Front Luggage for a Swift Folder
07-19-11, 08:37 AM
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Front Luggage for a Swift Folder
I'm getting ready for my first tour on a swift folder and I'm curious about the front luggage options. There's so much room between the wheel and my handlebars, I'd like to take advantage of it. I'm traveling pretty light to minimize the amount of hardware I need since everything needs to be packed for air travel. Any ideas?
07-19-11, 10:15 AM
#2
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I like the pannier racks that Bike Friday makes for their bikes .. [2 Ortlieb front bags]
almost as much as the Touring bag on my Brompton
I have a BF, and a Brompton, no Swift..
Will the builder of those make something to fit their bike? ask them..
almost as much as the Touring bag on my Brompton
I have a BF, and a Brompton, no Swift..
Will the builder of those make something to fit their bike? ask them..
07-19-11, 10:33 AM
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You could fit a Rixen Kaul Caddy bracket - if you have one of the original stem risers (newer ones are fatter) - and then clip any bag that has a R/K bracket on it.
Or you could use R/K's new carrier which can fit on any of their 'bar bag mounts or Caddy.
07-19-11, 12:53 PM
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I love the look of the Brompton touring bag. I wish there was some way to adapt it for the swift, but it doesn't look like there is. I'm already planning on using a large saddlebag in place of a rear rack. Something like the touring bag would fulfill my dream of rackless touring. Your RK bag looks like it tends in that direction, Paul, but I do have a newer swift (not sure when the stem risers got wider), but I don't know how much Kickflix caddies can support. As it stands I'm considering just piling stuffsacks or a small duffel onto a small front rack.
07-19-11, 05:34 PM
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There is a new system available from Xootr which mounts on the head tube, you could inquire about that, if it is production ready.
07-19-11, 09:13 PM
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CrossRack?
Will the cross rack not accomplish what you want? (https://www.xootr.com/crossrack-bike-rack.html).
I run one in the front with a small axiom or very large arkel panier depending on need. In the back you can always just use a dry bag a la bikepacking stype (see https://www.bikepacking.net/ for ideas).
I run one in the front with a small axiom or very large arkel panier depending on need. In the back you can always just use a dry bag a la bikepacking stype (see https://www.bikepacking.net/ for ideas).
07-21-11, 01:48 AM
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seconc paul's advice. the stem size shouldn't be a problem (i have a 1 year old reich swift folder). the adapter can take a decent amount of weight, 7kg.
as for actual luggage, maybe the kaddy, maybe a brompton bag rigged to the r&k frame. i use a r & k backpack. probably the best option for easy loading and good storage room would be a nice pannier mounted on r & k frame.
my latest ideal front luggage would be welding either the dahon luggage socket or the brompton socket to a swift. it would take about $100 of welding work, according to a local bike builder, but only on a steel swift. HPM also has offered to do it directly to a new swift if requested. really expensive to weld onto an aluminum swift
as for actual luggage, maybe the kaddy, maybe a brompton bag rigged to the r&k frame. i use a r & k backpack. probably the best option for easy loading and good storage room would be a nice pannier mounted on r & k frame.
my latest ideal front luggage would be welding either the dahon luggage socket or the brompton socket to a swift. it would take about $100 of welding work, according to a local bike builder, but only on a steel swift. HPM also has offered to do it directly to a new swift if requested. really expensive to weld onto an aluminum swift
