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

I bought it from a local lbs and not online. These would probably help:
http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/aberhallo.htm
http://www.bikemania.biz/Aber_Hallo_MTB_Stem_p/satori_aber_hallo_stem.htm

Thank you. Got the Aberhallo (from Thor :)) but yours looks bigger, like you could still use the quick release and I would like to do that.

Well hello to all
I have just ordered my first folding bike today - a Dawes Metropolis. Hopefully it will be ready for pick up next week. My OH is waiting for his Dahon Espresso.
We have a campervan and have given up on bike racks - don't ask lol. Have - full size bike each too.

Now to ordered the sweet little Dawes rack bag for the back. We don't do huge distances just want somewhere to put a rain top. Living in UK you can rarely not carry one.

Thank you. Got the Aberhallo (from Thor :)) but yours looks bigger, like you could still use the quick release and I would like to do that.

Yes i can still use the quick release lever. :thumb:

I was up for business in Mississauga, knew I would have at least an hour to kill, and just couldn't resist hauling the Brompton along to tour around some bike paths along Lake Aquitaine and Lake Wabukayne. The Brompton's real inaugural ride! No name for it yet though.... :D

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^awesome Brompton, tell us how you like it as the miles rack up.

^awesome Brompton, tell us how you like it as the miles rack up.

It's great so far... but it's been raining, and I hurt my arm, making it difficult to ride! :notamused:

I'm just looking for excuses to ride it! :D Here's to better days!

I have a Dahon Archer (China domestic model) and a Dahon Dove (China domestic model).

The Archer I used for daily commuting -- 25 miles RT -- and some touring (http://www.cycling2celebrate.com/home/a-royal-wedding-a-sandstorm-and-mud-falling-from-the-sky/) including a 10 day trip through Shandong Province. I bought a bag for it so I can get it on trains and buses in China. It is cheap enough that I don't have to worry about it getting instantly stolen but decent enough that it is not painful to ride. It has held up for several thousand miles. I let a friend borrow it for about six months and somehow the rack survived him carrying his girlfriend around on it for six months. I'd guess the rack is rated for about 25 lbs and she weighs about 100 lbs.

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Dahon Archer

The Dove is kind of fun to do short rides on. It has tiny wheels and is easy to fit in the footwell of the back seat of just about any car. It is not good for hills as it has one gear.


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Dahon Dove

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Brompton M3L in British Racing Green
Brooks B17
Carradice City Folder bag.
Best of British

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Brompton M3L in British Racing Green
Brooks B17
Carradice City Folder bag.
Best of British

Here is a picture of my Melon Slice. I really dig it. Its surprising I don't see more info about them on here.250215

I have a Dahon Speed D7. Still trying to decide what accessories are needed.

Dawes Kingpin. I have taken off the front rack.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/hotzilla_2006/DSCN1750.jpg

So I'm waiting on my Schwinn Hinge to come in, this is my first venture into folding bikes. One main question I have is about the brakes. I have an Electra Cruiser with coaster brakes and would love to convert the Schwinn to the same type of break system. Will this be possible? You all have some great looking bikes!

So I'm waiting on my Schwinn Hinge to come in, this is my first venture into folding bikes. One main question I have is about the brakes. I have an Electra Cruiser with coaster brakes and would love to convert the Schwinn to the same type of break system. Will this be possible? You all have some great looking bikes!

Start a new thread about your bike in the main section under. Add a picture or a link to the bike so us who have not seen one can better decide. Sounds like you need a new rear hub (or just a new rear wheel plus shifter plus...). My gyess is ist could be done but not worth it. Try your new bike for some time and then decide. I used to like coaster brakes only on my gearhubs until I went into foldingbikes.

After looking through this thread I've realized posting about a "generic" Schwinn folding bike may not earn me any brownie points.

Forrest is heading off for powder coating next week... went for a nice ride in the river valley today with a nice mix of climbing and some good work on the flats.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrest1.JPG

Stopped for a coffee and to enjoy the sun... took my key with me but was not too worried about thieves and my free Pletscher stand is the bomb.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestfold1.JPG

I'm new here. I have a Montague DX, bought second hand. Just added new tubes as wheels were flat. I also added new Bontrager clip-on fenders. I plan to put 26x1.25 road wheels on it when my current 1.5 crossover wheels wear out.

Here's a link to Montague's archives. Bike is no longer available.

http://www.montaguebikes.com/dx-comfort-folding-bike-2009.html

Forrest is heading off for powder coating next week...

Can't wait to see the new paint job :thumb:

Can't wait to see the new paint job :thumb:

Powder coating got delayed by a week as we have more outside work coming in and this takes precedence over our own projects but we won't complain.

