tds101 

The Euromini Forte was just released quite recently, so no reviews are available. And I'll be honest with you and say I'm definitely getting a Forte, but it won't be until springtime. I need surgery on my knee, so I'm out of commision until the new year (2019).

velojym

I'll keep an eye out. It's a little heavier than the Friday, but for the price difference and the intended use, I don't see a problem there.
I'm looking at Feb, if this new job works out. I just want to know I can fit it into airline check-able luggage.

downtube

The wheels will handle a big guy. However the cranks look low end. I would expect Euromini to have issues with cranks/ BB's & frames.

I would wait on buying this bike. I stayed away from the big rider market to minimize risk. It is very hard to test bikes for big riders....I find it unlikely that a new company did their due diligence.

Thanks
Yan

velojym

When I got my Paratrooper, it had some really substandard parts. A biggie was the crankset. Fortunately, it has a common square taper BB, so I replaced the junkset with a Hussefelt downhill crank, and DH flat pedals.

As for the folding bike... as I'm fairly rapidly losing weight, and probably not going to need it until Spring anyway, I think I'll hold off. I may be able to pick up one of the more common 'tried and true' models out there.
I do see some Fridays and a few other decent ones for sale now and again used... though buying a used bike isn't really my favorite thing.

Bonzo Banana

As a heavy rider in the past I rode a bike at 26 stone it was a cheap steel mountain bike and the big issue was the rear hub and freewheel, I could strip out the pawls and destroy them and also minor hits like drains and so forth could bend the rear axle. Strangely the Forte has a freewheel based drivetrain but 26 stone is 364lbs considerably over the weight limit of the Forte but a freehub is much stronger. I didn't have a problem with the low end cup and cone bottom bracket or the crankset and the steel frame was brilliant at coping with my weight but the rear wheel needed attention regularly. 136kg/300lbs is pretty much the recommendation of the bike certification standard although many bikes are below this. There has been some folding bikes with a 300lb limit. I think currently Giant has that limit. Freewheels will cope for a while but I think to fit a freewheel to a bike and then claim 300lb capacity is a bit unfair freewheels are cheap light duty components and there is the inherent issue that the rear axle is under much greater bending force than a freehub. It's possible the rear axle is a hardened chromoly axle like often fitted to bmx bikes but I have my doubts about that as it doesn't seem to be mentioned on their site as a selling point.

The euromini site still has 6160 listed as a frame material which as far as I know doesn't exist. I suspect that is 6061 and they have jumbled the numbers. If i was designing a strong folding bike that allowed heavy riders to ride it, it would be a high tensile steel frame. 36 spoke wheels with double wall rims and a freehub based drivetrain. I think it would be more comfortable, give a warning before frame failure, soft feel etc and does it really matter if its 2kg heavier if the person riding it is carrying maybe 50kg of extra weight anyway. I might go for mechanical disc brakes either both wheels or possibly on the rear only if it looked like the front wheel disc would be prone to bending. Like you I just can't really see how they made the Forte 300lb capable except for the frame itself.

downtube

I have a friend that weighed 300lbs. He bent a BB axle on his first ride...he rode the bike for a minute or two. I found it amazing that his weight did the damage so fast.

I see this bike as a high risk proposition for Euromini. I think it is very likely not to work.

Thanks
Yan

Schwinnsta

I wonder if a Raleigh Twenty would fill the bill. It is a stiff frame with hi-ten steel. Steel rims, which are negative but strong. They can be found for cheap. The front axle was only 5/16".

Bonzo Banana

As much as I love the Raleigh Twenty the brakes on them were terrible and for a heavy rider to ride one it would be even worse and in my opinion unsafe. I think it's not a bad option as long as you figure out how to improve those brakes. Modern V brakes are far superior and disc brakes go beyond those. I guess its not just the brake mechanisms but those rather slippery chrome steel rims as well.

Schwinnsta

I changed to alloy rims, 406, but if I were going ride on today I would go with 451, alloy. That way the brake reach would not be so long. I changed the front brake on my 406, to a dual pivot and I would still do it with a 451 rim.

