Folding Bikes - Mobiky review?

I'd appreciate hearing any remarks of anyone who owns a Mobiky. How long have you had it? Do you like it? How far do you ride it? How tall are you? Have you made any modifications? If it were stolen, would you buy another one? Other comments? Thanks! --Rudi

There is a free issue of AtoB available through exacteditions.com that includes a review/comparison of the Mobiky and the A-bike.

You might want to get in touch with this person (http://bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4259995&postcount=335). What a cool setup!

I've had mine for 4 months, but I do not use it for daily commuting. More like cruising around the neighborhood and bike paths, short distance transportation and the occasional commute or errand that requires a folding bike. I would not want it for my only bike, and it is not even my only folding bike. The forward position of the bottom bracket makes it relatively unsuitable for pedaling at high effort levels, IMO.

I've ridden it up to 10-12 miles at a time and think I'd be comfortable with significantly more than that.

I'm 5' 8" and 165 pounds and although the Mobiky is advertised as okay for up to 240 pounds I would not recommend it to anyone significantly larger than me - I have the seatpost near its upper limit. The seat to handlebar distance is closer than on any of my other bikes, but not too close.

I think the way it folds is very elegant and well engineered and constructed, but it is not light - I find it a bit awkward to carry up and down stairs, even with the built in handle. I do like the way it rolls on its own wheels when folded. No need to ever carry it any distance except on stairs.

I love the little wheels and fat tires - the ride is quite comfortable, and the optional suspended seat post seems quite unnecessary as far as I'm concerned.

Some of the reviews are quite critical of the brakes. I've found them adequate, even going down some steep hills in my neighborhood, as long as they are well adjusted. Adjustment of the front disc brake is dependent on good alignment of the disc on the hub and this might be a problem with the cheap Joytech disc hub that comes on the bike, though it is probably possible to tweak it into alignment one way or another. My solution was to build a new front wheel on a Schmidt SON generator disc hub, which most people would not consider cost effective on this bike. In addition to the cost, there are technical difficulties in building such a small wheel on a full size hub, especially when the number of spoke holes doesn't match as in my case. You can see this and other details of my Mobiky in my pictures on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/gp/7289267@N06/7aKcM2).

The Ato B reviewer also criticized the design of the 2 stage drivetrain. It's true that theoretically the gearing could be configured to achieve the same ratios with a single chain, but I think they missed the point. The bike design would have to be completely different. There are big advantages to not needing a chain tensioner; having the bike fold around the jackshaft is brilliantly elegant, IMO, and it makes the full coverage chainguard very effective when the chain is always in the same place.

Other cool features include the 3-position kickstand that works when the bike is folded or unfolded, and the very elegant folding handlebar design. The telescoping stem is also very nice, much better than the one I saw on a Dahon.

Another modification I made was to swap the saddle for a Brooks B17S. The original saddle was too soft and its suede surface was too sticky for me. I chose the short version of the B17 because of the way the saddle fits behind the handle when the bike is fully folded.

The attachment of the rear fender seems fragile. One poster on Flickr had his break off, and it looks like the one in the AtoB review was bent. I might add a reinforcement to that. There were also some problems with spokes breaking on the rear wheel, but I was told by New York Mobiky dealer David Lam that that problem has been fixed. David is a great guy by the way and I recommend him highly if you're considering a Mobiky, but he might talk you into getting a Brompton instead. His shop is called Bfold.

Thanks for all that!
Have you tested the voltage that wheel gives you? I ask because I built up a pair of wheels for a Moulton Stowaway, ISO 349 rims and the new SA drum brake / dynamo hub. At very moderate speeds (like, maybe 10 mph) it was putting out 15 volts! I realize your Schmidt hub is built for relatively small wheels, but not THIS small, right? I ran mine through a voltage regulator to give a uniform 12 volts, powering a 12v 5w halogen bulb, and that setup gives me a LOT of light.
Interesting that the spokes are ALL laced to the INSIDE of the flange.

Interesting that the spokes are ALL laced to the INSIDE of the flange.I think they are all laced towards the disc side of the hub. Disc hubs are usually asymmetric. To build a good wheel the rim should be centered. That, together with an asymmetric hub means more dish on one side and less dish on the other (most rear wheels are good examples also). The spoke angles on small wheels are so large that I could imagine it would not be practically possible to build this particular wheel with alternating spoke orientation. The large flange diameter of the Schmidt hub does help either.

I think they are all laced towards the disc side of the hub.

Yes, I see now that that is how cyqlist built his new front wheel; I hadn't noticed that before.

