Folding Bikes - Do you enjoy your folder's ride?

Does anybody own a steel folder that's not only convenient, but just plain fun to ride?

Tell me something about your folder, I'm about to purchase one...

Bike Friday, great ride. Unlike my Dahon it doesn't fit in a mini cooper without putting the seat down.

I find the Brompton to be great fun to ride to a point that I used the TSR 27 only once since the Brompton arrived.

I'm retired, I own 5 good bikes and ride them about 2500 miles a year strictly for fun. I have to say that my Bike Friday custom built Pocket Llama is easily the most fun any of the 4 standard bikes. It is durable, comfy, quick, carries as much stuff as I want, is fast enough on pavement, handles dirt gravel and some single track with aplomb, is a good conversation starter and can go with me in my car or on an airplane. It uses only standard parts that I can get from any LBS and I can't say enough good things about the company's telephone support.

Downsides are that it is pretty expensive compared to other folders (though worth it IMHO) and it's fold is not as compact as some others.

Aside from those that have been in bad repair, I've never met a bike that wasn't fun to ride.

That said, I've got a pet theory that the fun factor is in inverse proportion to wheel size -- until you reach a wheel size greater than 36". Once that threshold is reached, then more wheel = more fun.

I suppose there is a limit to how small wheel can be before it's no longer producing fun, but I haven't reached it yet. Maybe the Sinclair A-bike ?

Some bikes make you feel every bump in the road and are rough on the hands, arms, and (if bad enough) the teeth too. Some bikes take much energy to ride. They're just not "easy" bikes.

On the other hand, some bikes are smooth, easy, and glideful. They make the soul sing as they coast downhill or as they sail across the park.

Some bikes are just more fun...Get it? :)

Bike Friday, great ride. Unlike my Dahon it doesn't fit in a mini cooper without putting the seat down.


Hey there Bjorke!

Which model of Bike Friday do you have?

Thanx in advance

[QUOTE=rkokish;13146976]I'm retired, I own 5 good bikes and ride them about 2500 miles a year strictly for fun. I have to say that my Bike Friday custom built Pocket Llama is easily the most fun any of the 4 standard bikes. It is durable, comfy, quick, carries as much stuff as I want, is fast enough on pavement, handles dirt gravel and some single track with aplomb, is a good conversation starter and can go with me in my car or on an airplane. It uses only standard parts that I can get from any LBS and I can't say enough good things about the company's telephone support.

Hey there Rkokish!

How custom built is your Pocket Llama, Bike Friday? In what price range is your Pocket Llama?

Thanx :)

I find the Brompton to be great fun to ride to a point that I used the TSR 27 only once since the Brompton arrived.

Hey there Kamtsa!

Which Brompton do you ride?

Thanx :)

Have 2 Bromptons, [one is for sale] and a Bike Friday Pocket Llama.. both good..

PL, a custom made for another customer, who didn't like the color.

Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost, always available on your BF build list.

integral suspension on rear of Brompton works, well.

Some bikes make you feel every bump in the road and are rough on the hands, arms, and (if bad enough) the teeth too. Some bikes take much energy to ride. They're just not "easy" bikes.

You just described my Brompton, the most 'fun' bike I've owned to date. :love::thumb:

You just described my Brompton, the most 'fun' bike I've owned to date. :love::thumb:

Ok, so you like it rough! :)

I therefore, stand corrected in the case of a minority. I must remember to be more PC, more often...Sorry! :)

Which model of Bike Friday do you have?Pocket Rocket, a non-pro model with Campy bits. Same age as Phil Liggett's, or so I hear from the PR people.

I have a modified P20 that I use for long distance riding and touring... not as compact and more separable than foldable and is simply awesome ride.

My Birdy and modified DT Nova is enjoyable to ride. I've done 60mi rides on both. No complaints here.

I love riding my Frog. It's comfortable, convenient and fun to ride. The only downside is its lack of speed.

My hot rodded Citizen Tokyo is a blast to ride and a capable commuter. Steel frame is durable coupled with high pressure kendas and a Brooks B72 adding speed, handling and comfort. 11 tooth freewheel boosted top speed as well - no regrets...

I have 7 folders and three of them are really comfortable for me--Raleigh 20 with Brooks B17 Special, DT Mini, and Dahon Ciao.

i have an upgraded 48 speed dahon speed tr and love the ride. i used to have the tikit but sold it and got the tr instead. more so for it's sram dual drive. i like the ride of my tr better than my tikit. here's a pic of it.
oh by the way TR is also a steel frame.

I don't own a folder yet but of all the ones I tried out in SoCal recently, the BF Pocket 8 and Brompton M6L were both standouts in the fun factor.

