Neo Stage 3 ($350 Brompton Clone)
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Bangkok: hottest average temperature :(
Bikes: *1998 GT Forte Ti 700c, Totem KDS-D 26" fatbike, BirdyGT 18", Brompton M2LX 16"
Neo Stage 3 ($350 Brompton Clone)
I know nothing more than these links.
https://www.kaidee.com/product-118006732
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYwPpxYCgk
https://m.facebook.com/allthailandmo...16591828495925
https://www.kaidee.com/product-118006732
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYwPpxYCgk
https://m.facebook.com/allthailandmo...16591828495925
#2
Palmer

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From: Parts Unknown
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
#4
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From: New Jersey
That's actually a very close copy of the Brompton. I haven't seen a neo-bike cloan in years but they are coming back. I happen to believe it's 90% there and it wouldn't take much effort to get the remaining 10%. What surprised me is they were able to get production costs to $350 USD! If they can improve quality and keep costs to under $500.00 dollars, this company can make serious damage to Brompton sales.
#5
Two major errors:
2016, and still no affordable valid alternative to the Brompton…
- It doesn't fold right: One of the brilliant ideas of Andrew Ritchie, which Dahon missed, is sandwiching the chain between the two wheels so that you don't soil your pants/hands when commuting
- No lug welded on the front tube, so you have to carry a backpack. With a Brompton, I can carry 10kg/20lbs for hours with no back pain and/or sweating like a pig
2016, and still no affordable valid alternative to the Brompton…
#6
Meh,that's JYHO. Pulled the carrier block off the front of my S6 because I never used it. On at least half the Bromptons we've sold,the customers didn't even order the block.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line


C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line

#7
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From: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Bikes: Brompton H3L, RAF, M3L, Dahon, Giant NRS, GT
This one recently emerged in China is even more close to Brompton, but probably based on Neo-Brompton. Although the folded mode not quite right
. Oh the list price about $600
#8
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Cleethorpes..the last resort..UK
Bikes: Brompton S6L ,Bike Friday NWT, Phillips 8 speed folder, Trek 930, Thorn XTC
In the video it shows the cost as 12000 Thai Baht..about £240...That is cheaper than a Dahon Boardwalk in Thailand..For that price it has to be good value!
In fact in Thailand it is quite hard to buy a good folding bike for much less than 10000 Thai Baht and preowned folding bikes are often 5000 baht and can be in a pretty poor state.
In fact in Thailand it is quite hard to buy a good folding bike for much less than 10000 Thai Baht and preowned folding bikes are often 5000 baht and can be in a pretty poor state.
#9
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Bikes: Dahon Curve D8 (Sturmey Archer X-RF8), Crius Smart 3.0 5 speed
#11
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From: Cleethorpes..the last resort..UK
Bikes: Brompton S6L ,Bike Friday NWT, Phillips 8 speed folder, Trek 930, Thorn XTC
I don't think the bikes are made in Thailand...more likely China or Taiwan..If it was made in Thailand it would be much cheaper because there is a lot of tax on imported bikes..
As for the video..there is an expat saying in Thailand ..This Is Thailand..Make an acronym from the first letter of each word...
As for the video..there is an expat saying in Thailand ..This Is Thailand..Make an acronym from the first letter of each word...
#12
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From: Michigan
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
This and other threads on actual experiences with some Brompton clones, spanning the time from the first sighting to the desperation in getting rid of the bike, have been extremely educational. They make you run to the bank to make sure you spend your money on a Brompton before you manage to yield to the temptation of getting the clone
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#13
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From: York UK
Bikes: 2X dualdrive Mezzo folder,plus others
This and other threads on actual experiences with some Brompton clones, spanning the time from the first sighting to the desperation in getting rid of the bike, have been extremely educational. They make you run to the bank to make sure you spend your money on a Brompton before you manage to yield to the temptation of getting the clone
.
.
#14
Palmer

Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Parts Unknown
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
It is hilarious that he is making a video to demonstrate the fold, but it didn't practice it first. It appears that he goes off camera to look at a manual or something.
One hopes they are better at making bikes than making videos.
Looking through the other videos from that poster, I have very little reason to believe that's any kind of 'official' video.
#15
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From: Michigan
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
#16
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From: York UK
Bikes: 2X dualdrive Mezzo folder,plus others
Its been said many times before........
Does not mean your right.......
Especially if you have no actual experience of a clone Brompton?
Sorry no qips here. I am still busy laughing at yours...
Does not mean your right.......
Especially if you have no actual experience of a clone Brompton?
Sorry no qips here. I am still busy laughing at yours...
#17
Wasn't Neo the company that got into all kinds of trouble with Brompton?
See under Clones and Licensing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle
See under Clones and Licensing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle
#18
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From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
I had a Brompton and a Merc. The Merc was perfectly fine and even had a few things that the same era Brompton lacked ... an extra clip to retain the rear triangle when lifted and a bottle dynamo are the first two things that come to mind. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Merc over the Brompton.
The Brompton has made some improvements since then. But presumably a clone would copy those as well.
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#19
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From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
Wasn't Neo the company that got into all kinds of trouble with Brompton?
See under Clones and Licensing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle
See under Clones and Licensing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle
From memory, Dahon was looking to produce the bike when the patent expired but the employees/lawyers in charge of the project instead set up their own company. In short, they were sued under European copyright laws. My rough understanding is that Brompton's argument was that even though the patent expired there was no reason for Neobike to copy the appearance since it was possible to use the patent while differentiating the bike. I believe Brompton actually demonstrated this to a court with a prototype ... or perhaps just a drawing.
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Last edited by invisiblehand; 05-03-16 at 07:50 AM.
#20
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From: Michigan
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
Buying a bike because of a bottle dynamo
#21
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From: York UK
Bikes: 2X dualdrive Mezzo folder,plus others
Problem is there is a lot of vested interests and Brompton fans out their to get a rational prospective......less riders of clones.
And they get flamed.....
A to B wrote that cables got tangled up in folding, it a Web summuray lots have quoted, it's just nonsence.
And they get flamed.....
A to B wrote that cables got tangled up in folding, it a Web summuray lots have quoted, it's just nonsence.
#22
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From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
I recall that the after-tax difference in price was smaller for Brits since Mercs were produced overseas; although I don't recall how much. So I could see how folks made a different decision there. But here in the US, remember that it also came with a front mount + bag, rack, fenders, and such, it was easily hundreds of dollars less.
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#23
Well... Neobike also got in trouble for copying Dahon designs, so perhaps this is not a Brompton clone, but a Curl clone...?
If they addressed the industrial design issues raised in the original Euro case which sided with Brompton in the matter, and dropped their blatant copying of the Brompton manual, it could be that they have found a way around the decision. The chain doesn't fold inside, which is a Brompton hallmark, you say? Could be for a reason...
If they addressed the industrial design issues raised in the original Euro case which sided with Brompton in the matter, and dropped their blatant copying of the Brompton manual, it could be that they have found a way around the decision. The chain doesn't fold inside, which is a Brompton hallmark, you say? Could be for a reason...
#24
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From: Albany, WA
I think Neobike were the crowd who were licensed to produce Bromptons. When it became clear that the bad quality was giving Brompton a bad name, the license was revoked. Neo continued sales under their own name and that got under Brompton's collar quickly.
#25
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From: Singapore
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Agree with Jur... Neobike was originally licensed to produce Bromptons but after that was revoked, they kept the plans and tools and illegally started making poor quality clones.