Has given me a few more days to get out and play and today I got to road test my newly minted Suntour Ultra 7 freewheel that I built up for touring... 5 close steps at the high end and two slightly bigger steps for bailing out which works great with the half step gearing and gives some excellent chain lines.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestultra7.JPG

Hit some gravel and did a little off roading tonight on the way home...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestultra2.JPG

That SRAM x7 is a remarkable derailleur that will handle a 53/30 combination with room to spare and works beautifully with the friction barcons.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestultra1.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestbreakdown.JPG

:D

Hope to have the little guy back together in a week...

Forrest will be back from the powder coater tomorrow... giggity !!!

My daughter and I went for Mocktails on the bridge... bicycle powered fruit smoothies.

She brought Basil... her "British Cruiser".

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012basil1.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012basil2.JPG

Giggity !!!

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestpowder1.JPG

i have a .. Auto Mini Junior ... it is all original , i bought it at a yard sale for 10 bucks!
its in great shape , made in Austria in the early 70's.
my friends laugh at me but i love it!

Progress... should be done in a few hours.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestbuild4.JPG

[QUOTE=Sixty Fiver;14363576]Progress... should be done in a few hours.QUOTE]

Paint job looks very nice :thumb: Btw - are your pix in this thread taken in Portland or Calgary?

[QUOTE=Sixty Fiver;14363576]Progress... should be done in a few hours.QUOTE]

Paint job looks very nice :thumb: Btw - are your pix in this thread taken in Portland or Calgary?

I am in Edmonton...

Spent the better part of the evening and early morning putting my little buddy back together so I could take him out to an all day bike festival today... was like being with an old friend as this bike and I have travelled many miles together and both changed a lot in the past 5 years.

Have yet to settle on decals or re-attach the head badge and will be installing fenders and lights this coming week before I go on a little tour... but I think things turned out nicely.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestrocks1.JPG

With my daughter's 1977 Raleigh 20...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012forrestbasil1.JPG

Forrest - 1973 Phillip's 20 Custom Touring Bicycle (http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/?page_id=89)

I am in Edmonton...

Sorry about that mistake...I got my airport codes mixed up ;)

Hello from Long Beach CA.
Here is a pic of mine, my first folding bike, a new Montague Paratrooper fitted with street tires (Schwalbe marathon plus).
Awesome bike and awesome tires, my longest ride was 70 miles RT from Long Beach to Los Angeles.
I also have a seat mounted rack and panniers.
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I think that it is only right that since they sleep side by side that Forrest's best good friend should be named "Bubba".

:D

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012r20coffee1.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012r20coffee2.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012r20coffee3.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012r20coffee4.JPG

For the short trips I make downtown this is the perfect bike.

Bubba and I are going to go away for the long weekend and spend some time with family... and think it is always good top carry a spare... bike.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/1993sentratwenty1.JPG

Plan to just keep him here along with my spare helmet and pannier bags as most of my heavy hauling will still be done with my bike and trailer while the car was acquired for longer trips.

Hmm...I guess I forgot my folding intro a few months back,somehow missed this (awesome) thread...a few months back I bought a Citizen Miami and Schwinn Loop at about the same time (the Citizen was better than I'd expected,the Schwinn worse than I'd even hoped,LOL!). "Name Your Bike!"-Ummm.......Blue n Green? :roflmao2:
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/Longhaultruker1/2012%20Citizen%20Miami/004-1.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/Longhaultruker1/2012%20Schwinn%20Loop/004.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/Longhaultruker1/2012%20Citizen%20Miami/014.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/Longhaultruker1/2012%20Citizen%20Miami/016.jpg

My Giant expressway. BB7 disc on the rear.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j272/amf_bucket/470026_165208460279591_168439465_o.jpg


My 1 day old White Brommie P6RU:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j272/amf_bucket/523581_167465416720562_796171318_n.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j272/amf_bucket/529578_167465803387190_69603312_n.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j272/amf_bucket/229824_167459460054491_149572842_n.jpg

Nice :D

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Picked up the generic folder today for 40.00... Needs a little cleaning up as it looks like it was left outside for some time but everything works smoothly and the fold is perfect for my car.

Takes up much less space than my R20 and matches the car too.

Nice score,my friend :)

Nice score,my friend :)

Still trying to figure out it's origins... Frame is steel with a decent hinge set up with a sprung locking pin and the qr locks, drive is a 6 speed with low end parts that I will upgrade to better parts, has one folding pedal, and folds rather well. It rides well enough and just needs a little polishing up.

