berlinonaut

I think so.

Abu Mahendra

Wow, a mere suggestion about a Brompton knockoff brings out the sect fanboyism to the surface. I don't recall any Dahonite or Tern owners springing chivalrously to defend the honor of their bikes or inveigh ominously against the Crius, FhHon, etc. onslaught. Yikes.

SHBR

This.
I installed a front rack with a basket, panniers, a longer seatpost, and a better saddle. I also upgraded the rear rack, stock crankset, BB, and pedals with spares I had.
It rides unusually smooth, yet stable enough to ride hands free.
Built for comfort, not speed, but could be ridden 100km/day.
With racks, panniers and a basket, its a perfect grocery getter.
At 15KG, I can carry it upstairs to my 6th floor apartment fairly easily, however my wife would never attempt this.

berlinonaut

You call it fanboyism, I call it sense of quality. If I were to do a long travel with a bike in my luggage for me it'd be important to have a bike that simply works. As I would prefer to focus on the travel an not on bike-problems. And I am willing to pay for better quality. For the simple reason that I rather risk paying a little bit too much for something that works than saving money on something that maybe will not serve my needs and therefore ending up with a total loss. What bike to choose is therefor a question of individual judgement.

With the history of that clones and knowing what I know after years of usage about the (sometimes hidden) quality of the Brompton, to big parts resulting from attention to detail, I would not have that trust in a clone to simply work sufficiently for me. People that just look on the shape may not recognize the differences and may than be disappointed (as was the guy buying a flamingo in Singapur) as they expect the clones to deliver 90% of what a Brompton delivers in terms of quality for a fraction of the price. Which they probably don't. Your mileage may vary as your criteria for a bike may be different, your requirements towards quality may be lower or the risk that you are willing to take is higher. Fair enough.

Simply neglecting the existence of differences between the Brompton and the clones would simply be ignorant and ignorance rarely has proven to be a good strategy.

Abu Mahendra

There you go again...

dahoneezz

Crius is a knockoff (not sure about Fnhon)? I think Crius is coming from the same chinese factory as Dahon/Tern. Just slap on a different label at night. Same material, same welding, maybe the QC a bit different, components and warranty too. What is there to complain about.

kidshibuya

I get what you are saying but for many people a brompton just isn't a better bike.

tudorowen1

I have a Brompton S6L and I have been advocating the Brompton clone or any cheap folding bike really..Those members going on about quality..I would like to know what they would do in Southern Thailand or in the middle of Cambodia or Laos when their back tyre bead is damaged when they are repairing a puncture and they are not carrying a spare tyre..or they run out of inner tubes when their spares are beyond repair..They would have to travel to Bangkok or at least phone up a Brompton dealer in Thailand and hope they can give an address the spares can be delivered to in a few days time..
This happened to me in the middle of a Coast to Coast ride through Northern England..I had to catch the bus and train home..
But on my cheap 25USD folder I can go to any bike shop and find a BMX tyre or inner tube to fit or even a 20 by 1.50 inch..What price is the quality of a Brompton worth then..zero!

berlinonaut

Better bike than what? In this thread the OP asked for advice in choosing between a Dahon EEZZ and a Brompton (which made sense as he wants something very very compact to travel the world). The Dahon disqualified relatively quickly, at least (if I remember right) but not only because of the size of the OP, the Brompton was left. At this point someone started to hint at a Brompton clone. So we were in a choice between one of those clones and the Brompton, with the clones being far cheaper, looking quite similar and maybe or maybe not of sufficient quality for what the OP currently has in mind as usage-scenario (that will maybe change in reality). If I was not very short on money I'd in this situation go for the Brompton, for the reasons outlined above: Proven, bulletproof quality vs. unclear but probably worse quality.
For a different requirement profile another folder might be a better fit than the Brompton, especially when compactness is not such an important issue. In no means I said the Brompton would always be the ultimate choice.

