Folding Bikes - Folder under 15lbs?

What sort of bike brands are under15lbs - and easy to fold up? Any carbon folders out there?

For awhile, I've been looking for a folder that is under 15 lbs. Something easy for a woman to carry and it only has to support a person under 130 (including pack). It does not have to be a "10 speed"

They exist, but let's say they're expensive. (http://www.bikefriday.com/oregonhandmadebikeshow07)

I"m surprised at the prices $$$$ I was thinking that a bike that's ridden once in a while would run around $300-500. NOT!

The Dahon hammerhead 8.0 on another thread runs around 17lbs. Maybe a used light folder would be the way to go. Are there any big kid folders that would fit the bill?

I think the Dahon Mu Uno may come close, but it's not available yet.

Folding bikes generally are heavier than road bikes because of the complexity of the folding mechanism involved. But Swifts can get under 20 pounds; The Dahon MU SL is 19.4 pounds, basically the lightest compact folder around; a used Dahon Helios runs around 22 pounds.

Wow, 15 lbs that are 7kg. You are in the realm of super lightweight sport carbon bikes. Carbon is not very suitable for a "to be lugged around daily folder" at least so do the makers think, some here have different opinion. If you want 15 lbs that would be probably only possible as a "project"/custom made (like the link to Rob English's super light project Bike Friday) and those are expensive of course. Even 17lbs is a challenge. I have not seen any kids folders yet and kids bikes (to be abused and used shortly) seem to be rather cheap and therefore heavy in comparison.
The Dahon Mu Uno will be about 21lbs. The Dahon hammerhead weight is stated with 18lbs (8,3kg) and that's without pedals.

If you can arrange with 8,15 kg (18 lbs) and a bike that can be rolled when folded, look at the Carryme, the best "ultra small wheeler" imho:
http://www.pacific-cycles.com
Or look at the A-Bike said to be "the world's smallest, lightest bike - only 5.5kg!"

I think the Dahon Mu Uno may come close, but it's not available yet.

I won't expect the Uno to be *that* light. My singlespeed Dahon Mu (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseff/sets/72157605937936133/) is pretty much what an Uno is, with a couple of heavier bits (v-brakes, drop bar) and lighter ones (no coaster brake hub, lightweight saddle, lightweight seatpost) and it comes in at 22lbs with marathon racers. Even the Mu XXV registers somewhere near 18lbs. Could be even heavier now that they're swapping the Mg frame for Al.

No, if a folder is to get anywhere near 15lbs, it won't be a Dahon Mu.

I"m surprised at the prices $$$$ I was thinking that a bike that's ridden once in a while would run around $300-500. NOT!

I wouldn't say your expectations are completely off.

Problem is that when it comes to nonfolding bikes only high end bikes which are meant to be ridden a lot or even professionally are under 15 pounds. Since the main marketing strategy of most folding bike manufacturers is to emulate nonfolding bikes you'll find that most light weight folding bikes have the same characteristics.

There are, however, exceptions. There's the A-Bike which is 12 pounds and costs around $250. There's also the Carryme which costs around $400-$500 and although it weighs in at 17-18 pounds I think mine is now around 15 pounds after about $130 of upgrades. There's also the Mini125 and the Zerobike, but those will be difficult to get in the US.

Mind you, light weight bikes seem to always sacrifice comfort and the bikes listed are no different. However, in these cases for the folding ability you're also going to be sacrificing your expectation of appearance and for the low price you're going to sacrifice some speed.


The Dahon hammerhead 8.0 on another thread runs around 17lbs. Maybe a used light folder would be the way to go. Are there any big kid folders that would fit the bill?

The hammerhead doesn't fold and kid bikes are going to weigh more due to the cheap components. If you really don't plan on doing that much riding then one of the bikes listed above should be fit the bill.

.... The Dahon hammerhead weight is stated with 18lbs (8,3kg) and that's without pedals.
.........
Or look at the A-Bike said to be "the world's smallest, lightest bike - only 5.5kg!"

