Betst folders

[Chop!]

I received an e-mail from Larry Lagarde who runs the RideTHISbike (http://www.ridethisbike.com) cycling advocacy website, here I found a link to another addition for my list Betst Bikes (http://betstbikes.com/products.htm) have 2 magnesium folders already & are developing a Folding Mountain Bike.
Larry tells me that he is in the process of cycling 40+ trails in North America for an forthcoming book he's doing.

[flyingwolf]

I've been seeing these for sale on Ebay for a while. The review they have a link to says they have a soft ride from the magnesium frame. Don't know anything about mag. myself, but it also said they had 40 psi max tires, and maybe some of the softness is from the low tire pressure.

The problem I see with something like this is, even though they give a good warantee on the frame, if something happens to the handlepost or something are they really going to have any parts to fix it?

The other thing is, I remember them going for $279 plus shipping. For less than a hundred more there are Dahon internet dealers who will send me Curve D3 with free shipping included. Or for $150 more I could get a nice Downtube Mini with an 8-speed. So I have a hard time judging these off-brand bikes. Or I could take out a second mortgage and buy a Tikit!

Anyone know anything about magnesium frames? Magnesium is supposed to be lighter than aluminum but the total bike isn't very light.

[Jasoncary]

Magnesium is probably one of the best frame materials for a folder it is very strong and very lightweight.
P.S. The Aerlite-B frame weighs only 3 pounds! the extra weight comes from all the extra accessories and the parts are readily available.

[LWaB]

Magnesium isn't very good in fatigue and is usually weaker than aluminium.

[Jasoncary]

Please review this link I'm not sure where LWaB gathers his information but the strenght of Magnesium and the fatigue are the two best qaulities.
http://www.merida.com/s0_global/main_control.php?group0=tech&group1=magnesium

[LWaB]

Jasoncary, give me the specific alloys we are talking about and I'll be happy to comment on their specific properties. Perhaps we should consult independant listings of material properties rather than a manufacturer's PR piece.

http://www.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=MM0001 for general magnesium properties.

http://www.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=MA7056 gives properties of 7005, commonly used in bicycle frames. You can search for other alloys.

Personally, I prefer steel.

[spambait11]

Jasoncary, give me the specific alloys we are talking about and I'll be happy to comment on their specific properties.
He can't do that. Even thought he is the designer of at least one of the magnesium bikes listed, he only knows what his manufacturer tells him.