But the original wheels, both front and back, were laced toward the inside of the hub. Certainly outside spokes are going to have an acute bend at the head, while inside spokes are going to have an obtuse bend, but I don't see why the latter is preferable.

There are photos on flickr of a Mobiky wheel with broken spokes. Spokes break because of fatigue, which results from uneven tension; perhaps having them all go the same way is intended to keep spoke tension even, and thus minimize fatigue?

@cyqlist - amazing job done on the front wheel.. your mobiky looks really nice .. good color.. I remember they showed this bike on the "I want that" show a while ago.. wonder if there are any other ways to drop down the weight .. i.e. by replacing parts ect.. ?

I was seriously looking at this bike but bought a Dahon Curve instead. The reason is that Mobiky is 5lbs heavier and doesn't fold as small. The wheels are also a lot smaller than the 16" Curve's and since I'm always riding in Chicago there are many curb cuts and uneven sidewalks or potholes that I don't think would be good to hit with the small wheels.

From talking to others, the Mobiky's cache is its looks and many other folding bikes just do it better for less.

My Curve was $360 and I just rode it 10+ miles home from work. It has the same tranny as the Mobiky.

Its not like these things are Italian motorcycles. Buy a Ducati if you want to pick up chicks.

Thanks for all that!
Have you tested the voltage that wheel gives you? I ask because I built up a pair of wheels for a Moulton Stowaway, ISO 349 rims and the new SA drum brake / dynamo hub. At very moderate speeds (like, maybe 10 mph) it was putting out 15 volts!

What electrical load did you have on it when you measured 15 volts? The load makes a huge difference.


I realize your Schmidt hub is built for relatively small wheels, but not THIS small, right? I ran mine through a voltage regulator to give a uniform 12 volts, powering a 12v 5w halogen bulb, and that setup gives me a LOT of light.

What kind of regulator? Do you rectify the current to DC? Years ago I used to use a pair of zener diodes to limit AC current, but nowadays modern generator headlights like the LED Inolight on my Mobiky, or the halogen Schmidt E6 have zener diodes and other circuitry built in. The more usual way to get 12 volt output from a hub generator is to use two 6 volt headlights in series and keep one of them shorted out at low speeds. At low speeds and voltages a single 6 volt light is brighter than two of them and I suspect much brighter than a 12 volt one.

The Schmidt SON20 is intended for 16 to 20 inch wheels. A typical 406mm wheel is actually 18" in diameter. The Mobiky wheels are 12" so the generator and light act as if the bike were going half again as fast - about the same effect as your hub made for full size wheels used with the 349 rim.

I think they are all laced towards the disc side of the hub. Disc hubs are usually asymmetric. To build a good wheel the rim should be centered. That, together with an asymmetric hub means more dish on one side and less dish on the other (most rear wheels are good examples also). The spoke angles on small wheels are so large that I could imagine it would not be practically possible to build this particular wheel with alternating spoke orientation. The large flange diameter of the Schmidt hub does help either.

The Schmidt hub has the smallest flange diameter of any available direct drive generator hub as far as I know - 70mm. And as far as I know there are only 2 choices for a generator hub for disc brake, the Schmidt and the Shimano Nexus which uses a different type of disc and has 80mm flanges. So the Schmidt seemed like the obvious best choice for me, although it unfortunately cost 3 times as much. The Mobiky is unusual among small wheel folding bikes in having full size 100mm spacing in its front fork. Otherwise I could not have had both the generator hub and the disc brake, since the narrower Schmidt hubs don't come in a disc version.

The original wheel on the Joytech hub had much more dish and all the spokes on the inside. I wasn't sure if it was better to have the disc side spokes on the inside or outside. The lateral spoke angles are more symmetrical with them on the outside, but the spokes had to be bent around the outside of the flange.

What electrical load did you have on it when you measured 15 volts? The load makes a huge difference.

Mmm, good point. No load at all.


What kind of regulator?

Just some cheap little thing from Radio Shack.


Do you rectify the current to DC?

No. Sheldon Brown describes a system with nicad batteries, charged by the regulated output from the dynohub... but I haven't bothered with the batteries, so there didn't seem to be any need for DC.


... modern generator headlights like the LED Inolight on my Mobiky, or the halogen Schmidt E6 have zener diodes and other circuitry built in. The more usual way to get 12 volt output from a hub generator is to use two 6 volt headlights in series and keep one of them shorted out at low speeds. At low speeds and voltages a single 6 volt light is brighter than two of them and I suspect much brighter than a 12 volt one.

