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Now I'm torn between these 2!!!

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Now I'm torn between these 2!!!

Old 06-02-13, 06:12 PM
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Now I'm torn between these 2!!!

So I am torn between these 2 folders:

The Birdy and Montague Paratrooper /Pro.

So here's my thing... I thought I am settled to get a Birdy as it can do a little bit of everything, (small fold second to Brompton, can take a beating because of its solid body and has full suspension, possible for touring, great for commuting, etc.). Then comes the Montague Paratrooper /Pro. I said to myself, I will be 85-90% commuting by bike (17.2miles everyday) than taking it to train/bus. I am 5'8 and about 80kg, and was a BMXer way back hey days. I want to stay fit/healthy again by doing bike as I am a 9-5 working guy who 95% of time sitting infront of a computer.

The Paratrooper can take a beating, so as the Birdy. But coming from a BMX background, I would like to do a bit of it from either the Birdy or Paratrooper.

The question is, do I really need the Birdy or should I go for a Paratrooper as it can take a beating, and most of the time will be used to commute all the way - back & forth. So folding it to a bus/train is very minimal. I wouldn't mind carrying a 32lbs bike. I will only fold and take it to a train/bus if the weather is really-really bad. If possible, I would like to use it even if it's snowing. BTW, i'm from London, UK.

Can a Birdy take a daily commute (I'm talking about 90% commute - without going to trains/bus, so very minimal folding)? Can it be used for a bit of BMXing?

Thats all for now, I have other things to ask but I can't remember 'em all as I am caught between a hangover and a pesky work deadline!

Please help me shed some light here. Any Birdy/Montague Paratrooper /Pro experts?

Thanks!
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Old 06-06-13, 06:25 AM
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Do a test ride first. Not every one like the birdie steering, fold sized folders are a bit of a wastle of time for commuting folding ,and For car transporting you might be as well taking the wheels off a rigid.

I have been on a bmx track with many of my folders. Consider an onza mini for next to nothing on ebay if you want to mess about with a compactable bike.
What do you mean by bmx? Tricks,ramp, race, mounyain biking trails. I birdie will cope with a lot of terrain.but I would not get air on a folder ofter if I was you.

Someone will refer to bms tricks done on bromtons, but stem is flexly and rear clip is weak unless modded and don't do a rollback on a hub gear.
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Old 06-06-13, 06:27 AM
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There's probably a reason why folding BMXs never really caught on.

Surely you'd be better off and safer with a real BMX for play, and a tough folder for commuting?

Even a 20" folder is getting on for ten cubic feet to lug around (you yourself are probably only three cubic feet...), it's not just the weight.
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Old 06-06-13, 06:39 AM
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https://blokely.com/life-geek/kansi-folding-bmx-bike/
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Old 06-06-13, 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Elvis Shumaker

i like that. the lesson is, put mag wheels on any dahon and it becomes a bmx. 600GBP...

maybe thats worth a try ~ buy a used dahon mu and some 20" tuff wheels from ebay..

or maybe give this a shot:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAHON-JET-...item4d0d174d92
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Old 06-06-13, 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Elvis Shumaker
From the Kansi web site regarding the F20 Limited Edition:

" ... with its shorter handlebar post, riser bar and 20” wheels, you’d be forgiven for thinking from a distance that the F20 actually is a BMX. We just ask that you don’t get carried away and try any tricks."

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA
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Old 06-06-13, 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by HGR3inOK
From the Kansi web site regarding the F20 Limited Edition:

" ... with its shorter handlebar post, riser bar and 20” wheels, you’d be forgiven for thinking from a distance that the F20 actually is a BMX. We just ask that you don’t get carried away and try any tricks."

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

and of course, definitely don't do this:

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Old 06-06-13, 07:23 AM
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Surely the 'Fold' would be one sweet air trick...
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Old 06-06-13, 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Elvis Shumaker
Surely the 'Fold' would be one sweet air trick...
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Old 06-06-13, 08:54 AM
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Montague paratrooper is a better choice, normal bike operations with folding capabilities.
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Old 06-06-13, 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by alexaschwanden
normal bike operations
as opposed to? abnormal bike operations?
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Old 06-06-13, 10:03 AM
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those bikes are sooo different from eachother..... best find a bike and try it ...
A lot of us "regulars" like 20 inch wheels ( or 18 by that matter.... see I throw you B guys a choclate )

I dont sell a lot of 26 inchers... compared anyhow. Not that there is anything wrong with that....
where are you located ? sometimes that makes a difference what to get ..or is available ...

Best Thor
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Old 06-06-13, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by brakemeister
I dont sell a lot of 26 inchers... Not that there is anything wrong with that....

