...

mebe no nid to lengthen chain... not sure...

This post has been edited by H2D: Mar 12 2016, 02:36 PM

Thanks for your advise too, If I am upgrading the crankset, do you think those 2X speed crankset would able to fit into my foldie? Like those 52 & 38 together one.

Thanks.

you are not fast enuf even 52T. you add another 38T to make it slower?

I am not fast enough with 46T now

was thinking to get those crankset with 2 gear ratio one like 52T & a smaller one for uphill

Your ultimate goal is to ride faster........meaning the present maximum high gear is insufficient. The biggest right now is 46T front and 14 at the rear. At this setting, usually you freewheel when you ride fast on a flat terrain and even worse, you can't ride at all when it is going slightly down hill. You will dog paddle. Adding a 52/39T double chain ring don't change much to the high gear ratios but it will help a lot going uphill. Just to give you an idea, modifying the front double chain ring will usually cost around RM400 to RM500 for even the cheapest component you can find. Items needed will be a (01) pair of shifters (they comes in pairs, regardless if you want only the left hand side), (02) one front derailleur , (03) FD adapter , (04) double chain ring crank and bottom bracket and finally (05) the gear cable and housing. With this, YOU STILL CAN'T RIDE FASTER than before, maybe a little bit faster as the chain ring has increase 6 teeth.

I suggest you go for a 10 speed setup or a 9 speed setup. I see from the picture, your bike use disc brakes and also uses 32 spokes so the front hubs are easily available and so are the rear. Any mountain bike hubs can be used.If you browse through Bicyclebuysell website, you can actually find good used ones for RM100 (normal cone bearing types like Formula or no series Shimanos) and if lucky, about RM150 or even less for sealed bearing types. Many mountain bikers (like myself) usually change to better hubs even when the original are good .

With that, you can lace your present rims onto the hubs and you can use 8,9 or 10 speed setups. This also can be found used on BBS. Good ones like Shimano Sora for 9 speed, Shimano Alivio, Accera or Altus. If you go for 10 speed , there are many. Try to go for 11/32T cassette, no more than that as most LBS can't adjust if more than 32T at the rear. After that, the chain has to be adjusted so most LBS don't do. Kimbell Jaya has done even 36T on 10 speed.

Look for used items like this.
http://bicyclebuysell.com/item/342584/shim...groupset-booked

This one even comes with front crank with double chain ring.
http://bicyclebuysell.com/item/339182/grou...or-folding-bike

Try to find one without the crank if you are looking for mountain bike setups as mountain bike cranks are not suitable. Only road bike cranks has 53/39T set ups. After getting the rear done up, RIDE and later if you want to take the hilly challenge, maybe then can add the front setup.

HAPPY RIDING.

This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 12 2016, 06:06 PM

Thank you so much for your details explanation and advise. As beginner, really still lots more to learn from the sifu-sifu here

hi there,i hv a java like urs, n i am using 53/39 litepro crankset...i hv since changed to 451 wheelsets taken from my minivelo, n my setup is 2x10 speeds...hope tat will help...cheers