BigRoar

Hello,
hoping someone can chip in with some experience. I am looking for a folder to take on my mooring commute so I don't have to get the Tube every morning after I get off the train. I'm also a big 6"3 rugby player so I am a bit worried I might break a folder. The two I am looking at are

Xootr Swift Folding Bicycle | Xootr Urban Transport - I'm tending towards this as you can use regular bike kit

or a Brompton like this Brompton M1E 2014 Folding Bike | Evans Cycles

Has anyone got any experience with how sturdy these are?

Martin

TransitBiker

Just based on a quick glance, I'd go with the first one. Seems more sturdy?

- Andy

john4789

Ask in the folding bike sub forum, they would know better...

CbadRider

Moved from Commuting to Folding.

ThorUSA

there is none ...lol
having said that ... sure you can find something which more or less fits ...
In order to make any guess...whats your weight .... do you carry some extra pounds on the bike ?
whats your budget ...
how many miles each day
where are you located
does the transport allow bigger than 20 inch to take inside .. like a 24 inch bike
comes to mind

fietsbob

H1L* rather than M1E IMO.. * [or 2,3 or 6 speed] mudguards to keep the road spew off you.

And, Bike Friday Tikit can be built to your size on Order . (in Oregon then shipped from there)
Bath+2 others, has a representative shop, in UK to sort out Customs and VAT and some floor samples


mostly at the maker they have no Inventory the order waits to be built for the customer.
you pick your component size colors , etc.

from https://www.bikefriday.com/dealers/b...&region=&city=

Ozonation

Bromptons are sturdier than you might think. They're rated up to 250 lbs. I clock in at about 210 lbs., often carry extra things, and I'm reasonably athletic so I tend to be a bit hard on my equipment, including bikes.

However, I think height might be an issue. 6'3" is starting to push the limit for a Brompton. Have you considered Bike Friday?

BigRoar

Thanks for the response.
So more info
6"3, 220-230lbs biking 3-4 miles in London + 2 miles to the station from home.
The bike just needs to fold, the rail company doesn't specific a max size just as long as it folds. Storage at work isn't a problem
Budget around £800
Be carrying a small bag with minimal contents.

Yes I've looked at Bike Friday - they could really do with a easier to use website, the way you have to spec a bike really put me off not to mention the horrendous logo on the bike - mind you the Xootr is just as bad in this regard, it would be a respray job if I got one.

BWP

Just a side note: except the head badge, all of the the Bike Friday logos are on stickers that are easily removed -- and you can ask for no stickers when you place an order. I agree that the website is challenging, my experience is that it's worth getting past the challenges.

Leisesturm

The folder designs that have very long seatposts IMO will be problematic for a 'big guy'. Even if the Bromton or Bike Friday say they can handle a 220lb load, I for one would be looking at a way of reinforcing that seattube. I've had two go on different folders and I'm not that big of a guy at 5'10.5 and 190ish. Both replaced under warranty but my Downtube folder which is designed more like a Xootr or Swift has a much shorter seattube for the same rider size. I'd give those bikes the first look. I don't personally understand the appeal of 26" wheel folders.

H

smallwheeler

i can see your point about the brompton seatpost, although consider that the seatpost is steel and the rear elastomer absorbs a lot of impact that might cause the seat post to fold up under a heavy (ass) load.
but, you are wrong about the bike friday. that seat tube is heavy duty cromo steel. if you'll notice the portion that is actual "seat post" is generally no longer or more extended that your average road bike seat post. bike friday also offers a packable seat tube that isn't hinged and is ever stronger (second pic).

dezzie

f you look on ebay you can pic a moulton up reasonably, I am 17.5 stone and its going to probably be my next bike depending on funds, if not, definitely a xootr swift, guy who sells them on ebay is open to offers as well so will probably take 600 or less for one with free delivery!

keyven

Forget M1E - as someone else said, go for H-handlebars as they are more suited for taller riders. Also, don't go single gear - it makes sense to pay a little more and get at least a 2-speed (H2E - I'm not sure I've ever seen such a code mentioned before). The weight penalty is minuscule.

Coal Buster

A co-worker of mine about your size, big and athletic 200+ lb'er, used a folder for the exact same reason: to get from the train station to work and back each day. He chose a Brompton and was very happy with it.

BigRoar

Just a quick update and thanks for all the advice
I ended up getting the Xootr after testing a few of the other bikes mentioned here.
The ride position was much closer to my MTB than the other and its a very fast ride, perceivable quicker than the Bromptons.
There are a few changes I made to it,
XT rear mech, chain and cassette, the included ones were very clunky
new brake on the front as the front brake was really only suggestion of brake :-)
Riser bars and longer stem, this made it a lot less twitchy

Over all for a bigger guy this is the most comfortable one I have tried, bonus point is that you don't look like all the accountants on their bromptons and the look on the Racers boys when I overtake them on Waterloo bridge is always worth the effort. :-P

dezzie

Well done i got a xootr as well, pics on swift pages and have fitted a thudbuster post and rido saddle already and have some riser bars ready to fit, going to remove the twist shift and fit a sram x4 trigger shift to match the rear as my hands keep changing gears if i stand up to peddle then i will fit some nice ergo grips for comfort and leave it like that for now. Just bought an old raleigh shopper to clean up and sell on and awaiting an old moulton mini minx as another project its all go.

fietsbob

Smallwheeler is showing the 20" wheel packable bikes , they are not suitable as train commuters .
Blue one, shown, wont even do a rear fold without loosening the rear wheel nuts and taking the chain off..

the 349 wheel Tikit is the Bi Fri Commuter folder .. the hinged seatpost (Saddle height remains fixed to your preference)

It is the key to its folding, it releases the rear fold, the rear section comes along the left side . With the BB so a Fixie is a option if you wish.
folding the bars down into their catch fixes the front wheel steering and you lift the back and roll the folded bike on its front wheel ..

+ there is a cable release option so the seat post fold triggers the whole fold sequence including the front.

Ozonation

Cool! How about a photo of the Xootr all dressed up?