Folding Bikes - I just bought a xootr swift!

I live in the UK and as far as I know there's only one place to get them from, and that's the Avon Valley Cyclery (sp?) aka foldingbikes.co.uk based in Bath. I can highly recommend them as they were very friendly, helpful and courteous.

More importantly I'm happy with my swift. I have yet to take it on a longer ride yet but so far I can pretty much see it substituting my current full-sized bike.

In short, I love my swift :love: and can't wait to use it more, in earnest!

Welcome to the club, and happy riding!

Welcome to the club, and happy riding!
thanks!

commuted today. love it even more!

Yes the Swift is superb. Check my sig linky for mine (which has changed a bit since them for the better). Can't really go wrong with a Swift. Don't let anyone tell you it folded size is 'huge'. It's only 'huge' if viewed from the side, but it has a very narrow footprint and can be tucked away against a bulkhead occupying less space than a Brompton.

Yes the Swift is superb. Check my sig linky for mine (which has changed a bit since them for the better). Can't really go wrong with a Swift. Don't let anyone tell you it folded size is 'huge'. It's only 'huge' if viewed from the side, but it has a very narrow footprint and can be tucked away against a bulkhead occupying less space than a Brompton.
ah some interesting photo essays there. and nice xootr! yes its folded size is pretty much as bulky as a (thin) suitcase. still yet to see another one in london. love the exclusivity as well as the fact it's awesome.

haha i'll stop posting in this thread now or someone will think i work for xootr.

what? no pictures??

still yet to see another one in london. love the exclusivity
sorry to burst your bubble but I regualrly see a blue Swift on Old Street in the Barbican area ;)

My three year old blue Swift lives 300 miles north of London so you may not be seeing mine around the capital!

How did you acquire your Swift? Did you buy direct from Xootr or did you get it from a UK dealer?

My three year old blue Swift lives 300 miles north of London so you may not be seeing mine around the capital!

& mine lives about another 100 north of Paul's. Who knows, you might see mine around in the Capital, as I've been known to bring it along on the train from time to time :) .

Does make me wonder how many swifts reside in the UK...

How did you acquire your Swift? Did you buy direct from Xootr or did you get it from a UK dealer?


I bought it via the "tinternet" from Foldingcycles.co.uk (or similar title). Best bike I've ever owned and I've had plenty over the last 50 odd years.

sorry to burst your bubble but I regualrly see a blue Swift on Old Street in the Barbican area ;)
well now there will be a silver one on old street too. ;)


How did you acquire your Swift? Did you buy direct from Xootr or did you get it from a UK dealer?
uk dealer, in bath. as far as i know that was the only one? either way, worth the trip up to bath.

I've seen lots of pix of the swift folded, but none side on... very hard too to get a sense of the scale of the fold. If there any out there that help in this respect would love to see them...

+1 for lots of photos of a folded swift from all angles.

so - no pictures yet.....

Google Images at a few -- 5 or so.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en-us&um=1&sa=1&q=xootr+bicycle+folded&btnG=Search+images&aq=f&oq=

Edit: although more pictures would be great.

Congrats on yr new Swift Nightmage. I had a chance to test it recently and was impressed with its exceptional performance. My beef is the folded size compared to the likes of Brompton et al but if you can live with that, the Swift is a really great choice.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l260/oldiesonfoldies/XtoorvsVitessefolded.jpg Since someone asked for pics, here is one of the Swift vs a Dahon Vitesse. Pls note the Swift handlebar can be removed but it will be left dangling...


My amateur review here if you are interested: http://lovethefold.blogspot.com/2009/07/swift-and-sure.html

Congrats on yr new Swift Nightmage. I had a chance to test it recently and was impressed with its exceptional performance. My beef is the folded size compared to the likes of Brompton et al but if you can live with that, the Swift is a really great choice.
Since someone asked for pics, here is one of the Swift vs a Dahon Vitesse. Pls note the Swift handlebar can be removed but it will be left dangling...

My amateur review here if you are interested: http://lovethefold.blogspot.com/2009/07/swift-and-sure.html

Nice picture! Thx for sharing. Swifts are definitely solid & great ride.

I like your blog - love the food pics too (durian = yummy!)

:thumb:

Is this going to be the Swift Thread Part II: Xootr Swiftier

Hmmm, I'm very tempted to make my next folding bike purchase a Xootr but the fold does concern me - it wouldn't work very well on my train journey unless I stood for the entire journey and hold the bike upright. My current Dahon Mu folder just sits on the floor of the train when folded, is out of the way and I can be seated for the train journey.

yes, thanks for the pix OldieOnFoldies, they're really helpful. Taller but narrower is the gist...

Yes the Swift is superb. Check my sig linky for mine (which has changed a bit since them for the better). Can't really go wrong with a Swift. Don't let anyone tell you it folded size is 'huge'. It's only 'huge' if viewed from the side, but it has a very narrow footprint and can be tucked away against a bulkhead occupying less space than a Brompton.

jur,

that is one nice swift......just plain awesome. how much did you buy the frame ? and how can i contact them to buy just the frame ?

thanks,
vic

Xootr sells the frameset too: http://www.xootr.com/swift-frame-set.html

Welcome indeed. My Swift will soon be seen in London rather than Chicago since I'm moving back to Blighty in late Aug.

Make sure you put a bit of synthetic oil on the QRs that clamp the seat post - without this you will find over time that the levers get stiffer and eventually either don't hold the stem or need tightening so much they snap.

For speedy tyres I use Schwalbe Marathons - far faster than the stock items.

Great purchase... have fun!

Jonathan

Welcome indeed. My Swift will soon be seen in London rather than Chicago since I'm moving back to Blighty in late Aug.

Make sure you put a bit of synthetic oil on the QRs that clamp the seat post - without this you will find over time that the levers get stiffer and eventually either don't hold the stem or need tightening so much they snap.

For speedy tyres I use Schwalbe Marathons - far faster than the stock items.

Great purchase... have fun!

Jonathan
gosh thanks for that. will do.

i've also found that the seat post creaks a little sometimes. i've put plenty of grease all over it and now it's fine though my trousers get a little dirty sometimes.

to everyone else: will get a photo as soon as I sort out my PC & camera interfaces (don't have one at work)

Welcome to the club!

Have fun passing the roadies. :)

were the pics at!???