Folding Bikes - I just need ONE folding bike

This one?

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l260/oldiesonfoldies/Tikitlynettes.jpgYep... what are you doing with my bike!? ;)

This one?

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l260/oldiesonfoldies/Tikitlynettes.jpg

WANT!

Jur, you won't keep up in suspense, will you? Let us know what you decide!

Jur, you won't keep up in suspense, will you? Let us know what you decide!

Isn't it obvious? He's going to buy a Brompton, a NWT, a Tikit, and a Birdy! :)

Jur, Are you still buying the Tikit from Lynette?

Is this thread about trying to justify the purchase :)

I see she is coming to Brisbane next week and apparently the Tikit she has will be for sale - is that the same bike, or did she bring a few?

Anyway, I will try to get along to her show and see what the Tikit is like in person (hopefully she will let us ride it)

It's the same bike, and it's a little disconcerting to see it is still touted as being for sale after I indicated my commitment... perhaps they are covering their bases in case I pulled out, not sure.

She will let anybody ride it - that is the main purpose of her visit. :) But she is short stuff so it may be a little cramped. I confirmed from the chaps at BF that it wil be fine for me, it is a medium, after fitting a 120mm stem.

So now we know that Jur is the original carrier of the Foldinitis virus.

Hope you get yout Tikit and lokking forward to your subsequent review of it! :)

Birdy Rohloff looks amazing, too, but once again... North America (Jur, I realize that's not an issue for you) has crappy Birdy distribution and old models. The Birdy chain seems to fall off a lot, though I only have small experiences with it. Any owners care to comment?

If care is taken in setting the bike up for folding, little problem with the chain and it does take a bit of practice to get proficient. No drops during riding, but one of the first things I do with a new bike is make sure the chain is adjusted to proper length.

Jur - another vote for the Birdy. It is one of the best engineered bikes I've owned, and there is no equal as an all-arounder insofar as weight, fold size, riding characteristics, and build quality. About the only thing one wants to replace are the tires, which are tough but a bit "slow". All other components are up to the task and the frame and handlepost are rock solid. And being in Oz, support should be fine from what I've read. Wish I could say the same for here in the States. The distributor just doesn't seem to give a rats... I think the Birdy would have a lot more interest if some marketing was applied and there was decent support with parts and accessories. Just look at Japan, where it has an almost cult following. If they could start moving some numbers, the price might even come down.

As the purpose of the other two are commute backup, I'd keep the Swift and the Mini. The Swift would also do for those times when you just want to scratch the roadie itch and the only misgivings you had were in regards to touring.

Whatever you decide, it'll be interesting to see how long you can stay with three bikes.

She will let anybody ride it - that is the main purpose of her visit. :) But she is short stuff so it may be a little cramped. I confirmed from the chaps at BF that it wil be fine for me, it is a medium, after fitting a 120mm stem.


Hey! It sounds like you're copying my chimera tikit (http://cs.gmu.edu/~sean/stuff/tikit/#conclusion) medium/large hybrid. The red bike is a medium, but with the handlebar, horizontal stem portion, vertical stem portion, and seat mast (the red part that says "Bike Friday") of a Large. Well... the bike in the picture doesn't have the new seat mast, but it will in a few days.

The net result is that, with the seat pushed all the way back (giving you about 1/2 inch more), the bike is almost dead-center between a Medium and a Large. For me (5'11", smallest height for a Large, largest height for a Medium), it's close to optimal.

And now some suggestions. You may find the handlebar has too much flex: this can be improved to a significant degree by replacing the vertical stem portion (the silver bar) with a thicker-walled one. In the Medium they use a 0.065" thickness bar, but in the Large, they use a 0.100" thickness bar. This should be pretty easy to obtain without having to go through Bike Friday.

The lower seatmast is also too springy under my weight (207 pounds). BF is sending me a Large-thickness seatmast as well (it's a bit thicker in the Large as well). This would be a custom part for you though. I cannot yet report to what degree the new lower seatmast will stiffen things up.

