Imetomi

Hey!
I am new to this ite, forgive me if I posted in the wrong section. I am a very tall guy, 196 cm (6ft5) and I am looking for a folding bike with 20" wheels.

Can you give me some advices, I don't really want to spend more than $1000 for the bike. I saw some nice Dahon and Tern bikes, but can I use those for tours and longer trips? The maximum recommended height is about 190 cm (6ft3) for the majority of folding bikes. Would these be comfortable for me?

Thank you for your time!

badmother

How tall you are is not the main "problem" but the lenght of the legs (seat post height) ad what riding position you need. You can sometimes buy a longer seatpost (or have one made) or use a telescopic post and you can increase the reach by adding stuff to the stem to move the handlebar a bit forwards.

Do you need a "fast folding" bike for shorter rides or can a slow folding sturdy touring folder be what you need? Is weight of the bike important? What weight (you and luggage) should it be able to carry?

Bike Friday makes costum folding bikes. you could try to get hold of a second hand one in your size.

You may want to search the forum becouse the touring and size questions are asked again and again so you may get better answers if you do some reading first and then ask about spesific bikes and solutions.

There has been some problems with Tern frames breaking. For touring I would suggest a steel bike, like a Bike Friday or a Dahon speed but there are lots of options- also depending on where you are- you should try to test ride the bike or a similar bike before buying.

Abu Mahendra

how much do you weigh?

Imetomi

I weigh 93kg. As far as I know I am under the limit of the average folding bike max weight so that should be no problem or is it?

Abu Mahendra

ok, so you are not obese. That helps. Look, your tall height probably wins you points with the ladies, people take you more seriously because of it, and you get paid more than shorter though equally qualified peers, but it really stacks the deck against you when it comes to folding bikes (as well as life expectancy and cancer rates). i think all off-the-rack 20" folders will be small on you. A long shot is a Dahon Dash Altena in L size, but it doesn't fold small, and it is virtually impossible to find one so forget it. I think you are left with two options. One, a custom-made Bike Friday, but you will pay up the wazoo for one. This forum channel is a veritable Bike Friday fan club, so you will have people cheering you on, and providing all types of peripheral rationalizations and psychological support as you plunk down a grand for the frameset alone. A full cheerleading squad will be right behind you in this financially imprudent enterprise.. So thatls nice. You have that going for you. The other option to investigate is a 26" folder. Tern has some really trick ones, and Dahon just came out with a 650b gravel grinding foldie. i would go with the latter. good luck.

Imetomi

tds101 

I have a TernJoeP24, and it'll fit perfectly. It also rides like any other full sized, non-folding bike. The new model has an improved adjustable handlebar stem. Very solid bike, and available in different models and price points.

Schwinnsta

One problem you will encounter is many folding bike manufactures base the their height range on the length of their seat post length without consideration to handlebar height or top tube length. This will leave you bent over too far to ride comfortably. Bike Friday will customize, but it is out of your price range.

fietsbob

Bike Friday is the only company actually offering different frame sizes,
Brompton , has different seat post and bar mast options..
their frame is 60cm long..

Pinigis 

The Origami Mantis was designed for taller riders, up to 6'5"

fietsbob

Wasn't Thor 86'd from the forum for commercial self promotion?

Just Curious..

Pinigis 

Not a promotion, just an answer to the OP.

Imetomi

Thank you for your recommendation! Is there a way to try out the Origami Mantis in Hungary? Looks promising, but I would like to know if it is right for me or not.

Pinigis 

Unfortunately, no.

Abu Mahendra

can you explain and describe in technical detail how the Mantis achieves this? A statement to that effect alone does not suffice, particularly when it comes from the seller of said good. We are all ears...

Disclosure: Pinigis has a financial interest in his charitable answer to the OP's question.

Pinigis 

Yes, I am the owner of Origami Bicycles. I make that very clear in my signature line.

That said, the Mantis was designed to accommodate taller riders with its 38" seat-to-pedal length and maximum seat-to-handlebar distance of 25.5"

Abu Mahendra

your signature is not visible on mobile.

how are the seat-to-handlebar and seat-to-pedal lengths achieved? is this particular, unique to the Origami or something that most folders could achieve with simply a longer seat-post? put some technical meat behind your explanations so we can actually judge the merit of your assertions.

you want to state BB-to-seat rail distance, not pedal to seat. 25.5" of seat to handlebar distance is not long. that is what i had on my Dash, and i am only 1.70cm tall.

Pinigis 

I never noticed that the signature line was not shown on mobile devices.

The seatpost tube is longer to accommodate a longer seatpost.

Schwinnsta

Now I am curious. What is the height of the handlebar from the ground?

Pinigis 

ChilledOut

Abu Mahendra

Wow, no 20" folder--the widest range of folders there is-- save for a custom-made job will do for one who's 6'5" tall, but miraculously a Brompton fits the bill for one who's 6'7". And the ride is even better than a 20" folder! Only a Brompton could have pulled that off.

Schwinnsta

That is pretty good.

pinholecam

What about a Montague?
Its a full sized roadbike styled bike that folds.

Else one of those 26" folding bikes from Dahon or Tern.

You are way tall for most most folding bikes.
That said, you might be able to find a 2nd hand Bike Friday that was also made very large and hard for the seller to find a buyer.

Imetomi

What do you guys think of this one? www.ternbicycles.com/us/bikes/472/node-d8 I saw a German review with a 6ft4 tall guy, he said it is very well built for taller cyclists. Do have any comments on this one?