Folding Bikes - Bike Friday 'Just the Tikit' versus 'Seasons Tikit'

Hello Folks,

I'm wanting to pick myself up a Bike Friday Tikit.

I am however, a little bit hesitant about the derailleur 'Just the Tikit' because I keep hearing things about chain drop.

Consistently, I seem to be hearing great things about the 'Seasons Tikit' model with the Nexus 8 hub.

Can anybody comment on this?

Vik on the Lazy Randonneur blog seems to favor the Nexus 8.

I'm wondering what folks might say about the benefits and drawbacks of each set-up.

Is it worth the extra cash for the 'Seasons Tikit'?

I plan to use the bike for traveling as well. I want to be able to stick it in a suitcase and deploy it at my chosen destination with no problems. I also want to be able to service it relatively easily if problems do arise.

I've been thinking about getting a Brompton because of its super small fold and relatively good riding BUT I cannot get over the fact that you basically need a Brompton dealer to do much of the work and provide replacement parts.

That the BF Tikit uses mostly non proprietary parts bodes very well.

Anyway, any advice would be very much appreciated.


Thanks

I would call BF and talk their sales people. They won't snow you or high pressure you and are very helpful with their product. Roger

I plan to use the bike for traveling as well. I want to be able to stick it in a suitcase and deploy it at my chosen destination with no problems. I also want to be able to service it relatively easily if problems do arise.

I've been thinking about getting a Brompton because of its super small fold and relatively good riding BUT I cannot get over the fact that you basically need a Brompton dealer to do much of the work and provide replacement parts.



I'm a big fan of folders with internal hubs. Lot less parts sticking out when you're folding.

However, if you're going to travel with a suitcase, I don't think the Tikit is going to fit easily. Try it yourself before you buy.

The Brompton is fantastic in that regard. Yes, there are some proprietary parts, but not a problem in routine service. Internal hubs don't break that often. Parts are readily available through dealers. Good warranty.

I have a fixed gear Tikit but I test rode a 'Just the Tikit' with no problems at all. However, this weekend I test rode some bikes with the Shimano Nexus hub for the first time and was really impressed. Shifting was super crisp and the hub was very quiet. If I were going to get a multi-geared Tikit I would definitely get the Season Tikit.

Also, Bike Friday sells a suitcase and packing materials for the Tikit. Many people travel with them without issue.

Personal preference is the IGH. As pointed out BF offers suitcases that fit their products.

Aaron:)

Also, Bike Friday sells a suitcase and packing materials for the Tikit. Many people travel with them without issue.

Yes, but the question is how easily packable it is. On the Brompton, I take out the seatpost and put the folded bike in.

For the Tikit, well you can see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m29V31VgfI

I've got the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket and it usually takes me about half an hour to pack and unpack. I have no problem whatsoever spending that amount of time to do the job.

Packing is not so much of an issue for me.

I have lived and traveled in Asia for almost ten years and the main thing that concerns me is not how long it takes to pack but rather:

#1 That I don't get dinged for extra luggage costs.
#2 Whatever I pack doesn't get wrecked.

I almost never check my luggage but instead rely on carry-on.

Which-ever Tikit I buy, I plan to eventually purchase the appropriate Samsonite suitcase and packing material.

The Brompton is an excellent bike.

Its packing size is truely a thing of beauty.

If I lived in Taipei, and was commuting by bus and subway, there is no question that I would score myself a Brompton.

However, the city that I live in has virtually no public transit and I am forever getting on and off my bike, having to lock it up to go into a shop for five minutes and then unlock the bike and continue on.

It seems that the Tikit's ability to foldup quickly and then roll into a store is absolutely the way to go for me.

That it uses non-propriatary parts is also a major benifit.

I have also considered getting an ORI / MEZZO M9 but even here in Taiwan where they make them (the factory is not too far from here) they just don't support these bikes.

This is really too bad because I think that the ORI ride is fantastic and its lack of frame-flex, small package and non-propriatory parts make it a great choice.

But again, even here in Taiwan, I've been trying for over a year to find a shop that will let me test drive the M9 to no avail.

Bike Friday is so much the opposite of this kind of thinking.