Yeah, I know. For some reason I had bad luck with the modern generator headlights, and inexplicably fried out three of those LED taillights with "Standlicht" capacitors. When something goes wrong with these things, it can be very difficult to diagnose (except for the one where the leads literally melted off the LED bulb, which was rattling around in the bottom of the lamp... not that hard to figure out what went wrong there!). I now have a bunch of non-functional junk that cost too much to throw away. And that was with 26" wheels. When I built up the Moulton with little wheels and the dynamo, I wanted to try out the Inoled, but since it's not built for the higher voltage, I decided to go with a home-made system. It has been reliable so far; but the important thing is, if something does go wrong, I expect to be able to diagnose and fix the problem myself.

I was seriously looking at this bike but bought a Dahon Curve instead.
Did you get to test ride them both, or did you have to settle for 'virtual' comparisons? That's what I'm doing, and it's a poor substitute for a test ride. I was fortunate enough to be able to test ride a Brompton (impressive fold; unimpressive bike) and a Swift (just the opposite). I played with a Mobiky at a Sharper Image store, and was pretty impressed; but they won't let me ride it.


The reason is that Mobiky is 5lbs heavier and doesn't fold as small.
But it rolls --and steers-- when folded. This is important. It even stands upright, which is kinda neat. The stupid thing is, the Mobiky's handle is on the frame; to properly steer it when folded, the handle would be on the handlebar.


From talking to others....
Right, that's why I asked the opinions of actual Mobiky owners. Too many of the criticisms of this bike or the other are from people who have no first-hand knowledge, let alone long-term experience. I've seen a lot of negative comments about the Strida, for example, from people who have never ridden one, in sharp contrast to the posts by Strida owners, which tend to be positive. Is this just partisanship? Are we Strida partisans just trying to deflect our own embarrassment about owning such a boondoggle (or sheer Brompton envy); or do we actually like it for its strengths? The fact is that my Strida is easy to manage with one hand; if it weren't, I would have no use for it. From what I've seen, the Mobiky shares this advantage. Hence my interest.

When folded, Strida's stem becomes its handle, so it's wonderfully easy to roll it around, even with a briefcase and a jacket strapped to its luggage rack, which is probably its single best feature. There is a disadvantage to this, however, which is less frequently mentioned: when you pick the Strida up by its stem, the bike doesn't get off the ground until your hand is well over 45" off the ground, which puts your arm in a bad position for any lifting. So before going up or down stairs (which I do three or four times each day) you have to quickly shift hand positions, which isn't that easy to do in a fast-moving crowd of commuters. The handle of the Mobiky is much lower down, so Mobiky actually seems easier to lift than Strida, despite being significantly heavier.


My Curve was $360.
I hear you. That's about what my Strida cost once upon a time, and the Mobiky is about twice that. But okay, as a Curve owner (not to say partisan!), please tell me about how it handles when folded? Can you maneuver it onto the train or bus with one hand? Does it stay folded, or is there a tendency to unfold itself at inopportune moments?


Buy a Ducati if you want to pick up chicks.
Man, if I could pick up a Ducati with one hand and stick it on the overhead rack of the NJTransit commuter train, picking up chicks would be no problem at all. Well, my wife would probably have a problem with it, but that's another story.

The handle of the Mobiky is much lower down, so Mobiky actually seems easier to lift than Strida, despite being significantly heavier.
Doesn't this also mean your body may be in a more awkward position until you reach the stairs?

Doesn't this also mean your body may be in a more awkward position until you reach the stairs?

Yes, thanks, that's an important point too. I can push my Strida down the aisle of a crowded train by wheeling it in front of me; I didn't try that with a Mobiky.

I'm not sure exactly how high the handle of the Mobiky is when folded; as I recall it was somewhere around the height of my hand when I'm standing up straight, so about 30" off the ground. This means I could walk beside the folded bike easily enough, but I'm not sure that's very useful. It may be be easier to steer the folded mobiky from the handlebar if it's not collapsed all the way down, but (a) I didn't try that, and (b) the placement of the handle would still be wrong. It would be preferable to have a handle on the back of the seat.

Alternately, I wonder if the Mobiky will roll backwards when folded up; you can do that with a Strida if you lean it over a little so the back wheel doesn't touch the ground, but that alters the balance, and it's too cumbersome to do while walking down the aisle of a crowded train.

My in-store examination of the Mobiky was very brief. I walked it around the store a little, but I didn't walk very fast and I didn't have a helmet and briefcase and jacket in my other hand, so it wasn't a good test. I'd much rather hear about the experiences of someone who does this every day.

