BruceMetras

I'm running a 9spd 11/34 with a 58t chainring on my Xootr/Swift.. it is pictured below..

Also pictured is my Dahon Jetstream XP running a new RedBand Shimano 8spd hub and a Shlumpf SpeedDrive 2spd crank. The XP as geared has a gear range of roughly 510% and about 22 to 116 gear inches. This set up is very quiet, shifts crisp and works great with all the advantages of a single, straight chainline.

Notice the height of the chain from the ground on the two bikes.. if you are planning extended travel on back roads/dirt roads on a 20 inch folder the amount of grime you are going to pick up and distribute to 9 gears (and pulleys) will be significantly higher than a single cog hub.. also, if you are cow trailing, your drivetrain is much more protected with a hub.. another thing you might consider is suspension.. if the planned roads are going to be rough, a front suspension fork might be a blessing, a rear shock or thudbuster also..

Although not considered yet, I would put a stong vote in for an inexpensive, yet robust Downtube FS, then add 8spd hub and hunt around for a good deal on a Schlumpf. You'd have a bullet proof folder able to handle any road in relative comfort. The drivetrain on my XP cost less than $700, my Downtube less than $200. Just more data to mull over.

Bruce

stargazer48

I spoke to Peter this evening and had a good conversation. I was a bit dissapointed to hear that he is no longer offering the steel frame although he did suggest that I call his former partner on the west coast to see if he still has steel frames. Like the external derr versus internal hub, the aluminum versus steel is another issue that I am not familiar enough with. I figure, I would have been safe with a steel frame even if it was a couple of pounds heavier.
Any comments?

On the issue of the easy packing of a folder, I just found a poster's website describing the procedure to fold a Swift. It seems a lot more complicated that I expected.

https://www.phred.org/~alex/bikes/bf-vs-swift.html

Here is his description,
To fit the Swift Folder into a 29" Sampsonite suitcase (my preference for airplane travel because they are inexpensive and widely available) you need to disassemble the frame at the hinge and remove the fork. I use a cartridge bearing threadless headset to make fork removal easier and no-mess. It takes me about 30 minutes to pack the Bike Friday and 45 to pack the Swift Folder.

He removed the chainring as well.
Anyone do a decent amount of air or train travelling with either Swift or Speed TR and having folded either it in a 29" suitcase?
Is the TR just as complicated to fold?

Darn, buying a folder wasn't going to be as easy as I hoped.

SG

spambait11

Dahon suitcase packing:
https://www.gaerlan.com/dahon/pack.htm

Comments about the TR (outside folding handlebar):
https://www.gaerlan.com/bikes/matrix/matrix.htm

14R 

I've been traveling internationally with bikes for the last 8 years (last 14 months with folders), and there is no folder (that is "conventional bike replacement" level) that will fit into a suitcase without 30 minutes or more of disassembling.

I got REALLY trained on my Giant, I can pack it and have it ready in 18 minutes. But that is after 10+ times doing it and after hours of puzzling the best way.

Anything faster than that would be news to me. Can't wait to hear it.

Wavshrdr

If you go up to a 30" or 32" suitcase the Swift goes in with minimal work. To separate the Swift at the hinge requires and allen wrench and a 10mm socket. It is really quite simple to do. It was not a simple matter to fit my Dahon into a 29" suitcase either. I had to remove both wheels, take off the derailleur, change the angle of the handlebars vis a vis the stem and a bunch of other things and then arrange it all nice and tidy in the suitcase. Then I tied it all up and put a photo of how it needed to go back so that the TSA inspectors in the US didn't screw it up if they took it out to inspect it. In spite of all that they still screwed it up one time and I had a few bent spokes since they obviously couldn't understand the several photos taped to the inside of the suitcase showing the order in which it had to be put back in.