Jur - another vote for the Birdy. It is one of the best engineered bikes I've owned, and there is no equal as an all-arounder insofar as weight, fold size, riding characteristics, and build quality. About the only thing one wants to replace are the tires, which are tough but a bit "slow". All other components are up to the task and the frame and handlepost are rock solid.


Wow. Quite a testimony. I wish I hadn't read it ...

Go on, treat yourself...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2634242340_73a45379ba_b.jpg

Fear & Trembling = EVIL!

--sam

Go on, treat yourself...


Wowiee F&T! Somebody's feeling it! :D .. any chance of a pic of that bike with just the rear wheel folded under??

http://www.pceo.org/S6300066.JPG

It will be less expensive, smoother, stiffer, lighter, fold smaller, and faster on the ground than the tikit. It also has more luggage carrying capacity. The only reasons to prefer the tikit, as I see it, are the fast fold and customer support. (But this exists in Australia, probably.)

Oooooh... it's becoming difficult. :D I have always had strong leanings to the Birdy. Will have to visit the bike shop soon to have another test ride.

For the first time I notice the Birdy's fork is not actually a parallelogram. It is quite unlike the Reach fork.

Just a question on the Birdy rear pivot: pm124, didn't you have quality issues with it? Anybody else?

And does the Birdy stay together when folded and picked up?

PS pm124: could you pls rescale your pic to say 800x600 pixels? Or max 1024x768? This would fix the page-widening problem.

Go on, treat yourself...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2634242340_73a45379ba_b.jpg

You, sir, are cruel and heartless :mad:...
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That's it - I'm selling the Dahon Helios XX Anniversary bike and getting the Birdy.

Oooooh... it's becoming difficult. :D I have always had strong leanings to the Birdy. Will have to visit the bike shop soon to have another test ride.


And does the Birdy stay together when folded and picked up?


Here's mine dangling from the nose of the saddle ... picking it up folded from the saddle is relatively normal procedure when walking with it .. it stays together very well without additional aids.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2634722774_6f46c0884f.jpg

http://www.pceo.org/S6300066.JPG

It will be less expensive, smoother, stiffer, lighter, fold smaller, and faster on the ground than the tikit. It also has more luggage carrying capacity. The only reasons to prefer the tikit, as I see it, are the fast fold and customer support. (But this exists in Australia, probably.)

Dude! You put a Nashbar seat on it??? That's it...I'm reclaiming it! Send it back to me! :notamused:

(mod changed pic to a link do to size. )

The uncluttered look of a Bike Friday
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/hotzilla_2006/PICT0820.jpg

If I had my way, I'd have a bike shop that specialised in all the good brands of folding bikes, like Moulton, Birdy, Bike Friday and Reach etc, maybe even brands like Dahon, also BoB trailers and all cycle touring and camping needs.......better than permanent afternoon shift, (2-10:30pm) washing stupid buses.
That way, Jur could come up here and test any bike he wanted...and get a hefty discount...sigh

^ "Inferior cheaper brands like Dahon???" Whoa!


Hey, that's a bit tough :rolleyes:

Oooooh... it's becoming difficult. :D I have always had strong leanings to the Birdy. Will have to visit the bike shop soon to have another test ride.

For the first time I notice the Birdy's fork is not actually a parallelogram. It is quite unlike the Reach fork.

Just a question on the Birdy rear pivot: pm124, didn't you have quality issues with it? Anybody else?

And does the Birdy stay together when folded and picked up?

PS pm124: could you pls rescale your pic to say 800x600 pixels? Or max 1024x768? This would fix the page-widening problem.

It stays together when folded. There is a screw that keeps the front wheel in place. The stem locks it in from horizontal movement, and the seatpost keeps the rear wheel in place. Genius.

Not so genius is the rear fork axle hinge/needle bearings. This is durable, but is not well sealed, so it has to be lubricated. I drop a few drops of oil on it whenever I lube the chain, and that seems to work well. It has many thousands of miles on it without any trouble.

Changed the pic into a link. For some reason, my graphic converter doesn't resize properly, and I erased iPhoto from my hard drive long ago.

