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Reliable, Low-Maintenance Folder

Old 09-23-09, 02:16 AM
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Reliable, Low-Maintenance Folder

I am thinking of getting another folder that will replace my old dahon speed d7. I had my dahon for about a year now. Although I was impressed with performance and comfortability it definitely not the sturdiest bicycle on the market. I had to fix and replace many parts such as tires, seat, and brakes. It's still somewhat ok for short commutes but I am hesitant about taking it for at 30-mile bike ride.

Those are the things I am looking for (1-5 scale where 5 is very important and 1 is not very important):
-reliable 5
-durability 5
-lot-maintenance 5
-wind-resistant 2
-good for rainy weather 2
-fast 4
-good for tall riders 5
-good for long rides 4
-longevity 5
-good for hilly areas 3
-go-anywhere bike 2
-simplicity 3

Things I am less critical about:
-folding size
-extra features
-size
-folding time
-weight
-portability
-gadgets
-add ons

I am considering dahon jack and xootr swift. If you have a folder that you owned for many years and it matches my key points I would love to read your input.

Last edited by Timur; 09-23-09 at 06:34 AM.
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Old 09-23-09, 02:36 AM
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I rode 60kms (ca. 40 miles?) on the weekend on this... https://www.pacy.net/p26/index_p26.html

However I've only had it for a week! I am only mentioning it because I had a lot of the same criteria as you and this was the one I came up with in the end. It's German made, steel, heavy and rides very nicely. It actually folds very easily too, but the size and weight make it hard to carry.

Downsides: the website is terrible and it's hard to get info on the bikes. Everything's in German and you'd be hard-pressed to obtain one if you don't live in Germany or a neighbouring country!

Edit: Here's a more attractive photo of it. https://www.pacy.net/p26/detailGaleri.../p26_weiss.htm

The other ones I considered were the Airnimal Joey and Rhino. https://www.airnimal.eu/Rhino/index.php

There seems to be fewer options in folders for the likes of us, rather than commuter-types.

You didn't put price in either "looking for" or "less critical about". I think the really durable ones will be expensive.

Last edited by tantrum; 09-23-09 at 02:40 AM.
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Old 09-23-09, 03:22 AM
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The Swift is your bike.
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Old 09-23-09, 05:46 AM
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Never heard of pacy but will look more into it.
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Old 09-23-09, 06:08 AM
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Please provide more info. I have had a D7 - only for a few weeks - and it appears to be sturdily built. What problems did you have with the tires, seat, brakes?
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Old 09-23-09, 06:22 AM
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Dahon turtleneck seapost collar broke so I had to pay like $30 for another one. The back brakes snatched and I never learned how to fix them. Back tire got flat about 3 times but I shouldn't blame dahon for that. Don't get me wrong it's a nice bike for the price but I don't have a car and ride bicycle a lot so I am looking for something better.
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Last edited by Timur; 09-23-09 at 06:30 AM.
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Old 09-23-09, 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by tantrum
I rode 60kms (ca. 40 miles?) on the weekend on this... https://www.pacy.net/p26/index_p26.html

Downsides: the website is terrible and it's hard to get info on the bikes. Everything's in German and you'd be hard-pressed to obtain one if you don't live in Germany or a neighbouring country!

You didn't put price in either "looking for" or "less critical about". I think the really durable ones will be expensive.
I like google translate

https://www.translate.google.com/tran...istory_state0=

ouch from one of the distributors I think the pacy starts at 1280 euro's (it's in the folding section)

https://209.85.225.132/translate_c?hl...TByMioOHB_FqhQ

Last edited by Azreal911; 09-23-09 at 07:27 AM.
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Old 09-23-09, 07:36 AM
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Yes, they're expensive. It's all built in Germany, which can often cost a bit, but usually means it's tough. The base model is actually 1380 EUR now, but I was fortunate to find a new, last year's model going for significantly cheaper. I snapped it up even though it was 3 hours' drive from my house.

All the components are good though. I'm thinking of persuading my wife to try a Pacy 20" for her (first in a long time) bike - and maybe she'd let me use it too. ;-) Although maybe she would like a Rhino instead (probably not).

Edit: using Google Translate again, here's a good list of the standard components and additional options... https://translate.google.ch/translate...hl=de&ie=UTF-8
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Old 09-23-09, 07:44 AM
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My suggestion is to fix up your D7 before moving on to a new ride. It's a chromoly frame and quite durable.

