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

Hi,
in reply to your request, I have a Dahon Roo EL ebike, which I am very pleased with. Could not get it in England ( I live in Spain) so I ordered it from Germany thru' a cycle company here. Not cheap but very well made.
My wife rides a Dahon Speed 6, no motor, just the pedals and 6 derailleur gears, which she enjoys very much. Only problem is, I have to keep waiting for her to catch up!
I am at present lusting after the Birdy/Bionx combo. but cannot find a dealer here to try it out. I am not sure if 18" wheels are the way to go?
Cheers, briotone

Here she is, curled up at the corner in my work place and waiting patiently 'til my shift end.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_0253.jpg

Hello Folks, I've just bought my first folder. Officially, it's for Mrs 4322, but that may be subject to some negotiation. Its a second hand Apollo Transition (20" wheels, 6 speed). It seems to be nearly new, except for some cosmetic damage to the mudguard.

Although I was actually on the lookout for a hub geared bike, this seemed to be particularly good value at the price, so I went for it. I've not had chance to fully check it over and riding it properly, but from first impressions I'm pleased. I've never owned a folder before, so I was not sure how good or bad it is, and just what to look for. I know its not some supercool titanium lightweight or a sexy extra small fold, and it doesn't have the cachet that others do, but for me I think its well suited (easy-going leisure rides from home, and carrying by car when going on holiday). Also, a reasonable weight. I've no means of weighing it, but I visited Halfords to look at the same model, before buying it, and it is a very similar weight to the Dahon D7 that Halfords also sell.

I already have a Dawes hybrid type bike (bought about 12 years ago). It's noticably lighter than that. My wife is looking to start cycling again, and our daughter is nearly 3 so we intend to cycle as a family. We decided to go for a couple of folders so that we can pack them in the car for holidays. We've got the Apollo, and will now start looking for another folder to go with it, although when cycling from home I can still use my full size bike. So now I start looking for another folder to go with it.

I bought my first folder a month or so ago. It is a Dahon Stow-Away that was purchased in 1997 and sat in a sailboat untouched since then. It rides alot better then I first thought it would. I bought it just because it was so cheap ($50). Since then my girlfriend has claimed it as her to tkae to the neighborhood gym and pool and she put the "pretty green" milk crate on it! I think I'm going to take it for its first 10 miles r/t today.

A question I have, whats the best way to mount a waterbottle cage on these? I've noticed that the Downtube folders have them on the top tube. Should I just mount one on there? There is no braze-ons for this so I would have to get one of those aftermarket kits. For now, Ill just throw it in the milk crate!

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o290/dhampton82/Tiffsbike001.jpg

I have a 1968 Schwinn stingray run-a-bout with the 3 speed stik shift that I got for 12 bucks and a late 60's Legnano folder. My 14 year old daughter told me riding the little bikes is "social suicide" hence the username. Vintage rules!

Here is a scratchy notebook pic of my new downtube NS9
as I commue with it......
I :love: this bike ! Somtimes less is more ! :D

Here is a scratchy notebook pic of my new downtube NS9
as I commue with it......
I :love: this bike ! Somtimes less is more ! :DHeh, you're hooked! :)

I like the left side drive train. Never seen that before :D

Thats cuz your on the left underside of the world....
Thats the way stuff looks spun around to the normal side :D

Here's the XX restored to it's original glory.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1x7WnfHjecDsqP0PZhCsZeZVKsMJUm_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1x7WnfHjecDsqP0PZhCsZeZVKsMJUm)

The new Silver beast.

The engineering and build quality is superb. The only thing I've done to it since is replace the brakes with SingleDigit Magnesium units(had them on hand, the originals were quite good) and put a carbon fiber handlebar on it to cut down on wrist and arm tingle. There really is no compelling reason to upgrade these other than replacing bits as they wear out. Very well thought out machine and the design of the fold makes it very easy to carry about.

