Folding Bikes - Amazing folding trike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQOKsyBwjI&feature=related

DiBlasi Folding Trike. I had to watch that a few times, it folds so fast and so easy.

Very clever. I think the Di Blasi bikes also fold like that (ie with seatpost levering) although I haven't seen a video of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQOKsyBwjI&feature=related

DiBlasi Folding Trike. I had to watch that a few times, it folds so fast and so easy.

really nice Tricycle, but i can't see why i would need a tricycle, unless i want to haul something heavy :lol:

but it's really good, easy to fold in just a few sec, like the Dahon bikes.

too bad it weights 22 kg

the most amazing thing is after it folds up, it takes up so little space, that is what i liked the most :thumb:

really nice Tricycle, but i can't see why i would need a tricycle, unless i want to haul something heavy :lol:



Maybe not you, but they're wonderful for those who are afraid of riding 2 wheelers.

really nice Tricycle, but i can't see why i would need a tricycle, unless i want to haul something heavy :lol:

but it's really good, easy to fold in just a few sec, like the Dahon bikes.

too bad it weights 22 kg

the most amazing thing is after it folds up, it takes up so little space, that is what i liked the most :thumb:

Trikes are nice for meandering with a fair load without affecting balance or for people who no longer have balance. This one's pretty clever seeing as the major downside of a trike is storing it. I'd love to get a good look at one...

I like it. Very clever, indeed.

--sam

I like it. Very clever, indeed.

--sam

Now all they need is a few modifications and I'm set for retirement.

http://www.industrialbicycles.com/Golf%20Trike.htm

...but it's really good, easy to fold in just a few sec, like the Dahon bikes...
Lol, never missing a chance to advertise your fav folders? Actually I found the fold manner very different from Dahons - if any comparison, it reminds me more to the tikit -in technique and time: I counted 4 seconds for the DiBlasitrike and the girl did it in a relaxed manner, thats really amazing.


...
the most amazing thing is after it folds up, it takes up so little space, that is what i liked the most :thumb:
+1

Here's the Di Blasi folding bike

http://www.diblasi.us/Video.asp?Prd=R24&Lng=en&File=r24_400x300.wmv&act=view

I have to admit, that's pretty nifty. It's a little bit on the heavy side for my needs, but as a casual bike that can be taken just about anywhere it definitely succeeds. Now we just need to see some actual rider reviews.

Here are the prices I was able to find from the US distributor...

Folding Bike...
R4 (16" tires) Painted $645 & Stainless $845
R21 (20" tires) Painted $745 & Stainless $945
R24 (16" light alloy) Painted $745 & Stainless $845

Folding Trike...
R32 $1495
R34 Electric $2695

--sam

Fantastic design!

I love it when you fold the handlepost down, the handlebars close themselves. Little details like that show a great thought out product :)

Trike is Diblasi usuall wizzardy!

Diblasi bikes are the best IMO "folding" bikes.

Check out the R22 ,a 20" bike than folds A tad longer than A Brompton,stands more securely, and is thiner. The fold could be done on my old 16" bike in under 2 secounds, excluduing pedals. The problem is the weight, and high cost. If they were cheaper thay would sell loads. If they made them competive reguards quality of parts and preformance against the same cosing folders then the high cost would not matter. The R22 looks to have more potental then preivous bikes. Vbrakes and more gears.

The problem is the "bike" bit !

There are some other issuses such as the seat post lacks enough insert for people over 5 8 ish, but this can be DIY ed. Good secound hand buys for the money usually, but the R22 is £650-750 new. I like to get a R22, but not at that price. So best fold, not best bike but if upgraded just a bit.....

I have a Di Blasi folding motorcycle too!
I bought in St. Tropez in the 80s, I then became the 1st man in history to be caught 'trying to smuggle a motor vehicle through a British Airport!!!!!!!!! They were completely baffled until someone decided they needed to strip me off & search me for drugs! Fined me £75 Grrrr! after I had already paid full tax in France & used it for 9 months.
P.S. don't get all high & mighty cos this ain't a bicycle! LOL!

I have a Di Blasi folding motorcycle too!
I bought in St. Tropez in the 80s, I then became the 1st man in history to be caught 'trying to smuggle a motor vehicle through a British Airport!!!!!!!!! They were completely baffled until someone decided they needed to strip me off & search me for drugs! Fined me £75 Grrrr! after I had already paid full tax in France & used it for 9 months.
P.S. don't get all high & mighty cos this ain't a bicycle! LOL!

Would be possible to do a mini review? What of the advantages of the moped over folding bike? Are you still using it?
Thanks.

What of the advantages of the moped over folding bike?

It allows you to maintain a full sized ass. :innocent:

Hey Makeinu,
Are you motorised vehicle free then? If not, don't be so dismissive!
I expected some (maybe not so enlightened) Lycra lout to give me crap because I own a folding motorcycle, but, please don't zap a thread which holds the very basis of where these bikes & trikes originated.
DiBlasi have always tailored all their range to the boating World (hence the use of Stainless Steel)
If this forum becomes a closed mind affair, where we are not allowed to discuss origins, I'm out of here!

Brilliant folding movement, especially the trike...

do they have durability and play problems from all those pivot points?


.

Brilliant folding movement, especially the trike...

do they have durability and play problems from all those pivot points?


.

I did own the 16" version of the bike for around a year. It is very strong generally and durable from my experience and judging from others reports of owners experiences ,(in other words heavy but durable). The bike is slow and heavy, but I did not feel that replacing it with a Brompton clone made much difference to my relatively short commute. There is some flex in the bike, but it felt reasuringly stable,and the short rear wheel base was much more of a handling issue than the many pivots. Overall it felt fone. There did not seem to be any sideways play in the pivots. I think the many pivots points do soak up pedalling power a bit as I always seemed to be in a low gear! So generally pivots not affect handling. If I kept the bike I would try to shed some weight of it and try some "stevios" 1and 1/8 on to reduce the rolling resistance,as it soaked up road bumps very well with the 1.5 marathons I fitted.

The main area of weakness is the unusual double seatposts,that are reguired by the design to "siccissor" kick fold. The amount of insert is not enough for larger riders. However the twin seatpost are narrow, (20mm approx) loose fitting and have wing nuts through holes in the seatpost rather than a seatpost clamp. You can just see this on the compairative photo compaired to a MERC. Therefore they can easily be altered to longer seatpost tubes suitable for larger riders, and double clamps fitted. It does make it very difficult to change out the seat as it has bulit in twin seatpost attachments. Theirfore any replacement seat needs to be the Diblasi saddle, unless you make up a simular double camp or somehow butcher the clamp on to another seat. The bikes are beening refined gradually as they have been in bussiness about 20 years, so my experience on an older bike may be out of date. Besides which I only managed to bend it slightly doing a 180 spin in to a roll back BMX sytle!

The stainless steel version is popular with boat users and the durability also suits an ocassional user who does not do ,or want to do maintence.This is escially true of the drum/belt braked versions.

ps, all the newer versions have a folding front fork and fold smaller.The folded shape is really easy to accomadate though due to its narrowness.