Folding Bikes - First Official Folding Bike Thread!! :) Name Your Bike!

This is my "Yora Mountain Echo" which is the best translation I can muster for "やまよら" -- which is in Japanese, but it's a CHINESE bike, only sold in China (I bought this one in Beijing). The manufacturer seems to be in Tianjin. I paid 370RMB iirc. It fits neatly in the back of my Mini Cooper.

200861

Now that my Dahon Hammerhead is about to sell on ebay, I finally found a good deal on a Dahon Mu XL Sport with a redline Nexus 8 IGH.

Now the fun begins. Do I keep it as is or do I swap wheels with my Dahon Jetstream?


http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/Dahon%20Mu%20XL%20Sport/dahonmu.jpg

I have the VERSO COLOGNE FOLDING BIKE. It is a strange name and an obscure company, but I like it, it is good enough. I take it on a ride for 40 minutes to university every morning. It is only useful if I cannot be bothered to go all the way I get on the bus with it in the included bag, then I get off the bus and ride the rest of the journey to the hospital/UNI.

check my website please: http://havetopraiseyou.weebly.com/

I just got my first folder. Downtube 9FS.

I've been checking out this forum for some time and I've really enjoyed reading everybody posts and their enthusiasm for folders.
I've been riding a Mu Uno and my gf rides a Citizen Gotham 2.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_gn37jJ7980o/Tdass9b9pTI/AAAAAAAAC2g/n67-GqQNquY/s1024/DSCN1336.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_gn37jJ7980o/Tdash3O446I/AAAAAAAAC2U/MtQd-7SOYm0/s1024/DSCN1287.JPG

I've been checking out this forum for some time and I've really enjoyed reading everybody posts and their enthusiasm for folders.
I've been riding a Mu Uno and my gf rides a Citizen Gotham 2.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_gn37jJ7980o/Tdass9b9pTI/AAAAAAAAC2g/n67-GqQNquY/s1024/DSCN1336.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_gn37jJ7980o/Tdash3O446I/AAAAAAAAC2U/MtQd-7SOYm0/s1024/DSCN1287.JPG

I have seen many Dahons and a couple of Citizens, but I would like to hear someone else's opinion. Without getting you in trouble with you GF, how do you compare the quality of the two brands?

The Citizen is definitely lower quality than my Dahon. The folding hinges are not as nice and it can be very heavy to drag down the stairs in my apartment. It is also much larger folded and can be an eyesore compared to the Mu Uno sitting in the apartment. There are also little things that bothered me about the bike-- such as one of the brake cables getting caught between the brake lever when folded. You can see a little bend in the cable housing in the picture (its fixable, but I've been lazy).

Otherwise, it is a very comfortable cruising bike that my girlfriend enjoys riding along the lakefront trail.
For the price, I don't have any major complaints -- but I am not particularly impressed by anything either. You really get what you pay for, but for the $300 price tag, it serves its purpose well.

thanks everyone for the posts ,now still looking but what is lowest weight and easy fold for 20 inch wheel

Dahon Mu? Swift?

I got my GF a Citizen Barcelona & she likes it a lot -- we can put both her bike & my Yorayama AND the dog in her kennel case into the Mini Cooper for day trips to the beach...

(Edit: here are both bikes in Santa Cruz):


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/5776433028_0866012ed1_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjorke/5776433028/in/photostream/)

my nane is terry,i own a 1986 stoplight addition classic a(a frame dehon folder. this bike is a series of only 200 made in the green ,yellow, red addition of dehon folders of this year.I had a friend that had a red one, he has passed...dint know what happened to it, and recently saw on line a green basket case folder...will be putting a pic on line of my lemon yellow (hon)soon thanks...(may the fold be with you....).

my nane is terry,i own a 1986 stoplight addition classic a(a frame dehon folder. this bike is a series of only 200 made in the green ,yellow, red addition of dehon folders of this year.I had a friend that had a red one, he has passed...dint know what happened to it, and recently saw on line a green basket case folder...will be putting a pic on line of my lemon yellow (hon)soon thanks...(may the fold be with you....).

Are you sure about the rarity of these. I know green is pretty rare, but there are tons of red and yellow Dahon Classics.

but still no movement with Dahon US on getting there vector x10 into UK help Dahon give us a break!!!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MiqLTokEZnI/TXwIWEZdmjI/AAAAAAAAE4M/R5Ck2speMlU/s1600/0001_berlineta0002.jpg
Caloi Berlineta 1969 - folding bike

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WVNLqc23dM/TeY4UVbPTBI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/fqmOz-LBZT4/s1600/caloi+berlineta+0002.jpg
Caloi Berlineta 1987 - no folding bike

www.bikeclic.blogspot.com (http://www.bikeclic.blogspot.com/)

http://www.practicalalchemy.org/%7Enerobro/public/Pictures/Bicycles/small/Razor_Squeeze_03.JPG

$75 of folding bike. I have no idea what to name the poor thing. It wheelies incessantly, and is twitchy on the steering. But it's mine. And it feels solid. I like it.