This one came with the SRAM X7 derailler and trigger shifter, which I've come to prefer to the twisters.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1NEEdwlJwrAgd1Y1FL8rwGA5yDAPb_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1NEEdwlJwrAgd1Y1FL8rwGA5yDAPb)

Hi! I am a new foldie fan! This is my Dahon Curve D3, with upgrades.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/1684073766_f656177d69.jpg

I upgraded it with a Pazzaz carbon seat post (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1684075750/), Rido Glow-in-the-dark saddle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1683222255/), Radius VRO handle post (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1683225829/), Syntace VRO clamps (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1684078200/), AL carbon handle bar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1683224529/), and Ergon R2M magnesium grips (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1683220147/).

Loving the new ride, and the improved handling from the new parts!

If you look up cool in the dictionary, this is what you'll see.......

I got my 1971 Phillips folder about a month ago (it's the same bike as the Raleigh Twenty) in it's all original condition and have done a few upgrades... the bike in the background is also a 1971 Phillips Twenty in all original form.

So far I have replaced the post and saddle, laced a new BMX wheel to the SA 3 speed, replaced the front wheel, got new tyres, new pedals, and removed the steel fenders and chainguard.

The bike lost 2.5 pounds in as many hours.

I have new fenders but haven't installed them yet and figure the bike should even be able to handle a good deal of winter riding.

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/phillips20c.jpg

The next things on the list are to replace the cottered axle with a square taper and install my Shimano 600 crankset.

Aside from all that... it's a fabulous bike to ride and I am most impressed with the bike's quick handling and stability at speed.

It has yet to be named although I am leaning towards "Phil".

This is my first new bike in over 33 years - a Dahon Mu P8. The few changes I made were to have fenders, rack, and bar ends installed along with MKS Ezy pedals with Power Grips in place of the plastic folding pedals.

http://www1.snapfish.com/getimageforshare/p=80451194327157798/l=321257416/s=35908445/t=PIC/g=26036386/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPIC

It's been a long time coming. Last Thursday was my first short ride around the neighborhood. Friday, I put it through my 14 mile lunch hour ride and on Sunday I rode about 26 miles.

I haven't decided on a name. My old bike never got one. I've been thinking of "Pepe, my little MUle". It should serve me for recreation rides, commutes on occasion, some trips to the store and maybe a century each Spring or Summer.

It will need a headlight and a suitable bag for my laptop, lunch, and a change of clothes. Any suggestions?

I have had a 35 lb one speed folder with 16" wheels for 2 years. It goes easy into a suitcase or car or bus, but the one gear was killing me. So yesterday after much research and ebay watching I bought a new 2007 Downtube 20" NS. More work to pack for the airline but I hope to do some serious riding with it.

This is my lastest, and hopefully last, folder that I buy and upgrade to my taste: Brompton M6R currently featured as S6E (Sports stem/handlebar, 6 speeds, no rear rack or fenders/mudguards).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2032625038_be703d438e_b.jpg

Upgrades include brakepads, saddle, brake levers, rolling wheels, pedals and light system.

You always take such jealousy-inducing pictures Raf! Love how the reflectors have made it look like it's got whitewalls...

My Giant Halfway. This bike works well for me.

Here's my 2007 DT. Mods include ergo bar-ends & grips, wider handlebar, Kore stem, XT headset, Shimano sealed BB, 42T chainring, upgraded pedals, rigid fork and Big Apples.

New Swift frame, built up with parts out of the garage...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/2053525492_28f55b5bba_o.jpg

I have two old so called Minibikes which are very big but was seen as mini around 1960 or so.
I almost never use them.

My main folder is a now out of biz Microbike. A Swedish design.
http://flickr.com/photos/8233858@N05/sets/72157600645923733/

I bought a used one and they unfortunately have plastic in the spokes
and hub so the plactic is reported to get the plastic illness but mine
works well despite being some ten years old now or more. I don't remember
when I bought it. I rides very well compared to the Strida 3 that I have tested.
A-bike too seems to have as twitchy steering as old Strida had.

Does the new Strida 5 have less twitchy steering?
I hope the Carryme has the same good steering as my Microbike have.


