My CHEDECH (or carbon Brompton?)
08-02-18, 12:53 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
My CHEDECH (or carbon Brompton?)
Hi guys, greetings from Beijing, China again!
I have done like 1000km already with this CHEDECH 5.
There are some pictures and my experiences to be shared with you...
PROs
---It is relatively light, compared with the Brompton, but still weighs 8.x kg.
---Thanks to the carbon body, it absorbs some vibrations and provides a comfortable ride.
---The fold is almost as compact as a Brompton.
---Compatible with more standard components, for example, it uses Shimano/Tektro calipers.
CONs
---Still too namy nonstandard components.
---Sturmey-Archer 5 speed hub doesn't work well enough, especially the noise it makes makes me upset. I would have chosen a single speed version instead.
---Be careful when upgrading the crankset. Interferences may occur while folding.
---Unorganized cabling.
---The space is a little small for a big guy (like me, 183cm).
---Colourway can be improved or at least simplified.
---No luggage block.
Generally, as the first generation, CHEDECH 5 is an interesting bike. It does look like a Brompton, but actually quite different.
I am just hoping the second generation of CHEDECH (I don't know if the second generation is being planned yet)can improve significantly and sort out most of the CONs I listed, then it will be much closer to a perfect folding bike.
P.S.
I have to @chedech, your bikes are manufactured in China, but it's a pity you don't launch it in China market, so I had to buy it and ship it back to China.
I have done like 1000km already with this CHEDECH 5.
There are some pictures and my experiences to be shared with you...
PROs
---It is relatively light, compared with the Brompton, but still weighs 8.x kg.
---Thanks to the carbon body, it absorbs some vibrations and provides a comfortable ride.
---The fold is almost as compact as a Brompton.
---Compatible with more standard components, for example, it uses Shimano/Tektro calipers.
CONs
---Still too namy nonstandard components.
---Sturmey-Archer 5 speed hub doesn't work well enough, especially the noise it makes makes me upset. I would have chosen a single speed version instead.
---Be careful when upgrading the crankset. Interferences may occur while folding.
---Unorganized cabling.
---The space is a little small for a big guy (like me, 183cm).
---Colourway can be improved or at least simplified.
---No luggage block.
Generally, as the first generation, CHEDECH 5 is an interesting bike. It does look like a Brompton, but actually quite different.
I am just hoping the second generation of CHEDECH (I don't know if the second generation is being planned yet)can improve significantly and sort out most of the CONs I listed, then it will be much closer to a perfect folding bike.
P.S.
I have to @chedech, your bikes are manufactured in China, but it's a pity you don't launch it in China market, so I had to buy it and ship it back to China.
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08-02-18, 05:05 AM
#2
Stardust
Hi guys, greetings from Beijing, China again!
I have done like 1000km already with this CHEDECH 5.
There are some pictures and my experiences to be shared with you...
PROs
---It is relatively light, compared with the Brompton, but still weighs 8.x kg.
---Thanks to the carbon body, it absorbs some vibrations and provides a comfortable ride.
---The fold is almost as compact as a Brompton.
---Compatible with more standard components, for example, it uses Shimano/Tektro calipers.
CONs
---Still too namy nonstandard components.
---Sturmey-Archer 5 speed hub doesn't work well enough, especially the noise it makes makes me upset. I would have chosen a single speed version instead.
---Be careful when upgrading the crankset. Interferences may occur while folding.
---Unorganized cabling.
---The space is a little small for a big guy (like me, 183cm).
---Colourway can be improved or at least simplified.
---No luggage block.
Generally, as the first generation, CHEDECH 5 is an interesting bike. It does look like a Brompton, but actually quite different.
I am just hoping the second generation of CHEDECH (I don't know if the second generation is being planned yet)can improve significantly and sort out most of the CONs I listed, then it will be much closer to a perfect folding bike.
P.S.
I have to @chedech, your bikes are manufactured in China, but it's a pity you don't launch it in China market, so I had to buy it and ship it back to China.
I have done like 1000km already with this CHEDECH 5.
There are some pictures and my experiences to be shared with you...
PROs
---It is relatively light, compared with the Brompton, but still weighs 8.x kg.
---Thanks to the carbon body, it absorbs some vibrations and provides a comfortable ride.
