Abu Mahendra

These are some of the bikes & gear I've seen in Bangkok.

FSIR Spin 5.0


Van Moof 406 with IGH & dynamo hub


Bruno Ventura 406


FSIR Spin 3.1


Louis Garneou Jedi


Jango Flik


Castro (made in Barcelona)

foldingdroid

I like the design and geometry of the Bruno Ventura 406 and the Louis Garneau Jedi.

foldingdroid

Castro's stainless steel is gorgeous.

Abu Mahendra

The frameset is not light, I can tell you that. Sixty Bikes has a blemished frame in the store, and I picked it up to see how heavy it was. Not light.

Funny coincidence. In 2015 I spent a week in Barcelona, and I saw a Castro bike in the apartment I rented. Turns out, the landldy's hubby was the founder/owner of Castro bikes.

Abu Mahendra

The Bruno Ventura is very, very nice, but...but...it is mis-matched with low profile tires. It's quite old school with steerer mounted shifters, threaded headset and Nitto quill stem. I may have to add this pony to my collection. My re-build would feature a Lauterwasser bar, though, and that black mess in the back, the cogset and RD, would have to be replaced with silverish bits. The saddle has black rails so that would have go too.

dahoneezz

The Louis Garneau Jedi looks like the Birdy . The back end is different though. Does the Birdy chain go slack when you fold it?

I saw this pic on a Japanese(?) site:


Holy crikey!! It doesn't fold!!

tudorowen1

Some very nice folding bikes at 2 bikes shops in Udom Sok right next to the BTS overhead train station..and if you go to near the National stadium there is a road close to it where there are 2 or 3 shops that recycle lots of bikes including folding bikes...Tuk tuk drivers should know the name. There are also lots of motor bike and car recycling shops in the same street. Some very interesting bikes often seen there.Not far from Jim Thompsons silk museum.
If you have your bike with you there are often lots of folding bike riders in Lumphini Park between 10 and 3 each day..And if you want a good bike ride go to Suvanabhumi airport and ride around the airfield in the bike track..about 25km long..
Saw a very cheap Dahon Dash 8/9 speed in the bike shop in the Paseo shopping Mall a couple of weeks ago..

Abu Mahendra

I'll do a run-down of the bike shops I visited later. I'll also unveil the bike I picked up when the time comes. This trip confirmed what i already suspected; Bangkok is the top location for foldie/minivelo shopping in SEAsia.

JohnRC

Hi
Could you get any idea of the quality of the Louis Garneau? I wonder if it comes out of the Birdy factory but with some differences.

I sent an email off to LG in Quebec to see if there is any chance of getting one here in Canada.
John

Abu Mahendra

No, sorry. I photographed it only to document the bikes I saw. I moved on without inspecting it. Sorry.

Winfried

How come a product apparently made in Quebec is only available in Japan?

LGS-JEDI RS / LOUIS GARNEAU / **********???

tds101 

I personally like the Jango Flik, but it's no longer available for purchase here in the USA (as usual).

downtube

The shock looks as if it sits in a vertical plane. Is that the case? If so I would not be a fan. I like the look of the Louis Garneau, not surprising since I'm a fan of Birdy.

Thanks
Yan

tds101 

If the shock is adjusted correctly, it shouldn't be an issue on ths Flik. At least, I'd like to think so. I wouldn't purchase 1 now though. I have my heart set on a 16" wheeled folder with an 8 speed IGH.

downtube

The mounting of the shock is not clear in the picture. It seems vertical forces are kept in the vertical plane. I would expect pedal bobbing to be an issue.

Thanks,
Yan

tds101 

Bobbing was a complaint of the reviewer of the Flik. I'd adjust the shock to be firmer, as he did. It worked decently well. But, I'd be riding it on crappy back roads, and bumpy sandy trails by my house anyway. Bobbing would be less of a problem for my usage of the bike.

downtube

I love the front fork. However I do not appreciate the rear. The shock is being held by something, I am not sure what that is, or how it operates. However I am suspicious of a design flaw.

Thanks,
Yan

tds101 

Well, like I stated, I'm not interested in getting this any longer. I'm going to be getting my small foldie,...

Abu Mahendra

Japanese USB Rechargeable Machined Aluminum bullet lights front/back.


Crochê Leather gloves

foldingdroid

You mean you prefer wider tires? Abu, is it OK to put a 1.5 or 1.75 tires on 1.35 rims?

Abu Mahendra

I would prefer it to be (re-)designed around 451 wheels. Or with a steeper chain stay, resulting in a higher bottom bracket.

A 1.35" rim is quite wide. That must be a BMX rim. My own rims are all around 14mm inner width. I use a 1.25-3.00 rim/tire multiplier.

foldingdroid

Thanks Abu.

tudorowen1

Abu..are you going to tell us about the shops you visited in Bangkok please?

Abu Mahendra

Oh ok, i didn't think people were particularly interested...ok, here it goes.

Faster Than Walk
Brompton, Tern, Dahon. Accessories like leather crochê gloves, bullet lights, pedals, etc.

Sealee Urban
Van Moof, Bruno Minivelos, bullet lights

Sixty Bikes
Castro, Jango, Louis Garneau, Bruno, FSIR, etc. Not the most spacious locale, but the friendly owner lady makes up for it.

Hyper Bikes
Tyrell, Dahon Dash, Dash Altena, FSIR. Very friendly and responsive owner

Walked along Worochak Rd, but didn't see much of anything. I wish i could have visited the following but i ran out of time.

Bok Bok Bike
Bo Velo

Oh, I picked up an FSIR Spin 5.0 for USD500. I've stripped it, in the process of selling off the parts, and it is now a blank canvass looking like this...

May sell it, may keep it & build it up, don't know.

Abu Mahendra

This article, Bangkok's Bike Shops, gives an overview of some of the shops in the City of Angels.