Too many of the criticisms of this bike or the other are from people who have no first-hand knowledge, let alone long-term experience. I've seen a lot of negative comments about the Strida, for example, from people who have never ridden one, in sharp contrast to the posts by Strida owners, which tend to be positive. Is this just partisanship? Are we Strida partisans just trying to deflect our own embarrassment about owning such a boondoggle (or sheer Brompton envy); or do we actually like it for its strengths?
....
When folded, Strida's stem becomes its handle, so it's wonderfully easy to roll it around, even with a briefcase and a jacket strapped to its luggage rack, which is probably its single best feature. There is a disadvantage to this, however, which is less frequently mentioned: when you pick the Strida up by its stem, the bike doesn't get off the ground until your hand is well over 45" off the ground, which puts your arm in a bad position for any lifting. So before going up or down stairs (which I do three or four times each day) you have to quickly shift hand positions, which isn't that easy to do in a fast-moving crowd of commuters. The handle of the Mobiky is much lower down, so Mobiky actually seems easier to lift than Strida, despite being significantly heavier.

Man, if I could pick up a Ducati with one hand and stick it on the overhead rack of the NJTransit commuter train, picking up chicks would be no problem at all. Well, my wife would probably have a problem with it, but that's another story.


Indeed.

I don't understand why people do that.

How do meaningless, unsubstantiated comments help either prospective buyers, or manufacturers keen on improving their bikes?
It's just bizarre.

As I mentioned in a post a while ago, I made an attachment to go on the bike which allows it to stand, & be strolled, near vertically, which is really handy in crowded situations. It doesn't interfere with folding. It's made of steel though, & I've been looking for some lightweight tubing along with a suitable mounting adapter, but not found anything suitable yet. I only have typical diy tools. I may price up what it would cost to make a proper prototype, but I suspect it might be quite dear.

If you look at the French Strida site, there's a picture of Bertrand Delanoë holding the Strida by the seat. Not sure if he's strolling it though.

I can also roll the bike backwards when I have a big apple tyre on the front :-)

I imagine that's easy to do on the new 5, as the freewheel is now in the back wheel.

I bought a pack of a selection of "A to B" magazines recently, to see what they were like, with a view to maybe subscribing, & how their reviews are conducted.
Cyqlist's notes are an interesting contrast to the A to B review, thanks.

We bought our bikes for their strengths, some of which we haven't seen evident in our "virtual" research into other folders, & these strengths are important for our pattern of usage. Actually getting a test ride on most bikes here doesn't seem too easy.

It's amazing how many girls smile & ask about the Strida actually :-)

Often though, my wife's with me, so it's only short term interest ;-)

rhm:

Well I have test rode the Mobiky but IMO its hard to do because the only outlets in the US are the mall based Sharper Image and Amazon. Perhaps there are others but the fact is that nationally their outlets are sort of restrictive. I had to test ride the bike at Sharper Image on the 7th floor of a mall and while I was impressed I was still concerned that it wasn't put to the test.

In defense of the Sharper Image their Manager of Sales told me he would honor their 14 day return policy no questions asked if the bike hadn't been riden in the rain. Still, I couldn't get that in writing.

Amazon's return policy clearly states that they only accept damaged goods.

That's said I did email Mobiky's web contact and ask a few questions about replacement inner tubes and such to which they responded promptly and positively enough for me to be confident of their services.

So the Dahon Curve: Why did I settle on that?

Well, I was able to test ride it in street conditions and was satisfied. Also, I like that Dahon has a model line with a variety of quality/price offerings. To me, this means that they are dedicated to the products and market and have many retail outlets in my area. Mobiky only has 1 model so I suppose I was weary of that 1 trick pony.

I suppose I have to say that I'm a 1st time folding bike buyer and I didn't feel comfortable sinking $700 into a purchase that could find itself accumulating dust in my garage. Not to say I don't like biking but I planned to use this as a daily commuter and if the train conductor decided the bike was too big then I'd be back to walking. Again, the Curve was $360.

I'd like to clarify that the Curve can fold and be wheeled while folded. In fact this is how I travel with the bike when not riding. I leave the seat in the riding position and push the folded bike sort of like I'm walking a dog. Of course you can't back up because the pedals will turn and stop at the frame. But with the same hub the Mobiky is probably similaryly restricted.

I'm lucky that we have escalators in our train station so I don't need to lift the bike at this point. I just wheel it onto the stair and stand behind it 2 steps while holding the seat. I don't know if this would be possible with a Mobiky as I sort of balance the Curve on the rear 16" tire and wedge it into the step. I suppose it could be done with a Mobiky but as I stated, there isn't anyplace to test this unless the Sharper Image lets you at the mall.

I thought that I might luck out and find a used Mobiky on eBay but the last few that have sold there did so the $500+ and I just didn't think that was worth the risk.

