First off I am new to folders and have recently obtained a bike friday new world tourist. I figure the next time I travel to Europe or elsewhere I'll be able to hitchhike and tour with the bike. This past summer I toured Western Europe for the first time, which was a learning experience. I now know that one can never be prepared enough, so with the new bike I was wondering if you all could spare some advice from touring with a folder to just useful information on 3 speed hubs and the such.

The first question is are your touring on your folder, or touring and taking your folder? There's a big difference.
see also https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/

Bikes are dirty greasey things. If part of your touring involves bringing it into the passager area of public transportation make sure you have a bag to put it in, or wrap it in a painters tarp secured with bungee cords. As a practical matter the conductor is much less likely to eject you from the train if your bike is wrapped.

Plan ahead, think about the consequences of your actions, use common sense and make sure you have enough cash and insurance to solve any problems you get into.

Touring with my New World Tourist hasn't been much different from touring with my older non-folding bikes. The advantages to my NWT have been: fewer hassles and no fees when flying, and the ability to take it on some forms of public transportation which don't allow regular bikes. For the latter, I pack it in a carrying bag as suggested above. I do find that it's very cumbersome to carry, however. Maybe you're bigger and stronger than I am. I've had mine for 6+ years, I've toured all over the world with it, and I've had no problems with the 3 speed hub. My last trip was a few months ago in Sri Lanka, and I was amazed how many favorable comments I got from locals there (who didn't realize it folds). They just seemed to like the way it looks.

My rear rack just broke this week, but at least I wasn't on tour. I can't think of a single serious problem I've had with it on tour.

Well I would be touring on the bike first and only hitchhiking with it occasionally. I am really interested in experiences with gear and what to expect when traveling with such a bike in poorer countries. Would it draw more unwanted attention or similar problems? Axolotl, you said your rear rack broke, was it the one bf offers and any specific reason it broke? I am thinking I should buy that one because I assume it is made to fold better with the bike than other racks. I also think I'll pass on the front racks and get the bf trailer so it would easier to use the solar roll I bought and to bring the suitcase since I'll be packing the bike up sometimes for hitchhiking. I am pretty sure I know everything I "need" to know with touring, but I just want to hear some stories and experiences since I cannot wait until I can hit the road again.

kurt

The rack which broke was the "regular" rack BF sells, not their pricey folding rack. The weld broke where the 2 right stays come together. I can buy a normal rack and attach the long custom parts from my broken rack. The rack was 6+ years old, like the bike. Not sure why or even precisely when it broke, even though I use it every day. I use the bike for running errands all the time, and generally only carry groceries on one side--the side where the weld broke apart. I had thrown it in my car a few times lately, too.

As for touring in poorer countries, I think that a BF with its small wheels doesn't look as fancy as most road bikes and mountain bikes, even though a BF can easily cost more. I don't think a BF attracts more attention in poorer countries, though it seems to in wealthier countries. Most people have no idea that it folds, esp. in poorer countries.