Originally Posted by FlowerBlossom
Consumer Reports actually uses statisticians to design (contolled) experiments on products they review. This is why they seem objective; they are objective. I haven't read the folding bike article, so I can't determine if they designed an experiment to test them or not. I know this of CR because I at one time considered a job with them; didn't want to live near NYC, so, I passed. It would have been a fabulous job, though!
Sadly there is the old idom; "lies, damned lies and statisctics..."
Not all things are easily understood by quantitative analysis. Often items when tested may have similar stats but very remarkably in their “feel”. It is sometimes this kinesthetic involvement that drives people to buy an item that statically appears to be “inferior” but that they somehow connect with on a kinesthetic or emotional level. I don’t even want to get involved with how status or perceived status can influence purchasing decisions.
I’ve ridden almost every one of the bikes they tested and it amazes me they missed some of the things they did. How did they miss the incredibly flexy seatpost on the Giant? Oh wait, maybe that is where they got their “good” shock absorbing rating from. The D7 is VG? What are they smoking? As much as I am not a Brompton lover the rear suspension on the C3 actually works better than what anyone else has in that group.
Like many of you I am glad to see some coverage of folders. They should have came here and asked us for suggestions for a comparo…
Here are my five (for commuting):
Swift w/8spd Nexus reb band hub
Brompton M6 series
Downtube FS or new internal hub model
Dahon Mu XL
TBD…maybe a BF or Birdy.