Oh and 1 last item, while all Mobiky color choices are available at Amazon the Sharper Image only was able to get 2 colors. I asked about special order and they said no that their contract calls for red and deep blue only. I suppose the Sharper Image website allows you to order other colors and possibly return the bike at the store if you are not satisfied but I didn't want to take that risk. Of course this arguement is somewhat invalid as the Curve only comes in Red (SL in polished aluminum hasn't been released yet).

The Mobiky is a sharp looking bike for sure. I love the look but at twice the price of another bike from a proven company that weighs 5lbs less and folds significantly smaller I just though it better to abide by the saying "form follows function".

In defense of the Sharper Image their Manager of Sales told me he would honor their 14 day return policy no questions asked if the bike hadn't been riden in the rain. Still, I couldn't get that in writing.
Good idea to get that in writing. Sharper Image told me the return policy on the bike was 30 days for any reason at all. They guy said they do this because (for insurance reasons) they can't offer test rides; but I did not get anything in writing.


Also, I like that Dahon has a model line with a variety of quality/price offerings. To me, this means that they are dedicated to the products and market and have many retail outlets in my area. Mobiky only has 1 model so I suppose I was weary of that 1 trick pony.
This is an interesting point, thanks for bringing it up. When established bike manufacturers offer a folding bike, they are captive to their conservatism, and end up with something like, say, the Raleigh Twenty; a fine bicycle that folds in half. I'm not criticizing it (I have one myself); but the fact remains, it wasn't in Raleigh's interest to re-think the whole thing from first principles, and even today most folding bikes are basically improvements on the Twenty, incorporating more or less ideas from the old Alex Moultons.

It's no coincidence that the most innovative folding bike designs --Strida, Sinclair A-bike, Mobiky-- are from companies that offer only one model. A notable exception is the Carry-me, distributed by a company that also sells 'normal' bikes (Pacific). There are numerous even more radical designs that fail to reach production.


I'd like to clarify that the Curve can fold and be wheeled while folded.
Thanks also for your remarks about the Dahon Curve. I'll continue to follow the discussion on the thread devoted to that model.

rhm:

Curve or not some things I just needed in a folding bike:

1. Less than 25lbs but not flimsy (thus carry-able for short distances)
2. Less than 13 inches wide (to fit within commuter train guidelines
3. Simple folding mechanism (I'm doing this 4x/day)
4. Safe/comfortable ride but larger tires (20") were too big for the train
5. Internal hub so that I don't have to mess around with bent derailers
6. Ability to roll while folded
7. Stylish
8. Affordable

I'm lucky that we have escalators in our train station so I don't need to lift the bike at this point. I just wheel it onto the stair and stand behind it 2 steps while holding the seat. I don't know if this would be possible with a Mobiky as I sort of balance the Curve on the rear 16" tire and wedge it into the step. I suppose it could be done with a Mobiky but as I stated, there isn't anyplace to test this unless the Sharper Image lets you at the mall.
Here's a good picture of a Mobiky on an escalator. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anabananasplit/393979993/)

Ya that's pretty cool I have to admit. I'd love to own one.

The only thing that I'd say would gig that position is that people in Chicago use the left side of the escalator to walk up. So if you block the whole ramp they give you dirty looks. Standees are expected to stay on the right.

I guess the days of believing the escalator is like a 6 Flags amusement ride are over.

Okay, I test rode a mobiky yesterday (at Bfold). Not a big ride, of course: I just rode it around the block a couple times. I noticed something that other reviewers have not mentioned, which is possibly of concern:

I'm talking about the seat tube, by which I mean a part of the frame, not the two telescoping seatposts that fit into the top of it. To fold the bike, you release a strut at the back of the tube in question; this unlocks the mechanism so the tube in question slides down and the rest of the bike folds up. It's a pretty neat system. But the tube does not have a tight fit to the rest of the frame, like most friction fittings on most bikes; it's a loose fit so it slides easily. A bushing of some kind of plastic to take up the slack.

Anyway, as a result, there is always a little play in the seat tube, including the seatpost and the seat itself. When the bike is fully set up for riding, and the tube in question is supposed to be locked, you can still twist the seat a little, or rock it front to back, or side to side. It's not much: a couple millimeters, I'd guess. But it feels wrong to me. And when you ride it, you can feel the seat move; if you slam on the brakes, and the whole thing topples forward a little. Do a quick swerve around a bump, and you can feel everything shift right to left and back again. I found this pretty disconcerting! David (the owner of the store) and I looked at a couple other Mobiky's and found they all had a little such play, but some more than others.

Has anyone else noticed this, and does anyone know what to do about it?

