Folding Bikes - tikit Model T

From the 1/2/08 email newsletter:

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We have just released several new Built To Order tikitTM models as well as a New 2008 tikitTM model for only $999 (the 'Model T').

This base model tikitTM features a simpler folding mechanism but is designed to give you the same famous Friday ride. Note that our flagship stock model, Just The tikitTM - "the world's fastest folder" - is also available as an upgrade option for those who need the truly lightning fast fold.
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It'll be interesting to see this "simpler folding mechanism"; doesn't seem to be as quick a fold as a regular tikit. Oh well.

The price is really coming into line though. Makes me wish I hadn't bought other stuff. :(

it is so new that the their homepage doesn't even mention it?
http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit/bto

Could you give more info on the difference. simpler folding?

I am guessing the "Model T" has a manual clamp on the stem hinge, ala Brompton, but I could be wrong. That may (or may not!) eliminate the need for cables but I could be way off on that. Just speculating...

Anyway, there appears to be the the current "Hyper folding" model and the new "Impulse folding model ("Standard frame is 'Model T' Impulse fold w/ stem 'twiddly'" version...).

The Tikit section of the Bike Friday models page is definitely interesting to look over if one is considering the Tikit, especially with the pre-January 31st pricing.

http://www.bikefriday.com/ModelsList


Bob
Denver, CO

The price is really coming into line though. Makes me wish I hadn't bought other stuff. :(

You can still sell the other stuff and get what you want.

I am guessing the "Model T" has a manual clamp on the stem hinge, ala Brompton, but I could be wrong. That may (or may not!) eliminate the need for cables but I could be way off on that. Just speculating...

I think it is accurate that they are going to make a version without the tensioned stem hinge. I'm surprised that this would allow them to drop the price by $300 though. I'm wondering if they've made other changes to the frame that allow the cost to come in lower. There isn't much money to drop on the component package.

I think it is accurate that they are going to make a version without the tensioned stem hinge. I'm surprised that this would allow them to drop the price by $300 though. I'm wondering if they've made other changes to the frame that allow the cost to come in lower. There isn't much money to drop on the component package.

Development costs

If it were development costs then they'd be dropping the price across the line instead of increasing it. I doubt that the development costs have been recovered yet since they are continuing to enhance the tikit line.

You can still sell the other stuff and get what you want.
Don't think I can get my act together by the 1/31 deadline, but what you've suggested has been heavily crossing my mind.... ;)

At the very best with all of Bike Friday's discounts and options, I could get one for a little more than $500. Selling other stuff should make it significantly less! :eek:

But while I have no problem with manual hinges and quick-releases, I still want to see how they're implemented on this bike. No pics have been posted yet AFAIK.

IThe Tikit section of the Bike Friday models page is definitely interesting to look over if one is considering the Tikit, especially with the pre-January 31st pricing.

http://www.bikefriday.com/ModelsList


Bob
Denver, CO

Sorry for being dense...:o., but when I follow that link I only see the old hyper folding Tikit for $1295 and I don't see any reference to pre-Jan 31 pricing. Can you point me in the right direction please?

I didn't have a problem finding the new Model"T" Tikit pictures. Try try this site http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit. Roger

I didn't have a problem finding the new Model"T" Tikit pictures. Try try this site http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit. Roger

Thanks - here is the demo video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_fyMxi5DDs).

I still can't find anything about a pre-Jan 31 pricing?

I didn't have a problem finding the new Model"T" Tikit pictures. Try try this site http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit. Roger

They just changed the page. Good, thanks.

Speedo

Vik,

The link mentioned in another post does work, but I think it is pretty new as I did not see anything last night. If you look at the different Tikit models on the Bike Friday site, some of the models are listed (and priced) as standard with the "Model T" frame, i.e. the Express Tikit is now less with the "T" set-up. Also, the "pre-Jan. 31" pricing I mentioned was in an e-mail I received from BF yesterday - 10% off '08 pricing + $50 toward an accessory of your choice if you order before 1/31/08.

