Folding Bikes - Absolute Smallest Folder?

Hi, folks. I travel on the airlines frequently for business, and would like to bring a folder along sometimes to ride around hotels. What is the absolute smallest folder, not counting some of the "toy" folders like the A-bike or the Strida? I'm guessing the answer is the Brompton? Thanks.

bromptom < birdy < mezzo < dahon curve sl < downtube mini < bike friday tikit

I have a Birdy and I don't think it is particularly small against say 20" Dahons. I expect the Curve to be smaller when folded.

If you take wheels out, Curve is smaller than Brompton.

Sinclair A-Bike<Pacific Carry-Me<Dahon Curl<Brompton<
For long thin places like train over head luggage racks, Strida fits better than Brompton (I've got both). But for absolute minimum space Brompton has THE best fold ratio (ie size folded vs size unfolded). Also many other bikes don't fold up very neatly - they have bits sticking out at odd angles and generally look like an accident between a wheel chair and a shopping cart :-)

It's been a while since I've been on here; new voices, similar conversations, some folk I recognize, many new folk, several I miss eg Makeinu, Wavshrdr, af895 and others, all very opinionated and even if you disagreed with them, they were great fun to read, most especially missed snafu21 THE forum wit.

Hi, folks. I travel on the airlines frequently for business, and would like to bring a folder along sometimes to ride around hotels. What is the absolute smallest folder, not counting some of the "toy" folders like the A-bike or the Strida? I'm guessing the answer is the Brompton? Thanks.

I would consider a NWT, while technically not a folder it does pack down into a suitcase that can be checked, provides a good solid ride.

Aaron :)

Hi, folks. I travel on the airlines frequently for business, and would like to bring a folder along sometimes to ride around hotels. What is the absolute smallest folder, not counting some of the "toy" folders like the A-bike or the Strida? I'm guessing the answer is the Brompton? Thanks.

So let me get this straight, you want a toy for amusing yourself at your hotel but you're turning your nose up at what you think are "toy" folders?

Bikes like the Strida were designed to be and are some of the most practical machines in existence. They are not toys.

But it sounds like you want something more in the vein of a toy superhero bike, so by all means avoid the smallest folders and get a Brompton.

do I read overhead storage ..... ???
wishful thinking at best .... there will be no airplane which allows a complete bike in the overheads ..forget the past.
even if the bike would fit into the small square officially allowed cube ....

thor

Any bike that requires removing the wheels will grow old very, very soon.

Get a Brompton.

+1 for Brompton.

do I read overhead storage ..... ???
wishful thinking at best .... there will be no airplane which allows a complete bike in the overheads ..forget the past.
even if the bike would fit into the small square officially allowed cube ....


http://ridethisbike.com/2008/10/carrying-carryme-on-southwest.html

I suspect things may have changed in the last few days.

I count myself lucky. I can travel on military AMC flights overseas and I've carried my foldy in just a carrying bag a couple times. Of course you usually carry your stuff to the plane yourself and every military AMC person I've ever dealt with was very cool about me dragging a bike around.


I'm getting ready to do a lengthy project on the most beautiful little island you can imagine and plan on taking my bike as well. Rather than dragging it around this time I think I'm going to transport it via land carrier, the Japanese variant of UPS or FedEx. We call it "Black Cat" but of course that's not the proper name. Reasonable shipping and very professional.

Depending on the costs the airline may or may not nail you for you might consider shipping the bike in the suitcase. Depending on where you're going it may cost the same give or take a little.

John

Thank, folks. Has anybody successfully taken a Brompton on an airline as carry-on? Will it fit through those X-Ray machines on the conveyor belt?

So let me get this straight, you want a toy for amusing yourself at your hotel but you're turning your nose up at what you think are "toy" folders?

Bikes like the Strida were designed to be and are some of the most practical machines in existence. They are not toys.

But it sounds like you want something more in the vein of a toy superhero bike, so by all means avoid the smallest folders and get a Brompton.

Jeez, dude, sounds like I offended you there. Sorry if I mis-represented the Strida. Actually, I am pretty ignorant about those. I was just basing my "toy" comment on my personal opinion of their looks. I've never actually ridden one, so I admit that I don't really know anything about them. I guess I just prefer the look of the more "normal" looking folders.