---The fold is almost as compact as a Brompton.
---Compatible with more standard components, for example, it uses Shimano/Tektro calipers.
CONs
---Still too namy nonstandard components.
---Sturmey-Archer 5 speed hub doesn't work well enough, especially the noise it makes makes me upset. I would have chosen a single speed version instead.
---Be careful when upgrading the crankset. Interferences may occur while folding.
---Unorganized cabling.
---The space is a little small for a big guy (like me, 183cm).
---Colourway can be improved or at least simplified.
---No luggage block.
Generally, as the first generation, CHEDECH 5 is an interesting bike. It does look like a Brompton, but actually quite different.
I am just hoping the second generation of CHEDECH (I don't know if the second generation is being planned yet)can improve significantly and sort out most of the CONs I listed, then it will be much closer to a perfect folding bike.
P.S.
I have to @chedech, your bikes are manufactured in China, but it's a pity you don't launch it in China market, so I had to buy it and ship it back to China.
8.6kg with sturmey archer 5 is a major feat of engenering!
if the gears where swapped these wheight could drop a kilo
08-02-18, 04:44 PM
#4
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For people living in the Paris area, there's one for sale for €2.000
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/1454545003.htm/
Considering it's a dead ringer for the Brompton, no wonder they don't dare offering it in Europe/N.A.
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/1454545003.htm/
Considering it's a dead ringer for the Brompton, no wonder they don't dare offering it in Europe/N.A.
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08-02-18, 07:03 PM
#5
LET'S ROLL
For people living in the Paris area, there's one for sale for €2.000
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/1454545003.htm/
Considering it's a dead ringer for the Brompton, no wonder they don't dare offering it in Europe/N.A.
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/1454545003.htm/
Considering it's a dead ringer for the Brompton, no wonder they don't dare offering it in Europe/N.A.
I think the price is better too at US$2,100 vs. 2,000 euros:
CheDech - bfold
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08-02-18, 09:05 PM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Perhaps it looks different and maybe attractive for you.
But if I am honest, I will strongly suggest you to consider carefully before you place any order.
From my point of view, considering the retail price, and compared with the Brompton, the CHEDECH 5 is still a semi-finished product. (perhaps I am sort of completist)
You have to be quite capable of DIY to "complete" it.
It is an interesting bike. But if I can chose, I would have bought only the frame from CHEDECH without any other component.
Cheers,
But if I am honest, I will strongly suggest you to consider carefully before you place any order.
From my point of view, considering the retail price, and compared with the Brompton, the CHEDECH 5 is still a semi-finished product. (perhaps I am sort of completist)
You have to be quite capable of DIY to "complete" it.
It is an interesting bike. But if I can chose, I would have bought only the frame from CHEDECH without any other component.
Cheers,
08-03-18, 03:07 AM
#7
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Thanks for the user impressions.
That cabling looks horrendous, are you sure there is no better way to do it up?
I don't seem to recall it looking so messy when I saw it here and on sample photos.
That cabling looks horrendous, are you sure there is no better way to do it up?
I don't seem to recall it looking so messy when I saw it here and on sample photos.
08-03-18, 04:21 AM
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Besides, we don't know how resilient that carbon bike will be, especially the hinges. And it's a shame they forewent the front luggage.
For that kind of money, the "superlight Brompton" with some parts in titanium looks like a better deal, at the cost of an extra 2kgs.
For that kind of money, the "superlight Brompton" with some parts in titanium looks like a better deal, at the cost of an extra 2kgs.
08-03-18, 05:00 AM
#9
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Thread Starter
Besides, we don't know how resilient that carbon bike will be, especially the hinges. And it's a shame they forewent the front luggage.
For that kind of money, the "superlight Brompton" with some parts in titanium looks like a better deal, at the cost of an extra 2kgs.
For that kind of money, the "superlight Brompton" with some parts in titanium looks like a better deal, at the cost of an extra 2kgs.
Last edited by GTA; 08-03-18 at 10:03 AM.
08-03-18, 06:26 AM
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Yes, but money-wise…
Someone computed that once you get the Brompton to weigh 10kg, it's about €1$ per gram saved :-)
Someone computed that once you get the Brompton to weigh 10kg, it's about €1$ per gram saved :-)
08-03-18, 07:44 AM
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To be a feat of engineering it would need to be something like 4KG lighter. My Dahon Mu is 8.5KG and thats with a full metal frame and larger wheels. Far larger road bikes are several KG less, the real feat is working out how to possibly get such a small carbon bike to weigh that much...