Their 'above and beyond' customer service instills a real passion for their products.....even when things go wrong.

Anyway, I'm still trying to figure out if the NEXUS 8 is a good option.

If anybody else has any ideas on this issue, I hope they can share them.


Cheers

> As pointed out BF offers suitcases that fit their products.

Yeah. So does, um, Samsonite. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&q=Samsonite+F%27lite+31&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g2) They're cheapest at LuggagePoint. Of course, it's not throw-in-the-bag easy like the Brompton.

I would call BF and talk their sales people. They won't snow you or high pressure you and are very helpful with their product. Roger

+1 - their phone people are very nice and helpful.

The regular derailleur-equipped tikit does toss the chain. This is a common issue with rear-derailleur-only drivetrains and because of the design of the tikit's frame and fold a chain guide is challenging to fit.

The Shimano 8-speeds can't fit cogs smaller than 16 teeth; this will limit the top gear on a tikit to mid-80s gear inches without an oversize chainwheel.

HTH,
tcs

The regular derailleur-equipped tikit does toss the chain. This is a common issue with rear-derailleur-only drivetrains and because of the design of the tikit's frame and fold a chain guide is challenging to fit.

The Shimano 8-speeds can't fit cogs smaller than 16 teeth; this will limit the top gear on a tikit to mid-80s gear inches without an oversize chainwheel.

tcs, these seem to be severe problems for the Tikit in general. Why isn't anybody complaining?

tcs, these seem to be severe problems for the Tikit in general. Why isn't anybody complaining?

I am not convinced they're severe at all. In five months of commuting in Rome (in *very* bumpy, tough conditions) I've had the chain jump on me a fair number of times. But these turned out to be due to a chipped tooth. The entire year prior to that I think I had three chain jumps in hard riding.

tcs seems to have myriad chain problems. Anyone else?

Packing is not so much of an issue for me.


I have also considered getting an ORI / MEZZO M9 but even here in Taiwan where they make them (the factory is not too far from here) they just don't support these bikes.

This is really too bad because I think that the ORI ride is fantastic and its lack of frame-flex, small package and non-propriatory parts make it a great choice.

But again, even here in Taiwan, I've been trying for over a year to find a shop that will let me test drive the M9 to no avail.


Cheers

You are spot on about Mezzo support. I have the I-4 Mezzo. It is a great folder (minus the 4S IGH) but once you buy it you are left out in the cold. There is no way to even contact anyone about parts for the bike.

You are spot on about Mezzo support. I have the I-4 Mezzo. It is a great folder (minus the 4S IGH) but once you buy it you are left out in the cold. There is no way to even contact anyone about parts for the bike.

Its OK in the UK,but not great.
I can order parts fine through many bike shops, they arrive quickly and are about the same cost as Brompton.

However I used to be able to email them or phone, but this link seems to have disappeared from their website, plus they did not always answer them back anyway. Great bike, but this is not the way to run a competitive cycle business.

Luckily there is not that much that is specific to the bike. Stem, seatpost, forks, chain guide,seatpost is about it.

Come on Mezzo, you have designed a competitive bike ,get your act together "globally".

tcs seems to have myriad chain problems. Anyone else?
I have had this problem on my Mu Sl which comes with inside chain guide and outside bash guard. Still chain does jump off in some cases: if you are in high gear, ride a bump and at the same time continue to pedal. I could get around it by not pedaling over bumps. Nevertheless I decided to go for a front shifted solution (Mu Ex), as this also solves the chainline problem (otherwise inner and outer sprockets have some slight inefficiency & rubbing due to chain not in straight line).

My Nexus equipped Mu Sport has 46T front chain ring. With 60mm Big Apples the gear ratio is just fine. But otherwise it would be too low. So for the 16" wheeled (Season) Tikit the front chain ring would better be a large 56T.

I am not convinced they're severe at all. In five months of commuting in Rome (in *very* bumpy, tough conditions) I've had the chain jump on me a fair number of times. But these turned out to be due to a chipped tooth. The entire year prior to that I think I had three chain jumps in hard riding.

tcs seems to have myriad chain problems. Anyone else?

i've had my tikit for a year and not really had any chain drops while riding. It falls off somtimes when its folded if the cranks get rotated.