I also don't want to go any less than 16" wheels, and I know some of those more unusual designs have smaller wheels than that. Anyway, thanks for setting me straight about the "most practical machines in existence."

I think I'll go for the Brompton, though.

I suspect things may have changed in the last few days.

That's what they said after 9/11, but I've taken the same bike as a carry-on on the same airline as our good friend Larry there.


Thank, folks. Has anybody successfully taken a Brompton on an airline as carry-on? Will it fit through those X-Ray machines on the conveyor belt?

People have taken Bromptons as carry-ons, but it's a total crap shot since it's not even in the ballpark for satisfying the size requirements.

I've got a mezzo, and I've convinced myself that it won't quite fit in an airline legal bag.

Sinclair A-Bike<Pacific Carry-Me<Dahon Curl<Brompton<

Very unlikely. At any rate, while you're inserting imaginary things in your list, where do the tooth fairy and Santa Claus fit?


I've got a mezzo, and I've convinced myself that it won't quite fit in an airline legal bag.

Even with a bit of disassembly? I'd be absolutely shocked. Shocked, I tell you!!! The Tikit fits in a 31" suitcase. So do most Dahon 20" bikes, much larger than the mezzo.

Even with a bit of disassembly? I'd be absolutely shocked. Shocked, I tell you!!! The Tikit fits in a 31" suitcase. So do most Dahon 20" bikes, much larger than the mezzo.

I don't come here very often .... I guess I should have said standard, not legal. A 31" bag has total dimensions of 69", which would incur excess baggage charges on most carriers. It's total dimensions are slightly more than 62" of a standard bag.

I think a lot of peeps here who schlep bikes in slightly oversize suitcases on airlines manage not to get hit for excess baggage, although if the word 'airline' is involved, things change hourly. The Dahon Airporter bag (http://us.dahon.com/accessories/2004/airporter-suitcase) holds a 20" bike and is said to be 'legal'.

(There's another aspect, what to do with the bag if you want to ride out of the airport.)

If I had to do it, I'd take a 16" wheel bike, which gives you plenty of options, (because you still have to lug the thing around in airports. )

Other than that the er, latest Strida looks a hoot, as do the Dahon Curve, and Ye Olde Brompton. But look at the new Downtube Nova too: 23 pounds = 10.4326245 kilograms.
(http://www.downtube.com/product541.html)
Approximately.

The other slimline weeny is the new Giant 20" mini-bike which is just arriving in the market. Very light, very fast.

I don't come here very often .... I guess I should have said standard, not legal. A 31" bag has total dimensions of 69", which would incur excess baggage charges on most carriers. It's total dimensions are slightly more than 62" of a standard bag.

My F'light 31" measures a claimed 64". Although Samsonite now claims that new F'Lights are 65".

My F'light 31" measures a claimed 64". Although Samsonite now claims that new F'Lights are 65".

I just repeated the exercise I did months ago with a tape measure 28"x26"x12" (say 71cm x 66 x 31). Basically a square profile. All the bags I have found have a more 2/3 ratio. Only the Dahon bag would fit it.
The seat post is removed. About the only other reduction would be to remove the handlebars, which would get that 26 down to around 22 1/2 (57cm), which might open some more options, but isn't that appealing an idea.

I just repeated the exercise I did months ago with a tape measure 28"x26"x12" (say 71cm x 66 x 31). Basically a square profile. All the bags I have found have a more 2/3 ratio. Only the Dahon bag would fit it.
The seat post is removed. About the only other reduction would be to remove the handlebars, which would get that 26 down to around 22 1/2 (57cm), which might open some more options, but isn't that appealing an idea.