Here is a packing link off the Xootr site:

https://www.xootr.com/xootr/swift/packing.shtml


As for the steel vs. aluminum debate, I am in the aluminum camp. I haven't heard of any issues yet with the Xootr's frame and they only sell the aluminum ones. I figure if anyone will experience a frame failure it will be me. I appear to be one of the bigger Swift/Xootr riders here and I tend to ride in remote areas such as Siberia so if I don't crush it, not many people will unless they try and jump off roofs with it.

stargazer48

Thanks Rafael. I wasn't as concerned about how long it took since I understand the various parts of the folder have to be packed carefully to avoid damage. But according to the description, you have to disassemble parts (fork, chainrings)that are not designed to come apart. Perhaps, there are other methods of packing a Swift in a 29" case w/o taking off the fork. I can see removing the chainring(s) as they are pretty delicate.

Anyone else pack a Swift in a 29" case.

stargazer48

Thanks again Wav. I saw this page a week ago but forgot about it. If I'm comparing the Swift to the TR, I want to make sure that they have similar packing considerations.

SG

folder dude

Wavshrdr,

So how much did your Swift cost you? Custom bikes are way cool but they usually cost quite a bit more.

Wavshrdr

@folder dude - I have about ~$1300 in it. However that figure includes a Thudbuster and a Brooks Pro saddle which on their own are 2 spendy items. I also went with hub gears which was more expensive than the basic derailleur setup. For me it was worth every cent I spent as it is one of the most enjoyable bikes I've ridden regardless of size.

v1nce

Hey about needing to remove the Fork of a Swift in order to pack it,.. is that always so? No way around it? If so it kindoff sucks as it is one of the very few good folders that requires this. Even my chunky old Twenty fits fine with it's BMX fork in place, and that is in a Samsonite that is even a bit smaller than the Standard Oyster..

Wavshrdr

I haven't tried a 29" suitcase but in my 30" it goes without taking the fork off.

stargazer48

I emailed xootr (swift) to ask them about this. The xootr page Wav included described the packing but I don't see any mention of taking off the fork or disassembling the frame. They describe the case as being a verticle 30" and the only one I could find appears to be smaller (29x14x8=51) than the oyster (29.5x22.5x10.2=62). The images appear to show that the folder is totally apart. Something doesn't make sense.

Wav, can you comment on the 30" you used. Do I have the dimensions wrong (29x14x8=51). It does say this is the packing capacity so what is the outside dimensions? I search Yahoo and found samsonites that looked just like the one on the xoofr page.
https://www.fedderhead.com/sa30hauppu.html

Thanks

SG

stargazer48

Bruce, what are the components that you needed to change besides the freewheel. How many miles have you put in with this setup? I don't know if I need to go to the 58 but might try just one 54 1st. This would give me 98.2 to 31.8. What brands did you use? Will the chain handle the angle well for either the 11 or 34?

Thanks.

SG

Wavshrdr

Here is bag I finally settled on. It is the Samsonite 31" F'lite. I used to try and cram everything into 29" or 30" Samsonite but I had to pack most thing perfectly to get my bikes to fit (Dahons) to fit and a few accessories. When I decided I was going to buy a Swift I new the 29" would talk too long to pack so I ordered the 31" F'lite. It is a hardshell case and I have used it several times.

I will caution you that it is "slightly" over the maximum allowable limit of 62". Having said that I have never ever had an airline measure it to check it. It looks big but not BIG if you know what I mean. It never arouses any suspicion and it has severed me well. I actually bought two of them in case seomething happens to one. With a little work it can be used as a trailer to tow behind the bike and that is one of my projects at the moment. The plus to this case besides being hard sided is that it is not super heavy. It weighs in at about 15 pounds or so which for a big case isn't bad. I have also some of my bikes in my Briggs and Riley 28" expandable and it treated them well. It is soft front with strong sides.

