Vilano Urbana Single Speed Folding Bike Review (4 Reasons to BUY)

By Mark Plummer •  Updated: 09/27/22 •  4 min read

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Designed to be as basic as can be, the Vilano Urbana is a single-speed folding bike that has been created to provide entry-level riders with a well-built option.

Straight out of the box the bicycle’s minimal design was obvious, it is very clean and looks the part too.

We were impressed by the aesthetics, the bike somewhat resembles an old-school BMX-styled bike, rather than a more stereotypical folding bike that we have become accustomed to over the years.

VILANO URBANA FOLDING BIKE

Our Rating

VILANO URBANA FOLDING BIKE

PROS

  • Very cheap bike – good bang for your buck!
  • A minimalistic design that is truly timeless
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Scratch-resistant

CONS

OUR VERDICT

“For the money, it is hard to beat the Vilano Urbana. This folding bike is not only one of the cheapest, but it is also one of the lightest too! You would be better off spending marginally more money on a more premium bike, but the Urbana isn’t bad whatsoever.”

Vilano Urbana Single Speed Folding Bike

”For the money the Vilano Urbana isn’t the worst folding bike around, it works fine but seems to be below par in most departments. It is however hard to complain about such a cheap bicycle!”

Now, let me get straight onto the unique selling point of the Vilano Urbana, its weight.

The bike weighs in at a tiny 21.4lbs, this is far more lightweight than the majority of other 20″ folding bikes on the market currently.

It doesn’t just outperform geared bikes either, it also outperforms most single-speed bike models too – this is incredibly impressive.

If having a lightweight folding bike is important for you, then this is certainly a model to consider – particularly if you are strapped for cash and have a tight budget. This bike will not break the bank and is easily transported around by hand.

On the road, the bike unfortunately wasn’t quite so impressive, it is severely limited by the fact it has a single-gear speed. 

This effectively means that it will struggle up any relatively steep hill, it also won’t be flying down flats either. The bike comes with very high-functioning coaster brakes, for those that have never experienced these before, don’t let that be a concern – they are very easy to use and work exceptionally well too. 

As far as single-speed folding bikes go, the Vilano Urbana is a good entry-level bike, but a little more.

Vilano Urbana Review

Some of the components are clearly not made out of the highest quality material and will therefore not be as durable or functional as some of the more pricey bikes. 

In addition to this, the frame does seem to rattle somewhat when riding around, this generally is a sign of a poorly put-together bike, it also signifies that it is likely to become damaged easier too.

Vilano Urbana Single Speed Folding Bike
  • Lightweight aluminum folding bike with coaster brake
  • Quickly and easily folds for storage
  • Great urban commuter in flat areas

Last update on 2023-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Specifications

Concluding Remarks

If you are searching for a well-priced carbon fiber-based road bike then the Nashbar Carbon 105 has to make your list when it comes to final comparisons. It looks amazing, it feels amazing and it really, really is amazing too.

I can’t highly recommend this bike enough, if you can afford it then I would definitely say you should consider it.

Mark Plummer

Mark Plummer is an experienced bike mechanic who has built, repaired, and customized thousands of bikes over the years. A former mountain biking athlete, his cycling adventures have taken him all over the globe from the mountains of Scotland to the South Island of New Zealand. These days he enjoys the benefits of commuting to work and touring on his Dahon and Brompton folding bikes.

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