Super minimal in its design, boasting a single speed system and low weight, the Vilano Urban 1 is a pretty exciting entry level bike. It is mainly aimed at commuters, with an admirable fold for easy carrying and storage.
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Rating:
4.50 / 5.00
Price:
$$$ on Amazon (September 12 2015)
Warranty
The Urbana original components including crank arms, paint, decals, tires, tubes, chains, etc. are warranted for 30 days from the date of purchase.
The body is warranted from manufacturing faults or design defects for a limited one year period.
Warranty can only be availed by the first retail purchaser of the product.
Pros and Cons:
Light Weight Coaster Brake
Simple Design Single speed
Low Maintenance
First Impression:
The minimalist looks sets it apart from other bicycles in the range. The white colour looks especially regal.
Detailed Review:
The Urbana 1 can be bought off Amazon web store, which is currently offering a huge 200 dollar (50%) discount on the product. Shipping is paid even across the United States, but it can be accommodated with the money being saved from discount. You can choose from three colours, grey – black – white, all of which are available on the Amazon store.
The bike will arrive in a stock Vilano box, wrapped with packaging to protect the product inside. The Urbana itself is folded inside and doesn’t have any visible damage from shipping. Keeping a blade or a scissor would be handy while unboxing, with many cords to cut to unwrap the foldable. You need to fix the handle bar and erect it by clamping the bar on the handle post. The seat also needs installation. While fixing pedals make sure you are putting the right and left on their respective places. You can check which one is which by checking the symbol on the spindle. A 15mm wrench will be needed to tightly place the pedal. After you put in the front wheel, adjust the brakes and inflate the tires your bike will be ready to be set rolling.
It is recommended to get your assembled cycle reviewed by a professional mechanic for your safety and to enhance the performance of your machine.
The foldable is made from light weight aluminium. The top quality metal is sturdy in nature and will keep off rust. It means you can use it through out the year, during all seasons. Once ready the Urbana looks quite magnificent.
The coaster brakes installed take a while to get used to, especially if you are not acquainted with pedalling back. This can be a nuisance when you need to brake while on a high speed and can is difficult to control. However the presence of coaster brakes mean there are no mechanical brakes, hence no cables and wires sticking out of the body ruining the flow of the clean look.
Urbana is a single speed foldable. The single speed can be a nuisance for those who are used to top speeds, but for normal commuters this should not be a great issue. The single speed is fast enough (feels like 5 or 6 gear) and especially since most users will be using it in traffic laid paths, they will not miss the higher gears found on other cycles. Since it utilizes coaster brakes, the lack of super high speeds is actually a good thing as other wise the coaster brakes would be ineffective. The speed is enough to climb moderate hills and go down hills without much pedalling. All in all very efficient and convenient system.
The 20 inch wheels can be small or enough for you. If you are used to riding full sized you will definitely feel awkward initially until you get used to it. Since the wheels are small, the foldable is easy to control and you can make your way through tight spaces, taking nimble cuts while being stable through out the way. The tires are of good quality and don’t need regular inflation or much maintenance. They are made to perform in an urban environment so it will not be fair to test them under rough terrains, where in the performance goes down.
The saddle is comfortable, as is the case with most Vilano bikes. The seat post is not adjustable however and it can make the ride awkward if you are very tall or very short since Vilano does not offer variable frame sizes for different body types. For most people though the ride is pretty good and there is no strain on body. Since the seat is narrow, people with big butts might need to buy a wider saddle especially if they are planning to go on long trips as it can get pretty annoying to endure the nuisance continuously.
Perhaps the most important feature of the Urbana is its folding ability. The cycle folds easily and rather quickly. Since it has no wires and cables going around it, there is no mess while wrapping it up. The light weight means you can easily take it around even for long trips without having sores on your shoulder or back pain.
You also get a pre installed water bottle holder and a solid rear rack with by Vilano. The rear rack is strong enough to be able to support another individual standing on it.
Specifications:
- Colours: Gray, Black, White
- Seat Post: aluminium
- Brake: Coaster
- Mounts for bottle & rear rack
- Frame: aluminium
- Weighs: 21.5 lbs
- Handlebar: aluminium
- Wheels: 20″ Wheels
Conclusion:
The Urbana is not the most premium bike by any standard. This is understandable since you are paying 1/6 of the price of a top brand. However, it is an okay machine built to do its job and its job only. By taking it anywhere close to challenging conditions you are decreasing its durability and hence life expectancy. While it is recommended to get a better bike if you have the flexibility in your pockets, the Urbana is still fine to do with a constrained budget.
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