Hello somnatash, I've just been reading some of your interesting posts on the BromptonTalk forum :-)

It looks like the Hammerhead 8 is only available in the Far East:

http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5603

I too would like one, as the 7 is really nice, but as has been pointed out, doesn't fold.

As I've posted before, I enjoyed my rather short ride (indoors) of a Carry-Me a year ago at the London Cycle show, but I'd need to ride it in darkness & pouring rain before deciding to buy it, so I'll be interested to read about your experiences with yours, & any puncture repairs you do :-)

For awhile, I've been looking for a folder that is under 15 lbs. Something easy for a woman to carry and it only has to support a person under 130 (including pack). It does not have to be a "10 speed"

How about something that easily rolls when folded, would that make up for the "easy to carry" part?

Hello somnatash, I've just been reading some of your interesting posts on the BromptonTalk forum :-)
Really, its been long since I've been there.


As I've posted before, I enjoyed my rather short ride (indoors) of a Carry-Me a year ago at the London Cycle show, but I'd need to ride it in darkness & pouring rain before deciding to buy it, so I'll be interested to read about your experiences with yours, & any puncture repairs you do :-)

Ah well, rain...
One problem with the Carryme is the rather poor braking power, which will be worse in rain. While eg. makeinu stripped the rear brake to save weight, I personally feel, I need the two of them urgently. I might even upgrade with magura HS33. Not sure how much improvement that could mean - where "the poor" derives from.

darkness: that should be doable with some strong battery lights, why not? Sudden pottholes and gravel are much better to handle than expected.

Have the bike shortly, nu punctures yet.

Really, its been long since I've been there.



With > 40000 posts, it's taking a long time........ ;-)

You do still have your Brompton, or does your new CM cover all your needs?



Ah well, rain...
One problem with the Carryme is the rather poor braking power, which will be worse in rain. While eg. makeinu stripped the rear brake to save weight, I personally feel, I need the two of them urgently. I might even upgrade with magura HS33. Not sure how much improvement that could mean - where "the poor" derives from.


Yes, it's important to know where a forum contributor is posting his experience from. My experience of North American weather is often vastly different from Northern Europe!



darkness: that should be doable with some strong battery lights, why not? Sudden pottholes and gravel are much better to handle than expected.


I have just under 200 lumens now with my 2 AA cells (but only for 90 minutes or so) :-)


That's what I was thinking about, so, good to know, especially with our rapidly shortening Northern European days!



Have the bike shortly, nu punctures yet.

That's good. Can you get spare tubes & tyres ok where you are?

With > 40000 posts, it's taking a long time........ ;-)???


You do still have your Brompton, or does your new CM cover all your needs?
Of course, the brompton is loved and used and actually my bromptonstable is growing and the Carryme is a different fellows altogether.



Yes, it's important to know where a forum contributor is posting his experience from. My experience of North American weather is often vastly different from Northern Europe! thats true, but there might be a tiny misunderstanding here, with "where the poor" derives from, I did not mean neither me nor makeinu but "the poor braking power". ..

The Carryme is a sweet bike and a light one, in so far I hope this was interesting for the threadstarter - but please cyclistjohn, feel free to pm me for further questions about the Carryme or Brompton, I dont feel to go too much off topic:)

I won't expect the Uno to be *that* light. My singlespeed Dahon Mu (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseff/sets/72157605937936133/) is pretty much what an Uno is, with a couple of heavier bits (v-brakes, drop bar) and lighter ones (no coaster brake hub, lightweight saddle, lightweight seatpost) and it comes in at 22lbs with marathon racers...if a folder is to get anywhere near 15lbs, it won't be a Dahon Mu.

That's disappointing - I was working on the principle that the MuSL is listed at 19.4 lbs. Removing the gears and all the extraneous stuff that goes with it should remove at least 3 - 4 lbs.

I was intending to buy a Mu Uno when they come out, (I prefer single speed bikes) but it sounds a bit lardy at 22lbs with 20" wheels.

Have you ever weighed the frame and fork of your bike?

How about something that easily rolls when folded, would that make up for the "easy to carry" part?

+2

I was wondering when someone was going to question the assumption that the bike had to be carried :)

OP See: Mobiky, Strida.

