New Flamingo Ultimate folding bike!!

[marenchu]

Have you seen this new model??
http://www.flamingobike.com/products/products_show.php?pid=60&cid=3#pro
Anyone knows where could I get a quote??
This really looks like the ultimate folding bike!!
18 speeds and similar to brompton!!
Thanks
Mario

[marenchu]

Here are some pictures and specs as shown in flamingo site:

69185

69186

69187

* BRAND: FLAMINGO Handy FOLDING SERIAL
* MODEL: HS-F2 16" 18-SPEED FOLDING BIKE (EXTERNAL SHIFTING SYSTEM)
* FRAME: FULL ALLOY HYDRAULIC FORMING RIGID FRAME
* FORK: CR-MOLY RIGID FORK
* TIRE: 16"x 1- 3/8" ANTI-PUNCTURE TYPE, W/REFLECTIVE LINE
* GEAR SYSTEM: F/D MICROSHIFT FDR-439; R/D SHIMANO DEORE LX 9-SPD
* FEATURE: TELESCOPIC FOLDING STEM,
OVERSIZE STEM POST,
DOUBLE CHAINRINGS TO ENHANCE RIDING POWER
EXTREMELY COMPACT INNOVATION
* WEIGHT: 11.93 KGS
* LxWxH: 660x350x510mm = 4.16'
* COLOR AVAILABLE: RED, BLACK, WHITE

[cmcanulty]

Wow I want one what is the price?

[mulleady]

Question when will we ever see them in the mainstream?

[invisiblehand]

Looks like a height adjustable stem.

[Weakling]

Am I old fashion to prefer to have 7 or 8 gears in hub to have them outside in a casette?

[14R]

I don't think you can turn left on that bike if you are riding 10mph or faster...

Nice looks though.

[marenchu]

Hi:
I wrote to gracegallant and got the following answer:

Thank you for your e-mail expressing your interests in buying FLAMINGO folding bikes. HS-F2 is an all new external innovation folding bike which is still not available in the market, as we will start the production until this September ~October. Please take reference to see if you would consider inter 3-speed or inter 7-speed type folding bikes FL-BP01-3 or FL-BP01-7.

The product photos of FL-BP01-7
69249
and the photos of FL-BP01-3
69250

So, we will have to wait till next Christmas, as for the other two models, one is almost the same as the merc and the FL-BP01-7 one is has a Nexus 7 , these are already available here in Spain ( I already phoned for a quote and told me 800 EURO, almost like a Brompton!!) so I guess they wil be everywhere, just write to gracellant for a retailer, I hope cheaper than the spanish one!!!

[rhm]

Am I old fashion to prefer to have 7 or 8 gears in hub to have them outside in a casette?

You may be old, but you're right! With 16" wheels, it's very difficult to get a decent gearing with a derailleur. What's the highest gear ratio this bike offers? What are the chainring sizes? What's the cassette?

[marenchu]

I don't think you can turn left on that bike if you are riding 10mph or faster...

Nice looks though.

I saw this

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=396364
in an archived thread, is just the same concept but home made, they say it works very well!!

[ShinyBiker]

Hi:
I wrote to gracegallant and got the following answer:

Thank you for your e-mail expressing your interests in buying FLAMINGO folding bikes. HS-F2 is an all new external innovation folding bike which is still not available in the market, as we will start the production until this September ~October. Please take reference to see if you would consider inter 3-speed or inter 7-speed type folding bikes FL-BP01-3 or FL-BP01-7.

The product photos of FL-BP01-7
69249
and the photos of FL-BP01-3
69250

So, we will have to wait till next Christmas, as for the other two models, one is almost the same as the merc and the FL-BP01-7 one is has a Nexus 7 , these are already available here in Spain ( I already phoned for a quote and told me 800 EURO, almost like a Brompton!!) so I guess they wil be everywhere, just write to gracellant for a retailer, I hope cheaper than the spanish one!!!



800 Euro is $1259 USD. Why not just get a brompton? Am I missing something?

[invisiblehand]

800 Euro is $1259 USD. Why not just get a brompton? Am I missing something?

Because the Flamingo -- just from memory -- has a 7 speed internal hub, v-brakes, and some other stuff that escapes me at the moment.

[mconlonx]

Not folders, but I love these bikes in their catalogue:

http://www.flamingobike.com/Archive/_eng/products/DSC02497-b.jpg
7-sp Shimano hub! Track ends! Lugged steel! Coaster brake?!?



http://www.flamingobike.com/Archive/_eng/products/MS-R1-b.jpg
Mini-velo!