Best Choice has been an expanding company and has ventured into a lot of different fields since the last few years. The bicycle industry had also caught BC’s attention and it has focused on the entry to mid level bikes, catering to customers all over USA.
The 20’’ BC folding bicycle is a nice deal. It is made of great parts, many found in most Dahon products, and is claimed to last long.
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Rating:
3.50 / 5.00
Price:
$$$ on Amazon (September 12 2015)
Warranty
All of our items are covered under a 60 day warranty period. Good customer support
Pros and Cons:
Inexpensive Bulky
Fully Assembled Replacement Parts Not Widely Available
Unisex Poor Manual
Portable Quality Control
First Impression:
The design is hip, with a sweet curve going down the spine of the body.
Detailed Review:
The BC 20’’ is currently enjoying a fiesta of discounts and deals. You can buy it with 41% off on Amazon. There is a similar deal on Walmart as well. So you can save yourself a good hundred plus bucks, which you might put use to on upgrading this product. Shipping is free across the United States, and BC makes sure that you receive your product within 3 days of ordering, which it makes possible by having warehouses in California and Indiana.
The order comes in a brown stock box with a big red BC logo printed on its side. The box itself is double walled, which keeps any shipping damage to minimum. The bike inside is in its folded shape and has a lot of wrapping around it for protection. BC claims that the bike requires no assembly and is made to run out of the box. The situation is different however as the bike does need some tuning and adjustments. You should keep a wrench by your side as it will come in handy. The frame, seat and handle bars need tightening or loosening up. There has been a very mixed opinion about the state the bike is shipped in. Some are done with their tuning within minutes while some need to take the machine to the mechanic shop for a successful operation. This may be a case of lack of quality control by the company or the shipping franchise’s inability to handle the product well. What makes your problems more annoying is that there is no instruction manual in the box, which is absolutely not understandable. The manufacturer did however publish the instructions on the website.
The frame is made from hi tensile aluminium. It has been manufactured in china. However it is not cheap or compromised, considering it is an entry level bike, with well-engineered and designed geometry and strength. In fact the body does not look like one we would assume on a folding bicycle. The durable and sturdy frame means that the product will last long.
There is a 6 speed system installed, made by Shinamo. Again do not judge the company just because it in from China. Shinamo makes some exceptional bike components, which are found in almost all major brand products. The gear change is smooth and the foldable is able to perform very well on smooth tracks and small to moderate inclines. There are no shock absorbers due to a lack of suspension, which means you are really going to feel it through if you hit a pot hole or a speed bump. Definitely not the bike to jump around with.
The alloy V brakes are set up on the front and rear wheels. These are powerful and reliable brakes, which are soft to apply and responsive even on short distances.
The Flame Thread tires are 20 inch in size and are meant to cruise. The double wall and thick design keeps the tires well protected from wear and tear and will make them last long. Even though the rubber is meant to be run on the asphalt of city streets, it can endure some gravels and rocks scattered on country side paths. Since the wheels are 20 inch in size, you need to pedal more compared to a full sized wheel. It might shimmy or wobble if you are not careful or used to the wheel size, which can be frustrating until you learn how to balance it properly.
The seat is nice and comfortable. Seat post is adjustable which is a sweet plus and allows riders of different body types to set it to their preferential heights instead of forcing their body to adjust to it and / or riding awkwardly.
The handle bar is made of chrome alloy and the post is adjustable. However the handlebar stem tube is of a weak nature due to the presence of plastic inside the tube. You need to be careful about handling it when folding, as a lot of pressure might crack it.
The folding function is good. There is a flip latch on the main frame which prevents folding during riding. The body has three lockable hinges for convince while folding. It is easy to fold the bike and unfold it, taking only half of a minute. You might need to get used to it to be able to perform it quickly. The foldable weight however is not very light, which makes it bulky to carry for long distances, unless you are used to lifting weights. It is still a very practical folding bicycle and considering the inexpensive price tag it comes with, you might as well take it down without much annoyance.
The pedals are also able to fold and have a locking mechanism of themselves to keep them in place when the foldable is wrapped.
You should also find front and back reflectors and fenders, which were not expected to be included in such a budget product.
The only downside to getting this bike is that its components are not of the industry standards which means the replacement and service is tough to find. You can however always call the customer support for any advice regarding this.
Specifications:
- Six-speed shifter by Shimano
- RS35 Shifter by Shimano
- Retro Alloy For The Handle Bar Construction
- Hi-Tension Steel For Fork Material
- 20 Inch Tires
- Alloy V-Brakes (High Quality)
- Kick Stand Included
- Hi-Tensile Steel Frame
- Black Front/Rear Rim From Alloy
- Steel Chrome Seat Post
- Stainless Steel Spokes.
- One Piece Steel Chrome Plated Crankset.
- Shimano RDTZ 50 – Only Derailleur In Rear
Conclusion:
The BC 20 inch is an okay machine. It is definitely not the best choice as you get what you pay for it, however if you are restrained by budget you might as well do with this bike.
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