It's a 2001 Razor Squeeze IIRC.... I am likely it's second owner. It needs new brake pads.

Hi !!!
Greetings from Romania !

Here's my cheap DHS (http://www.dhsbike.ro/product/folding-bike/dhs-2024-6v/53.html):
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x5U8w_05OB8/TesKQXogeDI/AAAAAAAAFT4/Sp0YUw6p4Pg/s800/2011-06-04%25252009.51.40.jpg

Haven't named it, yet...

I always took the thread as what bike do you have? ,rather than literally naming our bikes !
If ever I christen a folding bike I will let you know,.............. after the reception.

Scored well today, picked up 2 6 speed Dahon Boardwalks off CL. Both ridable and have minor surface rust and will need new cables. I am mainly concerned about the rust on spokes. Should keep me busy restoring for a little while. Anyone have info and idea of date. Even in this state, both handle and ride better then my new Citizen Miami.

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Scored well today, picked up 2 6 speed Dahon Boardwalks off CL. Both ridable and have minor surface rust and will need new cables. I am mainly concerned about the rust on spokes. Should keep me busy restoring for a little while. Anyone have info and idea of date. Even in this state, both handle and ride better then my new Citizen Miami.

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Judging from the older latch, I would guess circa 2003. There should be a serial number under the bottom bracket. It should start with D and then some numbers. If it was a D3xxxxxx for instance then that would indicate a 2003.
I agree that these entry level Dahons are much better than the entry level Citizens.

Welcome to the Fold!

The serial numbers are stamped as DAHON1093 and DAHON0377.

Blue Pocket rocket Bike Friday 2006 with all capreo and 105. It is an amazing bike to travel with, and I love the engineering they put into it.
Jeff
Juneau, AK

The serial numbers are stamped as DAHON1093 and DAHON0377.

Probably 2000 and 2001 then.

Me and my Birdy did a 25mi ride at the Chicago LSD bike path last Saturday.
:)


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_5236.jpg

Just picked up an all original brown twenty and I'm calling it dirty sanchez

Now I just need to learn to make it fit a tall ass mofo

Just picked up an all original brown twenty and I'm calling it dirty sanchez


That ain't right, I don't care who you are. ;-)

211013

My latest addition, an old Boardwalk D6 named 'Oskar Barnack' for no apparent reason.

Would post an updated picture save for the fact my server is still down... might have to upload one tomorrow.

I think Forrest is ready for powder coating now as there does not seem to be a place on him that has not been torched, hammered, or sanded down... that... and my favourite Phillip's 20 just got a new rear end and a new fork.

Cut him up into pieces yesterday and was out on a shake down ride tonight... put at least 10 hours into the additional frame work over the past two days and the little fella looks pretty raw right now.

But damn... who would have thought this bike could get any sweeter than it already was.

Some pics of the work in progress...

1. Who needs zip ties when you have a torch and boxes of cable guides ?

2. Rear triangle came from a wrecked Nishiki International... will move the rack mounts up to the joint where the old seat stay meets the new ones.

3. Bike gained half an inch of wheelbase but there is much less rake on the front fork and the chainstays got a few inches longer so what it lost up front it gained in the rear. Also raised the bottom bracket height and now have 4 inches of clearance at the pedal with 175mm cranks.

4. Rebuilt the fork from the Nishiki to allow for suspension correction should I decide to swap in a suspension fork... it is a heavy duty chromoly touring fork.

Have settled on a deep British green for the powdercoat and only have a few more little frame tweaks planned like a spoke holder, bottle mount behind the seatpost, and moving those rack mounts up to serve as mounting points for lights / reflector.

A custom rear rack is in the works too.

I have a 1994 Montague Trifold (folding tandem) that is in excellent shape. My daughter and I just took it out earlier today. Besides the heat and her shifting from side to side it was great trip.

I don't not fully get the R20 (cult) thing. In England they are/were a bit of a joke. But I am starting to get the upgrade interest.
"Thoses in the know", know better I guess.
Maybe one day I will "need" a R20

I don't not fully get the R20 (cult) thing. In England they are/were a bit of a joke. But I am starting to get the upgrade interest.
"Thoses in the know", know better I guess.
Maybe one day I will "need" a R20

Lemme see... the bike is bombproof and has one of the nicest rides of any small wheeled bike and with some small upgrade to the wheels and brakes they become really wonderful bikes with no need for changes as radical as mine.

