Folding Bikes - Tyrell Folder

Apparently, Tyrell bike has added a folding version of it's popular(here in Asia) minivelo to it's product line. Unfortunately, the Tyrell website doesn't seem to have any info as of yet, but there was an article about this in a cycling magazine I was leafing through tonight.

Did manage to find this link with a bit of info (in Japanese) and some blurry pictures here:

http://www.loro.co.jp/blog/lwr/2009/11/tyrell.html

http://www.loro.co.jp/blog/lwr/TS3K0062.jpg

Here is the English version ;-)

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http://www.loro.co.jp/blog/lwr/2009/11/tyrell.html&sl=ja&tl=en

Oh, great. Tyrell is entering this market.

But I think the folding fork design is not sturdy enough?

Looks like it rolls nicely when folded.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMILPrdtYVI

Tyrell updated their site -

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.tyrellbike.com/products/fx/feature.html&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhjGBjVXOWcGbO76QLZGkvrTNnaV4A

http://www.tyrellbike.com/products/fx/img/index_m

Got to love google translations!

"In addition, "please really take" is a word very heart dance, rowing is a sport bike started to surprise the moment you catch a noun class, misbehave, push off can be expressed as
Carbon yoke suspension, always stroke me and take a firm track the impact of small cars,"

What more can be added.....................

A few photos of the Tyrell FX from a cycle shop here in Yokohama -

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4652367487_9de59da3cd.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4653033392_146f70b9cf.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4653032042_ef4ca16fbb_b.jpg

Wow, first really new fold I've seen in a while. Folding forks? Want!

What do these sell for?

Looks like it rolls nicely when folded.

I was thinking just the opposite: from the design it appears you can't roll it backwards.

I'm also a bit weirded out by the rear triangle hinge -- the chainring isn't part of the folding triangle. At first glance this would seem likely to cause even more chain drop problems during folding than BF's NWT etc.

Also you have to lock both the rear triangle and the front fork in place once they've been folded to keep them from unfolding on you. And the handlebar situation is afterthought city.

Overall for a folding bike it seems pretty crummy. However for a high-end mini-velo which also happens to fold as a bonus feature, that's probably a great selling point.



What do these sell for?

From here (http://www1.discuss.com.hk/archiver/?tid-11993099.html) I see 170,000 yen (about $1900 US). It's also only 19.5 pounds.

What do these sell for?

170,000 yen which is about $1870 USD.

Overall for a folding bike it seems pretty crummy. However for a high-end mini-velo which also happens to fold as a bonus feature, that's probably a great selling point.



If your first priority is compactness of fold then your right, it`s pretty crummy. However, if you are someone who really wants a high performance bike that you can still take on the train to, or from, your destination than this bike would obviously be a better choice than a Brompton or Carryme. You have to realize that, in Japan, A LOT of urban cyclists use the very convenient train system to whisk them out to the countryside/mountains or to daytrips exploring other cities. In fact, the bike magazines here are always offering step-by-step instructions for dismantling road bikes in order to get in a carrybag to take on train. This bike would probably appeal to serious performance oriented riders who would like to avoid the hassle of actually taking apart and assembling again.

I suppose this bike would be in competition with something like the Pacific Reach.

The bike is compared to the Brompton on this Japanese blog. With google translator you can get the gist(maybe). -

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/md90_yochi/25276789.html

I was thinking just the opposite: from the design it appears you can't roll it backwards.

I'm also a bit weirded out by the rear triangle hinge -- the chainring isn't part of the folding triangle. At first glance this would seem likely to cause even more chain drop problems during folding than BF's NWT etc.
have a look at the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMILPrdtYVI
Front and rear are locked in place. So you can lift and carry it. And also it seems to roll nicely. Forward.
Any experiences about the stability when riding? How firm is the folding fork?

Very interesting. It looks vaguely Moultonish, or like a mixte and a folder had a love child.

Has anyone ridden it and can speak to the quality of the ride? $1800 is a lot and should be buying you something that's the quality of a Bike Friday.

Very interesting. It looks vaguely Moultonish, or like a mixte and a folder had a love child.

Has anyone ridden it and can speak to the quality of the ride? $1800 is a lot and should be buying you something that's the quality of a Bike Friday.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5154205061_cc92679407_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1058/5154202837_9e295306ca_z.jpg

Finally - I got the chance to ride this bike a couple days ago at Cyclemode International in Tokyo. Was allowed only 10 minutes or so to take it for few laps around the facility - but man I didn`t want to get off! Definitely, it is the nicest bike I have ever ridden. It`s very very lightweight and feels as stiff as a road bike. Acceleration is rocket fast. It`s not your typical folding urban commuter, it`s more of a bike you will want to bring on your next vacation and ride fast for 100 miles or even race.

It is not the smallest fold, but still I was impressed and found it very easy to carry when bagged. Again - it is really light.

A Tyrell folder in Car Free Day Cycling Parade 2010 in Hong Kong. ;)

http://photo.phyang.org/image/carfreehk26_sogo.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs653.snc4/61358_432256548842_114119793842_5141027_7332158_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs642.snc4/60246_432256938842_114119793842_5141051_3364746_n.jpg

http://www.wilson-cheung.com/strida/100919/02.jpg

http://www.wilson-cheung.com/strida/100919/03.jpg

http://www.wilson-cheung.com/strida/100919/04.jpg

http://www.wilson-cheung.com/strida/100919/05.jpg

http://www.wilson-cheung.com/strida/100919/06.jpg

But I think the folding fork design is not sturdy enough?

+1, I also think the folding fork looks frightening. Especially since it folds in the direction force is applied to it. On my Birdy, for example, the handlebars fold backwards - but while it is in use I'm loading it forwards - hence even if the clamp fails the handlebars won't fold while in use.

Saw this stunner in the bike parking garage today.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6321454319_4e6660434e_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/6321454179_14da091c9d_z.jpg

Relaxed head tube angle plus hardly any rake on the fork must make for a non-squirrelly ride.

Just bought my Tyrell FX in My Bike Shop Singapore, and I'm absolutely in love with it!

Tried out the Brompton S6R, Dahon Vector X10, Tern X10, then the Tyrell FX. The decision was immediate for me - the Tyrell FX rides and feels like a proper road bike, and you won't feel even the tiniest bit of twitchiness that you may experience in any brands of folding bikes at all!

Totally agree that the fold is a little clumsy, and it does not fold down to anything you would call 'small'. But the weight, or let's way weightlessness definately make up for it (8.9kg!). You can fly in this bike.