Japan Mini Velo Trend for 2011

Japan is famous for fashion trend setting, for few years now there are a specific Japanese bicycle niche, the so called "mini velo"
Usually they are diamond frames designed and equipped with 20" wheels, featuring drop bars or flat bars or even mtb models getting trendy recently.

Mini-velo are not foldable bikes, if so then it is called "folding bike".
The word "Velo" is french for bicycle, so rather than calling it a Mini bike, japanese have branded it "mini Velo", a good sense of history, culture and chic wording.

If you want to sell bicycle to Japan, whatever the brand, it must includes "Mini Velo" in your catalog.
Most mini velo in Japan are the product designed by the local distributors and wholesalers, which explain why the bikes are not on another market catalogs.

Most of the bikes are small size frames, rarely bigger than 51cm.
However, I think there are some good opportunities for playing with mini velo design.
Carbon frames would be nice visually.

Here a quick look at the Mini Velo currently sold in Japan:

Bianchi, Made in China and Taiwan bikes, cromoly frames.

Drop bar, Brooks saddles, shimano gearing.

Flat bar, sora gears, spring saddle

Bruno is very popular, you can see the bikes every where in japan cities.


Fuji, also have colorful drop bar mini velo which features lugged forks and cromoly frames

The bike retails for about 69,000 yen in Japan

9 speed Shimano Sora, 20" wheels, drop bar, looks like a real bike but in mini version.

Gios, playing with Cromoly 4130 Taiwan made frames, Gios coloring, these are a getting pricey.

This model retail for 138,600 Japan Yen.

This model is Retailing at 76,440 yen in Japan in 2011

Kuwahara, the company that is famous for having being featured in the movie E.T. (the bmx that flies front of the moon).

Well the bike is an Allien machine, it is a MTB mini velo, retailing at 268,800 yen.

Louis Garneau, the japan company that use "Lous Garneau" name to sell bicycles, sells also 4 models of mini velo. All are built with Aluminium frames.

Road model equipped with Shimano 105 gropu retails at 144,900 yen.

The full suspension MTB mini velo retail at 120,750 yen.

Seraph is a brand from a japanese wholesaler, they sale cromoly lugged frame and fork mini velo.

Frame/fork retail for 60,900 yen.

Sugimura, makes some reasonable priced mini velo

Road model retail at about 63,924 yen

The MTB mini velo retail at 66,780 yen.

Don't forget to check the Masi ones that I already featured few weeks ago here:
Masi Speciale Mini Velo
Masi Speciale Mini Velo Fixed Japan Edition

You might also like following stuff:
Crane Suzu Lever Strike Bicycle Bell

Knog Beetle 2-LED Bicycle Light

The Practical Cyclist: Bicycling for Real People

Brooks Team Pro Alpe d'Huez Saddle

Brooks Leather Bar Tape

Enjoy! Folding Mini-Velo Magazine

Mini Velo Bible Japan

girls bicycle Japan

SIMPLE BICYCLE STYLE 3 (Japan)

Masi 2011 Mini Velo Cafe Racer Drop

Japan specific Masi Mini Velo Available in Drop Bar version Cafe Racer 2011 version.

In the Masi Mini Velo series, the gear equipped are called the Cafe Racer, there is the drop bar version and a flat bar version.

Frame：MASI Double Butted　Chromoly
Fork： Chromoly
Rear Derailleur: SHIMANO SORA
Shifters：SHIMANO SLR-400
Brakes：TEKTRO R358 Side pull
Crank：ALLOY 40T
Cassette：SHIMANO CS-HG50-8 12/23T
Tires：KENDA 20ｘ1 1/8
Rims：ALEX DA-22 32H
Sizes：440　150CM～165CM / 480　160CM～175CM / 510　170CM～180CM

Brev.M Japan Fixies chromoly forks for fixed gear bikes

Brev.M is a japanese brand created by Azuma shokai, a Japan bicycle parts wholesaler.

Brev.M parts are aimed for fixed gear bikes.

Among the new stuff there are 2 chromoly forks made from Chromoly and for 700c wheels sized.

They both have a brake caliper hole.

They are 11/8 ahead type steerer type.

Bombardiere model arms length are 410mm and 24mm rake with a 45c tire clearance. Japan Price is 13.000 yen

Robusta model arms length are 380mm and 40mm rake with a 32c tire clearance. Japan retail price is 8.000 Japan Yen

Masi Speciale Mini Velo Fixed Japan Edition

These are so hot!
Masi Speciale Mini Velo Fixed gear.
Available in 2 sizes and 2 colors:
48 & 51cm and Pink & Nekkid (grey)
Price 750 USD + shipping
Contact us if you are interrested in one.



You might also enjoy my newest post on Japan Mini Velo Trend for 2011
and Masi Speciale Mini Velo


SIMPLE BICYCLE STYLE 3 (Japan)

SIMPLE BICYCLE STYLE 4 (Japan)

PEDAL SPEED VOL.7 (Japan Pist BMX Vintage Life)

TOKYO STYLE-BICYCLE FASHION BOOK 2010/2011