Because I work in a frame shop I have the ability to do some pretty radical stuff... my 20 is a great bike but is also serving as a test bed for ideas as I would like to translate the changes I have made on this bike to a new custom build.

I could have bought a Bike Friday NWt but where is the fun in that ?

:)

There is something about riding a bicycle that you have pretty much built from the ground up... the H frame and stem are the only original parts on my 20 and even the stem has seen some custom work as it had no wedge nut and was retained by a top clamp. It now has a bottom fitted wedge nut which is accessed through the bottom of the steerer and is a temporary set up as a new custom stem is in the works.

I have a number of one off custom built bikes that were made by other builders... but there is something about riding something you have built yourself and feedback from other test pilots has been exceedingly positive.

My partner has been building bikes for 30 years... he is just starting to appreciate small wheeled bikes and we have a custom 20 inch tourer in the works that is shaping up to be an incredible and original design.

Just picked up an all original brown twenty and I'm calling it dirty sanchez

Now I just need to learn to make it fit a tall ass mofo

The stock seat post will fit riders of fairly good height but if you are over six feet tall a replacement post can be sourced easily as it is now a common 1 1/8 size.

The stem is a bigger issue... you can get bars with more rise to bring the handlebars up and if that does not work there are a number of ways to extend the stem.

Have , 2 Bromptons , now the Mk4 M3L and the Mk2 T, both 3 speeds ,
Xferred the Schlumpf crank to the newer one ,

might have a local friend to get the Mk2 , if not, might churn it.
updated the rear catch , and the seat tube Bushing,

Schwalbe Marathon's new grips , have a winter's use on them..


most recent acquisition, the Friday/ Rohloff/P.Llama.. :thumb:

On July 9 I rode a double century (204 miles) in one day on a Pacific Reach Racing. The pace line I was in averaged 17.6 mph - try that on any other folder! The bike is amazing and offers an incredibly smooth ride yet transfers power from the crank to the rear wheel efficiently. Check out the trailing link suspension on the front end. The bike only weighs 21 pounds. Pacific Reach has a winner in this bike! I've put almost 2000 miles on it since April of this year, and enjoy it more on each outing. You also don't see many folders with aero bars. I love confounding expectations when I show up for a new group ride!

On July 9 I rode a double century (204 miles) in one day on a Pacific Reach Racing. The pace line I was in averaged 17.6 mph - try that on any other folder! The bike is amazing and offers an incredibly smooth ride yet transfers power from the crank to the rear wheel efficiently. Check out the trailing link suspension on the front end. The bike only weighs 21 pounds. Pacific Reach has a winner in this bike! I've put almost 2000 miles on it since April of this year, and enjoy it more on each outing. You also don't see many folders with aero bars. I love confounding expectations when I show up for a new group ride!

Riding in a pace line makes things much easier...

I have ridden solo centuries on my vintage P20 with a full touring load and averaged 15mph when I was not pushing the pace and tend to cruise pretty comfortably in the 18mph range (solo) when I am riding the bike stripped down.

It too confounds people as how a bike with small wheels can do what it does and use it for my commute to the frame shop which is a 100km round trip and have done this 5 days a week and then added a century on the weekend.

It too confounds people as how a bike with small wheels can do what it does..........
+1

My Birdy taking a rest along the Corpus Christi shore.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_0203.jpg

By the boat dock.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_0188.jpg

My two Bromptons, 2011 S6L-X for city commuting/speeding about, 2010 M3R for touring/vacations/rougher terrain etc. Dunno about names though...
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman02/4e3fa2332f803_s6l-x.JPG
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skalman02/4e3fa24083b7a_m3r.JPG

Some pics of the work in progress...

1. Who needs zip ties when you have a torch and boxes of cable guides ?

2. Rear triangle came from a wrecked Nishiki International... will move the rack mounts up to the joint where the old seat stay meets the new ones.

3. Bike gained half an inch of wheelbase but there is much less rake on the front fork and the chainstays got a few inches longer so what it lost up front it gained in the rear. Also raised the bottom bracket height and now have 4 inches of clearance at the pedal with 175mm cranks.....

Beautiful work so far 65er

Hi there,

I new to this forum, live i Holland, been doing a short search if there were any pics up of my somewhat older and big BMW folding bike but couldnt find any.