On a design note, I wonder if the cable systems is still used with the "Model T", as I know that was used to tension the front clamp. Doing away with the cable, its installation and adjustment, all that might account for some of the price difference, though it seems like it would have to more than that.

Question for Tikit owners - Is the cable system only used for the automatic clamping during fold/unfold or do the cables seem to add strength to the bike while tensioned? I know that is a hard question and the new type of clamp may still have cables as far as I know. But doing away with the cables is the only thing I could think of that would account for the price drop. Just curious if there were any expected drawbacks other than the lightning fast fold.

Good times for bikes....

Bob
Denver, CO

Vik,

The link mentioned in another post does work, but I think it is pretty new as I did not see anything last night. If you look at the different Tikit models on the Bike Friday site, some of the models are listed (and priced) as standard with the "Model T" frame, i.e. the Express Tikit is now less with the "T" set-up. Also, the "pre-Jan. 31" pricing I mentioned was in an e-mail I received from BF yesterday - 10% off '08 pricing + $50 toward an accessory of your choice if you order before 1/31/08.

On a design note, I wonder if the cable systems is still used with the "Model T", as I know that was used to tension the front clamp. Doing away with the cable, its installation and adjustment, all that might account for some of the price difference, though it seems like it would have to more than that.

Question for Tikit owners - Is the cable system only used for the automatic clamping during fold/unfold or do the cables seem to add strength to the bike while tensioned? I know that is a hard question and the new type of clamp may still have cables as far as I know. But doing away with the cables is the only thing I could think of that would account for the price drop. Just curious if there were any expected drawbacks other than the lightning fast fold.

Good times for bikes....

Bob
Denver, CO

Okay - thanks for the clarification Bob on the pricing.

The cable only tensions the stem clamp it doesn't structurally impact the rest of the Tikit. It seems that the rest of the Tikit is the same. I'm a bit puzzled and agree with Alex - it is hard to see saving $300 if all they did was do away with the cable and add a knob to the stem.

Okay - thanks for the clarification Bob on the pricing.

The cable only tensions the stem clamp it doesn't structurally impact the rest of the Tikit. It seems that the rest of the Tikit is the same. I'm a bit puzzled and agree with Alex - it is hard to see saving $300 if all they did was do away with the cable and add a knob to the stem.

Possibly they want to sell more tikits.

I noticed during the December sale that the 20" wheeled bikes like the NWT seemed to be selling better than the tikit. They may be trying to find the best entrance level model and entrance level pricing. The tikit is designed to be a commuter bike not a high level tourer or road bike. Different set of buyers in most cases.

(Just a retired salesman's opinion.)

I think it is accurate that they are going to make a version without the tensioned stem hinge. I'm surprised that this would allow them to drop the price by $300 though. I'm wondering if they've made other changes to the frame that allow the cost to come in lower. There isn't much money to drop on the component package.

I would be surprised if the difference was components. With the understanding that I have never seen one in person, I will speculate that there is a difference in the amount of labor -- perhaps setting up the cables takes a measurable chunk of time -- as well as some price discrimination.

Oh hell yes! $300 savings for just that knob is a deal - everything else is tikit-ish! They're going to make a killing on this bike! (Glad I didn't succumb to the higher priced model.)

However, this is probably only a one year price. Next year comes the annual price increase. (<-- Not a rant, just a fact.)

Edit: The knob may also make the stem stiffer, which is also a bonus!

If you are going to follow Henry Ford's logic I suspect the Model "T" will be a no option version of the Tikit available in any color you want as long as its black. That is one of the ways to get prices down. Roger

If it were development costs then they'd be dropping the price across the line instead of increasing it. I doubt that the development costs have been recovered yet since they are continuing to enhance the tikit line.

Not necessarily. You of all people should understand that Bike Friday owners expect the resale value of their bikes to stay high.

