Folding Bikes - Future Folders

Post your photos/pictures or just news of new folders here. These can be new models, drawings/designs, or concept bikes such as my link below:

http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/folding-bike-with-a-vengeance-backpack-bicycle/

Don't forget to comment on whether you think they are a good idea or not and for what reasons :saweeet:

These are some pictures of the microfolder that we are developping:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22534583@N08/sets/72157605794190344/

So far so good. Everything OK with the km accumulation. If things go right we will have a small batch to sell during 2009.


http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/9923/d1000104mu8.jpg

BTW, I was forgetting.
Also this micro folding bicycle goes into a back pack:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5210/1207080902ni1.jpg

The picture of the MTB near by is the other bicycle that I have been developping. I use the folder with the back pack when I have to leave or take the mountain bike from the factory.

Interesting, gganio. I am 6'2" with a 33" inseam. Would your micro work for me?

My "Outside the Box" thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=434768&highlight=box+outside) had a few links and pictures to some interesting concepts.

These are some pictures of the microfolder that we are developping:

So far so good. Everything OK with the km accumulation. If things go right we will have a small batch to sell during 2009.

I'm confused I thought this bike has been available at:
http://www.geocities.com/gganio.geo/vepo/index.html
for quite some time.

I haven't tried one, but the specs for the pneumatic version look very similar to the A-bike, except that the Mini125 is more of a "detachable"/"demountable" than it is a folder. I like the fact that the "folded" package is more vertical than the A-bike's squarish shape, but it seems like a lot more trouble to take apart than folding the A-bike or the Carry-me plus it costs about as much as a Carryme.

I don't mean to criticize, but why should someone buy your product over the A-bike or the Carryme? To be completely honest I suppose you have solved a few problems with the A-bike by having an aluminum frame and a normal seat, but I remain skeptical that the riding geometry is sufficient. I won't say anything about the 6" wheels because they're only 2" smaller than the 8" wheels of my Carryme which I know rides very well, but I feel that getting the geometry nearly perfect for micro wheeled bikes is essential because the contact points just aren't big enough to tolerate a sloppy design. Now I don't know anything about the mechanics of frame geometry, so perhaps I'm just being closed minded, but the geometry of your bike is very strange: the seat and handlebar posts are completely vertical whereas most folders angle them and the cranks are set very close to the rear wheel (like the A-bike, of which there are many complaints). You are about 2kg lighter than a stock Carryme, but half of that difference can be eliminated by removing the Carryme's racks and the other half by upgrading its brakes (which are cheap and heavy).

Perhaps the Mini125 rides great and I'm completely wrong, but 350 euros can buy a new Carryme and enough upgrades to get it below 7kg which folds just as small, has bigger wheels, folds faster, and stands without putting the seat in the mud. So unless the Mini125 rides like a dream it's hard to see how it could be competitive with the Carryme which rides quite nicely or the A-bike which costs half as much. But, please, tell me I'm wrong because the more competition the better.

Interesting, gganio. I am 6'2" with a 33" inseam. Would your micro work for me?

Well, I am noticing that our new model is less size flexible. It basically fits up to me 6'0". You might want to consider the Carry-Me. That should be an other portable bicycle more capable to carry taller people.

I'm confused I thought this bike has been available at:
http://www.geocities.com/gganio.geo/vepo/index.html
for quite some time.

I haven't tried one, but the specs ....quite nicely or the A-bike which costs half as much. But, please, tell me I'm wrong because the more competition the better.

Those were the old bikes. We finished them. The new one is pretty much the same but it folds in 3 seconds. Actually 0 seconds since you can fold it while walking ... into the subway.

These portable bicycles are kind of a technological challenge. It is not clear which one makes so much sense to stick arround for a while. Their usefulness changes also with where and who uses them. It is like mountain bikes, the trail you go the bike you chose. For example, if you really want to carry the bike as a carry on bag on an airplane, then you might want to choose an A-bike. If you are tall and have a long bike multimodal journey, then the Carry-me is the good choice. If you live in Tokyo, then the Mini125RD might be a good choice. Live in London, then probably you might en up choosing a full size Brompton.

Those were the old bikes. We finished them. The new one is pretty much the same but it folds in 3 seconds. Actually 0 seconds since you can fold it while walking ... into the subway.

These portable bicycles are kind of a technological challenge. It is not clear which one makes so much sense to stick arround for a while. Their usefulness changes also with where and who uses them. It is like mountain bikes, the trail you go the bike you chose. For example, if you really want to carry the bike as a carry on bag on an airplane, then you might want to choose an A-bike. If you are tall and have a long bike multimodal journey, then the Carry-me is the good choice. If you live in Tokyo, then the Mini125RD might be a good choice. Live in London, then probably you might en up choosing a full size Brompton.

In my opinion micro wheeled folders make a lot more sense than the usual kind and I admire your ambition to make them despite the obvious marketing/image problems. Since you list all your competitors on your website you must be confident about your design and I look forward to trying one of your bikes one day.

Please keep us updated on your latest developments.

BTW, it looks like you have experimented with many designs:
http://www.geocities.com/gganio.geo/vepo/ProdArch/ProductArchive.html
Would you mind telling us a little bit about how these bikes ride differently and what your philosophy is when designing a micro folder?

These are some pictures of the microfolder that we are developping:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22534583@N08/sets/72157605794190344/

So far so good. Everything OK with the km accumulation. If things go right we will have a small batch to sell during 2009.



Why not just get a razor?

Sorry guys, for my late answer. I am on vacation. Accessing the internet sporadically, till probaly the end of August. I got hooked with hill climbing with the single speed MTB.
Anyway, the philosophy is just to succeed making a portable bicycle. When I stayed in Japan (1994, 1998, 2003, 2005) I have seen people discussing about if it was feasible, and which would have been the smallest wheel diameter that would ever be proposed.
Lately some interesting portable bicycles are coming out. Especially the second generation of these portable bikes will be the one that will show if they make sense.
By the way, I have seen in the forum a post about the Abike plus, http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=451927
There one guy is showing pics of real portable bikes making real work...

Back to those trails..
If you do not see any posting from me in September is because I crashed downhill. I am going hotter and hotter with that stiff bike