Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Folding Bikes
Reload this Page >

Neo Stage 3 ($350 Brompton Clone)

Notices
Folding Bikes Discuss the unique features and issues of folding bikes. Also a great place to learn what folding bike will work best for your needs.

Neo Stage 3 ($350 Brompton Clone)

Old 04-30-16, 10:31 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bangkok: hottest average temperature :(
Posts: 628

Bikes: *1998 GT Forte Ti 700c, Totem KDS-D 26" fatbike, BirdyGT 18", Brompton M2LX 16"

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Neo Stage 3 ($350 Brompton Clone)

I know nothing more than these links.

https://www.kaidee.com/product-118006732
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYwPpxYCgk
https://m.facebook.com/allthailandmo...16591828495925
ttakata73 is offline  
Old 04-30-16, 12:24 PM
  #2  
tcs
Palmer
 
tcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576

Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12

Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times in 1,041 Posts
Originally Posted by ttakata73
Brompton Clone...
...with what looks to be a knockoff of Dahon's patented handlepost and an interesting Q/R latch on the (aluminum!) main frame joint rather than a twiddly knob.

Last edited by tcs; 05-09-16 at 05:44 AM.
tcs is offline  
Old 04-30-16, 12:54 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Winfried's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 2,494
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 566 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times in 98 Posts
Bad copy of the Brompton.
Winfried is offline  
Old 04-30-16, 01:22 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,143
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by Winfried
Bad copy of the Brompton.
That's actually a very close copy of the Brompton. I haven't seen a neo-bike cloan in years but they are coming back. I happen to believe it's 90% there and it wouldn't take much effort to get the remaining 10%. What surprised me is they were able to get production costs to $350 USD! If they can improve quality and keep costs to under $500.00 dollars, this company can make serious damage to Brompton sales.
Dahon.Steve is offline  
Old 04-30-16, 01:36 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Winfried's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 2,494
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 566 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times in 98 Posts
Two major errors:
  • It doesn't fold right: One of the brilliant ideas of Andrew Ritchie, which Dahon missed, is sandwiching the chain between the two wheels so that you don't soil your pants/hands when commuting
  • No lug welded on the front tube, so you have to carry a backpack. With a Brompton, I can carry 10kg/20lbs for hours with no back pain and/or sweating like a pig

2016, and still no affordable valid alternative to the Brompton…
Winfried is offline  
Old 04-30-16, 01:53 PM
  #6  
DancesWithSUVs
 
dynaryder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Winfried
[*]No lug welded on the front tube, so you have to carry a backpack. With a Brompton, I can carry 10kg/20lbs for hours with no back pain and/or sweating like a pig[/LIST]
Meh,that's JYHO. Pulled the carrier block off the front of my S6 because I never used it. On at least half the Bromptons we've sold,the customers didn't even order the block.
__________________

C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
dynaryder is offline  
Old 04-30-16, 02:43 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
bike.gang.uk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Posts: 288

Bikes: Brompton H3L, RAF, M3L, Dahon, Giant NRS, GT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
That's actually a very close copy of the Brompton. I haven't seen a neo-bike cloan in years but they are coming back. …
Neo Stage III? Ha ha, what an interesting name.

This one recently emerged in China is even more close to Brompton, but probably based on Neo-Brompton. Although the folded mode not quite right . Oh the list price about $600

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
ccc.jpg (25.3 KB, 212 views)
File Type: jpg
bbb.jpg (25.0 KB, 214 views)
File Type: jpg
aaa.jpg (25.4 KB, 210 views)
bike.gang.uk is offline  
Old 05-01-16, 09:07 AM
  #8  
Full Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cleethorpes..the last resort..UK
Posts: 353

Bikes: Brompton S6L ,Bike Friday NWT, Phillips 8 speed folder, Trek 930, Thorn XTC