Raleigh 20 Single Speed with 451 wheels pure joy to ride simple and fast at only 21lbs. !
Brompton an Ultra super Compact Folder fits anywhere
'65 Moulton S rides like a full size bike comes with F/R suspension
Bickerton im not drunk but it rides like one wobbly[sold to a Japan collector]
Dahon Helios light aluminum fast but too many problems[sold]
Bike Friday Metro nice ride doesn't fold very well[sold cuz I prefer vintage]
Falter Faenrich/Super Star German U frame 24" Folder Torpedo Automatic rides like a full size bike but heavy[in storage]
Sears/Steyr Tote Cyle quite an interesting separable bike[in storage]
Peugeot separable bike rides slow too short wheelbase for me[in storage]
KTM german U frame too short crank arms but love the duomatic[in storage]


I prefer Steel Frames no aluminum for me

[rust never sleeps but aluminum cracks]

Does anybody own a folder that's not only convenient, but just plain fun to ride? Tell me something about your folder, I'm about to purchase one...

Well . . . mine's not steel, but it is plain fun to ride! In the context in which I ride it (commuting), works great, loads of fun to ride. Wouldn't be my first choice for a double century, or off road, but in it's correct context: Perfect! DaHon Curve 8.

Rick / OCRR

I absolutely love my S2L Brompton. It was the third bike I owned as an adult, and though I've purchased, kept, and sold other bikes since, it is by far my favorite ride. With an S-bag on the front, it's responsive but not too twitchy. I can carry a ton of stuff with a front and saddle bag, or ride fast unloaded. I couldn't be happier with it.

I have a ss/fixed Swift that I commute on at least 3 days a week, 16 mile round trip--great fun.

Sorry about the delayed reply. I hadn't subscribed to the thread.

It's pretty custom. First we corresponded with Walter at BF about intended uses, our (wife/self) own abilities, etc. Then we stopped by the factory while on a visit to Oregon and tried riding several frames. After deciding on Llama frames we picked each component before BF built and assembled. Total cost was about $2800 per bike plus. This did not include suitcases, which cost about another $250 each.


[QUOTE=rkokish;13146976]I'm retired, I own 5 good bikes and ride them about 2500 miles a year strictly for fun. I have to say that my Bike Friday custom built Pocket Llama is easily the most fun any of the 4 standard bikes. It is durable, comfy, quick, carries as much stuff as I want, is fast enough on pavement, handles dirt gravel and some single track with aplomb, is a good conversation starter and can go with me in my car or on an airplane. It uses only standard parts that I can get from any LBS and I can't say enough good things about the company's telephone support.

Hey there Rkokish!

How custom built is your Pocket Llama, Bike Friday? In what price range is your Pocket Llama?

Thanx :)

Bike Friday Tikit. Super convenient and very fun to ride. I have a stock hyperfold Tikit. Nothing fancy.

Mezzo upgraded (Alloy), fun on smooth fast roads.
Onza Mini (alloy) great for tricks.
Space genie DUAL drive plus upgrades (steel), good as mixed terrain tourer. (now sold). Never thought I would regret selling the Last bike, but as an occasional folder for relatives visiting it would have worked well.

I just got a Speed 8 and have been out on it all day. Huge smile on my face the whole time. The Helios comes in a few days, and I suspect my big Miyatas are likely to be ignored for a while.

Well, I now own a Brompton ML6 and have just replaced the grips with Ergons and the saddle with the B17 off my MTB. It's loads of fun to ride but it's not as good as my tweaked MTB. However, I suspect I'll be riding the Brompton more often as I bought it to follow my recently developed philosophy - always have a bike.

However, I like the quick handling, the brilliant fold, and its quirkiness.

Just added a 1972 Raleigh 20 to the herd and I hate it... if only because it is almost stock and I cannot sit upright for any period of time on what is a gorgeous and smooth riding bicycle that accelerates well and handles like it is on rails.

Just bought my first Bromton (produced in 93 but not used) and I think it is great. The seattube is a bit short so I grabbed a Brooks Contess sprung saddle from my utility bike and this brought the saddle height up approx two inches. Put some leftover ergo type grips on, are going find some better looking ones later. I really like the bike and also the consept of it.

Also love my 20 FRI folder that I bought last August. Often use it instead of big wheel bikes. Great on this summers holiday.

Used to ride two older detatchable 20" bike (R20 like) that I heavely modifyed. New fork and brakes, wheels and a 7speed Shimano Nexus. Some extra work to dismantel them but a great ride. My son and bf use them now. My bf always use his to go shopping two baskets on the front rack is plenty enough.

I love riding my Brompton in the city. It is agile and fast on London streets and takes off at lights faster than larger wheel bikes due to their greater inertia at the start. Lots of pedestrians tend to listen for cars (some don't even do that) and the Brompton responds very quickly. The ride is stable and very capable.

For longer distances (when I do the 19 mile commute into London), I use my Pacific Reach IF which has a beautiful smooth ride and is very fast. I really would think I'm on a large wheeled fast hybrid or almost a road racing bike.