I think if you remove the allenkey securing the upper stem from the lower stem the mezzo may fit in to a very small space. Fairly quick and easy but I have not tryed it yet.

http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/brommy.htm

:-)
Thor

Eagle what type of riding are you doing with the bike? just goofing around the hotel area and probably some smooth bike paths? or are you touring around the entire city over 5km? this would probably direct you which way to go.

as much as you find the abike a fun toy the new abike city now actually has 8 inch wheels, so it's the same tire sizes as the carryme but the fold size is really really tiny! it's just amazing. I think it has around 46 gear inches now which is probably great for pootling around faster than walking pace (like 2nd gear on a road bike or something). Depending how often you lug that thing around the tiny bike would be the easiest to take without a second thought since it even has it's own backpack. But then again if you are not too social, riding this contraption maybe the worst thing you can do! :)

else for longer distances you'd have to carry a brompton in their hardcases they sell or a strida (same 16 inch wheels) in a hardcase golf club bag (probably cheaper bags on ebay). Those two bikes require the least amount of work to get it in and out of the case without disassembly, as someone said it gets tiring after the 3rd+ time doing that with you frequently travelling.

I never did get around to buying a folder (yet), because I've been training for a marathon and haven't been cycling much. The marathon will be over soon, so I'm getting interested in cycling and folders again. I'm still not really into the looks of the Abike, but Thor's pics comparing the Curve and the Brompton are very interesting. Honestly, the only thing keeping me away from the Bromptons is the difficulty in changing a flat. Or, is it not that bad after all? The Mezzo and the Curve look like they use more conventional bike designs, would be easier to change a flat when it happens, and yet fold into a package that is almost as small as the Brompton. True? Or am I missing something?

Thor's second picture shows the Dahon folded, is wider than Brompton's
the wheel under Brommy fold
is also a way to stand the bike up, when you stop .. kind of functionally, a kickstand..


Buy the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and the puncture is a low probability.

OK its not going to be a TdF race bike wheel change ,

but the internal gear hub works so well and un like derailleurs there's
no external bit to bend out of alignment..

I only have replaced a worn out tire no [knock wood] punctures..

Neither rear wheel is a joy to fix when there is a flat. Internal hubs require the wrenches to loosen things, fiddle, etc. I've decided that the smarter course of action is to patch the tube while its still on the bike. Deflate, tire lever the tube free, partially inflate to find the leak, patch, and put it back on. Works pretty well, except for those occasions when the tube is damaged too near the valve to repair.

BTW, my curve has the twin kickstand. It does make propping up the bike for repairs *much* simpler, especially because the pump is inside the seat post, so the usual biking trick of flipping the bike upside down and using the seat and handlebars to stand the bike up doesn't work so well...

People will say Bike Friday as there is a big North American fan club here. But let's be honest, the best compact folder is the Brompton.

It may not be as good a tourer or all-rounder as Bike Fridays but it possesses the best proper ride to fold ratio.

People will say Bike Friday as there is a big North American fan club here. But let's be honest, the best compact folder is the Brompton.

It may not be as good a tourer or all-rounder as Bike Fridays but it possesses the best proper ride to fold ratio.

Nonsense. The Brompton's ride is at once mushy and harsh and the proprietary parts are a nightmare.

Apart from the extra gearing I'd take a Carry-me any day over a Brompton. And the Carryme folds smaller and the shape of the fold is 100x more useful.

Despite all the praise from you Brits, I've never found the Brompton to offer any particular advantage over a typical Dahon. Sure the chain is less exposed (though still not enough to stop worrying about the grease...and the idler requires grease) and the fold it is slightly smaller (though you can't tell if you don't have a ruler/tape measure).

Clearly Dahon and other 20" wheel bikes have the best ride to fold ratio. That's why they're the best sellers. Going down to 359 wheels from 406 wheels is a poor compromise.

Clearly Dahon and other 20" wheel bikes have the best ride to fold ratio. That's why they're the best sellers. Going down to 359 wheels from 406 wheels is a poor compromise.

Dahons are more inexpensive, and I suspect that may have something to do with it. Dahon's frame latch is, alas, a barrier to long-term durability, and the parts for a Dahon (particularly the IGH models) are pretty hard to find at a non-folder shop.

The ride on my Tikit beats the Bromptons and Dahons hands-down, but the Tikit is the largest of the three bikes, when folded. (I'm using my Curve for comparison.) It's also much, much easier to find parts for it. However, none of this is the OP's question. If I had gone solely by folded size, I wouldn't have bought my Tikit.