Folding Bikes - Anyone rode/own a Pacific Reach?

Has anyone rode or owned a Pacific Reach? I am looking for a new touring bike that would be used for self supported touring, ala full front and rear panniers. The Pacific Reach looks like a decently sized bike capable of touring and the suspension is a plus. Any comments?

I am also considering the Bike Friday NWT. They are about the same price, but bike Friday custom fit.

Does anyone know the geometry of the Reach? Which model, Road, Offroad, Trekking would be the better choice?

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/
http://www.rad-innovations.com/Reach/reach.html

Would love to try one. They have only gotten rave reviews. Pacific is an outstanding frame builder and one of the leading aluminum bike fabricators. But they aren't really folding bikes...more like closet/travel folders. To get it down to a reasonable size, you need to remove the front wheel.

Edit: go to: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=351142

http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/Mike/Reach_review.html

Karlgw
Cool Pacific Reach site!:)
Thanks for sharing!

I have a Reach Offroad and it is an excellent bike, but doesn't fold very small.

It is not known how well it can pack into a suitcase should you want to do that.

It is not known how well it can pack into a suitcase should you want to do that.

Here's a review on Pacific's website showing how it can be packed into a suitcase:http://www.pacific-cycles.com/review2.asp?catid=6&aid=5

I'd wait until Pacific hopefully release the Reach with the new IF folding mechanism. Then you will have one serious folder! Here is one serious prototype at the Taipei show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn3qrpW9Lvo&feature=related


Yes very very good bikes. If this comes out soon Pacific will REACH new heights! :D

but, out of interest where does one buy - I was websurfing last night looking for dealers and could find none, US or UK - no,just the one in the UK....

Don George at Black Dog sells them: http://blackdogbicycles.com/birdyfoldingtravelbike.html

He might be able to get one of the new ones, but I think they are more costly.

I have over 400 miles on my Reach Offroad, and my only complaint is that I wore the rear tire out. The tire rode well, it's a Kenda Krankit with small knobs and a very light casing. Once I wore the knobs off there isn't anything left in the center of the tire. I am debating on replacing it with a heavier IRC knobby or with a Schwalbe Stelvio.

Ride quality is great, and for fitting on paniers you might want to go with the expensive but folding rear rack like Jur's wife's bike has. I have made an normal rear rack fit, but it makes the fold larger.

Search this forum for "Reach Offroad" and "Pacific Reach" you will come up with more pictures a a more detailed reviews. It is the fastest folder I own and the

I am still having difficulty getting the folded bike into any suitcase I own. I have both the Samsonite Oyster 29 and the F'Lite 31 and can't get it in either so far. It looks like I could do it if the height x width ratios were slightly different. There is a picture of a folded Reach in a suitcase on the Black Dog bicycles website, but I can't find that brand. I bought mine from Don at Black Dog here in Washington.

So far I am content to just fold it and throw it into the back of my car, but for a smaller fold I use my Downtube Mini so I haven't worked much on improving the Reach fold. This would be a very capable touring bike, but because it has rear suspension, you would not want to use a seatpost rack unless you really had to. Using a rear-triangle mounted rack puts all the panier weight over the wheel and just leaves your weight for the suspension to deal with.

Here's a review on Pacific's website showing how it can be packed into a suitcase:http://www.pacific-cycles.com/review2.asp?catid=6&aid=5That pic shows the fork is removed from the frame. Not a huge impact, but that explains how it is done.

That pic shows the fork is removed from the frame. Not a huge impact, but that explains how it is done.

Thanks for pointing that out. I had not looked at it that closely. Easier than taking the frame apart at the rear triangle which is what I was thinking of doing. Anybody know of a combo pedal (15mm) and headset spanner?


In this picture http://www.blackdogbicycles.com/images/070312_004.jpg it looks to me like the fork is attached and just rotated backwards.

I guess I'll have to pull out the F'Lite and try again.