Regards
T

I won't expect the Uno to be *that* light. My singlespeed Dahon Mu (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseff/sets/72157605937936133/) is pretty much what an Uno is, with a couple of heavier bits (v-brakes, drop bar) and lighter ones (no coaster brake hub, lightweight saddle, lightweight seatpost) and it comes in at 22lbs with marathon racers. Even the Mu XXV registers somewhere near 18lbs. Could be even heavier now that they're swapping the Mg frame for Al.

No, if a folder is to get anywhere near 15lbs, it won't be a Dahon Mu.

Josef - some great pictures - any chance you could set up a thread saying what you did and how?

Ta

AFAIK it has to be folded up to go on the bus or get up several flights of stairs. I guess it can't get carried onto an airplaine then. So the 15 lbs would be nice.



I was wondering when someone was going to question the assumption that the bike had to be carried :)

OP See: Mobiky, Strida.

Regards
T

no stock folder will be 7kg..you can try to modify one..dahon vitesse frame weighs around 2.4kg..use a single 12T cassette at the rear..55T and 50T chainring at the front..use shimano dura-ace track hub..and many many more..up to your own imagination and budget..

@datako: converting the Mu P8 gears to singlespeed drops 1kg (2.2lbs) from the bike. With the lightweight bits already on the Mu SL, it's probably closer to 600g. Also the Mu SL weight quoted on the Dahon site is without pedals. I've never stripped the bike to the bare frame, but won't be too far off foldie's Vitesse above.

@mroli: thanks for the comment. The drop bar thing started because the flat bar hurt my wrists on longer rides. After losing the kickstand, rack and fenders, the bike went down from 12+kg to a more manageable 11.3kg. I wanted to lose more weight though, and having owned a singlespeed folder before the idea appealed a lot. So off came the original transmission, and on came shimano BMX 14t cog. A DIY chain tensioner rounds the conversion. The bike now stands at 10kg with butchered seatpost from a Speed P8 and a lightweight(ish) Velo saddle.

Even with super-duper weight-weenie special components and brakeless fixed gear, I don't think you'll get near 7kg with a Mu. The Mu XXV is 7.6kg (quoted) without pedals, and the only (sensible) way to go lighter from there would be carbon bar and post, painful saddle, and fixed gear.

Where did you get that stat for the vitesse frame, foldie?

AFAIK it has to be folded up to go on the bus or get up several flights of stairs. I guess it can't get carried onto an airplaine then. So the 15 lbs would be nice.

Posture when carrying the bike is just as important as the bike's dead weight. It is not always the dead weight of the bike that makes it easy or hard to carry. Its weight distribution when folded can be a large factor, when we're talking about a 15-30 pound range. Greater ease can result from using one's total body musculature and leverage, from not straining one muscle group, from being able to hold the bike closer to one's body, and so on.

You should try to carry some bikes and judge for yourself. Judging from weight alone could lead you down the wrong path. Take a look at this Mobiky video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptfBtjGE7jA&feature=related) and at this Strida video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1p9dpEVSEQ) or this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qx95hxyuQ). The tall Strida can be rolled and/or held in front of one's body. The short Mobiky has a handle that makes it into a brief case for carrying at one's side. One could be a lot easier to tote than the other even if their weight were identical; it would depend on the person carrying.

Regards
T

@datako: converting the Mu P8 gears to singlespeed drops 1kg (2.2lbs) from the bike...
You're right. I took a photo of the bits taken off my HammerHead when I converted it to singlespeed.

Looks like weight saving will be have to be done in other areas too.

Wow that Mobiky video really shows how portable the bike is....even in and out turnstyles.

>>You should try to carry some bikes and judge for yourself. Judging from weight alone could lead you down the wrong path. Take a look at this Mobiky video and at this Strida video.

Wow that Mobiky video really shows how portable the bike is


To the contrary, the Mobiky video is enormously misleading. The Mobiky Genius is 30 freaking pounds! It's well heavier than any bike I have ever ridden on. Heck, my heavily loaded-down Tikit is 26.5 pounds. This is supposed to be portable?