The stock brakes are not great quality IMHO; I'm replacing mine with Avid Single Digit 5s (under $40 for both front and rear brakes, shipping included, if you shop around online). There are much better quality tires out there than stock - Schwalbe Marathons, maybe - I have no experience with them but others on this forum should be able to recommend extra durable tires. Most folders won't come with those kind of tires stock. Not sure what happened to your seatpost collar but they are easy enough to replace. Are you over the max weight limit for the bike?
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Old 09-23-09, 07:47 AM
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p.s. Don't buy a bike that lacks a dealer network in your country. Spare parts and warranty service will be a problem.
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Old 09-23-09, 08:40 AM
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I would recommend a bike with an internal hub for reliability and low maintenance.
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Old 09-23-09, 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Timur
I am thinking of getting another folder that will replace my old dahon speed d7. I had my dahon for about a year now. Although I was impressed with performance and comfortability it definitely not the sturdiest bicycle on the market. I had to fix and replace many parts such as tires, seat, and brakes. It's still somewhat ok for short commutes but I am hesitant about taking it for at 30-mile bike ride.

Those are the things I am looking for (1-5 scale where 5 is very important and 1 is not very important):
-reliable 5
-durability 5
-lot-maintenance 5
-wind-resistant 2
-good for rainy weather 2
-fast 4
-good for tall riders 5
-good for long rides 4
-longevity 5
-good for hilly areas 3
-go-anywhere bike 2
-simplicity 3

Things I am less critical about:
-folding size
-extra features
-size
-folding time
-weight
-portability
-gadgets
-add ons

I am considering dahon jack and xootr swift. If you have a folder that you owned for many years and it matches my key points I would love to read your input.


Bike Friday Season Tikit fits your bill:

- different sized frames and accepts normal bike parts to fit tall riders
- can be setup as a fast bike or commuter as desired
- excellent in rain
- very reliable with an IGH
- since it takes normal bike parts you can use saddle and bars of choice for long distance comfort
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Old 09-23-09, 08:58 AM
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Hmmmmm, I don't think that the OP mentioned price. If you have a sizeable budget, then the first step I would take is to get a second bike and fix the Dahon. While my bikes are quite reliable, it is the case that having a second bike is great when maintenance is needed but you still need to get somewhere. Personally, I would get two different types of folders -- one uber compact and a second good for performance -- but your needs may not match mine.

How old and approximately how many miles do you have on the Dahon?

Originally Posted by dschwarz
My suggestion is to fix up your D7 before moving on to a new ride. It's a chromoly frame and quite durable.

The stock brakes are not great quality IMHO; I'm replacing mine with Avid Single Digit 5s (under $40 for both front and rear brakes, shipping included, if you shop around online). There are much better quality tires out there than stock - Schwalbe Marathons, maybe - I have no experience with them but others on this forum should be able to recommend extra durable tires. Most folders won't come with those kind of tires stock. Not sure what happened to your seatpost collar but they are easy enough to replace. Are you over the max weight limit for the bike?
I don't know what "snatching" a rear brake means. But I'll assume its broken.

Brakes typically take quite a beating and keep on ticking. I would be shocked if it happened a second time.

Did the quick release on the seatpost collar brake?

As for flats, tire choice will effectively address the issue.

Originally Posted by dschwarz
p.s. Don't buy a bike that lacks a dealer network in your country. Spare parts and warranty service will be a problem.
It also sounds like the OP doesn't do his/her own maintenance. So a decent LBS that understands the bike would be a huge advantage.
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Old 09-23-09, 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by vik

Bike Friday Season Tikit fits your bill:

- different sized frames and accepts normal bike parts to fit tall riders
- can be setup as a fast bike or commuter as desired
- excellent in rain
- very reliable with an IGH
- since it takes normal bike parts you can use saddle and bars of choice for long distance comfort
If the cost fits your parameters, then I like this suggestion. Although the IGH would be optional, in my opinion. Tikits strike a nice balance between all the considerations involved in selecting a folder. And it does ride very nicely (for a folder).
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Old 09-23-09, 11:01 AM
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Those are a lot of the reason I'll be getting a Tikit soon.

Something else to think about, you may or may not need gears for that 30 mile bike ride. We've got some hills around here (contrary to what most non-Kansans think). They're not wicked, but they are significant. I wouldn't hesitate to take my Trek Soho S on a 30+ mile ride.

The reason I mention that is that a Swift built with just a single speed rear wheel might also be a good choice for you (since $980 will get you a 8-speed internal gear swift - https://www.swiftfolders.com/spec.html ), it'll probably be the second folder I buy.
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Old 09-23-09, 12:21 PM
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Ditto with a Bike Friday. However, since foldability isn't critical and speed is to some degree, a Pocket Rocket would probably be better. Depending upon your own definition of low maintenance, you may want a fixed gear if you are a good climber (since climbing is middle of the road importance). IGH would be low maintenance but not quite as fast as fixed or a 1X9. A 1X9 would be fairly low maintence, fast, & good in everything but perhaps the steepest hills.
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