berlinonaut

We are discussing the problems of the OP for choosing a folder in this thread. He wanted a shootout between a Brompton and a Dahon EEZZ - neither of these has 406 wheels. Latest discussion point was "Brompton vs. Brompton-clone". Therefor your argument seems pretty useless as those all share the same tire-size. Regarding spares: People have done a lot on touring on the Brommi so it is proven, that it is pretty robust. In terms of spares aside of tires and tubes one would (if really paranoid) probably take a chain-tensioner and maybe a couple of spokes with them on tour. These will probably not be needed but if the tensioner breakes you are more or less doomed (not hat I heard of such a case). You could however phone Brompton in such a scenario but would probably loose some time. But there are dealers more or less worldwiede. If you were using a Flamingo or one of those other clones: Where would you get spares from and how? How long would it take and how reliable would delivery be? Has anyone experience in long tours or touring abroad with any of these clones?

Yes, a 406 tire is probably easier to find than a 349 - but of what use is that if the OP says (as he did) that he wants the most compact and quick fold for being able to travel a lot and very frequently w/o riding (which obviously is no fit for a bike with 406 wheels)?
To quote him:

Always easy to say something is better by totally neglecting the requirements of the person asking for advice...

And for the matter of punctures: With Schwalbe Marathons you are pretty much puncture safe in most circumstances (therefor I'd recommend those for a trip like the one of the OP) and carrying a bunch of tubes and maybe even a spare tire is not a big issue or weight penalty. I.e. those guys did a 5000km trip on the Brompton. This is what they say about spares: The Brompton Touring Emergency Kit: Tools, spare... - PETIT TOURS

tudorowen1

You can't phone Brompton..You can only phone a dealer who is licensed to sell them in that country..So if you are in Northern Laos in Luang Prabang you have a big problem.You have to phone Bangkok and they have to ship your order 1000 miles north..if you can pay them through paypal or bank transfer..if you can make yourself understood in Lao language..

Schwalbe Marathons and Marathon Pluses are good tyres but they still get punctures..and sidewalls split and tyre beads break and puncture the tyre just like mine did on my Schwalbe Marathon..

I have toured all over Thailand,Malaysia,Laos ,Cambodia and the Philippines..and many of this tours were on my Brompton..I cannot tell you how worried I was when you run out of inner tubes for various reasons..I don't tour on my Brompton anymore..It is not that brilliant on gravel,potholed roads..I argued for a Brompton clone because you can throw the thing away if you can't get spares..But now I tour on my old 25USD Dahon..You can get tyres and tubes all over the world and you can ditch the thing if it is completely unrepairable..It folds fairly small and goes in a bag at times..and fits in any form of public or private transportation....

And fine tour on your Brompton..but not in India ,Africa,South America,Russia or South East Asia..,..just North America and Europe..and Japan..a

berlinonaut

Again: Read the OP's requirements. He want's to ride around in bigger cities around the world. Luang Prabang looks - at least to me - not exactly like a big city.

Maybe it has something to do with your riding? You probably won't find a more robust tire than a Marathon or Marathon+. And if you manage to break it you are doomed for the moment with any bike if you do not carry a spare.
Breaking a Marathon with riding in and around big cities seems a bit of a improbable scenario to me - ten thousands of people ride this thingy every day in such areas (including all the commuters). Yes, you many still get a puncture but this is just a puncture. If you (however you manage to do this) manage to completely destroy this tyre two times (if you have a spare) before you manage to get hold of a new spare or at all in this kind of scenario you are either a very unlucky guy or you should seriously think about your riding style.

Carrying a cheapo 25$-folder around the world by plane where every single flight of the bike costs more than the whole bike is worth does not sound very clever to me (though it may work for you). And again: The OP is not intending to ride gravel, potholed roads somwhere in the outback. Buying a 350$ folder and throwing it in the bin on the first occasion as you don't get spares does not look like a cheap way of biking the world - the more as you then miss what you wanted: A bike that accompanies you on your trip. The more as the OP specifically asked for a bike that "is quality made". Don't mix up your intentions and requirements with his - it won't help him.

