Folding Bikes - Which folder for someone 6'05"

The short story is we don't have a lot of room so thinking of replacing my full size commuter w/ a folder. I know Bike Friday does custom but would like to buy a Dahon or a Birdy or whatever you recommend. I bought a swift for my father and I was very impressed w/ the quality but unfortunately it didn't fit me. I will be in Seattle for a week so hoping to be able to try a few.
Thanks

I was wondering why your father's Swift did not fit you. Was it the seatpost length? Or some other factor like the length of your torso/arms/fingers? Dahons are recommended for people your size in the 20 inch wheel models like the Speed D7, D8 etc.-just as long as you and the luggage you carry combined is no more than 230 pounds total. I don't know anything about the Birdys pesonally. The Bromptons will probably fit if you use the telescoping seatpost along with adapters if need be. Whatever you decide, make sure that the bike is fitted to you when you buy and try anything that you are attracted to.

16 inch Aerlite-B fits me perfect and I am 6'1" and I weigh 210lbs

The stock seatpost from the Swift will not fit us taller lads. You'll need to order/request the longer version from them. You can email the folks at xootr directly and they can help you out.

Swift Seat Post, Cut to Length (http://www.xootr.com/xootr/swift/accessories.shtml)

We couldn't get the bars high enough. I called Swift and gave them the measurements and they agreed. They didn't sell any kind of extensions. I never heard of Aerlite but will take a look. I found a dealer in Seattle that sells Birdy's and Dahons so will stop in in about two weeks.

I'm almost 6'3" and I briefly test rode a Birdy and thought it was a good fit with the seatpost maxed out. Definitely give one a try but i suspect it'll be a little on the small side for you.

The Bromptons with the optional "telescopic seat pilar" will provide a good fit. It permits a saddle height up to 175mm higher than the stock seat post.

We couldn't get the bars high enough. I called Swift and gave them the measurements and they agreed. They didn't sell any kind of extensions. I never heard of Aerlite but will take a look. I found a dealer in Seattle that sells Birdy's and Dahons so will stop in in about two weeks.

That's too bad. You're 2" taller, and I can see how that would be a problem. My stem is right at the top and it's just about perfect. You should get some road bars with that setup and work on your flexibility. You'll be touching your toes but just imagine how aero you'd be...

:D

We couldn't get the bars high enough. I called Swift and gave them the measurements and they agreed. They didn't sell any kind of extensions. I never heard of Aerlite but will take a look. I found a dealer in Seattle that sells Birdy's and Dahons so will stop in in about two weeks.

There was no way around this problem with a hi-rise stem or an extender?

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=12679&subcategory_ID=5230

Not according to Swift. I gave them my BB to top of saddle measurement and told them I like my bars about one inch lower than my saddle. They called me about an hour later and said they can't make it work for me.

Still checking into the Dahons and noticed the P8 has a telescoping riser bar but the higher end TR doesn't. Would the P8 be a better option or could I get the TR w/ the telescoping riser?

Not according to Swift. I gave them my BB to top of saddle measurement and told them I like my bars about one inch lower than my saddle. They called me about an hour later and said they can't make it work for me.

Still checking into the Dahons and noticed the P8 has a telescoping riser bar but the higher end TR doesn't. Would the P8 be a better option or could I get the TR w/ the telescoping riser?

You would certainly be the one to judge, but this seems odd. I'm 6'4" and long in the legs for my height. My new Swift, though nearly at max seat post length, does have a wee bit of room left on the bar height. And that's with flat bars and a pretty typical stem. There are steeper angle (rise) stems (such as I've used to reto-fit old mountainbikes) and some pretty nice riser bars, like Ritchey's, that would add an inch or more... Worth a look.

Dahons s**k at the upper limit of size/fit. Too flexible in my opinion. I tried 'em.

I'll have my Swift in Kent Wa, south of Seattle in mid-March, if that's any help. PM me if so.

The short story is we don't have a lot of room so thinking of replacing my full size commuter w/ a folder. I know Bike Friday does custom but would like to buy a Dahon or a Birdy or whatever you recommend. I bought a swift for my father and I was very impressed w/ the quality but unfortunately it didn't fit me. I will be in Seattle for a week so hoping to be able to try a few.
Thanks

Depends on how you are going to use it. If you are using it as a daily commuter where you are going to be folding and unfolding regularly Bike Friday would not be my first choice. I am only 6'2" and have found that the 16" wheeled Dahon's won't work for me without modifications. Some of the 20" wheeled bikes would. Brompton's fit fine with the extended seat post.

Aaron:)

Aroundoz,

I'm curious, did you go through xootr or Peter Reich? If you didn't try Peter Reich and you like the Swift, I'd suggest giving him a call. He handles all kinds of crazy modifications,

Juan

Thanks for you feedback everyone.

jaun162, I went through xootr. I emailed Peter during this time and never heard back. I will try him again to see what he says and will let you all know. I pretty much closed the book on it based on what xootr told me. It would be nice if he could make it work without doing anything too drastic. Again, it seemed like a lot of quality for the dollar.

Bop, thanks for the offer. I should be in southern Utah the latter half of March. Assuming you have the tall set up on your swift, is it possible to set the BB to top of saddle at 81cm and the bars about 1" below that?

Thanks for you feedback everyone.

jaun162, I went through xootr. I emailed Peter during this time and never heard back. I will try him again to see what he says and will let you all know. I pretty much closed the book on it based on what xootr told me. It would be nice if he could make it work without doing anything too drastic. Again, it seemed like a lot of quality for the dollar.

Bop, thanks for the offer. I should be in southern Utah the latter half of March. Assuming you have the tall set up on your swift, is it possible to set the BB to top of saddle at 81cm and the bars about 1" below that?

Try calling Peter. You will have a much easier time getting a response.

Assuming you have the tall set up on your swift, is it possible to set the BB to top of saddle at 81cm and the bars about 1" below that?

Yes, I'm riding with the seat a bit higher than that and the bars about equal. I did not hear back from Peter either when I was shopping, but the West Coast reps in Eugene responded to my email right away. Human Powered Machines is owned by Jan VanderTuin, co-designer of the Swift.

I have since learned that xootr now has xl seat posts and risers and they are again checking to see if it will work for me. They just received them and haven't had time to update their site.

However, the one from Peter sounds better in that it is steel with hand made wheels. I didn't realize the frames were different between the two companies. Waiting to hear back from Peter but will also give HPM a call.

So I heard back from xootr. With the new longer risers and seatposts, they can make the Swift work and compared to my roadbike, the measurements are spot on. So now that I know that xootr will work, should I get one of theirs or go w/ HPM or Peter Reich and spec it out?

aroundoz,

I think it depends on what you want in a folder. If you think you will be happy with the stock xootr that your father has or enjoy doing work yourself, buy from xootr. If you want something a little more personalized and don't mind spending money and waiting, have Peter build up a bike for you.

Juan

Test ride a Montaque. The crankset on mine is/was junk, so I am replacing it with a Shimano. I am 73.5"/210 lbs. It isn't a great folder as the front wheel has to come off, but I like the 26" wheels and it is solid feeling when clamped together. I have a disk brake on the front and that does make it easy to pull off.