maunakea

@wavshrdr Thx for the link the TW trailers ... if they only made them in aluminum instead of steel.

I second wav's comments on the single wheel design. If high speed maneuverability, single-track, or rough terrain are in the picture, the single wheel design wins hands down. However, when loaded, single wheel trailers are a handful when stopping and parking. I don't have kickstands on my bikes, so getting the rig into and out of an "L" is a dance.

spinnercat

Howdy maunakea, & all -- yeah, thanks a *lot* for the TW Recumbent links. I'm terribly tempted to order one of 'em -- I've been pining for this kind of cage-style design, with the mesh floor -- and the fact that it's collapsible is a HUGE improvement on the original BOB, IMHO. But I'm not so optimistic about my weak right knee's ability to pull a trailer that already weighs 20 pounds *un*loaded! Gosh, are they possibly working on making an aluminum one right now?....
My most immediate needs are going to be in town, hauling groceries & such, so I will probably be doing a lot more stopping and parking than high-speed & rough terrain. (Though if there *were* an aluminum edition, I'd be on it in a flash )
So -- I just got back from my meeting with the local Bike Friday owner -- a very nice guy who loves his bike & generously let me try it out. It's my first time on 20" wheels, and I was able to get used to that pretty quickly. His New World Tourist is probably almost as heavy as my 700c-wheeled hybrid bike, so no benefit for me there (I'm pretty slim & don't have much body weight to lose! ) But it was great to be able to try it out & see the folding, which is obviously well-engineered. I still think the Swift is more like what I want, but I really should see it first! So -- thanks a bunch to BruceMetras for the nice offer -- I'd love to come over & see your stable of folders! Is your phone number listed in the phone book or, ?
-spinnercat

Wavshrdr

I can honestly tell you that I rarely notice my BOB when I tow it. It's not as though I am in my mid 20's either or in the best shape of my life. The BOB isn't very heavy, about 13 lbs and is 4130 Chromoly so it is durable. Until it is very loaded the only way I know it is there is to see the little flag in my rearview mirror.

The way I looked at the 1 vs. 2 wheel design was based on whether I would be riding the bike or parking it the most. I have a different 2 wheel design trailer and while it is more stable parked I like it a lot less while towing it. Of course this is not the case if I have a large load that I can't balance easily on the single wheel trailer. Normally that isn't the case though. I'll have groceries or something else in it that isn't long and unwieldy. If I were halling lumber I'd go for the 2 wheel trailer for sure. If you are touring with it I'll stick with the single. I am working on a "kickstand" for my trailer that will flip up when I ride off so I don't have to worry about it being unstable while parked. It is quite easy to unhitch if it is a real issue.

FYI- the TW Bent trailers don't seem to have any connectors for hubs and I don't know if you could use them with the BOB ones. They look somewhat similar. I contacted the company in Taiwan and they said they had them but when I contacted the distributor here they acted like they had no clue what I was talking about even though I provided them with my original emails from the manuf.

spinnercat

Wow, I didn't know the BOB was only 13 pounds. I just remember that when I test rode it with my hybrid bike, I felt drag on my bike, when turning -- but wasn't that surprised, because it seems like such a big hunk of metal. I'm glad to know there may be an issue with hitching the TW Bent trailer (by the way, it's the 2-wheeled TW that weighs 20 pounds unloaded). I guess I'll give it another test ride .. (to try it out with one of BruceMetras's folders would be great! )

Thanks also to Fear & Trembling for the links & info about Schlumpf -- wow! Great stuff .... now I really am in danger of becoming a bike geek ...
-spinner

spinnercat

Hi there Bruce - Thanks for the nice offer! How do I contact you? Is your phone number in the white pages? I can't send you an e-mail through bikeforums.net, so I don't know what's the right way to do this. (If you go to my bikeforums Public Profile, you should be able to send an e-mail to me)

(Apologies to the other posters here -- I don't wish to use this thread for individual communications. Also, I didn't want this to go off-topic & morph completely into trailers! But all of this has helped me a lot, so thanks again.)
-spinnercat

jyossarian

Try PM'ing Bruce for details on how to try out all his toys. I have yet to order a Swift and the $600+ surprise repair bill I got this past week to fix the front suspension on my car just pushed my order date back. It's ok though since I'm torn between an internally geared hub or a flip/flop hub. I know, they're at opposite ends of the spectrum gearing-wise, but I have a geared mtb that I love and a fixie that I also love and the Swift seems to accomodate both so well that it's hard to decide.

scotharr

I love my new Swift and am using it daily to commute to work. Only one problem: the chain occasionally pops off when I hit a bump on the road (not unusual in Chicago). Has anybody else experienced this? Any easy solutions?

maunakea

Search "chain tensioner"

BruceMetras

I'm using a chain guide roller I got from Gaerlan Cycles.. I've moved the roller back a little from my original posted pics... this has worked well for me... I'm sure there would be other options also to keep the chain from 'hopping' off of the top of the chainwheel.

Bruce

Mike174

This is just a quick follow-up to my note of about 10 days ago....

I did pick up my Xootr Blue Swift in the Twin Cities last Monday without incident. The people at Calhoun Cycle were just fine! Thanksfully, the weather up north at my brother's house in the Iron Range (where North Country was filmed) was much better than predicted. One day was perfect, one very nice, and even the cold day was okay for riding.