Bike Friday was taking a risk on an unusual bike, so they had to keep the launch prices up to mitigate against the risk total failure. Now that the bike has proven reasonably successful, drastically slashing the price of the regular tikit would only upset the early adopters.

Bike Friday was taking a risk on an unusual bike, so they had to keep the launch prices up to mitigate against the risk total failure. Now that the bike has proven reasonably successful, drastically slashing the price of the regular tikit would only upset the early adopters.

I would guess that it is a combination of this and with doing away with the cable. I saw a tikit up close and personal last week. I formed the impression that getting the cable adjusted just right might be a little tricky.

Speedo

Thanks - here is the demo video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_fyMxi5DDs).


I think they made a good move with the new Brompton like clamp. It's a bit slower to fold, but it seems so much more positive than the cable system.

Speedo

As a marketer myself, I think it's very likely that they are dropping costs on the tikit T more than just the reduction in variable cost.

The goal of any smart profit-driven company is *total* profits. Margins are only one lever for that. By having a lower priced product, BF can get sales that can more than offset any cannibalization from the more expensive models.

The T gives them a way to serve part of the market for whom $1300 is too much. I'm sure there will continue to be plenty of takers for the more expensive tikit, just as there are people who will spend over $500 to take 2 pounds off the weight of a Brompton.

I would be surprised if the difference was components. With the understanding that I have never seen one in person, I will speculate that there is a difference in the amount of labor -- perhaps setting up the cables takes a measurable chunk of time -- as well as some price discrimination.

I've setup the system from scratch (when converting my 2007 Tikit to have the 2008 cable system). It doesn't take too much time. It took me 30 minutes or so to install the new steerer, new cables, and tension everything for good folding.

The new model T looks like a great deal. I'd probably have just bought it instead of the hyperfolding model if it were offered when I bought my bike. I like the hyperfolding, but $300 is quite a bit of savings (almost enough to convert the bike over to internal hub gears).

alex

IThe new model T looks like a great deal. I'd probably have just bought it instead of the hyperfolding model if it were offered when I bought my bike. I like the hyperfolding, but $300 is quite a bit of savings (almost enough to convert the bike over to internal hub gears).

alex

If I was commuting to work on my Tikit with one fold/unfold either way I'd probably also go for the Model T. My major gripe with my Dahon is having to deal with 3 QRs and 3 adjustments every fold/unfold. The Model T minimizes the number of QRs down to 1 and there are no adjustments to make which is ideal.

However, I use my Tikit to run errands downtown and end up folding/unfolding it multiple times each trip. The cable systems lets me do this so fast and more importantly so easily I don't hesitate to do whatever I need to with my Tikit. With my Dahon and my full size bikes I am always weighing the hassle of folding the bike or locking it up while I run into a shop or business so I am less likely to do tangential stops besides the main errand I set out to do.

So I'd still buy the "Hyper Folding" Tikit, but I do think $300 is too much of a price jump unless they differentiate it from the Model T in some other way. Something like $150 - $175 would be more reasonable retail mark up between models.

... The new model T looks like a great deal. I'd probably have just bought it instead of the hyperfolding model if it were offered when I bought my bike. I like the hyperfolding, but $300 is quite a bit of savings (almost enough to convert the bike over to internal hub gears).

alex

Alex and all... Does anyone have any insight into when Bike Friday might offer an IG hub on the Tikit? When "new '08 models" were mentioned, I thought an IG hub would be offered, but not quite yet I guess. I know they are working changes in quickly, and the BF infrastructure is doing a great job of getting the new bike out there. Just curious if anyone had inside information on such a thing.

Bob
Denver, CO

I know that it is something that they are planning on offering. I don't know when it will be offered. As far as I know I have the only IG tikit anywhere, and I did the conversion myself.

Honestly I was surprised that it wasn't in the second set of offerings (along with the fixed gear Tikit and the DualDrive one).

alex

Is the stem knob captivated?

TCS