So I hope this is the right place to introduce the bike :p

i bought it cheaply secondhand from a friend of mine who knew i commuted in Holland with a folding bike which I need in diferent cities.
I used to have a Brompton but because I sometimes need to be on the bike for about 4/5 hours I was looking for something more comfortable.
It is made out of aluminium and not as heavy as it looks :p

About once a year in the train a trainconducter will look at the folded bike sitting in the train and has to look up if it is legal to transport it for free together with the smaller folding bikes.
It seems there is a rule that a bike is considered to qualify for free transport if it is foldable within the frame so mine is a folding bike and can be carried around .

I am not taking it with me during the rush hours ;)

Ok some pics:

http://i53.tinypic.com/zss2uo.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/ico1sj.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/nlzdrt.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/3477gie.jpg

It came with a "carrier bag" and some booklets from BMW and yeah i know the bike was overpriced at about 1400 $ at the time (luckily i didnt pay that amount) but i for me is the most comfotable folding bike around.

Ok, dont know if this bike already was know to the forum and wanted to show it.

Beautiful work so far 65er

Thanks... canna wait to see it after the powder coating work is finished.

Will be coming back to Portland in September and although I won't need the room (will be driving) it will be nice to have my 20 with me as it is a more comfortable bike than our stock 20 by virtue of the drop bars and forward position and if there are any long rides planned it is ideal for that.

And there is always the chance that there will be some zoo bombing to be done.

Here's my only folding bike: the Frog Transformer

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t280/drachenboot/ab30c63e.jpg

I swapped the Stock grips, saddle, and pedals for Kore Gripsters, a Brooks B17 Imperial, and Xpedo QRs, respectively.

This is a custom build single speed based on a Fuji frame. The Fuji was only sold through the Marlboro Miles catalog, as far a I now, in 1998 and 1999.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/6036040334_b0a9914243_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6035033000_03767e3bbd_z.jpg

More pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/55107893@N00/6036040334/in/set-72157627414833332

After having so much fun with my first custom bike build on Rat Rod Bikes (http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=43662 )
I have been inspired to do a custom build with a 86 Dahon Classic
You can follow it here.
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic...=432141#p432141[/url (http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=44315&p=432141#p432141)]

Another RRBer is making a sand bike out of the 20x4 rear ends of OCC StingRays. I plan on trying the same thing but marrying it to a Dahon Classic.

It is just an idea so far, but it should be fun. Well first I have to give complete credit to yoothgeye and his over the top sand bike SAND ROVER ([URL]http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=41955&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a )

I never would have thought of this on my own. I didn't want to continue bogarting his thread with stories about my hunt for a Stingray, so here is my thread.

About the time that I saw yooth's rolling frame, I saw a Sun Snyder, and then an OCC Stingray showed up on CL. I had to jump. I think yooth is dead on whith his scale and execution using a smaller frame with these fat twentys. With a bigger frame the wheels wouldn't look as big and thuggish.

I guess I can't really call this a build yet, because all I have is some of the parts and an idea. But maybe if I post my idea to RRBers it will force me to follow through and not have to walk the shameful halls of unfinished bikes.

As a reference and with major reverence, let me show an early photo of yooth's Sand Rover.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/Dune%20Thuggy/SandRover.jpg
Pretty awesome build isn't it???

I don't plan to do a total theft of Sand Rover. I decided it would be cool to tie it in to another bike style that I enjoy and that is folding bikes.
Here is the 86 Dahon Classic that I am thinking of using. I know that there will be a few engineering challenges to this, but what the hell. It's a start.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/Dahon%2086%20Classic/IMG_6379.jpg

Also here is the OCC StingRay I started with. Cool story with this purchase, that I will post later.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/Dune%20Thuggy/Photo-0029.jpg

Here is a bad virtual mockup of what I hope to accomplish by marrying a Dahon Classic with two Stingray Chopper rear ends.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/Dune%20Thuggy/Dunethuggy.jpg

Skippy is folding bike #4 and I think the last for a while. Brought Oscar to Vancouver all last week, loads of fun.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6051943508_69d4b14311_o_d.jpg

Here is my Fugsley (Folding Pugsley)
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/Dune%20Thuggy/Photo_AE5F22A7-4350-6010-180B-E77002E71480.jpg

kingfish... that is freaking radical.

Simon as in Simple,
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/hotzilla_2006/DSCN1253.jpg

kingfish... that is freaking radical.

65er, you can see the whole build here including some video links.
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=44315&p=446297#p446297

It is a blast. Harley tires mounted on OCC StingRay 20x4 bike rims. Two OCC rear frames welded to the front and back of a 1986 Dahon Classic folder. It still folds too!!

I still need to make some longer brake arms so that I can have some brakes.

http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp313/dkasper0/103_4023.jpg