Rudi

Rudi: In searching for reviews of Mobiky I came across 1 or 2 that raised concerns with the numerous pivot points in the frame. These reviewers stated that pivot points are potential weak links especially when shims and bushings break down with age. This will cause the frame to loosen or wiggle over time.

I'm not sure how many pivot points Mobiky actually has but my current bike only has 1 frame pivot, a handlebar pivot, and a tension lock seat. I find it fairly solid unless I'm hill climbing which I seldom do. For my type of riding I'm more concerned about cournering and that has a solid feel. I'm not so convinced Mobiky would be as solid over say a 6 year timespan.

As I said, for the price you'd be paying I could simply replace my bike at 3 years and still break even with the mobiky price.

Yeah, that seems to put it pretty well. I'm going to continue this discussion over at the Dahon Curve thread. See you there!

The only thing that I'd say would gig that position is that people in Chicago use the left side of the escalator to walk up. So if you block the whole ramp they give you dirty looks. Standees are expected to stay on the right.

That's my boyfriend in the picture. :-) We've taken our Mobikys on escalators quite a few times and there has been no problems. You can fairly easily keep it on one side and people can still pass alongside. No one gives you dirty looks about a Mobiky, on the contrary! ;-)

Ana:

Ah, one of the famous Portuguese Mobiky riders. I hear you guys are taking over the streets.

Anyway, consider yourselves lucky over there. Americans are not as patient with bikes as Europeans or Canadians. I get dirty biker looks all the time, even when the bike is in a clean bag. People over here (at least in Chicago but I'd venture to say other big cities as well) are into their routines and anything that deviates from that routine is a foreign enemy.

Its changing here but for the most part the green movement is only lip service. There are a lot of commuters who are in a "me 1st" midset. If I sit down next to them with my bike the complain to my face. If the train is crowded and I ask someone to move a pack taking up a seat so I can sit down they get belligerent because for the past 14 years they have sat in the same 2 seats and no one has ever asked them to move.

Escalators are the same, people all think your going to get their pants greasy with chain lube or something.

kq ... thankyou for those insights on US commuting habbits. I can see from these that the benefits of using folding bikes + trains to make journeys 'door to door' are only just being taken on by true early adopters such as you. I guess it will take time before petrol cost rises, congestion and environmental awareness have more relevance to the majority. Until then we (as folder commutors) can keep the killer advantage to ourselves .... ie Train + Folder = Fastest 'door to door' journey time :).

Its amazing how rediculous people are. The new talk is that battery chargers, VCRs, clock radios etc all create a weak drain on power. Large media outlets are encouraging people to unplug these devices to conserve power.

My mother in law made a comment to me about this and how she was going to make the extra effort and unplug appliances not in use. Then she said, "I have to go pick up my husband and bring him back here so we can go to eat." I'm like, we live off the same subway line why not just tell him to take it here?

That didn't go over well for either of them. But IMO, all the unplugging she'd do over the entire year is probably negated by this single 15 min round trip car pickup.

Silly really but that's America for ya. In defense of my countrymen we do live in a monsterously large country that requires a lot of resources to travel around in. I just wish people weren't so wasteful or at least critical of those who choose to conserve.

I myself ride a folder more for the exercise than the environment but saving the environment makes me smile too.

Oh and Mobiky? If I could find one for less $$ I'd probably buy it because I think its pretty awesome looking.

Take a look here for comment in a similar vein:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=298060">Getting home last Friday

Thanks sorry for the Thread Highjack.

Thanks sorry for the Thread Highjack.

Oh no, I wouldn't think anyone would mind too much. It's sometimes really difficult not to include something interesting in a specific thread, & hard to know if it's worth starting a new one ;-)

I just noticed the parallel in the 2 threads, as I'd asked in the other one about bike tolerance on trains in the US, & it contrasts somewhat with your observation. I've only been on the train once in Chicago, without bike, & didn't see any bikes at all.

Thanks sorry for the Thread Highjack.
Oh no, I wouldn't think anyone would mind too much. It's sometimes really difficult not to include something interesting in a specific thread, & hard to know if it's worth starting a new one ;-)

I just noticed the parallel in the 2 threads....

No, no one will mind, and yes, there are many parallels because both threads were started by myself, and both for exactly the same reason, viz. the (so far: endless) search for something that folds up small enough to be easy to take on a train twice each day and unfolds quickly enough into a good bicycle. All the options involve compromises.

The Mobiky seemed an attractive option, because of the way it folds and can roll and stand when folded, all of which suit my needs. In the end I voted against Mobiky, not because of its weight or price (neither of which I liked), but because of the way it rides (which I especially disliked), and concern about how it would hold up to rough treatment.