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 8 Posts
In the video it shows the cost as 12000 Thai Baht..about £240...That is cheaper than a Dahon Boardwalk in Thailand..For that price it has to be good value!
In fact in Thailand it is quite hard to buy a good folding bike for much less than 10000 Thai Baht and preowned folding bikes are often 5000 baht and can be in a pretty poor state.
tudorowen1 is offline  
Old 05-01-16, 09:50 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
edelay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 311

Bikes: Dahon Curve D8 (Sturmey Archer X-RF8), Crius Smart 3.0 5 speed

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by ttakata73
It is hilarious that he is making a video to demonstrate the fold, but it didn't practice it first. It appears that he goes off camera to look at a manual or something. For some weird reason the guy shooting the video turns the camera sideways halfway through.
edelay is offline  
Old 05-01-16, 02:57 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
towndock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Coastal NC
Posts: 120

Bikes: '81 Fuji America, '79 Fuji S12 Ltd, '03 Dahon Helios XL, '09 Giant Defy

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
One hopes they are better at making bikes than making videos.
towndock is offline  
Old 05-01-16, 03:29 PM
  #11  
Full Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cleethorpes..the last resort..UK
Posts: 353

Bikes: Brompton S6L ,Bike Friday NWT, Phillips 8 speed folder, Trek 930, Thorn XTC

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 8 Posts
I don't think the bikes are made in Thailand...more likely China or Taiwan..If it was made in Thailand it would be much cheaper because there is a lot of tax on imported bikes..
As for the video..there is an expat saying in Thailand ..This Is Thailand..Make an acronym from the first letter of each word...
tudorowen1 is offline  
Old 05-01-16, 06:19 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,693

Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 834 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times in 247 Posts
This and other threads on actual experiences with some Brompton clones, spanning the time from the first sighting to the desperation in getting rid of the bike, have been extremely educational. They make you run to the bank to make sure you spend your money on a Brompton before you manage to yield to the temptation of getting the clone .
2_i is offline  
Old 05-02-16, 03:44 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
bhkyte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: York UK
Posts: 3,027

Bikes: 2X dualdrive Mezzo folder,plus others

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 107 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by 2_i
This and other threads on actual experiences with some Brompton clones, spanning the time from the first sighting to the desperation in getting rid of the bike, have been extremely educational. They make you run to the bank to make sure you spend your money on a Brompton before you manage to yield to the temptation of getting the clone .
There are also many Brompton clone users very happy with their bikes. I can think of three on these forums including me. I had a merc.
bhkyte is offline  
Old 05-02-16, 06:36 AM
  #14  
tcs
Palmer
 
tcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576

Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12

Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times in 1,041 Posts
It is hilarious that he is making a video to demonstrate the fold, but it didn't practice it first. It appears that he goes off camera to look at a manual or something.
One hopes they are better at making bikes than making videos.


Looking through the other videos from that poster, I have very little reason to believe that's any kind of 'official' video.
tcs is offline  
Old 05-02-16, 12:36 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,693

Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 834 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times in 247 Posts
Originally Posted by bhkyte
There are also many Brompton clone users very happy with their bikes. I can think of three on these forums including me. I had a merc.
It is good to beat the bush as something may come out . Still, it is not a loud choir of objections over here to my quip
2_i is offline  
Old 05-02-16, 12:46 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
bhkyte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: York UK
Posts: 3,027

Bikes: 2X dualdrive Mezzo folder,plus others

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 107 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Its been said many times before........
Does not mean your right.......
Especially if you have no actual experience of a clone Brompton?
Sorry no qips here. I am still busy laughing at yours...
bhkyte is offline  
Old 05-02-16, 12:51 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
bargainguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Trekland
Posts: 2,282
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 515 Post(s)
Liked 293 Times in 184 Posts
Wasn't Neo the company that got into all kinds of trouble with Brompton?

See under Clones and Licensing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle
bargainguy is offline  
Old 05-03-16, 07:38 AM
  #18  
Part-time epistemologist
 
invisiblehand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 5,870

Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by 2_i
It is good to beat the bush as something may come out . Still, it is not a loud choir of objections over here to my quip
The most likely reason is that folks simply do not care or have not read it.