08-03-18, 08:07 AM
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You'd basically take the frame and bin everything else. Everything. How is that "not very difficult"? If that isnt difficult then nothing you can do to a bike is.
I got my Tryell minivello down to 6.8KG (already have plans to drop another 150 or so grams, you dont want to know the per gram cost when you get to those numbers...) and that was only by scrutinizing every single part choice and spending long hours on the internet finding specs for parts. And you have to remember the goal just inst light weight, its also to make it better AND lighter, not just lighter, so the research doesn't end with finding a number on a spec sheet.
I got my Tryell minivello down to 6.8KG (already have plans to drop another 150 or so grams, you dont want to know the per gram cost when you get to those numbers...) and that was only by scrutinizing every single part choice and spending long hours on the internet finding specs for parts. And you have to remember the goal just inst light weight, its also to make it better AND lighter, not just lighter, so the research doesn't end with finding a number on a spec sheet.
08-03-18, 08:09 AM
#13
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Thread Starter
To be a feat of engineering it would need to be something like 4KG lighter. My Dahon Mu is 8.5KG and thats with a full metal frame and larger wheels. Far larger road bikes are several KG less, the real feat is working out how to possibly get such a small carbon bike to weigh that much...
If you see another thread of mine, you could see a 4.9kg small bike.
BTW, my steel DAHON SPEED is already 8.2kg.
08-03-18, 08:19 AM
#14
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Thread Starter
You'd basically take the frame and bin everything else. Everything. How is that "not very difficult"? If that isnt difficult then nothing you can do to a bike is.
I got my Tryell minivello down to 6.8KG (already have plans to drop another 150 or so grams, you dont want to know the per gram cost when you get to those numbers...) and that was only by scrutinizing every single part choice and spending long hours on the internet finding specs for parts. And you have to remember the goal just inst light weight, its also to make it better AND lighter, not just lighter, so the research doesn't end with finding a number on a spec sheet.
I got my Tryell minivello down to 6.8KG (already have plans to drop another 150 or so grams, you dont want to know the per gram cost when you get to those numbers...) and that was only by scrutinizing every single part choice and spending long hours on the internet finding specs for parts. And you have to remember the goal just inst light weight, its also to make it better AND lighter, not just lighter, so the research doesn't end with finding a number on a spec sheet.
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08-03-18, 10:44 AM
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The headtube angle looks more relaxed than on a Brompton. I'd expect this to make the bike less skittish/twitchy, which might be a significant improvement.
08-03-18, 04:59 PM
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08-04-19, 06:08 AM
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there is an announcement on Le bon coin for - 1600E (no links are allowed in my posts yet)
We live on top of a 100m hill in Vallée de Chevreuse, so standard gears wont work (the lowest should be 2.3m and with standard configuration it is 3m), Bigger sproket or smaller chainring?
Any thoughts in general since the topic was started?
Thanks
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08-04-19, 06:57 AM
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https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/1613464503.htm/
It's been for sale for months, still no taker. I don't like the fact that it won't take a bag in the front, and there's the risk of failure with a carbon frame/fork made by a young company.
For hilly areas, get a six-speed Brompton, and start with a 44T chainring. An 18T sprocket fits with a spacer, but the gaps's too big when shifting from the 13T sprocket. If that's still too big, put a double chairing for ~130€ total using new parts.
Or if it's just 100m: Get off the bike and walk #lowtech
It's been for sale for months, still no taker. I don't like the fact that it won't take a bag in the front, and there's the risk of failure with a carbon frame/fork made by a young company.
For hilly areas, get a six-speed Brompton, and start with a 44T chainring. An 18T sprocket fits with a spacer, but the gaps's too big when shifting from the 13T sprocket. If that's still too big, put a double chairing for ~130€ total using new parts.
Or if it's just 100m: Get off the bike and walk #lowtech
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08-04-19, 02:48 PM
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Here's a heavily modified Chedech with external 5-speed drivetrain (sram etap). its owner has a sub-6kg Brompton as well (with steel frame)
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