Mobiky's undeniable cuteness is not lost on me. As John noted, the Strida has a certain cuteness too ("It's amazing how many girls smile & ask ...") and this seems to rub off in the rider, with the effect of disarming critics potentially found among the good people with whom I share the train.

But Mobiky's cuteness may cut both ways. The sad truth is: as much as I love my bikes, I pound the hell out of them by riding hard in all weather etc. Throwing them up on the metal luggage rack of a train takes its toll as well. My treatment inevitably gives a bike a certain look (in my field we call this 'patina,' which, applied to a bicycle, is a bit of a euphemism) that conflicts with, and detracts from, cuteness. A Mobiky owned by me would soon take on an abused look, which would make me look bad ("look what that nasty man has done to that cute little bicycle!"). Ha, so much for disarming the enemy!

And, of course, if the frame starts out loose, and gets looser over time, and I don't know how one would tighten it, and, well, you get the picture. I opted for a Downtube Mini... now, that would be a thread hijack!

Ana:

Ah, one of the famous Portuguese Mobiky riders. I hear you guys are taking over the streets.

Anyway, consider yourselves lucky over there. Americans are not as patient with bikes as Europeans or Canadians. (...)

:-) I didn't know we were famous! :-P I guess the USa really is a world within a country, because there seems to be places and cultures like Portland and then, I'm guessing, Chicago. If those are bike-friendliness opposites, then I guess Portugal is still much closer to Chicago. Let's hope both places change quickly. ;-)

Ana:

I guess the USa really is a world within a country

But as we become more corporate the regional differences have started to disappear. Now where ever you go there is a McDonalds, a Starbucks, a Macy's, etc ,etc. The people culture is slower to change, meaning we still have different accents, driving habits, and such.

To clarify, Chicago is a bike open culture. Well the govt is willing to support us. But there are so many different people in the US that all mix here (Chicago is an immigrant city) and we are very into our cars (a car purchase is usually the 1st big purchase people make once they have the financial ability here in the US) which we use to get around in such a big place that sometimes bikers need to be extra careful for people in big vehicles that aren't used to sharing spaces with bikes.

Any idea how well a Topeak MTX EX rack would work on the Mobiky?

I have both a Curve D3 and a Mobiky, and I'm very happy with both and prefer not to be without either one. They sort of complement one another in that if I want to ride along distance and not stop to shop, I take the D3. If I want to ride shorter distances and shop in and out of stores, I take the Mobiky. I would say both are a gas to ride.

I've had mine 2 days now and really like it. I pootled around for about 3 miles in the park yesterday and then commuted to work today. My commute is about 7.5 miles one way so 15 miles round trip.

I am 5' 7" and weigh 185 pounds. I moved my Topeak DynaPack DX (http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/DynaPackDX) from my mountain bike, 1980s era Diamandback Ascent rigid - none of that complicated suspension stuff for me :-) to the top of the middle tube of my Mobiky which seems to work fine. The DynaPack uses a quick release mechanism just leaving a small mount on the post. I think I could use a carabiner to clip the bag to the front hook when the bike is folded but I need to go find a carabiner to do that.

The DynaPack DX is rated for about 10lbs of load and itself only weighs 890g or 1.96lbs so I'm still in the weight range for the Mobiky with a fully loaded DynaPack.

These pictures were taken with my iPhone so they aren't the greatest or very high resolution but they seemed to have turned out pretty good compared to a lot of other phone cameras...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2765941987_89621802d0.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/2765941987/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2766791700_3630bc259b.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/2766791700/)

This is not stable, it wants to pop wheelies as you roll it along walking next to it. But this is where I think you could clip the bag from it's insertion point onto the front handlebar hook and let it hang down along the plane of the handlebar stem...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2765948595_2edb9bc96d.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/2765948595/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2765952767_20d57dffe0.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/2765952767/)

On my mountain bike with combo tires - smooth in the middle with knobbies on the side I was averaging 32 minutes to get to work.

On the first commute today! on the Mobiky the ride there toke me just over 37 minutes and the ride back took 35. To work I stopped twice - once to tweak the seat post because I realized I had it too low and another time to readjust the handlebar height slightly. No stops on the way back other than traffic lights, etc.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2766785906_df3272afde.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/2766785906/)

I think once I get used to the three speed hub my time will drop slightly as I was either shifting too soon or too late and ended up doing a lot more thigh muscling instead of a decent cadence at the right gear.

I'd buy it again - the seat post play mentioned by another wasn't noticeable after the first hmmmm... Seems like the folks with the suspension stuff would feel somewhat similar flex so I don't really get the criticism.