Maybe Brompton and other more expensive bikes road much better but I am very pleased with this one.

But my next buy could be a Carryall from Pacific in Taiwan if it is as good as I hope.

Recently got a Dahon Speed D7 ordered from Performance.

Tonight I placed an order with Amazon for a "PT Cruiser" folding bike bag. Cheap, from the dimensions I found on another web site it should fit the Dahon bike, and best of all, it doesn't appear to have any visible logos. I'll let you guys know if it works out.

My Brompton/Merc hybrid that I've been working on a while.

Alloy frame + Fixed gear + Titanium = lightweight [8.8 kg /19 1/2 ilbs)
Handbuilt wheels: 16 spoked Velocity Aeroheats on Phil Wood/Pantour suspension hubs.
More detail in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=364890):

http://www.littlepixel.info/twenty/mercton/04.jpg
http://www.littlepixel.info/twenty/mercton/09.jpg

I had been watching Raleigh Twentys go on ebay for what I considered to be a fortune, upwards of a couple hundered dollars, and was very lucky to find this one (a '68) on Craigslist for $80. Cleaned up real nice. Missing the original rack and the pump, tho.

A very comfortable ride. The steering response feels fast and responsive, and the nylon sleeve that's in there keeps things from feeling too twitchy.

This is my "Product Improved" Raleigh Twenty after Stage I. When I plucked it off E-bay it was in pretty good shape; however, it needed a couple things like a good greasing, tires, and a new set of Sakae cotterless cranks as the cotters on the original had seized and I had to have them drilled out. It as had a non-functional SA-6 front dynohub that was just adding weight and the gosh-awful-maybe-I'll-stop-when-wet-by-next-Christmas chrome rims. I would have loved to resuscitate the SA-6; however, I would have needed a scad of small parts (Axle, cones, etc.) that I would have been just as lucky finding them in a very large haystack than here in the Houston. So I set the original wheelset aside and with a lot of luck I came across a rebuilt wheel set with alloy rims on E-bay. I then added a Brooks Conquest, Tioga Pool Comp TA Tires, new tubes, a CPC reflector set and an old Cateye Enduro 1 that I had laying around.


What's planned for Phase II?? Well, I figure a rack, some Kool Stop brake pads. I don't plan to do anything too earthshaking as it's good enough for what it is which is 'round the neighborhood utility bike. Or rather a grab-to-go-to-the-store-for pocketable items bike..

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q219/Sirrus-Rider/07%20Bikes/RalieghTwentypostupdate.jpg

It is a handsome ride.

Lovely to see one that's not being mucked about with...

My Montague

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2158/2180494487_107de60078_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2180494627_ffed9e538c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2138403576_4a2f6c1f85_b.jpg

I had this bike. Not a good ridingposition for me and also heavy. Two gears. Cool design, but I needed the seat higher than this. That could be done by putting the seatpost in a more upright position, but that would ruin the cool design..

Very Cool!

Did the seatpost rotate at the joint just below the saddle? Do you have any pics of it folded? Who made it?

Sorry, no folded pix. You can see on the pix there is one way to set the seat hight, that is by changing the angle of the seatpost. Angle of seat is then adjusted under the seat.

One front picture show all I know aboyt factory.

Folding the front: Note the "handlebar" is divided in two- both on its own srem. Each one comes loos and folds down on each side of the bike. Each stem can be adjusted for hight as you can see.

Hi all,
New to the group and just started to ride again with my youngest in tow.

I have a older German Xclusiv generic folder, stripped and brought it back to life for a round the neighborhood/camping bicycle.

Also picked up a 1972 Raleigh Twenty that I want to fit out for touring.

There are a lot of good ideas and suggestions and I appreciate all of the information available.

Hey, is this an OK place to ask for advice in choosing a folding bike? I'm thinking about the Downtube 2008 9 but just read the great review of the Mini and am not sure which way to go. I ride in hilly San Francisco and am a 5' tall woman, pretty good rider with many miles and years of riding. Any of you experts want to advise me?

