Originally Posted by
Duragrouch
Hadn't heard of it, just looked... I can't see the advantage of it over a bifold 20", and some disadvantages. Am I wrong that, folded size being equal, 20" is better for ride and gearing? For me, the killer app of 349 is an ultrafold like a Brompton or clone, and for flight travel where I wasn't loaded-touring, I can see the magic.
Tell you a little story. On my last tour, I ended up
here after nightfall at around 19:30 hours, and my hotel was on the other side of a mountain
here. Not wishing to ride around the mountain at night, I took a taxi. As I opened the boot/trunk to load my folder, I saw a
the huge LPG gas tank that powered the vehicle. It took a bit of finagling but finally I was able to load my 16" folder. A larger, 20" bike would definitely not have fit, and the locals dont take kindly to loading a dirty bicycle in their taxi seats. An advantage of a 305 or 349 wheel folder, bifold or trifold is that they fit where other larger folders don't, like in tiny rooms for example. Another, of course, is lower weight. And a third advantage is that they are highly maneuverable, agile and nimble like no larger, longer folders. They are are a blast to ride.
The whole endeavor is
here.