The handlebar-end mirror is a Zefal Spin (http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=474001) - a really great little mirror although I did have to disassemble it and tighten up the screws on all of the joints. As shipped they were all too loose.

All the other comments about the sticky saddle are dead right. It uses sort of a velour coating and you stick to it like crazy. I changed it on day 2 before my commute.

Besides the Topeak bag I also have their Hilite Combo (http://www.topeak.com/products/Lights/HighLiteCombo) on the handlebar and bag.

-Eric

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/

Pics!! :thumb:

I've had my Mobiky for several months now. I purchased it used from a fellow FB forumite. It gives me a lot of jollies everytime I ride it. It's just the thing for popping out the door for a quick unfold and ride around the neighborhood while my spouse does her last 10 minutes worth of "finishing touches" before we head out on our appointed rounds. About 5 seconds on both ends of the ride is all it takes to get it in and out of action.

Hi, I have been using a mobiky genius every working day since the day I bought it in August 2008. I use it for multimodal commuting here in Madrid, Spain. I take it in the train every day. And ride about 8Kms
per day. I ride it in any weather, sun, rain, and lately even in the snow! Let me tell you about a couple
of serious problems I've had:

1. After four months of use one of the pedals broke. I went to the store to get a replacement and
the guy put a pedal from a different brand in the bike and in the meantime he would get a proper replacement from the dealer.... It's been three months and I am still waiting, I keep calling the guy and he
keeps giving me excuses and lies. I guess I will have to sue him for not servicing the bike while under
warranty.

2. Now the more serious problem. A week ago the chain was skipping. I unassambled the middle
double sprocket to find out that the small sprocket had almost all of the teeth worn out really
badly. A couple of them had so much ramp that caused the chain to skip. While it is true that
I have been riding in all sort of weather, and that the chains had gotten a lot of dirt, I have also
been cleaning them and lubricating them quite often. Still I would say the bike has been ridden
for about 900Kms and I feel that the sprockets should have lasted a little more. Anyway my problem
now is that I have no clue how to get a replacement part. The guy at the shop tells me he has
requested it, but after the deal with the pedal I am feeling hopeless. Also I sent an email to the
manufacturer contact@mobiky.com asking about replacements and whether the sprocket was
under warranty and I have had no reply whatsoever. So I am almost feeling like I bought a lemon!
Too bad because I really love to ride that bike every day. I am afraid of the day I have to replace the
brake pads, or the tyres!!! where would I get them from? What is your experience guys with
spare parts for this bike?

These pictures were taken with my iPhone so they aren't the greatest or very high resolution but they seemed to have turned out pretty good compared to a lot of other phone cameras...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2765941987_89621802d0.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/2765941987/)


!!!

Wow,that Dynapack combined with your Mobiky... you may have just created the cutest looking thing in two wheels!! It has a very "Vespa" feel to it.

Very, very Euro looking and could very well now be classified as a genuine-chick-magnet... :innocent:

:thumb:

How heavy is the Dynapack? Is it large enough to take a helmet?


.

That is the DynaPack DX. This link (http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/DynaPackDX) takes you to the manufacturer's page for this model and gives you the basic specs. The bag and frame are 1.6 lbs with a max load of about 10 lbs. It has a zippered expansion system for bulkier objects and yes you can put a bike helmet in it. If you follow the link, there is an image of a bike helmet inside the DynaPack DX. The regular DynaPack (http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/DynaPack) is smaller and does not expand.

When folded I have a carabiner through the DynaPack strap on th top that I clip into the front hook on the Mobiky. It works great - stays balanced folded and I can still steer while rolling in folded form. You just have to leave the handlebar stem extended about 1.5" from the fully down position to clear the front wheel and fender.

I've put a little bit over 100 miles on my Mobiky, mostly riding to and from work. I expect to ride it much more this coming riding season (too much snow and muck in the winter in Michigan for me :p ).

I bought a Minoura roller trainer and did try the Mobiky on it and it is possible but extremely hard so I changed the roller setting to fit my mountain bike and have been trying to "roller" 3 times per week about an hour each session. On the roller I ride with my iPhone/iPod using Genius playlists. I do NOT listen to music when riding on the street.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3268038608_4ddf30379f_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickasailor/3268038608/)

Hi, I finally solved the problems I had with my my mobiky genius. The people at after sales service from mobiky were most helpful. I guess I was getting too impatient. They sent me a stronger double sprocket
for free. Apparently mine had some manufacturing defect. Also I ordered a bunch of spare parts and
they included some extra parts for free. That was nice. They were very helpful and friendly. So that's a plus for them I have no complaint and I am really glad to be back on my bike !!