Not exactly a bike, but it could be what you need depending on your commute. Xootr scooters (http://nycewheels.com/xootr-scooters.html) are excellent for bimodal commuting, as long as the human powered leg of the commute isn't too hilly or long. It weighs around 10 lbs and it folds up easily to be taken aboard a train or bus. It is excellent here at the streets of Manhattan, as you can scoot fast on the road or at low speed on the sidewalk. I love mine (my family has 4!).

To the contrary, the Mobiky video is enormously misleading. The Mobiky Genius is 30 freaking pounds! It's well heavier than any bike I have ever ridden on. Heck, my heavily loaded-down Tikit is 26.5 pounds. This is supposed to be portable?

You've ignored my point that weight alone does not determine how easy or difficult it is to carry or maneuver a folding bike while on foot. The size/shape/weight distribution/method of carrying while folded are not to be overlooked.

Simple experiment: try holding a gallon of milk in two hands with your arms outstretched. Now bring it closer to your body.

I'll wager that a Mobiky despite its 30 pounds is a lot easier to maneuver in a subway or on an escalator than my relatively light Swift or a folded Dahon Mu.

Regards
T

Why scoot when you can run? Just as fast and you already have the equipment on your feet.

Why scoot when you can run? Just as fast and you already have the equipment on your feet.

It's clear you haven't tried one. Just as fast? Try keeping up with me in Manhattan. I'll even be in a suit and tie and you can be in your running gear.

It's clear you haven't tried one. Just as fast? Try keeping up with me in Manhattan. I'll even be in a suit and tie and you can be in your running gear.

Maybe I'm lacking the proper technique, but I've tried one and I don't think I could go faster than running.

@mroli: thanks for the comment. The drop bar thing started because the flat bar hurt my wrists on longer rides. After losing the kickstand, rack and fenders, the bike went down from 12+kg to a more manageable 11.3kg. I wanted to lose more weight though, and having owned a singlespeed folder before the idea appealed a lot. So off came the original transmission, and on came shimano BMX 14t cog. A DIY chain tensioner rounds the conversion. The bike now stands at 10kg with butchered seatpost from a Speed P8 and a lightweight(ish) Velo saddle.

Even with super-duper weight-weenie special components and brakeless fixed gear, I don't think you'll get near 7kg with a Mu. The Mu XXV is 7.6kg (quoted) without pedals, and the only (sensible) way to go lighter from there would be carbon bar and post, painful saddle, and fixed gear.

Wow - MU Sl is 8.8 kg, lose gears etc 8kg, but you're still at 10kg with butchered seatpost?

What was your base model - I note it is a middle fold rather than outside - was it the MU P8 you adapted rather than a MU Sl.

I started with a Mu P8. SL is 8.7kg without pedals. FWIW my 12+kg bike was listed as 11kg on the Dahon site. My heavy pedals (with power grips) should be just about equivalent to the stock folding pedals.

The important light bits on the SL vs P8 are:
- Kojak vs Marathon Racer (-200g) and lighter innertube
- FSA Gossamer crank vs Sugino XD - has anyone weighted their XD and BB?
- Kinetix Pro wheels vs Kinetix Comp - again, does anyone have stats on this?
- SRAM X9 vs Dahon Neos - should be substantially lighter.

You've ignored my point that weight alone does not determine how easy or difficult it is to carry or maneuver a folding bike while on foot. The size/shape/weight distribution/method of carrying while folded are not to be overlooked.


This sounds like apologetics to me.

Sure, the torque involved in lifting a bike, and its unwieldiness, are all interesting issues. But at some point this becomes an excuse for a poorly designed bike. The Mobiky, notionally "aluminum", is thirty pounds before you even begin to add gizmos. I have hefted one before at College Park Bicycles. It is heavy. And not particularly convenient to carry about in the many situations where you can't roll it. For a bike in the (and I mean this with love) clown bike category, this is totally unacceptable.

