Disadvantages of small wheels?

[allen-uk]

Small wheels, as on the Juicy Folder for example - are they less stable than full-sized 'normal' bike wheels, or is it countered by the chunky tyres?

A.

 

[RobF]

Looks like the Juicy has 20" balloon tyres.

I have those on my AVE MH7 and they work well in nearly all conditions.

They won't roll over ruts in a cycle path quite as well as a big wheel.

The steering tends to be more direct because the smaller wheel doesn't produce the same gyroscopic effect as a big wheel.

 

[flecc]

As a long term rider of 20" wheels, I'd describe the steering as somewhat twitchy. It's never a hands off experience as it can be with full size wheels.

Folders often make this worse by having narrower than usual handlebars, long ago I swapped them on mine for full width and it made a big difference.
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[RobF]

OK, twitchy, but I was hoping not to put Allen off.

He appears to be an experienced ebiker/cyclist, so should get on fine with 20" wheels.

I'm rather taken with my AVE, it feels handier than a big wheel bike.

Fixing the occasional puncture is also less of a problem because the smaller wheels are easier to handle.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Can't cover as much distance per revolution...

 

[flecc]

OK, twitchy, but I was hoping not to put Allen off.

Fair comment, I also very much like my 20" wheel e-bike, despite the remaining slight disadvantage. As ever with change, the handling is mainly something to one gets used to.
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[KirstinS]

Although I no longer own one I loved my. Brompton with even smaller 16 inch

You just got used to looking for small potholes that wouldn't bother a full size

 

[RobF]

Can't cover as much distance per revolution...

Have you got a yacht as well now, Martin?

I'm going to have to get into this ebike flogging m'larkey, it's obviously where the real dough is.

 

[allen-uk]

Thanks for the replies.

The problem with your keeping things from me, RobF, is that it isn't for me (although as a one-leggèd rider twitchy steering would unnerve me a little), it's for my wife, who used to ride a bike 40+ years ago and now fancies joining the electric brigade.

I'll try and borrow one for her, now you've drawn my attention to that potential problem.

A

 

[RobF]

It's very much in the describing, so try not to pre-judge the ride.

My Brompton - on 16" wheels - is more twitchy, if we must use that word.

One could say the 20" wheel bike is 'nicely direct'.

Hope the Mrs has fun.

 

[OldBob1]

I find with Dutch style handle bars and suspension on the seat post my folder is nicely controllable, but you do have to look out for the pot holes on our beautifully maintained roads

 

[eastman]

For the type of cycling I do (minimum effort) I find that larger wheel bikes require less effort to go at the same or slightly faster speed than when I'm on my Curve. This may be because of gearing, I'm not sure? The larger wheel bikes have been more comfortable in basic spec than the Dahon with upgrades. This may be because of different geogmentry or because the larger wheels cushion the ride better? Again not sure but the differences between the larger and smaller wheeled bikes do add up and I feel in my opinion that to travel the same terrain and distance the large bike* is easier and more comfortable.

 

[Jonah]

I ride bikes with 16", 20", 26" and 28" wheels regularly. I like them all but as a rather sweeping generalisation would say my smaller wheeled bikes feel sportier and more manouverable and the larger wheeled bikes more relaxed. It does obviously depend on the bike, the quality of the bike and set-up are perhaps more important that the size of the wheels.