Folding Bikes - Bike Friday Folded Size

Can someone give me the folded size of the Bike Friday NWT and Tikit? They don't give it on their website. Mine would be a small frame but I'm not sure if that makes much difference. I am trying to compare the size to my Downtube. Then I would have an idea of how much disassembly is needed on Fridays for air travel. With the downtube it is a pretty extensive disassembly to fit in a 29" suitcase.

There is some dis-assembly required to get a NWT into a checkable suitcase. There are links to video(s) of one being packed on their website.

Check out this web page for most, if not all of them:
http://www.bikefriday.com/foldingpacking

There can be some sizable differences in NWT custom frames depending on the size of the rider. Mine has effective top tube length of 62CM. The "large" sized frame is 58CM.

The BF will be easier to pack than a Downtube. It'll fit in a Samsonite Oyster suitcase -- 29" maybe?

As to folding sizes: these are the "Quick" folds, not the "pack in a suitcase" fold. All of the bikes below will fit in a suitcase; the Brompton, and maybe the Mini, will require almost no disassembly. Not sure about the Tikit in that respect.


Bike Friday NWT, 20" wheels = 12" x 33" x 34" (13,464 cu in)
Bike Friday Tikit, 16" wheels = 15" x 24" x 35" (12,600 cu in)
Dahon Speed P8, 20" wheels = 13" x 25" x 32" (10,400 cu in)
Downtube NS, 20" wheels = 12" x 23" x 33" (9,108 cu in)
Downtube Mini, 16" wheels = 10" x 20" x 29" (5,800 cu in)
Brompton = 9.8" x 21" x 22" (4,527 cu in)

Here is what it takes to pack a Tikit into a suitcase. (http://viktikit.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-to-pack-tikit.html)

The NWT needs the following disassembly for suitcase (Samsonite Oyster 29") travel:
--Release front V-brake clip, loosen front axle skewer, remove of front wheel from fork
--Detachment of steerer from headset QR, loosen stem screw, remove right and left half-handlebars from stem
--Removal of seat tube/ saddle from seat mast, fold down seat mast
--Fold rear triangle under downtube

As to folding sizes: these are the "Quick" folds, not the "pack in a suitcase" fold. All of the bikes below will fit in a suitcase; the Brompton, and maybe the Mini, will require almost no disassembly. Not sure about the Tikit in that respect.


Bike Friday NWT, 20" wheels = 12" x 33" x 34" (13,464 cu in)
Bike Friday Tikit, 16" wheels = 15" x 24" x 35" (12,600 cu in)
Dahon Speed P8, 20" wheels = 13" x 25" x 32" (10,400 cu in)
Downtube NS, 20" wheels = 12" x 23" x 33" (9,108 cu in)
Downtube Mini, 16" wheels = 10" x 20" x 29" (5,800 cu in)
Brompton = 9.8" x 21" x 22" (4,527 cu in)

These sizes are pretty misleading because they assume that the folded shape is a box. It isn't for all of the bikes. The Tikit folds into a wedge (the front of the folded package is twice the height of the rear). I think that is true for many other bikes too.

No one who puts a folded NWT and a folded Tikit next to each other will say that the Tikit is only 10% smaller.

There are videos on youtube showing how to fold a Tikit for a suitcase pack. It takes about 10-15 minutes. The mini requires some disassembly too based on other threads here.

alex