This thread started with someone asking about 15 pound bikes: weight mattered to them. Folded rolling is not everything if you have (for example) three flights of stairs to walk. And this thread is now devolving into suggestions that they get just about the heaviest folding bike on the market (that I am aware of -- maybe a Montague is heavier, I dunno). I say they've not been well served.

You've ignored my point that weight alone does not determine how easy or difficult it is to carry or maneuver a folding bike while on foot. The size/shape/weight distribution/method of carrying while folded are not to be overlooked.

Simple experiment: try holding a gallon of milk in two hands with your arms outstretched. Now bring it closer to your body.

I'll wager that a Mobiky despite its 30 pounds is a lot easier to maneuver in a subway or on an escalator than my relatively light Swift or a folded Dahon Mu.

Regards
T

I've ridden a Mobiky a short distance at a bike show, but didn't lift it as the booth selling it weren't too sure about folding etc., & I actually own & ride a Strida now & then.

The other day I carried a 26 pounds Brompton through an Ikea store, swapping hands about half way around. It didn't *feel* any heavier really than my 22 pounds Strida (although I'd usually stroll that) & yesterday I hooked the saddle of the same Brompton over my shoulder with the rear triangle just dropped down my back, so I could walk up & down a rail crossing type bridge. Again it felt ok, & didn't take up much space, even semi folded.

A Downtube FSIX however, by comparison, I find so awkward a fold that I hardly ever "folded" it & that does feel heavy (ICR what its weight is) so I agree to a large extent that weight distribution is important, both folded & unfolded, for carrying purposes. A bike's stability when folded or unfolded during carrying & or strolling is significant to the weight perception.

It's going to be very hard to find a folder anywhere near 15 pounds, so if the OP can find a store which allows lots of folders to be carted & strolled around the store, she may find one that she can lift more easily than the rest, in spite of its weight. Some in particular will actually be easier to carry unfolded, if say the back & shoulders can be used to carry some of the weight.

This sounds like apologetics to me.

Sure, the torque involved in lifting a bike, and its unwieldiness, are all interesting issues. But at some point this becomes an excuse for a poorly designed bike. The Mobiky, notionally "aluminum", is thirty pounds before you even begin to add gizmos. I have hefted one before at College Park Bicycles. It is heavy. And not particularly convenient to carry about in the many situations where you can't roll it. For a bike in the (and I mean this with love) clown bike category, this is totally unacceptable.

This thread started with someone asking about 15 pound bikes: weight mattered to them. Folded rolling is not everything if you have (for example) three flights of stairs to walk. And this thread is now devolving into suggestions that they get just about the heaviest folding bike on the market (that I am aware of -- maybe a Montague is heavier, I dunno). I say they've not been well served.

No, it's not apologetics. It is simply a statement that the ergonomics of toting a folding bike--the bike's (un)wieldiness when being rolled or carried--involves much more than its dead weight: how it is carried, one's posture when carrying it, its shape and size when folded, and whether it stays in that shape or you have to hold the parts in with your hands and arms, are all much more important than dead weight.

Of course the OP asked about weight. But sometimes one must question the assumptions in the question itself. The underlying question has to do with a search for a folding bike that's easy for a woman of average stature to carry. Before you pan a bike for being "poorly designed", and before you label a focus on ergonomics rather than gram-shaving as a "devolution", consider carefully whether removing several pounds from the bike will actually address the real question.

Typically women have more lower-body strength than upper-body strength, so bikes that must be lifted and held out beside the body with one arm, no matter how light they may get (within practical limits), are likely to be harder for a woman to lift and tote around than a bike with a carrying handle that can roll, or a bike that can be held high up on its narrow, vertically-oriented, stroller-like frame so there's minimal lifting off to the side to do.

In any case, I suggested to the OP that she actually carry some bikes (some she might not have been aware of) in their folded states rather than focusing abstractly on weight, and I stand by that advice. There I believe the OP was very well-served. Reality trumps everything. If they work out for her, they work out. If they don't, they don't. I have no vested interested in either Mobiky or Strida.

Regards
T

P.S. Your comparing the Mobiky to the Montague actually underscores my argument about the importance of ergonomics. Are you really suggesting these two extremely different designs would be equally difficult to carry given their closeness in weight?