Not my tour, not my Brompton. I just listened to those guys a while ago when they were giving a public talk about their trip. They did not seem very bike-geeky or tech-savvy to me, just two ordinary people who went on a trip, accidentally by bike with little to no experience with this mode of travelling, and went for Bromptons for reasons of transport and as they saw that other people had used them successfully for that purpose (namely the pathless pedaled-couple). They are not Brompton-fanboys or folder-lovers and had no experience with those as well. If I remember correctly they said that they did not have a single technical problem apart from the initial tire break in Thailand (which was before they switched do Marathons).

Anyway - I give up. This seems to be a useless discussion and not helping the OP at all at this stage.

mmw

I am starting to think that yes they are all made in the same few factories but aren't knock offs, just the same base model with a few different finishes and paint jobs.. but not knock offs.

mmw

Have you had issues bringing your folding bikes on public transportation in Asia? Do you keep it naked or in a bag etc?

tudorowen1

Never had any problems but on all sprinter class trains in Thailand they do not allow bikes so you have to put it in a bag and not tell the conductor...No problem on other trains .
In Malaysia you have to send a full size bike ahead by freight so again you have to put a folded bike in a bag and not tell the conductors.

mmw

Does public transportation.. buses and or planes charge for checked bags like this?

Or are you carrying on?

Diode100

I think the OP is a bit of a dreamer who certainly hasn't given enough information about his cycling intents to allow a reasoned solution, let alone justify four pages of the usual Brompton Vs The Rest of The World trench warfare.

For a start, perhaps Which 10 plus countries are on the itinerary, which continents will be visited, or did I miss that amid all the flack.

tudorowen1

Buses dont charge. Some airlines do..If you can fit your folded bike in a suitcase then it will be part of your checked in luggage allowance. Even if you put it in a box with your clothes as well you may not have to pay..Many long haul airlines will not charge for a bike if it is classed as sporting equipment but many will..It's all a lottery..
You can't carry on a bike and put it in an overhead locker..However I have heard of some Brompton owners in the USA doing it..

George3

It is possible to use a new cheap 250 USD folder, and sell it in the nearest city for a very low price, if it is not easy to repair. Then buy a cheap new replacement folding bike. The broken folding bike can be transported in a taxi, bus, train, etc.

Winfried

For inner tubes: If 349 aren't available, you can use 20" tubes instead.

For tires:

• add an anti-puncture tape to your M+ for added protection
• get a spare Kojak with kevlar bead instead of a wire bead
• before travelling, add all Brompton dealerships on the map

tdonline

SHBR, what front rack and basket are you using? Thanks.

George3

Good point, and print a list of their phone numbers. And one can schedule one's journey in the neighbourhood of Brompton dealers.

bikebikebike

Great thread. I want the movie rights!
For the thread, not the trip.
Really does have a good discussion. I have a broad range of foldies and the discussion really does highlight how each has its own specific advantages that require a good fit to the task.
They ALL lack the flexibility of a VeloOrdinaire, but excel in specific applications.
It's Easier to buy a suit online than a bike, and pricing is about the same, and requires the same approach.

ttakata73

Brompton with the high stem and H bars seems most logical for OP for intermodal scenarios.
Money is not an issue so no reason to buy a clone.
Maybe carry a spare folding tire and tubes along with basic tools needed to swap a rear flat on a Brompton.

berlinonaut

Don't speak it out too loudly - else some people in this forum go hunting for you with axes and torchs, no matter if you are right or not... Other than that: The OP asked his initial question in this thread 2,5 years ago. So I'd hope that he went on his trip a long time ago already. The fact that he did not report back may be caused by that he bought a Brompton, suffered from a puncture in the outback (where he did not plan to travel to) and died. Or he did buy a clone, squeeked his way around the world on it for a while but happend to suffer from no available spare parts somewhere in the world and died. Or he did buy a 20" folder and did not manage to even start his trip. Or he got fed up with the style of the discussion, fully ignoring his demands but full of religious advocating and did it his own way, hopefully sucessfully.