Another new recumbent folder
 

HPVelotechnik will be offer a folding version of their Grasshopper.

http://www.bentrideronline.com/index...d=223&blogId=1

Neat. My shoulders have been pining for a recumbent.

-G

Interesting, I have checked out the Easy Racers Fold Rush more than once, this one will go on the list. I've always thought HP Velotechnik made cool bents, I know a local guy who has their Speedmachine model. I was even eyeing trikes yesterday at an LBS. Once my balance, shoulders, neck, whatever goes...I may skip the recumbent and go right to the trike! :D

Just to clarify, this is two wheel model based on the Scorpion folding trike released January 2007.

I suspect that bike will cost close to 2K or more. It will probably suffer the same fate at the Bike Friday recumbent at that price.

I think your bottom estimate is too low. Coming from overseas, I predict $3k and above. The regular Grasshopper is already in the $2.5k range.

Any cheaper folding trikes out there?

What do you consider cheap and cheaper? Greenspeed's GT3/5 are in the $2.5k+ range. There was another folding trike that came from Brazil (I think), and it collapsed like an umbrella. Same price range though.

If you don't care about folding speed, Sun has a folding delta but I hear it's a pain to fold and should not be done on a regular basis, though it can be done. It's heavy at over 50lbs.

In terms of 'bents, the trike market is the slowest to jump on the folding bandwagon; rush-hour commuters
are not clamoring for them. The dudes at 'BROL might know something else, however.

Actually, someone made a CruzBike out of a Dahon folder. For about $900.00 USD, you can have a folding recumbent.

Well, recumbants are starting to conquer their problems, one by one.

1) They're too damn big, except for local riding or with a special bike rack or vehicle.

2) They're too damn expensive. There are some cheaper ones out there, for around $500 I believe, but then we're into problem #1 in a big way.

Some day, a big bike company will make an OK quality, affordable bent. They'll start selling. People will catch on. Market-based pricing will kick in.

If I were a decision-making exec in a bike company like Trek, Raleigh, Schwinn, Huffy, I'd dedicate some resources to this, no matter what the nay-sayers say. I'd be a damn hero eventually, though I might be a martyr first. ;)

I saw that. He's got a great picture of him with his son riding on the back of the bike. I was thinking of trikes, though.

Elsewhere, Bentrideronline just published the following on another folding two-wheel bent release:

Folding and "Knock-Down" recumbents seem to be all the rage this summer. In addition to new folders from Challenge and HPVelotechnik and hints of some take apart models from RANS, comes this new release from Volae. Making a monotube bike seperate for packing without compromising the structural integrity isn't easy but it appears that Volae may have the problem solved with their new ES system. I saw it at the Midwest Recumbent Rally and was quite impressed. The system uses the pre-existing seat mount holes to lock the joint in place and uses two pinch bolts to secure it. Volae's are built by Waterford and the company is known for its superb frame alignment. Rolf Garthus explained that great care is taken to make sure that the bikes stay straight and true in the ES for as well. The system adds about a third of a pound of weight and can be ordered on any new Volae starting as early as next month. We'll be getting our Club tester with this option to get a closer look ...

Actually, I used a Downtube as the donor bike.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ch/dtcruz1.jpg

I need to install the folding handlebar post so the bars will fold down also.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...unch/fold3.jpg

I know of 5 or 6 other Downtube conversions since mine was posted. It's a very good combination. I highly recommend it. Next time, I would install the conversion on a suspension model.