Folding Bikes - Folder that both a 5'6 and 6'5 person could ride????

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RayB
02-14-10, 01:25 AM
Hi,

I have a general goofy query. I am looking at purchasing my wife a new bike Friday or something similar. We only have enough room for so many bikes here in our flat so once in awhile it would be great to use it as well without having to purchase a 2nd folder.

Thus, with the amount of room in the seat post adjustment, it seems some of these folders with a little tweaking could be used by varying heights of people. I imagine with an adjustable stem a Bike Friday made for the somewhere inbwtween our 2 heights may be suitable.

Has anyone ever seen a folder that might be suitable for this? At the moment we are looking at a Bike Friday World Tour model.

Thanks,

GeorgePaul
02-14-10, 01:46 AM
Dahon makes some bicycles that are very adjustable. I think the Dahon IOS P7 (or the IOS XL), which has the new Andros adjustable stem, might work for you.

Edit: See this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AM3aj3xOeo
solution_63
02-14-10, 01:56 AM
The BD-1 / Bianchi Fretta should be OK but at 6'5 it may be just a touch too small for you. Fortunately there are plently of places in Tokyo selling them, I bought mine from Loro (in Nihonbashi, about a 10 or 15 minute walk from Tokyo station) and they were happy for me to take it for a quick spin up and down the street before I bought it.

bendembroski
02-14-10, 02:59 AM
You might want to take a look at a Swift, (not sure if they are available in Japan) Swapping seatposts/stem/handlebar risers should accommodate the sizes you are talking about. I also find their slim fold ideal for storage in small flats. It's why I got mine.
Foldable Two
02-15-10, 02:33 PM
That might be a very tall order.

I am 6'3" and my wife is 5'8" - we both have long legs and I have very long arms, too.

The problem is 'effective top tube length'. However, while I can't adjust her Bike Friday Crusoe to be comfortable for me, I can (and have) adjusted my NWT to fit her - she is on my GREEN NWT, below, while 5'1" grandson is happily riding her blue Crusoe.

Can you stretch it another 2" in each direction? maybe, but will likely depend on whether your body types are similar. I did it without changing any parts; you might have to change stems.

Anyway, it's easier to scale down the larger bike than "stretch a smaller one.