Dude! You put a Nashbar seat on it??? That's it...I'm reclaiming it! Send it back to me! :notamused:

Ha ha. I didn't put it on. It's my GF's bike. I have a Ti fly on mine.

If I had my way, I'd have a bike shop that specialised in all the good brands of folding bikes, like Moulton, Birdy, Bike Friday and Reach etc, maybe even brands like Dahon, also BoB trailers and all cycle touring and camping needs.......better than permanent afternoon shift, (2-10:30pm) washing stupid buses.
That way, Jur could come up here and test any bike he wanted...and get a hefty discount...sigh

Do you remember Santa Fe Bikes?

Do you remember Santa Fe Bikes?

Ah no, I live in Australia, in a country city...please enlighten me.

Santa Fe bikes was just such a retailer in New Mexico here in the states. They carried all the high-end stuff and ran a website as well. They were probably a bit ahead of their time so they went out of business.

At least that's what I've been able to gather.

--sam

Birdy - nice looking bike. Who sells them in southern California, like where I might be able to try one out? I'll be there shortly.

Birdy - nice looking bike. Who sells them in southern California, like where I might be able to try one out? I'll be there shortly.

I wrote to the Birdy distributor in the U.S. and requested information on how to test and purchase a Birdy bike. I got this back: .................................................... That's right, absolutely nothing. I then tried to call and got this: .................................................... I managed some time with one in Germany while traveling through. The U.S. distributor is utterly worthless, and the models available are old as compared to what is being sold in Europe. Someone is exceptionally bad at their job at R&M or they just aren't motivated to try and capture more U.S. market share. Very few businesses I have encountered are this bad at getting product to excited customers that have a lot of interest in their product.

Santa Fe bikes was just such a retailer in New Mexico here in the states. They carried all the high-end stuff and ran a website as well. They were probably a bit ahead of their time so they went out of business.

At least that's what I've been able to gather.

--sam

Essentially right. They didn't quite go out of business for lack of demand -- they claimed that they were breaking even in the high season -- but instead the head mechanic they helped train decided to leave for greener pastures. Given the effort of re-training they decided that the effort was too much.

Part of the issue was that the owners lived somewhat far away -- I suspect they lived in Albuquerque --- from Santa Fe.

I wrote to the Birdy distributor in the U.S. and requested information on how to test and purchase a Birdy bike. I got this back: .................................................... That's right, absolutely nothing. I then tried to call and got this: .................................................... I managed some time with one in Germany while traveling through. The U.S. distributor is utterly worthless, and the models available are old as compared to what is being sold in Europe. Someone is exceptionally bad at their job at R&M or they just aren't motivated to try and capture more U.S. market share. Very few businesses I have encountered are this bad at getting product to excited customers that have a lot of interest in their product.

That about sums it up. There is no real US distributor. As far as I can tell, Yeah! has bought a bunch from the distributor and is selling them on eBay, and "Rad-Innovations," the official distributor, is completely, 100% useless. The only way to ride one in most circumstances is to ask existing owners.

Black Dog is one reputable retailer, but is in the Northwest.

Hearing stories like that, I will add that in the quest for buying the only folder, dont forget to consider the level of customer back up service (or lack off) that comes with your dream folder. I've been very impressed with one particular company lately :)

I agree regarding Rad-Innovations. Doesn't seem like they're doing much to push the bikes.

Rad-Innovations also has a relationship with Flamingo Bikes, though I don't believe they are the American distributor (they were showing the Flamingo folders at various bike shows in North America). Flamingo Bikes directed me to them if I wanted to test ride a bike in the states. Sadly, I'm not near Rad-Innovations so it didn't really work out.

--sam

EDIT: They're based in Portland, OR... for those interested.

Hearing stories like that, I will add that in the quest for buying the only folder, dont forget to consider the level of customer back up service (or lack off) that comes with your dream folder. I've been very impressed with one particular company lately :)

Yes, I should add that your LBS will need the manual to figure out how to work on it. There are a lot of very complicated German (over) engineered bits, and eccentricities. (E.g., the headset is mounted upside down. Genius way of using a standard headset rather than a custom one, but it's as confusing as hell.)

