usndoc2011

Any thoughts on the Diamond Llama after riding one for a while? I'm thinking about ordering either the DL or the NWT soon

fietsbob

Another option R&E Cycles 6 Pack , also 20" wheel Its packability comes from extensive use of many S&S BTC . https://www.rodbikes.com/catalog/6-p...pack-main.html
Very custom, so you want it built with a tall head tube there is an option...

tds101 

Dear LAWDY!!!

fietsbob

We are talking Made in Seattle Washington ,

Not a low cost place to live & run a hand made bicycle building company & Stocked Retail store..

Jipe

I wouldn't call this bike a folder, its dis-mountable, not folding: https://vimeo.com/138550076

For the price, S&S couplers aren't cheap and there are a lot on this bike.

They also aren't lightweight, curious to know the weight of this bike ?

Last point, its made of "Rodriguez Steel" what is that ? There are so many types of steel !

planetoid117

Love it. It was a tough choice though because with the dl you need a chain tensioner if you go with a hub like the alfine or Rohloff. But I already have 2 other folding bikes(downtube and a brompton) and the dL just looks cool and can take wider tires. Also it can take much more of a beating since it’s meant for heavy riders. I put big bens on mine.

fietsbob

that means they pick the steel tubing they use based on their long experience & current availability,
and you should not worry, un necessarily , about it, online

if you are already ordering it and are ready to put that big build deposit down , you can discuss what & why..

At that time..




...

bikemig 

This is a 2 year old thread but I'm thinking of buying one. It's up there in price at $2k plus but it is a very versatile bike and has decent gearing with the 2 x 9 option (90 inch high, 21 inch low). The H bar looks comfortable as well. I'm not a fan of straight bars for longer rides.

HelpSingularity 

Hi bikemig
Did you ever pull the trigger on a diamond llama? I too, am bike friday (diamond llama) curious.
thanks

BikeLite

The All Packa looks even better.
https://bikefriday.com/product/bike-friday-all-packa

Ron Damon

Looks interesting... But I wonder how the Made-in-USA crowd rationalizes putting nasty "cheap", "Asiatic" parts in their $2,500 toy. 🤣

Note the declasse Litepro (square taper!) crank.
😂😂😂

For $2,450 I'd expect no less than a nice Hollow tech 105 or Ultegra crank.

jfouellette

You can always buy the frame only and spec it as you require I guess.

Ron Damon

Right. But then I would go ahead and spec it with a Litepro crank and ring which sells retail, BB and bolts included, for around $40 here. I mean, if Bike Friday, the epitome of manufacturing quality serving a refined and highly discriminating clientele, specs Litepro on its products, Litepro must be quite good, right? 😉 Right? 🙄

Goes to show once again that what's good for the goose is often deemed beneath the gander.

wesgreen

"Will disassemble to fit into a standard airline check-able Samsonite suitcase. 31 x 21 x 12”
Not to me. 62" is the legal limit. That's false advertising.

Schwinnsta

No, Ron. Bike Friday is a small company that started to fill a small niche. Bikes that you could pack into a suitcase and travel to a destination and then tour with. You can't really compare what they do to any large manufacturer. What they do is closer to custom bike building. I don't know of anyone saying they are the epitome of anything, certainly not manufacturing. In order to build these here to user specification and size, or in small batches, it's going to cost. And what is up with "discriminating clientele". Are these "straw men"?

I am delighted and in awe of the fact that I was able to buy a Zizzo Liberte and have it shipped to my house for $320. I just don't understand how you can get that a new bike at a price like that. It was a return or a blemished bike, but I never found anything wrong with it. Is it nice as Diamond Lama, no, but it is way more than I can ask for at that price.

I am at the upper limit of fitting my folders. Zizzo, Brompton H, and Xootr Swift. All designed for Western rider's body sizes. If I was taller, I probably would look at the Lama. The bikes you post are not available to try. I would need to try them to see if I could fit.

linberl

Just FYI, Bike Friday will acquire any component you request for your custom build. You can purchase one of their pre-specced models but you can also literally customize every single bit. i did that when i built up my pakiT. They didn't list or carry many of the components i wanted but they got them and installed them. i could have done it myself after buying a more base model but they gave me credit for their parts against my chosen parts and it worked out a little better especially given i didn't have to swap them out. So you can do anything from Paul Components to litepro or anything in between. With a custom bike it's all up to you. You also can buy the frame as mentioned and do whatever you want if that floats your boat and you've got the tools to assemble it.

linberl

If you go on the BF Facebook group you can talk to owners who have flown all over the world, many times, with their BF in suitcase and never had any problem. But be careful, lol, they'll want you to watch all their BF tour videos

Joe Remi

I see we're back to the trolling from this "Ron Damon" person. The mods should ban this dude before he ruins the Folding Bike forum again.

Ron Damon

Right. No one is questioning that. The real head scratcher is why BF owners will routinely turn up their noses at Asiatic bikes and parts when BF itself besmirches and defiles its enviable Made-in-USA products with these bottom feeder parts made in deplorable sweat shops. Something doesn't add up. 😉

The bike, advertised by BF, sells for $2,500 and comes with a Litepro crankset. That's some strong Kool-Aid! But when Paul specs his bikes with the very same type of components, folks pinch and turn up their noses. 😎

Schwinnsta

I disagree with Ron, I think, but he should not be banned. Why are people so quick to cancel. I did not think Abu should be banned either. I do think that they are one in the same. Just let it play out. Ron does add to the forum.

wesgreen

That sounds very tempting, actually! (I haven't made it onto Facebook yet; maybe someday.) I hope BF riders continue to get a break from the airlines. Not everyone would want to take that risk, though. From all I've read and seen, BF make great bikes, so they shouldn't have to lie to potential customers about their product.

2_i 

It is not necessarily the issue of retaining the potential offender and personal taking of those potential offences. Others may be disturbed by the form the discussion is taking and refrain from participating in the thread, subforum or taking themselves off the forum as a whole. There are tons of discussion sites in which I would not want the tip of my nail dipped.

linberl

I don't think they are lying as they give you the actual dimensions; if they wanted to lie they wouldn't do that, lol. It is just their experience through their many owners is that the airlines simply do not make any issues of the extra couple inches. They are basically telling you the truth, that the inches don't match but it doesn't keep people from flying with the bikes in suitcases at no extra charge. I've been on that Facebook group for 10 years and not once has anyone said they had an issue. It's like Brompton and Southwest. Technically the Brommie should not be allowed in the over head compartment but the Brompton mafia guys have never ever had a problem doing that when they fly. i'm going to be more concerned with the reality than the unenforced technical issues, ymmv.

Joe Remi

Abu/Ron can have all the bike opinions he wants, I don't care, but he doesn't leave it at that. We get this weird racial stuff about "Asiatic" vs. American or British frames and I consider that crap outside the bounds of a bike forum. He's clearly going to continue this, he's been doing it for a very long time. The mods won't deal with it so I'll be on my way again, this joint ain't worth the trouble.

2_i 

The mods do react, remove posts and admonish offenders in messages, giving them a chance to execute restrain on their own. The escalation usually occurs when those subtle means fail to reach effect.