8H internal hub belt drive folding bike

The bike is fantastic. It doesn't quite fold as well as I would like, but otherwise is a good product. I'm docking one star because there is no response to support emails. I hope there won't be any warranty issues.

I have so far ridden for just a couple of miles to the local bike shop to get the brakes adjusted. I like the sturdy feel of the ride and the range of gearing, although changing up requires rather too much effort. I dread having to take off the rear wheel though - and the local bike shop doesn't have any experience in hub gears and doesn't want to learn. The fold is quick and easy, although not particularly small. Nevertheless, the bike appears to be well made and built to last, so I am looking forward to many years of fun.

We brought the bikes with us to Florida, and they've been wonderful. Smooth, quiet, comfortable. Thanks!

I bought this bike as we are sailing around the world and our 3 onboard bikes were subject to rust, were hard to store and with the chain grease getting the boat dirty. This bike is easy to ride, conveniently carries groceries in the accessory pannier bags and easy to store and unfold. It was such a success, my boyfriend got himself a 11H when he saw how much fun I was having. These are becoming a well used addition to our boat and will be much easier to bring ashore in our dinghy when we are anchored. Thanks, Yan, for your help in ordering the second bike and talking me through adjusting the belt when I assembled my bike.

I got my new 8H last week and love it! Thanks Yan, it was great to work with the owner/designer to get good info and questions answered. I had been wanting a folding bike with an internally geared hub and Gates belt drive for some time...the 8H brought those features to a price point I wanted. As a boater, I wanted the portability without the greasy or rusty chain. The 8H rides smooth, smooth, SMOOTH, AND QUIET. Very comfortable position for my 6'1" 210 lb frame. Love the longer handlebar and bar ends. Gone is the twichiness in the steering of some other very expensive fancy brand 20" folders I've ridden. The front suspension is fantastic! Also missing from those pricier bikes. Great job Yan! One little nit... the Shimano shift controller...not Downtube's fault. It runs reverse from the Shimano one on my 24 speed MTB. So, switching between bikes I have to think too much! Why so Shimano? Also noticeably stiffer upshifting versus down. GREAT BIKE...GREAT COMPANY.

Researched a longtime to source the best folding bike for our specific needs for aboard a sailboat. The Downtube 8H bike model consistently was first on our preferred list to what other brands had to offer on an equal value cost comparison. There were none other out there that could fulfill our needs. We bought two of the same with the accessory panniers. Downtube's customer service & after sale follow-up is exemplary. We anticipate enjoying our bikes for many years to come!!

I have been riding my Downtube 8H in a variety of conditions, mostly city, for a month and I am very pleased with the bicycle's design, components, portability, and performance. I have taken it on many trains and buses without trouble, and I am pleasantly surprised how well it carries significant pannier freight when I am traveling.

I wanted a couple folding bikes to keep on my boat as we frequently sail to harbors and islands in MA and RI where the rentals are expensive and lots of wasted time. My initial preference was either the 8H or Dahon Mariner. I chose the 8H because of the belt drive and 8 speed internal hub. It's a pain to bag the bikes, get them into the dinghy, and then unload at a variety of beaches and docks, all of which would subject a bike with a derailleur to damage. Also, I wanted to avoid getting chain grease all over the place. So I bought one 8H and rode it around for a couple days and really like it. It's solid and I love the internal hub and shifter: great gear range and a nice low 1st gear for hills while toting a couple bags of groceries back from the market. My wife had been holding out for a different bike, but after a couple rides on my 8H she told me to buy another for her. So, if you're in the RI/MA area this summer, look for us on the 2 bright red H8's!

I purchased an 8H in early June. It was delivered promptly, but was damaged by the shipper. The front suspension fork was scratched. The damage was cosmetic and Yan took care of it. I have been commuting on the bike for several weeks and have been impressed. The belt drive and internal hub are a commuters dream. I also purchased the rack pack with panniers which is a nice set up for commuting. It's much smaller than the bags on my full size bike so I'll need to purchase the head tube bag system when it becomes available. I also own a Brompton which I like for the fold, but other than that the 8h is superior.

Needless to say, that after one year of almost daily use of my 8H w/Gates Carbon Drive belt I absolutely love this bike and riding it. Currently I am upgrading it with some awesome Magura brakes [http://www.magura.com/en/], thus cherishing & leveraging my initial investment.