14R 

That is a nice bike...

maunakea

Anyone for "SUPERIOR RACING FUNCTION WITH SPECIFIC FOLDABLE DEVICE"?
part birdie, part sweet pea, part DT (notice the swing arm rear sus), part plain weird (double toptubes! the top toptube could be both a toptube and a handle hmmm so make it more of a handle to carry the folded bike) .
https://www.flamingobike.com/products...hp?pid=4&cid=3

My first thought: conversion to 24" wheels ... the airnimal killer

Samb76

The FL-BP01-8 looks great and 8 speeds would be very welcome.
I wonder about the quality of the other parts or whether someone will make a brompton hybrid eventually.
Shame the didn't take the oppotunity to fit different handlebars. Notice the small plastic clip in the folder picture? this was a popular DIY mod to hold the rear triangle in place on bromptons.

wubrew

David the flamingo rep. in WA also a Birdy dealer/broker https://www.birdybike.com/ returned my call today and he indicate to me that there is more than one sample/type available at his place. He also told me that he was given all the samples from the interbike show by flamingo and thinks the products are close but not quite ready for the prime time in th USA. I guess he is comparing with his other product Birdy! He also talk about setting up a net work of dealers as I guess what he had done again with Birdy. When I ask for a meeting at his convenience for eval. and test ride to compare with the brommie he promise to call me again after his return from another bike show somewhere. Stay tuned.

Samb76

Interesting news, please keep us updated.
Currently trying to get my hands on an 8 speed in the UK.
It appears the distributer here will be MERCbikes?

14R 

As fat as I know, Merc bikes are 3 or 6 speed,not 8. This "Flamingo" may be the only option, and I don't think they are associated with Merc (different frame, different web site, etc...)

wubrew

14R I talk to David again before he left for Germany for a trade show apparenty not for bicycle but for wheel chair for the CP kids that he helped design. This person is much more than I expected. He is involved more in design and developement than retail and has a large warehouse in Kent WA that takes care of everything he put his finger on! He mentioned quite alot of brands of folder and future ones. Brand like Arminal, Birdy and unheard of Reach which he is pretty excited about. Any way he agreed to have me test out half a dozen bicycle that he has at his farm in Montesano. Flamingos, Reach, latest Birdy etc after I mention I like to compare them with my brommie. As you can tell I am looking forward to this event. I shall take some shots and post them with my subjective comments.
Flamingo has nothing to do with Merc according to him. He agreed that it is a complete quality imitation
and he is glad that there will be a reasonable alternative to brommie.
As for the Jap web site here's the traslated linkyou posted https://esearch.rakuten.co.jp/rms/sd/...sf=0&sitem=PS2 if it won't connect you can google "rakuten Brompton" you will get the following link follow through after Translation by google

wubrew

And don't forget to have a GOOOOOD laugh at the translation a la google. No wonder some Japanes speak like that.
Well they have the last laugh after all. Turn out slightly cheaper there.

Samb76

This is the email i received in response to my enquiry. Make of it what you will:
Dear Sam,

Thanks for your mail.

We will have an agent to carry this bike to MercBike Limited U.K. soon in the near future. If you feel interested in FLAMINGO FL-BP01-8 folding bike, please contact with MercBike in U.K. directly.


Best Regards,

Susan Chang / Marketing Director

FLAMINGO BIKE / GRACE GALLANT ENTERPRISES. CO., LTD.

TEL: 886-4-2683-5772


FAX: 886-4-2683-1649

MOBIL: 886-938983538
E-MAIL: susanchang@flamingobike.com
WEBSITE: www.flamingobike.com

14R 

I accidentaly deleted a private message I received in regards to my Merc. If you are part of this thread please accept my forgiveness and e-mail me again so I can get back to you.

So, apparently Flamingo and Merc will merge...interesting. A compact folder with 8sp hub may be an excellent option!

wubrew

Hmmm,FL BP01-8 looks pretty compact to me. Just waiting for the test ride hopefully next week. I do not know what their plan in the USA is. Find out soon.

wubrew

For those of you still checking in here's some thing to chew on
https://www.pacific-cycles.com/
''Reach" a hybrid between Arminal/Birdy/Brompton!
No wonder David the rep is so excited over!
The same company makes Birdy too! What a coincidence eh!

14R 

I'm still curious about the 8spd version of the Flamingo.

wubrew

14R as promised here are the pics and the take.
David the rep live @ a gorgeous 120 acres horse farm. The day I went was a perfect day there. He first let me try a few of his latest inventions: a foldable trikes,etc then Reach https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/242226-reach.html, quite a few Birdy ( everyone except the monocoque which he did not have that day @ his farm). By then I have almost forgotten about the "raison d'etre". Then he brought out the Flamingo. Retrospectively I now understand that he was giving me a chance to really evaluate the Immitation Brommie against Birdy, ReachX3 and Brompton 6ML which I brought along.
The road infront the span of the farm was paved and about 1/8-1/4 mile of straight hill. I took the FL for a spin and all other bike as well.
1) It's definitely smoother ride than my Brommie. I made it up the hill with some effort. But I cannot do that with my 6ML. Compare to Birdy no way! The Birdy 9 speed beats every one hands down. Funny the Birdy 9 speed is nearly as easy to climb hill as the one with the Rohloff that he has. Anyway we are here for FL<sig>
A few thing that FL has improved on. A mechanism to keep the rear wheel locked when its unfolded. Of course the 8 speed. And the shift mechanism is more inline with the age that we are in (grip shift). It also come with all the rings and dings standard ie not very useful but nostalgic dynamo+lamp. Over all this Bicycle stands to become a worthy competitor of Brompton. Enough said here are some pics and links. I added some of David's shots with Reach the Rohloff Birdy and Birdy with the pedelec.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=242226
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1230.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1229.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1234.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1233.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1232.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1226.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1225.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1227.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1228.jpg
Price? We dicussed that. I think it is going to be between the price of similar Dahon and the Birdy. Keep you posted when he decides to debut. I am still assimilating the experience with this remarkable man.

14R 

Thank you for the pictures. It seems like the Flamingo Bike is an upgraded merc. I look fwd for the price.