What's wrong with my new BF ?

[Ericx25]

Hi,

I've just received my NWT.

When I opened the box, I saw that the chain had fallen off during transport and was not on any of the chainrings but simply lying on the frame.
It did not seem that important to me until I realised that it is not possible to keep the chain on one of the chainring when I fold the bike.
On my first attempt I let the chain on the outer chainring but I when I tried to swing the rear triangle under the main tube the chain prevented me from doing it (see the attachment).
Then I tried to fold it when the chain is on the inner chainring. The combination Inner chainring/smaller cog is OK (and better than inner chainring/biggest cog) and allows me to fold the bike but the chain falls off the chainring....

Is it normal ?

[DaFriMon]

This is a known issue with a Bike Friday fold. Folding loosens the tension on the chain, and it will frequently fall off, although it's worse on some BFs than on others.

Some BF owners just live with it, and carry a little rag or something to put the chain back on after unfolding. There is also a special BF chain retention device which will prevent it from falling off during folding by picking up the slack. There's a picture of it toward the bottom of this page. (http://bikefriday.com/main.cfm?fuseaction=news.article&ID=59&Category=Shop) You have to get the right size for the chainring or chainrings you have.

[landstander]

Yep, a chain retainer (http://store.bikefriday.com/product_info.php?&products_id=11961) will definitely take care of this issue. I'm not sure why they aren't included by default... seems to me like something which would benefit most people.

[igor455]

my nwt has a chain retainer on it although it was an option about 5 bucks adn thei doesnt happen now. my pocket tourist did it one time and i just put in on the smallest cog on the front ring and the problem went away

[Chop!]

that is NOT a chain tensioner! That is a piece of angled steel that helps stop the chain from falling off!
Refer to my earlier post about the Birdy 'Fixie'.
My Gobike also loses the chain most times, I'm thinking about adding a Birdy-esque wire loop to take up the last few links worth of slack.

[DaFriMon]

that is NOT a chain tensioner! That is a piece of angled steel that helps stop the chain from falling off!


Quite right, but as far as I can see, nobody called it a chain tensioner. ;) What was said was that the tension on the chain loosens when the bike folds, and that the retainer picks up the slack.

I've got these retainers on both my Bike Fridays. When I fold the bike the chain loosens, and could fall off. However, with the chain retainer on the bike, the chain presses against the retainer as it folds. It's not just a guard to keep the chain from falling off to the inside. The angled part actually pushes against the bottom of the chain. That keeps enough tension on the chain to keep it on the chain ring. It only touches the chain when the bike is folded.