How many miles do you have on your folder?

[CrimsonEclipse]

I remember someone posting that I should expect to get only 3000 miles out of my
Dahon. So I'm just looking for long term information on all folders.

How many miles are on your folder?

CE

[ICU Doc]

Over 5500 miles on my Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro, and still going strong!!!

[LWaB]

Don't know is the short answer.

My 1999 Brompton was purchased SH in 2001 from a bloke who'd bought a demonstrator to commute on. I've killed a front hub, both rims, lots of tyres and the swingarm pivot (should replace that soon). My 1999 S&S-coupled Frezoni was built for PBP and has done lots of brevets since then, including '05 LEL, plus other rides. My 1965 Moulton Stowaway is older than I am but had done little mileage till I got it in 2001, '03 PBP, a fixed SR and some commuting since then. I usually total close to 10,000km a year on them as I've only got a few non-folders.

[jur]

I'm siting on 6000km on my Raleigh 20.

[EvilV]

2k miles on my Merc / Flamingo bike now, but I'm really stepping up the mileage to lose twenty pounds.

[14R]

126 miles on my Brompton after the latest upgrades.

[pm124]

Only 2,500 miles on my Birdy, but I've only been on it for a total of 5 months. There is no reason why the bike would falter at 100,000+ miles, but I'm planning on replacing the stem at every 10,000 miles or so. Many on the Birdy forum reported that the hubs develop play at 10,000.

[rhm]

I stopped riding my Strida when it had somewhere around 2000 miles on it. It was starting to feel very worn out by that time, and then the belt broke, so I had to get something else while waiting for the new parts. That's when I got the Mini, which now has about 400 miles on it. In the mean time, Strida is rideable again... but not being ridden.

[wrafl]

1073 miles on '06 Dahon Speed D7, had it 4 months now and is just a fantastic bike to ride. I believe it can and will last as long as it is cared for. Original tires seem to be holding and only had one flat on rear tire at about 85 miles. Upgrades so far, suspension seat post and Serfa's comfort saddle. Planned upgrade, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, front rack and lights for night riding in the fall. I'm very happy with this entry level folder and are planning to upgrade in the future on a Speed Pro or TR.

[Speedo]

1400 miles on my Bike Friday NWT. Have only owned it since this past February.

Speedo

[invisiblehand]

Hmmmm, I am somewhere around 2000 miles the NWT. I got the bike last Thanksgiving (late November for the internationals).

[noahj]

5300 miles on my NWT, 2500 on my PRP.

But...both of these were bought used. It's possible that both bikes have over 10K miles on them (probably more than that for the NWT).

[psykoocycle]

wow, rather humbling...

I'm estimating I'm around 700 Miles on the DT but I've only had it for 2.5 months... but it sure looks like its been through a war already.

[gazer]

Somewhere in the range of 3000-4000 miles on my '04 Dahon before it gave up the ghost.

Frame replaced under warranty and the whole thing is enroute to a hopefully happy new owner.

My new NWT is starting to accumulate the miles now...

In my Dahon's case, it was a bad weld that was the culprit of the frame failure (coupled with my high mileage). The replacement frame's welds looked much better, from this ME's point of view.

[locostbamboo]

Only a couple of hundred for me so far on my classic DaHon 3. Not sure how many are on it from prior owner(s).

Rob

[delwong]

Brompton L3 - 3,500 miles; Brompton T5 - 1,500 miles; GoBike - 2,000 miles; Dahon Curve D3 - 50 miles

[Simple Simon]

2004 Strida3: 3000+miles, 2001 BromptonL3: 2000miles, 2002 Whyte MTB: 2500+ off road miles (= 5000+ on road :D )

[nowheels]

Montague Paratrooper - 950 ish .......but it's a relativity now bike

[Bacciagalupe]

I put 2000 on my low-end Dahon before I got sick of it and relegated it to Beater Bike status. 2000 so far on the Swift, 300+ of that was a tour.

I'd be at 3k on the Swift if I didn't buy a 700c road bike earlier this year.

[pm124]

I remember someone posting that I should expect to get only 3000 miles out of my
Dahon. So I'm just looking for long term information on all folders.

How many miles are on your folder?

CE

I don't see why you should get just 3000 miles out of it. Sure, there have been reports of frame failures, stem failures, etc. But they have 100s of thousands of bikes out there. Thor has gone out on a limb and backed his Dahons with a lifetime warranty for $50 (Thorusa.com). His website looks a lot better now.

In all probability, you'll need nothing more than to occasionally replace the hinge ware, inspect the welds, and that's that. Probably good for a lifetime if you treat it well.

[noahj]

I don't see why you should get just 3000 miles out of it.


Well, that is the question that's being asked, isn't it?

Any bike worth having should have a frame that should last the lifetime of the rider. I don't know about a 3k mile lifetime for a Dahon frame, but I have talked to 4 people who've had Dahon frames break under them. Even with a lifetime warranty from the seller, it's not the sort of thing that inspires confidence. I've heard plenty of complaints aboout Fridays and Bromptons, but never about frame failure.

[Bacciagalupe]

Any bike worth having should have a frame that should last the lifetime of the rider.
Methinks that's a bit optimistic. ;) Metal fatigues with usage, and steel rusts. 3,000 is a bit low though, even for a Dahon.


I don't know about a 3k mile lifetime for a Dahon frame, but I have talked to 4 people who've had Dahon frames break under them. Even with a lifetime warranty from the seller, it's not the sort of thing that inspires confidence....
Agreed. However, while I am not a fan of their bikes, it is my understanding that they are built better than in the past, so I'm not sure how big of an issue this is anymore. Maybe an LBS that sells them would have a better idea.

[CrimsonEclipse]

I guess I was hoping for a data base for folders. Which folders failed (and what year(s))
which ones seem to last forever, etc.

Dahon will have you believe that they have a 1 in a trillion failure rate. I'm guessing it's
higher.

I would like to see this thread go on long enough to show a few trends.

CE

[EvilV]

I've heard of Brompton frames breaking at the joints. There's a chap on the Brompton Talk list that claims to have broken two if I'm not mistaken. Of course he could be some great hulking brute that enjoys jumping them over kerbs and riding them down staircases, but he says he's broken them.

I think that steel is a good material for cycle frames. That fancy Reynolds tubing makes light weight and very strong, lively frames. You can buy double butted tubing which is thick at the ends where it is brased and thin for the rest of its length. The advantages are that it has a really long stress lifetime and that it can be repaired. Of course it costs much more to have a hand made bike like that and an aluminium one mass produced in a far eastern factory is a much more marketable proposition. None of my bikes are steel framed now, but I had old bikes that gave me great service for decades, and there are plenty of fifty year old Raleigh bikes that have been in daily use by people of different generations. I doubt that many of our modern Aluminium ones will do that.

This one is fifty-two years old and is currently on ebay at less than £50.

http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/a9/4a/a2d5_1.JPG

[LWaB]

I've heard of Brompton frames breaking at the joints. There's a chap on the Brompton Talk list that claims to have broken two if I'm not mistaken. Of course he could be some great hulking brute that enjoys jumping them over kerbs and riding them down staircases, but he says he's broken them.

If you are thinking of Dave Holladay, he is a big bloke who likes riding them hard with improbable loads.

[EvilV]

Not sure who it is - I just remember reading that someone had broken two and if I'm not mistaken other people have broken them too. These people seem to be real devotees who use their bikes for every possible journey. They probably ride 5000 miles a year and keep the bike for a long time. At least Brompton give a long frame life guarantee - it's several years I think.