See the F'lite here:
https://www.baggageforless.com/products.asp?cat=170

BruceMetras

SG, not sure what I 'needed' to change to run this set up, but what you see that I used is a Kinetix Pro rear wheel with an ultra-light American Classic hub. A SRAM 11/34, SRAM X-7 derailleur with thumb-shifter, and a SRAM hollow pin chain.. I've got a little over 600 miles with this configuration and haven't had any chain fall issues in any gear, however, I ride paved roads almost exclusively, and unlike Wav, I don't curb jump with it nor do acrobatic end-o's......and Wav, if your'e reading this, glad you didn't hurt yourself any worse than you did....

Bruce

Wavshrdr

Bruce- thanks for the thoughts. My shoulder is pretty messed up but I can still ride.

The Swift seems to be a jack of all bikes; very easy to make it what you want. BTW, I did find a wireless computer that seems to work well with it today. I'll post pics later when I can. It has a nice big display and has an articulated mounting bracket. Due to the limits of how far the transmitter would consitently work, I couldn't get it exactly where I wanted but I did find a good place anyway. If someone had a shorter handlebar stem they would have more flexibility.

stargazer48

Sorry if I was unclear. I am assuming you bought the a stock xootr folder so I had wanted to know what parts had to be changed to accommodate the 9 speed upgrade. Did you use the original rear wheel that came with the bike or did you have to rebuild the wheel with a diff hub?

Anyway thanks for info. I appreciate it.

SG

stargazer48

Hey Wav, so when are you going to Siberia and test drive this sucker on the tundra? I've had life changing issues on my mind (my excuse) so I neglected to ask how you were feeling after your little episode?
Hopefully, you'll heal up quickly.

SG

Wavshrdr

SG- I can't lift my arm above my chest at the moment but I can still ride. I hope to be healed up pretty soon but thanks for asking. I have to keep riding as much as possible so that I will be in condition for my next adventure. Thankfully a couple thousand milligrams of ibuprofen a day are keeping the pain tolerable. Anway if I am healed in time I plan to go back to Russia in March. If not then it will be in April. I don't like going too late in spring then roads turn muddy but in March it is "warmer" but things are still frozen. The area is the Taiga and it quite beautiful and the people are great.

Another good time to go is June and before the mosquitos get really bad. It really is beautiful there and the wildlife is amazing once you get out of the cities. If you are ever considering going there, PM or email me and I'll give you an overview. I HIGHLY recommend going to central Siberia or around Lake Baikal. You will see wildlife that exists nowhere else on earth. It truly is quite an experience. I have probably biked closed to 1500-2000 miles in Siberia over the last few years. I know most people don't think of it as being a "tourist" destination but it is amazing. I often was the only foreigner that people had ever met. I almost always never had to pay for a place to sleep but I always left something to cover my stay. By that I almost always had people invite me into their homes for the evening. There they would put me up and feed me. I always left them money to more than cover my overhead. Ususally it might have cost them $1 to stay there but I always left at least the equivalent of $10US but in Rubles.

Someday I should right a book about my travels but it was an amazing time and now I take most of my vacations in Ukraine or Russia because of the people I meet there. I still make a few trips to Europe because of the friends I made in Russia and Ukraine have family there so I shuttle things back and forth for them. You can truly tour in Russia on a bike for about $15-20US a day and have a great time.

caotropheus

Guys

Please, clarify my mind. When you write about packing the bicycle for air travel, you mean hand luggage, right?

Wavshrdr

I mean hard luggage such as a Samsonite Oyster of F'lite. Here is bag I use for transporting my folders.

https://www.baggageforless.com/products.asp?cat=170

14R 

We need to "define" hand luggage, otherwise it will remain a confusion.

Hand luggage is something you carry to the airport (with your hands, not a bulky pack) but still check it with the airline. IT DOES NOT GO WITH YOU INSIDE THE AIRPLANE, since it does not fit under the seat or on top (overhead compartment).

Just making sure we are talking the same language.

Rafael

caotropheus

Rafael

Obrigado por toda a explicação.

stargazer48

Parlez anglais s'il vous plait.

caotropheus

Bien Sur Monsieur!

Translation

"Rafael

Thank you very much for your kind and detailed explanations"