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How easy is it to change which side the handlebars fold down?

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How easy is it to change which side the handlebars fold down?

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Old 03-05-17 | 01:43 PM
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How easy is it to change which side the handlebars fold down?

Just wondering if you can easily change the side?

The bike in question I don't own but may be transporting from time to time and its a bugger to get in the bag as the handlebar height is fixed and it won't allow you to fold the frame with the handlebars in the middle. I would prefer the handlebars to fold down on the opposite side if possible. Anyone ever done that. There is no quick release for the handlebars, once you assembly the bike 4 allen bolts secure handlebars to the handlebar stem. The box it comes in has the handlebars detached.

The bike in question is a Dunlop Twist. I can't post images sadly as too new to the forum. I'm pretty sure its made by Fuji-ta/Battle bikes who are the big Chinese manufacturer who make bikes for all sorts of brands from budget to Cannondale. Seems very high quality for a budget bike but the lack of height adjustable handlebars which would also have given more flexibility for folding them is the problem.
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Old 03-05-17 | 02:10 PM
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Depending on the fold the frame is made for some to go a specific way for clearance reasons. I would almost bet it is not possible for it to work right. Roger
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Old 03-05-17 | 04:23 PM
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From: Cleethorpes..the last resort..UK

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Not as easy as it sounds sometimes..depends on the handlebars and the handlebar stem..If the handlebars are all in one with the handlebar post then they may point forwards in a strange way making it rather odd to ride once you have turned them around to fold on the left side of the bike ..rather than in the middle..I just did it on an old folder of mine...Looks OK on mine because I have removeable handlebars and have put straight bars on...but the quick release for the height adjustment is now near my knees and in danger of stabbing me ..instead of out of the way at the front..
Easier idea would be to get a bigger bag..or try taking the seatpost out with the saddle and sticking that in the middle or in the bottom of the bag..Reduces the height of the bike in the bag..
Or..adjust the brakes so they point straight down when the bars are folded down..and that may make the whole package thinner..
Getting a bigger bag is easiest..I got a really good bag from a garden centre that was designed for carrying away leaves in the autumn..Bike goes straight in and it has a drawstring top..only a few pounds..Really heavy duty plastic reinforced nylon bag..

Last edited by tudorowen1; 03-05-17 at 04:29 PM.
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Old 03-05-17 | 05:50 PM
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Old 03-06-17 | 02:55 AM
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From: Merry Old England

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Originally Posted by tudorowen1
Not as easy as it sounds sometimes..depends on the handlebars and the handlebar stem..If the handlebars are all in one with the handlebar post then they may point forwards in a strange way making it rather odd to ride once you have turned them around to fold on the left side of the bike ..rather than in the middle..I just did it on an old folder of mine...Looks OK on mine because I have removeable handlebars and have put straight bars on...but the quick release for the height adjustment is now near my knees and in danger of stabbing me ..instead of out of the way at the front..
Easier idea would be to get a bigger bag..or try taking the seatpost out with the saddle and sticking that in the middle or in the bottom of the bag..Reduces the height of the bike in the bag..
Or..adjust the brakes so they point straight down when the bars are folded down..and that may make the whole package thinner..
Getting a bigger bag is easiest..I got a really good bag from a garden centre that was designed for carrying away leaves in the autumn..Bike goes straight in and it has a drawstring top..only a few pounds..Really heavy duty plastic reinforced nylon bag..
Yes, removing the saddle post is the only way currently to fit it in the bag. It's not my bike but was hoping to learn how to quickly store in the bag as like a 1 minute process rather than a 7 minute process.
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Old 03-12-17 | 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by rhenning
Depending on the fold the frame is made for some to go a specific way for clearance reasons. I would almost bet it is not possible for it to work right. Roger
Fit a stem extender with a quick release modifation.
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Old 03-12-17 | 11:21 AM
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From: Merry Old England

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This is the bike. This image just about shows its design for the handlebars fold. Pretty sure its a fuji-ta bike. They mention Dunlop bikes as well as Cannondale on their youtube videos and seems to match their designs. It's 11.8kg in weight which is pretty good. Seems good quality.

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Old 03-12-17 | 01:46 PM
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Bhkyte please don't quote me on things. Messes up my email. You could be right but most of the fold comes in the frame not the handlebars. If the frame itself folds to the right or the left it is always going to do that no matter how you change the handle bars. They are going to be on the side the frame folds them to. Roger
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Old 03-13-17 | 06:42 AM
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Have you tried turning the front wheel around before folding.
Else it looks ok to alter the folding stem from the pictures.
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Old 03-13-17 | 01:01 PM
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What bhkyte means Mr.Bonzo Banana is this..When you fold the bike in half instead of the front wheel pointing backwards level with the rear wheel turn the forks and bars through 180 degrees so the front wheel is pointing forwards and then fold the bars down ..They should be on the outside now..(hopefully).It may be that the cables do not allow this..Try it anyway..?
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Old 03-21-17 | 05:49 AM
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Originally Posted by tudorowen1
What bhkyte means Mr.Bonzo Banana is this..When you fold the bike in half instead of the front wheel pointing backwards level with the rear wheel turn the forks and bars through 180 degrees so the front wheel is pointing forwards and then fold the bars down ..They should be on the outside now..(hopefully).It may be that the cables do not allow this..Try it anyway..?
Yes tried that previously, the handlebars sit at a funny angle. The issue is the handlebars have no height adjustment so no fine tuning where they fall.

I think even if I could turn around the handlebar fold mechanism and clamp the handlebars on the opposite side the handlebars would face inwards instead of out and not be ideal. I think if they were vertical this wouldn't be an issue but they are not they face outwards slightly. I think on this bike the fold has been compromised by lack of height adjustment on the handlebars it's as simple as that. Still a great quality bike and light.
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Old 03-22-17 | 04:58 PM
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Turn the handlebars around in the clamp. And move the stem around.
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Old 03-23-17 | 09:35 AM
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Do share how it works, was there an advantage that you had in mind?


A different bike; made in USA,

New Bike Friday PackIt, the bar mast is removed.. they do this on their travel bikes too ..
Make removal easy, with QR levers..

to pack for travel, on airplanes.
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Old 03-23-17 | 09:38 AM
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looks , in # 7, the first thing above the frame is a threadless stem raiser.
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