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:YVOopBZH-wAlsM:http://www.treehugger.com/buy-green-montague-paratrooper-folding-bike.jpghttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:IrLCM0nyTbjlyM:http://www.bikefold.com/graphics/montague_bike/folding_montague_bicycle-2.jpghttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:7Eu3Lj3K7d2KYM:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2430071587_b269122729.jpg%3Fv%3D0http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:zMLMu1KNE35AiM:http://www.3rdme.com/page0/page2/page18/files/page18_2.jpghttp://www.outdoorholiday.co.uk/img/356.jpg

I'm going to vote against the Mobiky on this one. The OP wants a light bike, and the Carryme is a much lighter and cheaper alternative to the Mobiky. Makeinu already pointed out he has a 15lbs Carryme.

Where did you get that stat for the vitesse frame, foldie?

i got the whole bike..dahon doesn't sell frame alone..do they..?

i upgraded every bit of the bike..that's why i stripped the bike to the frame before..

@foldie: could you be more specific about which parts totaled 2.4kg? Is that frame only, or with fork and handlepost? Clamps?

Cheers.

I'm going to vote against the Mobiky on this one. The OP wants a light bike, and the Carryme is a much lighter and cheaper alternative to the Mobiky. Makeinu already pointed out he has a 15lbs Carryme.

CarryMe versus Mobiky has clear weight/performance trade-offs. The CarryMe (8.5kg) is a single-speed with an 8" wheel (8 x 1.25" tires according to Pacific-Cycle) and the Mobiky is a 3-speed with a 12" wheel and 2.1" tire (and a model with a 16" wheel is on the way). Mobiky does much better on hills, and some reviews of the CarryMe say that cracks in the sidewalk can give its tiny wheels trouble. Braking on the CarryMe is not stellar. Mobiky offers disc-brakes for sure-stopping. The CarryMe is carried, the Mobiky can be rolled and carried. The extra weight does get you something.

They're in roughly the same street-price range.

Regards
T

CarryMe versus Mobiky has clear weight/performance trade-offs. The CarryMe (8.5kg) is a single-speed with an 8" wheel (8 x 1.25" tires according to Pacific-Cycle) and the Mobiky is a 3-speed with a 12" wheel and 2.1" tire (and a model with a 16" wheel is on the way). Mobiky does much better on hills, and some reviews of the CarryMe say that cracks in the sidewalk can give its tiny wheels trouble. Braking on the CarryMe is not stellar. Mobiky offers disc-brakes for sure-stopping. The CarryMe is carried, the Mobiky can be rolled and carried. The extra weight does get you something.

They're in roughly the same street-price range.

Regards
T

Just a few points of contention:
1. In my opinion the 3-speed Mobiky is not better on hills than the Carryme due to being double the weight. While weight is normally not thought to be as important when riding, in this case the weight difference is so egregious that the extra gears aren't enough make up the difference.
2. I believe that the "review" (which is in reality just a two line rant from someone who obviously didn't even try to ride the bike for more than a block) using the phrase "cracks in the sidewalk" is quite disingenuous because sidewalk cracks can be found with all kinds of extreme characteristics. While I don't deny the Carryme's wheels would have trouble with literal walls of sidewalk lifted a foot or more into the air by tree roots just as 26" wheels would, the suggestion that gaps between slabs or even moderately broken up pieces would cause a problem is downright laughable. Some people just have an irrational hatred of small wheels.
3. The Carryme can also be rolled or carried.
4. The single speed Carryme is almost half the price of a Mobiky. Only the two speed Carryme is in roughly the same street-price range as the Mobiky.

You're right that the brakes on the Carryme are terrible. You do get more with the Mobiky for the extra weight, but I don't think it's nearly as much as you say it is. You get better braking and more comfort due to the wider/taller wheels and the longer wheelbase, but you can also get those from the Strida at around the same price and without all the extra weight.

I've ridden some pretty heavy vintage steel bikes that used the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub. If downshifting made a significant difference on those bikes when climbing a hill, why wouldn't it make a similar difference on the Mobiky?