Fortunately, we have Black Dog as a parts supplier here in the US, and they sell parts cheap. Without them, it would take a long time to get parts for the bike.

Hearing stories like that, I will add that in the quest for buying the only folder, dont forget to consider the level of customer back up service (or lack off) that comes with your dream folder. I've been very impressed with one particular company lately :)

Yes, that "particular company" is pretty amazing. They have been extraordinarily easy to deal with and I have bought all my parts and upgrades from them because they are so nice to do business with. The fairness (discounts, free shipping at times, immediate attention, etc.) on top of really knowing their product and how to mod it is really top notch. I don't know what they are like internationally, but dealing directly with Eugene is a delight.

I am now selling the Dahon Da bike. Details here (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Dahon-Da-Bike-folding-bicycle-very-nice-condition_W0QQitemZ190239816745QQihZ009QQcategoryZ7298QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) with ample photos.

I found it folds a fair bit smaller than the Mini.

I still haven't decided which bike-to-end-all-bikes to get. Most probably a Birdy. But I'm eyeing a nice Moulton as well.

I am now selling the Dahon Da bike. Details here (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Dahon-Da-Bike-folding-bicycle-very-nice-condition_W0QQitemZ190239816745QQihZ009QQcategoryZ7298QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) with ample photos.

I found it folds a fair bit smaller than the Mini.

I still haven't decided which bike-to-end-all-bikes to get. Most probably a Birdy. But I'm eyeing a nice Moulton as well.


Jur, I have been holding off on comments on this thread

Go with the Moulton, the engineer and bike rider in you will love it :)

I just received my new TSR frame several weeks ago and I am building it up now. If I had to be down to 1 ride, Moulton would be it (even if it isn't a folder)

I have been looking over some of the threads I started when I was contemplating my stable, and where I wanted to go with said stable.

So here is the current status:

* I got me the Birdy (as posted in the Birdy thread). I have fitted an adapter for my commuting trunk bag, and it is doing commuting duty. I fold it several times a week, sometimes on the train, sometimes when I take it into a building, or for putting in the back of the car.

As also posted before, I took it touring fully loaded to kangaroo island (see my sig linky). My impressions there were that the wheel diameter was too small to adequately deal with loose dirt roads, and that it is a bit flexy for fully loaded tours, although I got used to that. It is likely the bike I would take overseas with me next opportunity.

* I got me a Moulton APB after one came up for sale for $750. It weighed in at a porky 14.8kg as I bought it; I am in the process of lightening it to about 12kg.

(The APB (All Purpose Bicycle) was built by Pashley after the ATB (All Terrain Bicycle) that Alex Moulton designed of which only about 100 or so were built. The APB was redesigned and renamed to the TSR which is the current Pashley production Moulton.)

The Moulton APB has 20" wheels so is more suited for the sort of touring I took the Birdy on. Especially as it had loads of clearance and I could install the fattest tyres I can find. It has one of the stiffest frames you could find, plus front panniers are actually hung from the frame so the steering is not affected at all by such loading, making it much more suitable for loaded touring again.

This weekend I took it mountain biking (on 28mm high pressure tyres!!) and it handled it very well despite the hard skinny tyres. The trip consisted of MTB-ing over rough steep terrain with lots of loose gravel, and followed by smooth pavement.

* the Swift is still my bike of choice for fast road rides as the Moulton is a bit heavy for that, and the Moulton does not climb too well out of the saddle, bobbing heavily on the suspension.

So that's my 3 primary bikes which I foresee owning for the foreseeable future.

*The Yeah has been stripped of the quality parts, eg the rear wheel and gearing system went to the Moulton, the Thudbuster will go on the auction block as it no longer has a purpose, and the Yeah will also go on the block with most of its original parts fitted. The Schlumpf was always meant for the Birdy but I am procrastinating on that one, not sure why.

* The Revan was sold some time ago; it had a catastrophically low bottom bracket causing frequent pedal strikes. I sold it with the Torpedo Duomatic hub.

* The R20 is now also considering to be sold; I will probably do that is-is. I can only hope to get out of it a substantial part of what I put into it. It has served me well but since I now have all the bikes I always wanted, there is no longer any reason to keep it.

* The Mini will stay with me, at least for now. It can do foul weather duty, and with the folding stem, it can now fold pretty compactly.

That leaves me with 4 very diverse bikes.

...Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as...
http://www.spartantailgate.com/forums/members/trevor-barnes-albums-misc-rcmb-images-picture346-spanish-inquisition.jpg

Sorry, I just couldn't resist. You keep listing more and more things that matter.

I have been looking over some of the threads I started when I was contemplating my stable, and where I wanted to go with said stable.

So here is the current status:

* I got me the Birdy (as posted in the Birdy thread). I have fitted an adapter for my commuting trunk bag, and it is doing commuting duty. I fold it several times a week, sometimes on the train, sometimes when I take it into a building, or for putting in the back of the car.

As also posted before, I took it touring fully loaded to kangaroo island (see my sig linky). My impressions there were that the wheel diameter was too small to adequately deal with loose dirt roads, and that it is a bit flexy for fully loaded tours, although I got used to that. It is likely the bike I would take overseas with me next opportunity.

* I got me a Moulton APB after one came up for sale for $750. It weighed in at a porky 14.8kg as I bought it; I am in the process of lightening it to about 12kg.

(The APB (All Purpose Bicycle) was built by Pashley after the ATB (All Terrain Bicycle) that Alex Moulton designed of which only about 100 or so were built. The APB was redesigned and renamed to the TSR which is the current Pashley production Moulton.)

The Moulton APB has 20" wheels so is more suited for the sort of touring I took the Birdy on. Especially as it had loads of clearance and I could install the fattest tyres I can find. It has one of the stiffest frames you could find, plus front panniers are actually hung from the frame so the steering is not affected at all by such loading, making it much more suitable for loaded touring again.

This weekend I took it mountain biking (on 28mm high pressure tyres!!) and it handled it very well despite the hard skinny tyres. The trip consisted of MTB-ing over rough steep terrain with lots of loose gravel, and followed by smooth pavement.

* the Swift is still my bike of choice for fast road rides as the Moulton is a bit heavy for that, and the Moulton does not climb too well out of the saddle, bobbing heavily on the suspension.

So that's my 3 primary bikes which I foresee owning for the foreseeable future.

*The Yeah has been stripped of the quality parts, eg the rear wheel and gearing system went to the Moulton, the Thudbuster will go on the auction block as it no longer has a purpose, and the Yeah will also go on the block with most of its original parts fitted. The Schlumpf was always meant for the Birdy but I am procrastinating on that one, not sure why.

* The Revan was sold some time ago; it had a catastrophically low bottom bracket causing frequent pedal strikes. I sold it with the Torpedo Duomatic hub.

* The R20 is now also considering to be sold; I will probably do that is-is. I can only hope to get out of it a substantial part of what I put into it. It has served me well but since I now have all the bikes I always wanted, there is no longer any reason to keep it.

* The Mini will stay with me, at least for now. It can do foul weather duty, and with the folding stem, it can now fold pretty compactly.

That leaves me with 4 very diverse bikes.

Isn't that an awful lot of suspension bikes for someone who thinkgs "fat tyres are a more efficient suspension than purpose-made suspension"? :)

Keep buying and riding folders and you'll never die. So far its worked for me!
*3 Sears Tote Cycles
*Raleigh Twenty
*Legnano Autocamper
*1968 Schwinn Run-a-bout

Isn't that an awful lot of suspension bikes for someone who thinkgs "fat tyres are a more efficient suspension than purpose-made suspension"? :)
Y-yeah... I suppose that qualifies my opinion...? :D

Keep buying and riding folders and you'll never die. So far its worked for me!
*3 Sears Tote Cycles
*Raleigh Twenty
*Legnano Autocamper
*1968 Schwinn Run-a-bout

Now there's an idea that has scientific merit, at least relative to to the alternatives. :thumb:

Calling pm124 to provide some citations. :)