Lovely to see one that's not being mucked about with...


Well if you look closely you'll see I mucked with it a little, but only where I thought it was absolutely necessary and no further..

GreenGrasshopper
What size of tires are you running on your Montague?
They look pretty gnarly.
How is your suspension fork holding up?
How long have you owned your Montague?
Thanks,
PCG

Dahon Speed P8 from 2006 here. No pix, but it looks like the Speed on Dahon's website, only silver. :)

Getting a folder was a revelation for me. Being able to take it with me, and park it in my office, I found myself riding like crazy. I ride pretty much every day I work, and I lost 11 lbs. within a few weeks of getting back on it after a break of a few months in 2007.

Seriously considering getting a BF Tikit, but that's a subject for a different thread I think.

Hey, is this an OK place to ask for advice in choosing a folding bike? I'm thinking about the Downtube 2008 9 but just read the great review of the Mini and am not sure which way to go. I ride in hilly San Francisco and am a 5' tall woman, pretty good rider with many miles and years of riding. Any of you experts want to advise me?

Of course it's the right place but perhaps not this thread as it's meant to be for showing and telling bikes you own - feel free to make a new thread with some info on your wants, riding style etc and I'm in no doubt people will chime in with some sage advice. I'm sorry no-one answered your post before now -this being because people likely missed it rather than were just not answering your perfectly normal and common to this forums query...

Huw

GreenGrasshopper
What size of tires are you running on your Montague?
They look pretty gnarly.
How is your suspension fork holding up?
How long have you owned your Montague?
Thanks,
PCG

Those are 24"

I got a naked frame, and I took all the parts I needed to complete my singlespeed from a new-old-stock Brodie Menace, with the sole addition being a chain tensioner, and a Shadow Conspiracy half-link chain.

I got it built in early december.

The fork is holding up pretty good so far! heh ;-)

I mean, the flour-like cuban sand didn't get inside, so that's pretty encouraging, right?

My 'new' '04 Dahon Jetstream XP- an eBay buy in November, now upgraded a bit (DualDrive, Ergon MR2 grips). The reflective strips on those tyres certainly work :)

This is my lastest, and hopefully last, folder that I buy and upgrade to my taste: Brompton M6R currently featured as S6E (Sports stem/handlebar, 6 speeds, no rear rack or fenders/mudguards).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2032625038_be703d438e_b.jpg

Upgrades include brakepads, saddle, brake levers, rolling wheels, pedals and light system.

14R...

I haven't been on the forum for a while and notice that you have a new Brompton. It looks great! But, what happened to the black one that you got from your ex-girlfriend and what's different between that one and the new one?

As always, great photos...

In case my very old Microbike would give in,
the old plastic wheels are known to give up
if they are treated badly so I needed a second
bike to use if something happen.

At first I wanted to buy a Carryme from Pacific Cycles
in Taiwan but George Lin made it too small for my length.

194cm or some 6'4" or so. I weight too much too. 90kg
managed to go down from 97kg and aiming at a to keep
weight of 85kg so I can buy any bike.

A Boat Mall sold a small bike that has low quality but only
cost 1700SEK that is about 255USD or about, It changes
but after me bought it I found out that same bike could be
bought from England for one third that price me gave. Typical.

But I had to pay for delivery anyway from England so no big deal.
I guess the Swedish firm take an over price for it.

The name in Sweden is Easybike but the English name is SmartBike.

It is steel so it is rather heavy. 12.5 kg and it has 12" wheels.
Wheel base is very tight. Less than 25". folded it is about 80cm
x 40 cm x 30 cm due to the pedals not folding so if one change
to such then it is less in depths.

How does it feel to ride it? It is not as good as a Microbike but
it is much more easy to keep balance on compared to a Strida.

I asked two neighbors to ride it and they found it almost as easy
to learn as a standard bike.

