Immortalmuso

Hello,

I'm a noob looking for some advise on a couple of bikes. I am looking for the bike that will be the best all rounder as my main intentions of purchasing a folding bike is to get to and from my uni, the journey encounters rocky alleyways a little hill. My uni is 5 kilometres away from my house, so what bike would be best for me and money isn't a issue. So it's between the following:

Brompton
Tern link p24h
Dahon jetstream p8
birdy

Thank you for taking your time to read the thread.

Diode100

The Jetstream is a nice bike with suspension making it ideal for rocky alleyways and little hills.

Do you have somewhere secure to keep the bike at your uni, because its never a good idea to leave folders unattended, even if they are locked.

Immortalmuso

Yeah at my uni everyone has a locker

Diode100

The Jestream folded size is: 29 x 83 x 66 cm (11.3" x 32.4" x 25.7") - is that going to fit in your locker ?

The Brompton has 16" wheels and is considerably smaller when folded, 585mm x 545mm x 270mm (22.2" x 21.5" x 10.6"), but is not as competent on rough trails as the 20" wheeled Jetstream.

Ozonation

Everybody has a locker? Wow - that seems... indulgent...

If it's a standard size (gym/school) locker, I can't see fitting any folding bike into it, even a Brompton, unless the locker has more depth and/or width than standard. Maybe the smaller folding bikes, like a Strida, might fit, but I don't think the Strida will serve your needs.

Immortalmuso

How about the birdy? And any folding bike will fit in it

Immortalmuso

The locker is gigantic there these huge metal things that are a meter tall and the depth of the locker is big.

snafu21

There's a few recalls out on some Birdy's at the moment. I can't imagine it will be permanent though.

Tern Link P24H has the largest gear range for hills out of the bikes you shortlisted at 21" - 107" which is a useful range.

Brompton has smallest fold and largest price, Jetstream is very versatile works well on rough surfaces.

badmother

How far from the door to the locker? Can you roll it or do you need to carry it?

Immortalmuso

So you recommend the jetstream

Immortalmuso

It's not really a problem because my uni doesn't have problems with these bikes at all they recommend to get them they even allow you to bring them in to the classes as long as they are folded up lots of people at my uni have these bikes I am just trying to find the right to suit my needs

snafu21

"So you recommend the jetstream"

They're great bikes. So are the others.

You should try a few of your friend's bikes at Uni. We're all different, and if you got hills to climb, gear range is more useful than suspension. If you can get both, mind you, you're good to go.

Ozonation

Cool that the university is so progressive and supplies such lockers. What university is this? I should switch!

Diode100

If money is no object there is some very nice machinery available to you, but you would be well advised to find a dealer and give the bikes a trial before you decide, make sure the bike is good fit for your size / weight.

Birdy do a wide range of models, all very good bikes, but on the expensive side, and apparently not that well supported in some countries. I would say that unless you are particuarly taken with the design, they are more than you need for a simple commute of 5km each way.

Immortalmuso

I know but I can't remember it of the top of my head its quiet sad isn't it

Immortalmuso

Now I'm really stuck between the brompton and the dahon.

Ozonation

Errr... you can't remember the name of the university you're going or about to go to?

I have a Brompton, and I think it's great. If you check other threads, you'll probably find that most agree the Brompton has the smallest, most elegant fold, has a great bag system, and is solidly built. It can handle everything from city riding to hard packed trails, and if you get the reduced gearing, it does pretty well on hills too. It's not without tradeoffs though: some quirky parts, very limited wheel options, limited suspension options, probably 20% more expensive at least compared to other bikes. I'd love to get Big Apple tires onto my Brompton, but it won't happen.

BassNotBass

No, it's unfathomable.

Money's not a concern? Get something custom made that suits you perfectly. https://www.bikefriday.com/

jolly_ross

If you are going to be off and on public transport with it then the quicker, easier and smaller the fold the better.

If you just need the fold for putting it in a locker then ridability becomes more important. In general the bigger the wheels the better the ride. My Brompton doesn't much like potholes or rough roads. Hills no problem though.

Another issue is how easy it is to carry. I tend not to carry the Brom too far - in train stations I unfold (just) the handle and trundle it along on its rollers.

How hard is it to change a tyre on the Dahon I wonder? The Brompton rear wheel (IGH) is a *****. I don't carry tools - If I flat then I'll call a cab - or just walk it to the station.

smallwheeler

changing the rear tire isnt that difficult:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPC1ZmjVwNc

or if you're acme511:

"I made up a few split tubes to carry on my Brompton. The inner tube is a C-shaped profile and I just took a 2" long part of and old tube put a hole in it that slips over the valve stem. Then I merely open one side of the tyre, pull the punctured tube out and then slip the new split tube in place (looping the hole on the tab over the valve stem), inflate and ride away. Less than one minute and no need to take all the extra tools Etc."

but, seriously, the only real difference between changing a brompton rear wheel and any other IHG is the chain tensioner, which is just one additional nut.

charbucks

Why a folder? For your stated purpose, you don't need a folding bike. I would go cyclocross or similar if you're just going to be going back and forth 5 km with a rocky hill. Not that I dislike folders (I'm in love with my new Brompton), but I probably wouldn't have gotten it if I wasn't planning on folding it.

I also find it hard to believe that you know the details of your locker but not the name of your university! Out of curiosity, where are you from? The only place that I've heard people use the abbreviation "uni" and also use kilometres is New Zealand.

smallwheeler

good point. just get a Surly Crosscheck...

Diode100

Not going to fit into a meter high locker, is it ?

smallwheeler

just bend it in half..

(forgot about the locker thing..)

fietsbob

Brompton has the better folded size, as Dahon just folds in half, its wider bigger

Brompton will fit in 4 cubic feet , 24 x 24 x12"

New 013 model has replacable chainrings out of the box 44, 50, 54 options

being a 130 bcd arm 40 can be fitted {lower gear for hill climbing.

[Swiss made 2 speed crank, turns it into a mountain climber,*
but since the CHF is stronger than the Dollar or Euro, or 'loonie',
they cost more than they did, even 3 years ago.

Rich people moved their money into Swiss banks increasing the exchange rate difference..

*54t on mountain drive low is a 21t(reduction 2.5); speed drive , 34t. high is a 54t (overdrive 1.6)
[crank/BB kit is now 900, (was 700)) [all bank charges for cambio]