"Still trying to figure out it's origins... Frame is steel with a decent hinge set up with a sprung locking pin and the qr locks, drive is a 6 speed with low end parts that I will upgrade to better parts, has one folding pedal, and folds rather well. It rides well enough and just needs a little polishing up."


The hinge,lower level parts and one folding pedal almost described my Schwinn Loop,had there not been a pic,I woulda assumed it one,LOL! Lets hope that even as it sits (not counting the upgrading you mentioned) that it's a better bike than that (Schwinn Loop) :p But hey,even if it were one (it obviously isn't),for $40 it wouldn't have been a bad deal (I paid $199 shipped for my Loop).

Can't wait to see what you do with it,ofor 1 thing,I enjoy bike builds,2 I enjoy watching your bike builds specifically :thumb:

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Tweaked a few things, Kool stops and some new cable and housing improved the squeaky braking and an Acera is serving in place of the stock rear d which was a chattery thing and will see what I have in a nicer short cage rear d. Mounted an old rack I had and my new panniers are a good match too.

The freewheel looks hideous but has no wear and spins smoothly... might see what I can't do to upgrade to a 7 speed and see if I can't find a nice orphaned thumb shifter.

Rode all over my home town this weekend and the bike was fine... for a low end folder it makes nary a squeak or a rattle and has a solid feel and a nice ride.

^^
I wish I had your bike mechanic skills!

My foldie squeaks and creaks. Wish I could sort it out. I fear I might end up buying a new one though I wonder if I can use a derailleur after my simple Nexus 3 hub (noob cyclist here).

^^
I wish I had your bike mechanic skills!

My foldie squeaks and creaks. Wish I could sort it out. I fear I might end up buying a new one though I wonder if I can use a derailleur after my simple Nexus 3 hub (noob cyclist here).

I run my own shop and have been doing this for a little while... might have to take that cruddy looking freewheel and pass it by the wire wheel a few times.

Plan to swap the steel post for an alloy one and see if I can't swap the crank for a lighter one and still retain the chain guide and guard as that is quite useful... that should knock a few pounds off the bike as the cranks and post are steel.

Although the stock brakes were a little noisy the stopping power was just fine as the V brakes themselves are decent... might have some nicer levers here too.

^^
I wish I had your bike mechanic skills!


You and me both,my friend (each wishing that we each had more mech skills ),you and me both

I think I'll call this folding bicycle Max. Original bicycle model sticker is b-max. This is a size 20" stainless frame bicycle. Rims, fenders, spokes, fork, and folding basket are stainless also.

b-max
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7643184758_cc45735b9a.jpg

I like Max's frame/rack design :)

You and me both,my friend (each wishing that we each had more mech skills ),you and me both

It just takes practice, practice, and more practice... have been spinning wrenches since I was a wee tyke as my dad thought that if you were gonna ride it, you also needed to know how to fix it.

The same applied to cars as he was a master mechanic but as I do not have my shop set up for working on the car (yet) sent took it in to a reputable mechanic this am.

Looked through my parts bin and swapped the Acera on my "auto bike" for a somewhat scruffy but functional Deore XT short cage derailleur I had which works beautifully and has better ground clearance... dropped my car off at the shop for a pre-vacation check up and will use the folder to retrieve the car when it is done and tuck it back in the trunk.

I think I'll call this folding bicycle Max. Original bicycle model sticker is b-max. This is a size 20" stainless frame bicycle. Rims, fenders, spokes, and fork are stainless also.

b-max
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/7500450698_326446439d.jpg

That is a great looking bike and looks like it would have a rather splendid ride quality what with a longer wheelbase and some fatter tyres under it.

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Rainy day here and while the car is getting it's pre trip inspection I tweaked out the "auto bike" which lost a little over three pounds after the steel crank, chunky tyres, and seat post (new post not shown here) was changed for alloy bits. Added a nicer saddle and changed the freewheel to a Shimano 600 with a 13-21.

Those Comet Primo tyres roll out faster and have a ride quality that is better than the stock tyres at nearly twice the psi and will fit a larger chain wheel to bring up the top gear a little to compliment the faster rolling tyres.

Seek and you shall find, track crank with a 50 tooth chain ring...

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Hey...I've got 3 of those Bontrager saddles (one was on the Jabberwocky I sold recently,so I gots TWO now,LOL!) :thumb: Lookin good,Brother :D

Hey...I've got 3 of those Bontrager saddles (one was on the Jabberwocky I sold recently,so I gots TWO now,LOL!) :thumb: Lookin good,Brother :D

It is coming along nicely... I think that Microshift has to go as soon as I find a decent thumbie.

Yeah...thumbies rock :thumb: