Anybody know about these new folding bikes?

Gavin Bike (Florida Company)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2009-LIGHTWEIGHT-FOLDING-ALUMINUM-BIKE-SHIMANO-SORA_W0QQitemZ170243081101QQihZ007QQcategoryZ159088QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks like part swift part downtube.

Bigfishbike: (Slovenian company)
http://www.bigfishbike.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2FTjD0KCQ0

Gavin: That's the already known Taiwanese Hasa F1. Nobody has reported on them yet. These bikes sold here on ebay a few months ago for a few hundred. Google hasa, they have other folding bikes too, notable a 16" version of the F1, and a carbon and a titanium version of the F1, newly launched recently.

Bigfish: Spotted in the recent Smithfield Nocturne ridden by cute winking blonde.

I've ridden both the 20" and 16" hasa (with Dura-Ace + XTR mix). They feel solidly built, seatposts are compatible with D-brand ones. I don't like the twiddly bit on the handlepost when un/folding. Over here, the Hasas have a rabid following and parts are easily available.

Search "smithfield nocturne" in flickr to see more bigfish pics.

Didn't like the look of the Bigfish fold. I felt like it was going to have one more step!

I have ridden the Hasas too, both the F1 and F2. The gearing is more road-focused. The fold is not so nice but the ride is totally fine. I know of many people who mod these bikes with better parts.

Costs between S$520 to S$579 here.

the bigfish fold isnt erm.....exactly small is it

More about Bigfish at their site and blog. They seem to fit in the small but friendly mould along with Yan Downtube ;)

http://www.bigfishbike.com/
http://bigfishbike.wordpress.com/

Gavin appears to be the US distributor for Hasa (a Taiwanese bike maker). In folding bike circles, Hasa is known as the maker of the Minimax, a very lightweight (19 lbs) Carbon Fiber folder.

Here's a link to Hasa USA (which happens to be in St. Augustine, FL where Gavin is also located).

http://www.hasausa.com/

Here's a link to specs for the Minimax...

http://www.kosmikbike.com/bikes/show.php?model_code=minimax&type=FOLD

--sam

mmmm...

Those machines are downtube on steroids...

That raises my suspects:


Any company making products in china is being copied and marketed on same or different brands:

like says: the brand company ask ABC china company to manufacture your product to lower cost, they agree. you give them every detail of your product, they manufacture it, then Brand company places an order for 2000 units, but this is to low for the ABC manufacturing company, so they manufacture 4000 units give customer 2000 units and sold 2000 units abroad, then you can find a Brand name product under another brand or a Brand name product (old version) at very cheap prices.

So today BRAND product can be only a STICKER away.

Regards

Regards

i like the bigfish fold and the look of it but if the made the fold size half as small then they would be alot better

Wow, I like that Minimax. I found a picture of the titanium version here at Yan's site:

http://www.downtube.com/Folding_Bike_News/Taipei_Bike_Show_2008/HI_End_Folders/

Also, check out the cloned Brompton bike 2 pictures down.

Great, now you got me wanting a titanium swift...:innocent:

I rather like the look of the bigfish bike.

I could see myself meandering about on it quite easily :)

same but the fold is huge

All I know is that Yan would like to import some Flamingo Bikes if he can get some legal protection vs. Brompton if they sue over intellectual property. Anyone know any good lawyers to send Yan's way? I want a Flamingo/Merc with internally geared hub.

--sam

I personally wouldn't want to encourage any importing of any clone bikes.

The bike designers and companies who have worked hard and risked alot to bring their designs to market should be respected. These 'clone' companies are simply in it to make a quick buck out of others designs. All they do is take money out of the market, affecting the very companies who have made the market.

They are parasites.

All I know is that Yan would like to import some Flamingo Bikes if he can get some legal protection vs. Brompton if they sue over intellectual property. Anyone know any good lawyers to send Yan's way? I want a Flamingo/Merc with internally geared hub.

--sam

I wonder if it could be shipped separately, so it will be considered "bike parts", then have 2 companies sell it. One sells the frame then the other sells the rest of the parts. Or better yet, have the frames bolted down so it is not a "folding bike", then when someone buys it, they just unbolt it to "convert" it to a folding bike.

Mercs with more gears and improved brakes would kick the arse of Brompton. I did an informal foldie count on a trip the other day which took me from home in Southampton through Waterloo and Paddington. I saw one Dahon in Southampton, approx 23 Bromptons in London, and nothing else. It's a hegemony!

sammy any idea how much a merc would cost and where they are available?

Mercs are on eBay for about £340, but if you contact the seller, she'll sell you one of eBay for £300, I think. Of course, £350 will get you a Mini, with 8 gears....