Wormenkrabber

Hello,

I search for a folding bike that i can use everyday and for touring. First i thought on a paratrooper mountainbike, but i am to tall and heavy for that. So i came out on a fridaybike. They say that a 'Diamond Llama 24' is something for me. Why, i dont know because i cant find the specifications. And a other problem is that it is very expensive, because the US store from bikefriday's most send the bike to the Netherlands -i am from the Netherlands-. I am 6'7 - 2,01cm long and i weight 290lbs. When i go on touring with my bike i take a lot of package with me. So that makes me more heavyer in weight. What bike is good for me? Is a Brompton better than a bike Friday? What is the best and cheapest option for me?

fietsbob

Cheapest? just keep the timeless Opa you may already Own..


Bike friday pocket Llama with heavy rider option*, Also is unique in that they are sized to the rider, consider the advantage of getting something that works first

rather than just cheap , and poorly fitting , that is a waste of money because you will have to replace it later..

Brompton makes 1 frame for everybody, the H mast/bars and telescoping seat post are what parts they use to fit taller people..

* I own a P'Llama disc heavy rider Medium (56 top tube), there are longer top tubes and higher masts for seat and bars as part of making a bike to fit you..

the company will ship the bike to your house. anywhere on the planet.

the heavy rider single frame is built with materials from their Tandems & Triples.. two tubes rather than one,

Bi Fri uses a trailer coupling borrowed from Industry, high pressure air hose quick disconnects, as I used for Air powered tools in my steel working job at a Shipyard.

the option of a Suitcase Trailer would make Packing the bike to fly, most convenient,
then you put your Kit in the suitcase once you remove and reassemble the Bike.


406 (BMX) 20" wheel is super strong , 36 spoke rims , and Hubs common parts.

ThorUSA

what fietsbob said .. you do not have a lot of options

tds101 

I agree,... your choices are limited.

SkunkWerX

6'7" 290 lbs. PLUS a lot of gear?

I am even thinking you may want to reconsider whether you REALLY need folding?
A full sized strong touring frame might be a better choice?

I think I might keep my options open in your situation.

ThorUSA

You really should get a SUMO from Schauff over there. Its a non folder but oversized everything and the bike will be able to haul the load, plus its much bigger and will fit you. If you have all those bags and stuff hanging off your bike, you will not really be able to fold it anywhow. And if you need to put the bike inside a trunk of a car you can take the wheels out .. and maybe get a quick release stem for the handlebar to take off as well... the package will be bigger than a 20 inch folder but it will also perform and last

Azreal911

SkunkWerX I think the OP would like the option for daily riding on top of touring so the most cost effective option was to get one really good bike. Having two bikes to maintain would be alot more work and cost and you won't get as much time to get used to them when the time comes for the big tours!

Plus Bike Friday now offers super builds on their folders the diamond tourist up to a crazy 330lbs max limit which perfectly fits the OP's needs with heavy bags. It doesn't really show up on their website but for sure they can built it for you.

https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-b...to-330-pounds/

and it looks sweet also and they would probably use thicker tubes depending on what is needed:

https://www.bikefriday.com/userfiles...eavy-rider.jpg

From what I can see this is pretty much your BEST and ONLY option to have a folder that would take loaded touring. I doubt anyone will find something outside of a bike friday or two bike solution here. The Brompton you mentioned is a definite no.

Wormenkrabber

Thank you all for the comments. I need a folding bike, because i want to take my bike on the kayak. So i need a really good folding bike. I gonna save some money for the bikefridays 'Diamond Llama 24'

SkunkWerX

Azreal, yes, understood. It was more of a sanity check for "Does he really need a folding option", and, the answer is YES.

As a fellow kayaker, I am very interested in Wormenkrabbers quest.

I have not seriously measured my 20"er for kayak purposes, but the thought has crossed my mind.
I think my kayak is too small and the bike is a bit too big. Maybe a Downtube MiniB would fit!
I did wonder about a homebuilt outrigger to carry a bike....then went to a small towable mini-kayak for the bike...this is going to get me in trouble if i keep thinking about it.

Wormenkrabber, Good Luck. Please let us know how it goes.

Wormenkrabber

Great that there are more kayakkers on this forum. I have a inflateble kayak. A 'Advanced elements expedition. The kayak weight 20kg. My idea is to buy a folding bike and a radical cyclone trailer. So i can take my expedition kayak with me. If the inflateble kayak is full of air, i can put the trailer and folding bike on my kayak. I think that er is enough space for it. My kayak can take 200kg with them. So i can travel on water and land.

SkunkWerX

tmac100

As a fellow who is 6'5" and about 100 kg, I do sympathize with you. Been there and done that.

Over 10 years ago I had a custom built touring bike (diamond frame) built in Canada. Called my "Arvon1" is it heavy and "expedition grade" with S&S connectors because I had the fantasy of breaking it up for travel.What a PITA for shipping with all my gear When I do long tours, I travel self-supported. Thus, by necessity I hve all panniers and equipment to carry. For example, the bike has strong 48 spoke wheels etc...

Then I decided to have the same fellow build a bike that would fit into a (collapsable) 20" X 20" X 12" box. It is my "Arvon2". Trouble is it takes over an hour to take apart and over an hour to put together. A typical folder it s not as it is also incredibly strong and heavy.

So now I have bought a used Brompton P6R with telescoping seat post and S bag and rear bag for the rack. I shall see how it does when travelling in NS and PEI with a car in July and then in England and/or France in August for a week or so. This will be a different kind of tour - basically a credit card one with everything in a rented car and thus only a small bag front and back on each bike the 2 of us will have folded in the car boot/trunk.

Each has a place in my style of bicycling. The Brommie is for me and my travelling companion to be used for short "jaunts" instead of walking.

Naturally, I will always carry my NewYorker Kryptonite lock - as I always do... As the Lord's prayer states "Lead us not into temptation". I want my Brommie there when I come back from lunch or??

feijai

The gentleman is 290 pounds. The Brompton's max weight is 242 pounds.

tmac100

The Brompton technicians have given me lots of good information. I have called them on Skype a couple of times. Maybe a Skype call to them could address the issue you raise Better to get first hand information instead of just another opinion....

Here is their London, England telephone number: +44 20 8232 8484. One of the technician-mechanics I have been in communication with is Jack. I'll bet he can elaborate wrt your " maximum-load" concerns.

Manufacturers have a safety margin built in and sometimes they can be exceeded (a bit) safely with no consequences.....