It's still summer in Vancouver. I am cash-poor. A physiotherapist recommended I get a bike that better suits my body geometry. As much as I like cycling overseas I really can't afford the paying for luggage on discount airlines the 13+ kilos (and especially the bulk and hassle) transporting this bicycle. Better to keep it as a backup bike or sell it is indeed the question. 'Portable' is a relative term. I yearn for the carry-on only freedom of one knapsack and public buses.

I totalled my hard costs of the bike: USD1327+ whatever I paid to upgrade pedals (unknown), add three bags (including storage one). I am not counting towards selling price all the adjustments, maintenance and repairs ($204 USD). Included in that I just paid CAD69 to have three minor but significant adjustments made. Now it rolls OK.

17 months use = $78 per month. Again USD. With the Canadian dollar weakness now that's CAD1759 my hard costs.

I figure $700 CAD is a fair selling second-hand asking price. But if all I get is $500 not worth selling. I'll park it

First person looked at the bike and after a test drive determined ride not as comfy as his present Dahon - too much flex in handlebar, too little space between seat and bars (even w/ extended seat post) though he really likes the fold (working intermittently) and how the front-bag is mounted.

What is normal % of new price when sold when in good condition, albeit with quirks?

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/pml/bik/5211363130.html

I got CAD $650 having put into it at least $1400 (not counting repairs and maintenance). So, for 17 months use (counting dead time when stored) I spent $44 per month. Not a bargain. Is that even good value? I think it is not. The good news is the second person to view the bike bought it. I got 4-5 email enquiries, but weird offers like, 'I absolutely have to have $50 of your price.' or 'But, you'll have to accept Paypal and ship it to the USA'

Yet I am grieving. Surprises me I feel bad having sold a bicycle that I wasn't entirely happy with. Having spiffied it up, spent money adjusting everything so it was in as close to perfect shape as I could get it, and assessed its pros and cons, except for the fact of parts being from an oddball company on the other side of the world and being an imperfect fit, it's not such a bad bike. Hey, why sell it?


Having just sold it and see that empty space in my room (and my heart), the practical negatives are as follows...

a. no longer having 2-wheeled transportation
b. selling when the Canadian dollar is very weak (getting worse, who knows?)
c. having bought something that does not maintain its value. Buyer told me she can't even find a real second-hand Brompton for less than CAD1200-1500. Yet potential buyers are few and those that are interested aren't beating a path to more door and want to bargain with me. I told several the price is firm. I even raised the price and was ready to turn anyone away who caused me any trouble.
d. have to pay for the bus now, and in BC it's not cheap

But on the plus side...

i. no more 'where am I going to store that bag when I go to Asia for 4 months?' or storing it in Asia when I am in Canada.
ii. no more hauling around a weight/bulk in taxis/buses/trains when circumstances do no permit actually using it
iii. no more damage to my knee
iii. no more dealing with mechanical improvements/maintenance/entropy as things fall apart
iv. more space in my room
v. no more add-on doodads and supplies. It's like that with everything you buy - it's not the device itself, but all the junk that goes with it, that costs money and takes attention.

Clearly I was attached to my combination of joy and misery. "The devil you know." I almost talked her out of the sale, pointing out every pro and con, and suggestions for improvement. I didn't view it so much as a business transaction as a mother adopting out her child to a stranger because she is a heroin addict and can't look after it. I wanted her to have all the accessories to take care of my 'baby'. Sure I might have been able to sell all the bags separately, but at what cost of time?

The boyfriend of this Korean university graduate suggested she snap it up for two main reasons...

A. Internal gears
B. Schwalbe tires

The only snag was when she expected me to commit to a sale (actually I needed it for another 8 days) to her even though she wouldn't give a deposit. Her lawyer sister clearly has her being very, very cautious. I was very reluctant to save it on a promise as I don't know her. 'Or me you.' was her retort. She suggested some police station place for craigslist transactions, but I don't see involving them in such a simple transaction. To simplify I made it a buy it now and take it away.

And doesn't anybody use cash anymore? The e-transfer transaction was a headache for this luddite. Be forewarned - it took 20 minutes for the email to appear then was a song and dance of codes, clicking on buttons etc before the money was actually deposited. Great for security, pain in the butt for speed and simplicity. Reminds me to boycott the banking system and insist on barter or banknotes, not digital money.

She was willing to make a counter offer. She would sell me back the bike when she upgrades to a Brompton. But at what I sold it to her for. How is that fair? Then she gets 1-2 years use of a bike for free. I think it was a concession to my attachment to the bike. I suggested at $500. She refused. I should have cancelled the sale in progress.

A folding bike for portability is an illusion. It is not suited for transient people on a budget living out of a suitcase in the third world. They are for settled monied people with apartments in a flat place, in the first world, especially cities.

My Brompton was excellent for touring around Thailand and the UK.In Thailand it can go in taxis,tuk tuks,buses ,coaches and trains with no bother at all..You can travel from town to town and then explore the town..cycle off to the next town if the traffic is light..I can do the same in the UK..The problem most people make with a folding bike is they think they can carry it ..Well you can..but not very far..Much better to roll it or push it..If you carry it then have something in your other hand to balance the weight of it..Good tip with any folding bike if you want to carry it is to put it on your shoulder by means of the seatpost and saddle..ie..saddle hooked over your shoulder and your arm to steady it..

The Brompon is one of the very few folders that can be rolled while folded.

But to do this without the bike falling to the side, replace the original parts with EZ Wheels, and roll the Brompton by pulling it with the handlebar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tX_VmOTTtE#t=1m45s

Other than the mezzo with or without ori accessories ,birdie,carryme,later Diblasi,ifmode, bike friday tikit, strida, gitex,mobikey.
And lot more.
Yes there are hardly any folders that roll when folded. Lol

J'think?

FWIW, the Tikit, from Bike Friday locks the folded down handlebar , and Can be rolled on it's front wheel.

rear wheel along side there is a handle to use, then. [above the BB in the rear end]

Flamingo also rolls, but on first-world airport floors, NOT on rough and tumble gravel roads in backcountry or mud roads in Burma. So, the question is *where* does it roll and how well? It's not black and white, but more nuanced.

My first request when the Singapore bike shop started customizing my Flamingo NX7 was...

'Can you change what will become the front rolling wheels to roller blade wheels also?'
"No, doing so will interfere with the fold."

So, every folder comes with compromises.

Gekko ,helix ,A bike, loads of bikes from far east.......
Brompton is also only rollable on smooth surfaces. However it can be improved with larger wheels as can the flamingo and Merc.
Most rolling rack bikes can accept bigger wheels to improve this matter. I have rollerblade wheels on my Birides and mezzo. Mezzo can also be altered quite easily to a four wheel rolling folder. There are fitting in the frame that can be utilised if you can make or find the wheel holders. Ori do make them but easier to get from holland?

The Brompton has 2 Rack rear rollers one is towards the inside 1 to the outside . that is how they keep the fold size working.

L model just puts a little wheel on the Mudguard..

Packed in a roller suitcase the suit case Rolls ..

You can alter the wheels to rollerblade on the flamingo....
I don't know who told you that. It may need a little thought. See my prievous comments. I have fitted them to a Merc and a Brompton. Looking at images of a flamingo on Web there is no reason why they can't be fitted.....

nice blog.