Bonzo Banana

Sounds like a good solution. I must admit I love to see older bikes in use today. A small victory against our wasteful society. I saw a similar age Dawes Kingpin outside a shop a few months ago. The bike looked heavily worn and it was great to see it still in use. Must have been around 40 years old. I can't remember now if it was a folding or shopper type version.

Tamiya

Schwinnsta

By changing to alloy rims will stop well in the rain.

L Arnold

Perhaps stated elswhere.

Dahon Curve is rated to 280 lbs.
Dahon bikes with Delta Line are rated to 250 lbs.

Also a nice one from the Czech museum that is at least a century old.


Lots to this subject for sure.

I have added a few now and they really do strengthen the bike.

bikingbill

The Curve is rated for 220lbs: https://dahon.com/bikes/curve-d3/

Brompton is 241lbs.

One option is to get the Brompton and have the wheels rebuilt with stronger rims and spokes.

Surprisingly the Greenspeed Magnum Trike has a limit of 450lbs and I believe they now have a folding model.

tds101 

I believe the gentleman above actually meant the Dahon Curl is rated at 280lbs.

Dahon Curl i3

Dahon Curl i8

bikingbill

tds101 

And I mentioned that an error was made, It's the "Curl", not "Curve". Here's Dahon's posted info on the bike,...

Dahon Curl i3

Dahon Curl i8

This information is from DAHON'S website, NOT 3rd party. 130kg (286 lbs) is stated on the Curl i8. I have no idea why it's not shown on the Curl i3.

Also, FYI, ThorUSA is the North American representative/distributor for Dahon,...so the site is NOT 3rd party.

bikingbill

30lbs Aluminum bike ... it's possible. Thanks for the clarification.

mlau

Xootr swift?

You may want to talk to Peter about it.
If I am not mistaken, it's got one of the highest weight tolerances due to it's design.

Good luck!

tds101 

Here's the info on that,...but it doesn't look good. Seems like all Xootr Swift options just might have dried up.

https://swiftfolders.com/swift/Perspective.html

https://swiftfolders.com/swift/Purchase.html

mlau

Peter is the original inventor of the Swift, and the only place to get them from.
The parts are all stock, so you won't be stuck without aftermarket support.
Xootr stopped selling them after a family tragedy involving the guy championing the project.

If I'm not mistaken, I think that Peter can get the frames in Al, Steel, or Ti (very limited).
Also, sometimes you get lucky with Craigslist.

I'd been thinking of selling mine....but something always tugs at my heart to keep it.
It's a great bike for tucking behind an apartment door, away from grabby roommates...but not the smallest fold.

Bonzo Banana

Is that the known issue with Bromptons that the wheels can't handle higher weight? I guess even if the frame could fail being steel you will likely get some indication of failure before it actually fails.

It still feels to me that a 20" steel folding bike might be a good solution. 20" wheels in my experience are super strong even some of the cheaper ones as long as a double wall rim and the simple high tensile steel frames seem very good too. A shame they are often fitted with junk components though that need upgrading. You pretty much need to change the wheels and drivetrain for something stronger. Sometimes the best course of action is to buy 2 bikes a low end steel folding bike and a higher end aluminium framed bike with a freehub drivetrain and decent double wall rim wheels and then mix the components so you end up with a steel folding bike with better components. Then you have a second folding bike to sell on with the lightweight aluminium frame but low end components.

bikingbill

I'm 235 and I carry gear on my 2014 Brompton. These wheels are tough. The only issue I had was loosening spokes on the rear wheel due to some serious climbing (28% grade). I ended up re-tensioning the wheel and all is good now.

sabas

bikefridays diamond frame looks the best choice

velojym

That's the one I keep coming back to.

However.... if, after a year of working my new job, I decide to strike out on my own, I won't be doing any flying, and my Paratrooper will be fine. I'll just have to see when the time comes.