I intended to take a bus to school that day with my bike (JZ88), but on the way while cycling to the bus stop I met a fellow Pastor who’s on her way to a meeting near my school. So she suggested giving me a ride, I agreed and folded the bike into the car boot in less than 5 mins. This surprised her that the bike can go into the boot so well and there is space even for my bag and hers.

She dropped me off at her place of meeting which is about 5 km from my school, I took out the bike and ride it and on the way I felt the tire was soft and stopped at Mobile station to pump it up. It was uneventful the ride, but the usual concern when I was going uphill, the bike’s cranking sound is louder, I guess the weight of my books and myself combined is straining it. (I’ll be putting all my stuff into a locker at school soon and will only take along my mini EEE PC computer and a water bottle.)

I had to go to Pasir Ris for another appointment at night, but somehow I bumped into another Pastor at the school and he agreed to give me a ride down. (You see, Pastors are always obliged to be helpful…hee hee), and I got a ride to my next destination in a car!

After the meeting, I was tired, and it’s ten at night, I sighed at the thought of getting the bike on and off the bus, but to my surprise, the bike’s ability to stand up on its own after I folded it to the smallest size means I don’t need to even hold the weight of it. Then when the bus arrived, I just lift it up like a medium sized bag. I carried it right to the back row of the bus and sat down there. By the time the bus reached Tampinese Bus Interchange from Upper Serangoon Road there were few people on the bus, so I unfolded it quickly before the bus comes to a full stop and could ride off the bus immediately to the surprise of some by-standers at the interchange. (I bet they’ve not seen someone coming down from a bus with a bike!)

Cycling quickly to the Tampines MRT station, I decided to wheel in the bike by bending it by half but keeping the seat post and the handlebar upright, Then trolley like I wheel it in, under the glare of the station master but nobody stopped me. On the MRT I wheeled it to a corner near the other end of the door and since it is about 11pm I had all the seats to myself but didn’t take any. I wheeled the bike out when I came to the stop I wanted and just ride off back home after that. Reached home by 11:10pm!

My family thought I’ll take longer, but I didn’t.

Thanks for the bike, it’s amazing. I may have to put off more weight first cycling long stretches with my racer bike before I can load more weight on that tiny one. But it did accomplish the use it was for.

Oh another thing, the hills that I encountered (they are about 5 stories high at the max) and the incline that it is at, I cannot go up without getting off the bike. It’s ok, no big deal, the ride down was very fast but I felt stable and not wobbly. Good bike.

Yours,
Bill
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Thanks to Bill (Not his real name) for his permission to publish his post in this blog

I have enjoyed my trial of the JZ88, it has shown that it is possible and enjoyable to cycle to the office and to get some exercise. The bike is well built and quite capable both on the roads of Singapore and on the pavements. On the roads, it is capable of quite reasonable speeds as well as being small and maneuverable which helps on the pavements, best of all though it’s nice to be able to get fresh air commuting along the river path rather than being packed into a crowded MRT carriage. I would recommend that anybody try the JZ88.
— David Bignold 2008 Jan

I am a Norwegian PhD student visiting Singapore for one year. In Norway I use my bike nearly every (working)day for commuting.
My ambition was to do the same when I came to Singapore, but my first Taxi-trip convinced me that biking in Singapore could be dangerous.
In Norway I am used to use dedicated lanes for bikes, or at least one that we share with the pedestrians, but here in Singapore there are not many signs of anyone wanting people to use bikes for commuting without risking their lives. So I kind of gave up my ambition of using bike.
But then I by accident came over a web-site selling foldable bikes, the JZ88. Not only did they sell it, but I could try it out for the fist month for 50 SGD, so I jumped on the offer.
I must admit I was a bit skeptic at first when I saw the bike, it looked small, maybe too small ?
But, it was no problem adjusting the bike to my size (I must admit I am not the biggest person around, 175/75).
It is also easy to adjust the bike so it fits my two children, who are 6 and 8 years old, so it is a very versatile bike.
.
After a short while I was able to fold/unfold the bike in about 15 seconds, and the weigh of about 8,5 kg makes it easy to carry in to the MRT.
It is also easy bring it up to my apartment at the 4.th floor, so I don’t need to worry about anyone stealing it (does anyone steal anything here in Singapore ?).
As a bike, the JZ88 is just what it pretends to be: It is perfect for commuting. If you plan to go on a long bike-ride, I guess there are better choices.
But if you are planning on using it like me, From home to the MRT-station, and from the MRT-station to work (or whatever), it is perfect.
It is easy to use on the narrow pavements of Singapore, without coming in conflict with the pedestrians, the speed is OK, but not too high.
It has just one gear, and this is OK for most of the “hills” of Singapore. You just can’t get to much speed downhill.
The compact size after folding makes it so easy to bring along. Occasionally we take a Taxi to East Coat Park, and bring the bike in the trunk of the Taxi. No problem at all.
Then we take turns on using the bike, it fits the whole family.


I have been approached by a lot of people in Singapore when using the bike, many of them seem to like it. And I have to tell that I really love it.
So my recommendation : check out the JZ88. You can “ test it out for two weeks, risk free “(well nearly, it will only cost you 30 SGD, but you will love the bike, so don’t be afraid).

Other related posts:
– Bicycle? no, it’s a shopping trolley!
– Traveling with folding bike
– Jz88 folding bike home