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Old 06-06-13, 10:57 AM
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Onzo mini is cheap and made for tricks. Based on mini trails bike.
That's the best option in many ways for the bmx bit.
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Old 06-07-13, 05:30 AM
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Thanks all for your reply.

Originally Posted by bhkyte
What do you mean by bmx? Tricks,ramp, race, mounyain biking trails. I birdie will cope with a lot of terrain.but I would not get air on a folder ofter if I was you.
I do a bit of tricks and mountain biking trails. Can a Birdy handle that or should I go for Paratrooper, as I don't mind getting a bigger folder as I will be using it as my main commuting transpo, with occasional train/bus multi-modal (if the weather is really bad). So will only fold it if I am caught up in a really bad weather while commuting. Travel will be 16miles a day (that's back and forth).

Originally Posted by smallwheeler
This is also my 3rd option. Do you think it will perform ok? If I would go for the Jetstream, what upgrades/changes do I need to be able to perform well in commuting-mountain bike trailing, and how about the maintenance cost? Also, I am worried about its fold in the middle, unlike the 2 main bikes that I mentioned (Birdy/Paratrooper), they are pretty much solid on the fold as it doesn't fold in the middle.


Originally Posted by brakemeister
where are you located ?

Best Thor
I am located in East London UK.
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Old 06-07-13, 06:12 AM
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26" wheelers are a bit more flexible, do dirt better, and are a swine to carry around. (I have one) The Dahon JetScream has been used off-road in many cases, and is a great town/light trail ride, the downside could be more dirt=more maintenance. There are some though who don't bother, and the bikes carry on.

I know nothing about Birdies because I have Dahon written all the way through my middle.

Any of these bikes will easily do 20 miles a day, each way. Or more.

You really need at least two bikes, which is what you'll get eventually. The question is, which one first?

If you've got the itch for real dirt, get a 26" wheel folding bike and a spare set of wheels, one with gnarly tyres on, the other with street slicks. A set of Quando hubs and rims is about £50 from Amazon or much less from your local dumpster. That's the most flexibility for the least dough.

However, people ride almost anything on and off road. Including 16" wheel bikes. Not me, though.

The Paratrooper needs the front wheel removed to 'fold'. Not really an issue unless you're prone to lapses of public transport.

Last edited by snafu21; 06-07-13 at 06:20 AM.
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Old 06-09-13, 04:42 PM
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Thanks snafu21, my main priority at the moment is a commuter folding bike for a 16mile ride everyday (not gonna take it to the train all the time, will only do that for emergencies like really really bad weather etc.). I've read/heard a lot of good stuff about the Birdy bike, but I am worried about the availabilty of the wheels/other parts if I ever ran into some road holes etc. I know it can take some light-trails/off-road tasks, but the availabilty of the parts concerns me. Unlike the paratrooper which is pretty much most (or all) of its parts can be purchased at any LBS. I am also looking to try some winter commuting (and possibly some rainy travels), not sure if Birdy is up for that with not too many maintenance required. So it will be pretty much beaten up as I wll be using it as my main daily transportation. By the way, I am from East London, UK.

Any insights about Birdy?
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Old 06-10-13, 12:27 AM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...5-Birdy-thread
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Old 06-10-13, 05:25 AM
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I really don't think your usage suits a birdie ( I have own its not bais), birdie is a light weight compact folder that excells on tow paths etc. Parts are difficult to get quickly alythough more are generic than some folders.
We
Sanu recomemdation of two wheel sets on the folding mbt sounds solid.

I ran a mountain bike with two wheel sets when I only had storage space for one bike. Worked great. Possibly consider lock out forks and you have a hybrid and a mountain bike.
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Old 06-10-13, 10:11 AM
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This ritzy Dahon Matrix is for you, Mr de Cipher:
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Old 06-10-13, 10:16 AM
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Hi bhkyte,

Thanks for your reply. I really do appreciate it. It gives so much weight to my decision. With that in mind. It looks like the Paratrooper has a lock out fork?
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Old 06-10-13, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by snafu21
This ritzy Dahon Matrix is for you, Mr de Cipher:
Thanks snafu21, Do you think the folding mechanism of the Dahon on its frame is a not quite good compared to Montague's solid middle frame?
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Old 06-10-13, 11:36 AM
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I haven't a clue, I'm afraid. I haven't ridden either. I have had the previous Matrix which was a blast, and currently a Dahon Jack, same frame as old Matrix no suspension. With two sets of wheels. :-)
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Old 06-10-13, 12:06 PM
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Simple : Buy Both , ride them , and Re sell the one that doesn't work for you.
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Old 06-10-13, 02:34 PM
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That's been my approach for years!!
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