I would not ride 1.25" tires in the city no matter what the wheel diameter. We have some cracks in the sidewalk and streets that lead to other dimensions. I'd feel much safer on a wide 2" tire.

Regards
T

P.S. I've seen internet prices for the Mobiky as low as $599, though brick-and-mortar retail prices have been $150-$200 higher. But internet buying is messy -- you never know who is an authorized reseller able to pass on to the purchaser the mfgr's warranty.

I've ridden some pretty heavy vintage steel bikes that used the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub. If downshifting made a significant difference on those bikes when climbing a hill, why wouldn't it make a similar difference on the Mobiky?

It does make a significant difference compared to muscling up that heavy vintage bike in middle gear, but so does dropping 15 pounds off the bike. So the Mobiky with 3 speeds and the Carryme weighing 15 pounds less are even IMO.



I would not ride 1.25" tires in the city no matter what the wheel diameter. We have some cracks in the sidewalk and streets that lead to other dimensions. I'd feel much safer on a wide 2" tire.

Can't argue with that, but I don't think anyone's ever going to get a 15 pound bike with 2" wide tires.

You're right that ergonomics can make just as much of a difference as light weight, but I think any rideable folder not made of unobtanium has to have both to not be a total pain for a smaller person to lug around.

You're right that ergonomics can make just as much of a difference as light weight, but I think any rideable folder not made of unobtanium has to have both to not be a total pain for a smaller person to lug around.

I'd only quibble with "total pain" :) If the bike has been optimized for rolling then there is less need to carry the bike, though that sometimes cannot be avoided. A bike optimized for rolling would have these features:


it remains a compact folded package and doesn't come apart while being rolled
its front wheel doesn't suddenly decide to point wherever it pleases while it's being rolled
it can be guided by a raised seat-post or by the frame itself in a vertically oriented fold
it has a carry-handle or is otherwise easy to hold when lifting is unavoidable


Your prediction that a woman of smaller stature will find the Mobiky difficult could be correct. But one ought to try the Mobiky and the Strida and the CarryMe (and whatever other bikes are very light and/or good rollers) and judge for oneself, and not exclude any bike from one's real-world testing because of its weight alone. Fair enough?

Regards
T

Just a few points of contention:
1. In my opinion the 3-speed Mobiky is not better on hills than the Carryme due to being double the weight. While weight is normally not thought to be as important when riding, in this case the weight difference is so egregious that the extra gears aren't enough make up the difference.

Just to address this point: I actually liked the extra weight of a Mobiky when climbing hills --- I tried a hill while trying out the bikes at Mt Airy cycles. The extra weight lowered the center of mass and made me feel more stable.

Makeinu already pointed out he has a 15lbs Carryme.

He does? Anyone ask how he trimmed 3lbs off of a CarryMe? I just got back from vacation and haven't read all the back posts, so might have missed this, but would like to hear from anyone on how this was accomplished.. pics??

A heavy bike actually reduces stability because it's harder to muscle it around with your body. Try doing a trackstand on a motorcycle. When I was learning to ride a motorcycle I tried that just out of habit as the motorcycle wobbled at low speed and quickly ended up on the ground.


Just to address this point: I actually liked the extra weight of a Mobiky when climbing hills --- I tried a hill while trying out the bikes at Mt Airy cycles. The extra weight lowered the center of mass and made me feel more stable.

He does? Anyone ask how he trimmed 3lbs off of a CarryMe? I just got back from vacation and haven't read all the back posts, so might have missed this, but would like to hear from anyone on how this was accomplished.. pics??

makeinu posted, he thinks "around" 15lbs. I dare say it must be a little more. Its hard to trim off 2,9lbs, here I posted some weights for calculation and some ideas
:http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=7555277#post7555277

makeinu posted, he thinks "around" 15lbs. I dare say it must be a little more. Its hard to trim off 2,9lbs, here I posted some weights for calculation and some ideas
:http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=7555277#post7555277

Yeah I'm rounding down, it's probably closer to 16 pounds (15.x) ...more info over in the Carryme thread.