I am very happy with the bike and would recommend it to all. Solid, relatively quick, and I like the handling, esp, with the quick feeling 20 inch wheels. I am still tweaking things, but my initial changes to the stock bike were an 8 speed Nexus internal hub, and Thudbuster seat post. May change saddle and a few other things to get it just the way I like over time.

This bike should be a keeper!
Best to all and thanks for the great info to be found in this forum!

Mike

spinnercat

Howdy Mike - Those are modifications that I would like to do too if/when I buy a Swift, so I'm glad to hear you're happy with them. Thanks for the update
-spinner

Bacciagalupe

OK, I'm a little curious about something. It sounds like a Swift will handle a little more like a road bike than most folders, and may be a little faster as well. Can anyone explain the mechanical reasons why a Swift will ride faster and handle differently than, say, a typical Dahon, and quantify any speed increases?

By the way, it looks like there's a celebration of the Swift's 10th Anniversary as part of NYC's Bike Month....

flyhi46c

Hello,
I'm looking to improve the hand positions on my stock Xootr. Any suggestions on bar ends? I'm used to road (drop) handlebars but don't want to go to that option if bar ends will be enough. Art.

Crankypants

With beefy tires, would the swift be a descent offroad or expedition touring machine?

james_swift

1.) The Swift's geometry is identical to that of a hybrid bike. https://xootr.com/xootr/swift/frame.shtml
-I actually test-rode a GT hybrid last week, and aside from the huge wheels and sluggish steering, the ride was identical to my Swift when it was stock.

2.) The frame is designed to be rigid and light. The trussfold system is simple and efficient. It uses a single pivot joint and the seatpost to lock it all into place. Unlike the sandwich fold of a Dahon, there are no joints in the Swift's frame to flex. And also unlike the stempost of the Dahon, the stempost of the Swift is steel pipe extension of the steerer tube, clamped-down securely with a quick-release upon which you can throw-on any standard 1 1/8" threadless stem. The Dahon / Downtube stemposts utilize a joint-n-latch system with a sliding internal post, which again, introduces a huge point of flex. Flex absorbs power that could otherwise be put into forward motion. I also own a Dahon, and when I do ride it, I have to completely alter the road-bike riding style I'm accustomed to on my Swift. This means no out-of-the saddle uphill sprints in high gear, no racing the red light at intersections. I think that quantifies the speed increase you're inquiring about.

3.) Fit: you can't get fast on a bike with an upright riding position. Because the Swift accomodates any standard 1 1/8" threadless stem, you can go as stretched and as low as you want. If you want to get serious, consider drop bars or TT-bars. My Swift is awesome with drop bars. I'll never go back to flat bars.

4.) Weight: in stock form, the Swift is 22lb. Compare that with a Dahon or Downtube (better not). Lose the heavy tires, tubes, reflectors, saddle and pedals (typically the first parts to be upgraded on any bike), and you can easily bring it down to 20lb or even less.

james_swift

Bar ends are great if you're happy with the flat bars. I have some Profile short ends that I'm not using anymore. PM me your address and I'll send them to you.

flyhi46c

Thanks so much for your offer, James. I think I will look for longer bar ends which extend forward further to try to approximate my stretched out position on my road bike. IF that doesn't work, then I might be forced to do as you did and install road handlebars...only then I'm going to have to change the brakes and shifters as well. Anyway the bar ends are worth a shot. Arthur.

james_swift

Yeah, I love my drop bars.

Yangmusa brought to my attention this adapter from Harris Cyclery called "HubBub" that allows you to use your SRAM grip shift as a bar-end shifter on drop bars: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/b...an-jos8-3.html

big boy phil

I have read through this thread once, and am very impressed with the overall good reviews this bike is getting. So I am looking into getting one. I know I read through here somewhere that I can email one of the manufacturers/designers to work out specific details on a build, but I can't seem to remember the name or email address of who that pereson is. I was going to skim through all the pages again to find the email address, but I am getting backed up at work. If someone happens to have that email and could post it here, I would appreciate it. Thanks!!

maunakea

OTS www.xootr.com/xootr/swift/bikes.shtml

Custom by Peter "Swifty" Reich www.swiftfolder.com
info@swiftfolder.com

bigbenaugust 

So will a chain roller/tensioner as pictured above help keep the chain from jumping to the right (between the chain and the guard)? My Swift does this on occasion, and it's rather annoying.

james_swift

Send an email to sales@xootr.com explaining you want a custom Swift. They'll forward your email to Peter. You could also try Design Mobility directly: info@swiftfolder.com

james_swift

So long as you don't plan on rolling over logs and stumps. This applies not only to the Swift, but any 406-wheeled bike. Small wheels and big obstacles (and potholes, for that matter) don't mix.

JonathanG

I need help with seatpost mounted racks for my Xootr Swift.
The alu swift frame/xootr swift has a post diameter of 32.9 mm. Most seatpost mounted racks that I've looked at, like the Performance recommended by Wavshrdr and the Delta, have a listed max diameter of 32 mm. I guess if Wavshrdr, who as James has noted is the King of Swift Accessories, was happy with his rack then I shouldn't be worried, but I would appreciate any advice/warnings anyone, including, of course, Wavshrdr, might have.
Thanks!
Jonathan

james_swift

The seatpost on the Xootr Swift is actually 34.0mm (as stamped on the end of the seatpost, and verified by my calipers). I think Xootr misprinted the seatpost's diameter.

That said, Wav is the authority on racks for the Swift.