I try to link to the English site for it.
http://www.ddfl.co.uk/smartbike.php?id=21

http://www.ddfl.co.uk/smartbike_images/extra_pics/sm2.jpg
http://www.ddfl.co.uk/smartbike_images/extra_pics/sm4.jpg

My latest acquisition (from a fellow BF poster, Clownbike) - A Dahon Helios XX Anniversary Edition. Ultralight at 17lbs. I did some mods - added a stem, Origin8 drop bars, a racing saddle, FSA carbon cranks and a 11-32 cassette for better gear range. I plan to put a 61t chainring on the front. It's wonderfully light and easy to go fast on :D.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/Dahonsm2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/Dahonsm3.jpg

My latest acquisition (from a fellow BF poster, Clownbike) - A Dahon Helios XX Anniversary Edition. Ultralight at 17lbs. I did some mods - added a stem, Origin8 drop bars, a racing saddle, FSA carbon cranks and a 11-32 cassette for better gear range. I plan to put a 61t chainring on the front. It's wonderfully light and easy to go fast on :D.

The bike looks great. I've heard that the Dahon handleposts are "flexy" but this one looks like a different design. Can you comment on its flex-factor?

The bike looks great. I've heard that the Dahon handleposts are "flexy" but this one looks like a different design. Can you comment on its flex-factor?

It's flexy. Especially after I added the stem, which torques the handlebars more. It's the thing I like least about the bike. Otherwise, I'm happy.

I have three bikes right now. I just bought this Swiss bike LX (http://canambikes.com/Pages/LX24.html) -- absolutely amazed with it! It's a full-sized mountain bike but because it can fold, I'm using it everywhere! Instead of hanging it up in the garage like my other two bikes, this one lives in my car trunk! If I'm going near the city, I park a few kilometers out and ride the bike in the rest of the way. If the direct link doesn't work please see www.canambikes.com (http://www.canambikes.com) and look it up there.
I am now planning to sell my Iron Horse Maverick 3.0 (http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/home.php?country=us) it's a perfect fixed bike that I bought new only last year.

I'm located in Canada and paid $450 (plus tons of taxes that we are accustomed to hear in Canada) for the Iron Horse however since the LX is living in my trunk I really have no need for the Iron Horse is gun metal gray in color and doesn't have on scratch on it -- as well I have two sets of tires for it so the original tires were actually never used -- well maybe around the block once but I switched the tires to a more hybrid tire.

I am new to this forum actually probably should be posting this somewhere else so I will check around and see if there is a place to buy and sell on the forum.

Okay so I just realized how to post a picture of my new folding bike. it's called the Swissbike LX (http://canambikes.com/Pages/LX24.html).

I can't say enough about it -- I'm as happy as a pig... no wait a sec, actually I don't know that pigs are that happy if they knew their future -- but you know what I mean.


http://canambikes.com/Images/LXopenlrg.gif

Hi SC -

Nice to see the bike has acquired an appreciative owner. It did have an FSA carbon crank on it in a previous incarnation as well as an 11-32 Shimano XTR Ti cassette.

Dang good looking bike. Enjoy.

CB

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q219/Sirrus-Rider/07%20Bikes/RalieghTwentypostupdate.jpg

That is a very sweet looking Twenty... I agree that if anything, one has to replace the wheels with alloy to make the braking tolerable.

My Twentys (Phillip's) are named Forrest and Grace, as that is what their little labels said when I found them. Nothing I have done cannot be undone and I have all the original bits stored at the shop.

"Grace" (who just got her chain guard back):

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/phillips20c.jpg

"Forrest" - my pocket rocket (new 451 wheels are in the works)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/P20roadie3.jpg

Together:

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/P20double2.jpg

I have two suspension forks on order as then I can run cantis and a v-brake up front which will further improve the ride and braking abilities of these great little bikes.

Guess I should post up here.

My first folding bike, a Birdy, picked it up last week. (Need to take my own photos of it).

Thanks Bruce! :)

http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_birdy.jpg

Guess I should post up here.

My first folding bike, a Birdy, picked it up last week. (Need to take my own photos of it).

Thanks Bruce! :)


Welcome to the Folders forum, MsIncredible. Hope to see pictures of the Birdy in action!