Joe Remi

I bought a pre-loved NWT from BF last year. It's a great bike, but really more of a break-down-able travel bike than a daily folder like Brompton. It works for my needs which involves infrequently transporting it, but I definitely wouldn't want to use it to commute and fold every day. That's not what it's built for.

CliffordK

I will admit that packing the BF Pocket Rocket in the suitcase is a pain.
A quick fold to carry in the car trunk only takes a few seconds.

smallwheeler

takes literally less than 10 minutes to pack.

invisiblehand

Unless you have a really big bike, I think it's straightforward. With a little practice it gets pretty quick. Taking my time while chatting away, I'm down to ~30 minutes for both our bikes combined.

Joe Remi

I suppose BFs with the folding handlebar mast are simpler to throw in a car, but not so with my removable mast. You're supposed to fold the rear triangle and seat mast down, then unbolt the bar/stem mast and lay it across the frame. There's no way I'm laying metal against metal, so my process for transport involves careful protective packing. Which, like I said, is fine for occasional no-hurry days, but I wouldn't want to do it on a cold morning with the bus coming.

fietsbob

As I said, Tikit is their Quick fold models .. that is the Multi Modal one. ..

Folded it rolls on the front wheel .. to roll it to the Bus front door.

Joe Remi

I know, Fiets..I was responding to the guy who tosses his Pocket Rocket in the car. I can't figure out how to quote comments on my phone.

tds101 

Look at the bottom right hand corner of this post,...and switch to "request desktop site" if you have an Android phone.

bhkyte

Bike Fridays are basically regular riding bikes that fold and can be very high performance. So can a Dahon depending on model. Brompton is a difficult bike to customise or improve much from stock. It's the fold that better, and the package ie luggage, service.

Most compact folder don't suit adding dropped bars to as they massively increase the folded size. See my threads on fitting bullbars or low profiles to Mezzos and Brompton if you want more infro. Massive improvements in fit and handling in my experience.
Other issue with Brompton is the lack of gearing options due to narrow rear hub. Some people don't mind this aspect to get a smaller fold. Bike Friday is basically any standard parts you want other than seat post and some restriction on stems pretty much.

CliffordK

This one showed up on Craigslist today.

Bike Friday Traveler 8 - OSATA $350 (Eugene)



I think the OSATA is Bike Friday's cheapest model, and I don't see a direct folding method. Nonetheless, it might be worth considering if it is what you want.

bhkyte

Could you explain the switch to android method a little more. I understand how to switch to the default mobile view on the bottom left. I am unable to post pictures on my phones and tablet in either mode. I tend not to access BF on pc anymore. Hense lack of photo posting.

tds101 

I can't post pictures from my mobile devices either. I can only do so on my desktop. It doesn't work on Android OR Apple devices.

bhkyte

Yes I cant get wifes ipad to post anything either. Nor my android tablet. I mainly use a blackberry os10 phone(wish they made a bb10 tablet) for internet browsing. Its tends to use desktop versions of web pages. I can open the photos but not upload any one them.

News flash

Problem solved. Dont use the bike forum upload ticks next to available images. Use the upload from your device then the image appears at the bottom of the screen as if you dragged it there. Then save changers. Wish I found that earlier.
Also if image too large to upload, you dont get an error message telling you it is. Resize and works ok now.

linberl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWvzk-CP9po

Maybe one gets faster with practice, because the guy with the regular stem is pretty darned quick.

rhenning

OSATA One Size Adapts To All really is not a folding bike. It folds in that you can take apart easily. It will fit adaptsomeone 5 feet and 6 feet just by moving things around. That is its specialty. It like the Hauliday in it is designed for a specific purpose. My friends have 2 OSATAs and they seem to be good bikes. Roger

rhenning

OSATA One Size Adapts To All really is not a folding bike. It folds in that you can take apart easily. It will fit/adapt to someone 5 feet tall and 6 feet tall just by moving things around. That is its specialty. It is like the Hauladay in it is designed for a specific purpose. My friends have 2 OSATAs and they seem to be good bikes. Roger

CliffordK

Any luck with your quest for a pre-loved BF?

This one showed up today.

Bike Friday - $300



I'm not sure of the model, but it appears to be the standard BF folding frame.
Rear derailleur only.
406 wheels with V-Brakes.

Joe Remi

Purple and pink. Very '80s, I'd ride it.

CliffordK

Bike Friday hasn't gotten on the bandwagon of everything being black.

Wasn't that Henry Fords old motto... "You can have any color you want as long as you want black"! And all the cycle companies think they're so modern.

Most of the Bike Friday frames are powder coated, and since most original buyers get their bikes made to spec, there is a great variety of color choice.

bhkyte

Henry ford claims he said it in his autobiography(wiki). However UK TV series QI disputes this. Its a little paraphrased. Early Ford T's were not available in black. After analysing asembly delays paint drying was seen as an issue. They switched to black only after this to reduce this as much as possible. This may run and run. I am from the UK what do I know of US history. I was sick the week they taught spellings allsow.

Ridefreemc

I see the Bike Friday as a great bike from a very good ride perspective, and less so as a folder. I see the Bromptom as a great folding bike, but less so as a mid to long distance rider. I really like my Mezzo (rides and folds similar to the Brompton) for the folding capability and around town ease of riding, storing, hiking up stairs at work, put on the bus. The BF goes on all day rides with me while the Mezzo waits for shorter trips. Bromptom would wait too.

One more comment on BF service. I do not think the staff's attention to your needs can be beat. I had email and phone contact regularly when I was considering my purchase. Every question was answered promptly and every question was answered.

smallwheeler

this discussion of black enamel reminded me of the 1945 short documentary detailing how a raleigh bicycle was made. just look at this man dipping frames in vats of enamel bare-handed.



if you haven't seen this short film, it's definitely a must watch.


now i'm looking for an old raleigh roadsters on c-list... ugh..

bhkyte

I have worked in that factory smallwheeler. I used to be in nottingham.
I also worked there as a temp. The fulltime workers found out we were getting about 5 pence more more hour than them ,excluding pension contributions,holliday pay,benifiets,sick pay rights,job security.
The managment let us go as a strike was threatened with in hours of us starting and we were asked to leave.
Very backwards thinking back then.

fietsbob

PM Thatcher era?

BassNotBass

Does anyone buy a hand built alu framed bike expecting it to fail?