vmaniqui

hey guys,

not yet. i didn't buy one yet. but will be buying one in the very near future......

i think i got swift 'ed. you guys got me going. this is the very first time that i had a serious look at a xootr and let me tell you that i am a converted swifter. i checked the website, looked at all the pics, read all the posts here and it convinced me even more that it will be my next folder. in fact i am now selling my dahon boardwalk to finance my swift. i am now thinking if i should just buy the frame and use my components or buy the built one. anyone who have a xootr in the forum please i need your advise. i don't need to ask how the ride is as i fully know that it has one of the best ride for a folder out there. i know it's not a minimalist fold but has anyone tried bringing it inside a bus without hassle ? i plan on using it for my multi bus and bart train and bus ride to work. anyone has a xootr in the san francisco bay area so that i can see how small or how big it folds. mainly, that's my only little concern - the fold. as i have mentioned i am planning on bringing it inside the bus. any more inputs/advises from a xootr owner ??? appreciate it.

TIA,
vic

pasopia

I had a swift for a while. The ride is nice, but the fold is pretty awkward. I think its a good travel bike, but not a good multimodal one. I'm actually looking into getting a tikit now, which you may want to consider. It definitely is much more convenient because everything snaps into place when folded. With the swift the handlebars are loose and there is no good way to move it folded other than to carry it. I've only ridden a tikit briefly, but the ride seemed comparable to the swift. It was tough to tell though, because the tikit I rode was not at all set up how my swift was.

vmaniqui

hmmm. now you got me thinking. it will be used mainly for my multimodal commute but when you mentioned about the awkwardness of the fold i am getting second thoughts now. i will try to check and see how the tikit is. my primary objective is to get the swift frame and then put the components that i already have. thanks for the advise though. really appreciate it.

vic

jwlunt

Awkward fold? On a Swift? Are we talking about the same bike?!

OK, so the bike does not fold particular small, but the fold is done in 5 seconds max providing you don't touch the handles (I only ever remove the handles to get the bike in a cab boot). It's got an amazingly quick & simple fold - it use mine every work day in Chicago (rain, sun, snow, whatever) and I have no complaints about the fold. I also use it for longer blasts and it can easily keep up with the so-so speedy guys... clearly not able to keep up with the real speedy folks but its a rare day when I get overtaken on Lakeshore Drive.

sqynt

I believe all MUNI buses in SF now have bike racks in the front. I'm pretty sure all AC Transit and GG Transit buses have them too. I've never tried boarding the bus (nor MUNI light rail) with my Swift folded. Heck, I've never ridden the bus with my Swift on the rack for that matter. I always ride it where I need to go.

You can board BART with any bike, with the commute hours exception. During those hours, you can fold up any folding bike and carry it onto a train.

As an aside, I've taken the BART train with the Swift plus a Burley trailer. I would tow the trailer to and from the BART station. Once at the station, I would fold the Swift and put it inside the Burly, which has a stroller kit. Quite amusing. There are actually two bikes in that Burley if you look carefully.

P.S. PM me if you want to see it in person.

vmaniqui

wow you're not joking when you mentioned there are 2 bikes in that burly. i will PM you to see how the xootr looks like. thanks a lot...

sqynt

I just spoke with someone who works at an agency (that will remain unnamed) that has a "community liaison" type relationship with MUNI. The un-offical word is that a folded folding bike should be considered luggage by the driver, much like a folded stroller is. The driver should not give you any grieve as long as it does not interfere with other passengers' ability to board/disembark the bus/metro.