I had a Brompton and a Merc. The Merc was perfectly fine and even had a few things that the same era Brompton lacked ... an extra clip to retain the rear triangle when lifted and a bottle dynamo are the first two things that come to mind. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Merc over the Brompton.

The Brompton has made some improvements since then. But presumably a clone would copy those as well.
__________________
A narrative on bicycle driving.
invisiblehand is offline  
Old 05-03-16, 07:46 AM
  #19  
Part-time epistemologist
 
invisiblehand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 5,870

Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by bargainguy
Wasn't Neo the company that got into all kinds of trouble with Brompton?

See under Clones and Licensing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle
Yes.

From memory, Dahon was looking to produce the bike when the patent expired but the employees/lawyers in charge of the project instead set up their own company. In short, they were sued under European copyright laws. My rough understanding is that Brompton's argument was that even though the patent expired there was no reason for Neobike to copy the appearance since it was possible to use the patent while differentiating the bike. I believe Brompton actually demonstrated this to a court with a prototype ... or perhaps just a drawing.
__________________
A narrative on bicycle driving.

Last edited by invisiblehand; 05-03-16 at 07:50 AM.
invisiblehand is offline  
Old 05-03-16, 03:39 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,693

Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 834 Post(s)
Liked 332 Times in 247 Posts
Originally Posted by bhkyte
Does not mean your right.......
Especially if you have no actual experience of a clone Brompton?
You cannot test everything in the world. You check what others have to say and look for a rationality in the opinions and for details of concern to you.

Originally Posted by invisiblehand
and a bottle dynamo are the first two things that come to mind.
Buying a bike because of a bottle dynamo
2_i is offline  
Old 05-03-16, 04:06 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
bhkyte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: York UK
Posts: 3,027

Bikes: 2X dualdrive Mezzo folder,plus others

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 107 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Problem is there is a lot of vested interests and Brompton fans out their to get a rational prospective......less riders of clones.
And they get flamed.....
A to B wrote that cables got tangled up in folding, it a Web summuray lots have quoted, it's just nonsence.
bhkyte is offline  
Old 05-04-16, 09:51 AM
  #22  
Part-time epistemologist
 
invisiblehand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 5,870

Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by bhkyte
A to B wrote that cables got tangled up in folding, it a Web summuray lots have quoted, it's just nonsence.
I recall the A to B review. What they harped on made the review silly.

I recall that the after-tax difference in price was smaller for Brits since Mercs were produced overseas; although I don't recall how much. So I could see how folks made a different decision there. But here in the US, remember that it also came with a front mount + bag, rack, fenders, and such, it was easily hundreds of dollars less.
__________________
A narrative on bicycle driving.
invisiblehand is offline  
Old 05-04-16, 10:56 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
mconlonx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,558
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7148 Post(s)
Liked 134 Times in 92 Posts
Well... Neobike also got in trouble for copying Dahon designs, so perhaps this is not a Brompton clone, but a Curl clone...?

If they addressed the industrial design issues raised in the original Euro case which sided with Brompton in the matter, and dropped their blatant copying of the Brompton manual, it could be that they have found a way around the decision. The chain doesn't fold inside, which is a Brompton hallmark, you say? Could be for a reason...
mconlonx is offline  
Old 05-04-16, 05:03 PM
  #24  
jur
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Albany, WA
Posts: 7,393
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
I think Neobike were the crowd who were licensed to produce Bromptons. When it became clear that the bad quality was giving Brompton a bad name, the license was revoked. Neo continued sales under their own name and that got under Brompton's collar quickly.
jur is offline  
Old 05-04-16, 09:12 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143

Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Agree with Jur... Neobike was originally licensed to produce Bromptons but after that was revoked, they kept the plans and tools and illegally started making poor quality clones.
keyven is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.