Dwagenheim

Any owners out there?
How do you like your BikeFriday? Since moving to Eugene, where the company is based, I've been seeing these bikes and thinking about how they would fare on a major tour, or even day to day commuting. I like the aspect of it folding up into its own trailer. I wonder if it would be as comfortable of a ride as a mountainbike or road hybrid on a tour.
I just wanted to hear from any Bikeforums peeps on how these have worked out for you.

Peace

Dave

Guest

It's a darned comfortable ride. It's custom made and costs a bit more, but it fits like a glove and rides very smoothly. I upgraded my components to Ultegra, so it shifts well too.

It has a quick fold option so you can take it on a train or bus right quick, but to completely fold it up and put it into the suitcase takes some time. I've gotten it down to about 10 minutes. But the more you pack it, the more proficient you get at taking the bike down.

I like my BF. It works well and handles well also.

Koffee

Mr_Super_Socks

Own a bike friday tandem two'sday that we used for loaded touring in France. my wife wrote a story about it for the AP. Anyway, the bike handled great loaded and was easy as pie to travel with. kudos, kudos!
the only remaining live link is this one:
https://www.theeagle.com/brazossunday...0502tandem.htm

not much re: the bike - but I would be happy to answer and more specific questions.

Rogerinchrist

Personally I'm not an owner but if Denise Goldberg doesn't respond, got to her website that I just linked for you.

Dahon.Steve

I have a 20' inch folding Dahon and it's not as comfortable as a mountainbike or road hybrid. Lets be honest and say the smaller wheel gives a harsher ride. This is probably the biggest negative about the folding bike in general but it be overcome with a Thudbuster seat post or a Brooks Saddle with springs.

I like the Bike Friday more and more and I'm thinking of selling both my Dahon bikes and getting a New World Toruist with a tripple! There's nothing wrong with Dahons but mine are limited because they don't have a tripple chainring which is necessary.

Stubacca

You can't do that! You'd have to change your screen name...

brokenrobot

Bike Friday will let you take one for a ride anytime you want... swing by! Really nice folks.

Guest

Honestly, in terms of harshness, I don't notice any significance between my DeRosa road bike and my Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. Both are smooth rides, in my opinion, and I'm happy changing back and forth between bikes. I just know that the smaller wheels means I'll be spinning more, and when I first moved to VA, as hilly as it was, I knew I'd be on the BF for at least a month before I transitioned to my road bike. Now that I've made a nice transition to my road bike, the only significance I notice (besides the difference in components) is that I'm going faster on the roadie... but because the wheels are bigger and I'm still spinning= more speed.

I was actually thinking about picking up a Dahon Boardwalk sometime in the early fall. I could do with an easy folder to tool around with.

Koffee

Lucky13

I'm quite pleased with my Friday...a fully suspended Pocket Gnu built up for touring, commuting and trail riding. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to load it up for an extended tour. The bike is proving to be a fine all-arounder and the folding aspect simply adds to that.

In comparing the Gnu to my older 700c touring bike, I've noticed only one shortcoming to the folder. When standing up out of the saddle, the front end is just a bit on the *twitchy* side...not quite as stable as with the big wheeled bike. I've gotten used to it and in all other respects the custom-sized Pocket Gnu rides very well.

Scott

axolotl

I am extremely happy with my Bike Friday New World Tourist which I've had for 5+ years. I don't think the ride is any harsher than my old touring bike with full-size wheels, but I do think the smaller wheels result in more precise turning and control, which I especially like when riding in traffic. I've got an old touring bike and mountain bike that I almost never ride anymore because I like the ride of my NWT so much. I commute on it nearly every day. I've done loaded touring on my NWT in 7 countries on 4 continents, including mountainous areas as well as unpaved rail-trails. The folding ability has enabled me to take it on transport which doesn't normally permit bikes. I've never had to pay a thing to take it on any planes, and I've flown with it on 10 round-trip flights already. A few of those trips were just brief visits to cities or regions where I probably wouldn't have bothered to take one of my other bikes due to the hassle and expense of dealing with airlines. So far, at least, I haven't had any problems with airport security or damage.

I've only converted the suitcase into a trailer once, but that worked extremely well and is surprisingly easy. Still, I prefer to tour with panniers and have always been able to find a place to store the empty suitcase when needed.

One small piece of advice if you order a BF is to get high pressure tires. The tires I originally ordered could only hold moderate pressure and they gave a sluggish ride. When I switched to high pressure tires, it made a huge difference.