Reach
#1
Thread Starter
Car free since 1995
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 10
From: NYC
Bikes: M5 Carbon High Racer, Trek Emonda SL6
Reach
Anyone know anything about this bike? If the glowing review is to be believed, it looks to be the ideal folder: https://www.pacific-cycles.com/
#2
Seņor Mambo

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 34
From: Fremont, CA
Bikes: TST roadie, Cannondale CAAD 3, Surly Karate Stokemonkey Leap, Tern Cargo Node, Helix Alfine; 36er and 29er Triton Unicycles; a couple Bike Fridays; one Brompton; RadPower Radburro
"Ideal folder"? Why?
#3
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Washington
Bikes: Specialized, Trek, Brompton
I have the opportunity to be one of the lucky few to try out the road version on reach from David @ Rad-Innovations.com the distributer of Reach. Here's my take.
1) Very user friendly once you get used to the taking apart and putting it together. Definitely need to be shown how to get it done efficiently.
2) Very ajustable Stems Handle & Seat. I am 5'10" there is still afew " of stem length left for the handle bar and tons left for the seat post.
3) Very smooth ride. I took it down to a paved trail in Richland WA. The famous Columbia River Trail that span the Tri city river front of Richland, Kennewick & Pasco. The Richland part is about 10 miles long with short interval of hill but mainly flat. The ride was smooth. The Shift was very resposive. The only annoying thing is the clicking coming from the front wheel area. Cover the round trip in <1 hour (go figure!).
The other two model I have not tried. I will give the report when I get a chance.
Here are some shots I took.

https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1303.jpg









I hope this is not too much info. I am sure this will give a good alternative to Bike Friday at a very UN Bike Friday $$$$.
1) Very user friendly once you get used to the taking apart and putting it together. Definitely need to be shown how to get it done efficiently.
2) Very ajustable Stems Handle & Seat. I am 5'10" there is still afew " of stem length left for the handle bar and tons left for the seat post.
3) Very smooth ride. I took it down to a paved trail in Richland WA. The famous Columbia River Trail that span the Tri city river front of Richland, Kennewick & Pasco. The Richland part is about 10 miles long with short interval of hill but mainly flat. The ride was smooth. The Shift was very resposive. The only annoying thing is the clicking coming from the front wheel area. Cover the round trip in <1 hour (go figure!).
The other two model I have not tried. I will give the report when I get a chance.
Here are some shots I took.

https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1303.jpg









I hope this is not too much info. I am sure this will give a good alternative to Bike Friday at a very UN Bike Friday $$$$.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Washington
Bikes: Specialized, Trek, Brompton
I think these links will do more justice.
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1290.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1291.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1292.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1293.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1294.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1295.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1227.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1304.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1296.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1303.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1301.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1299.jpg
Pricing info.? Stay tuned.
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1290.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1291.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1292.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1293.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1294.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1295.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1227.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1304.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1296.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1303.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1301.jpg
https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/DSCN1299.jpg
Pricing info.? Stay tuned.
#6
Member, Schmember
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Bikes: Bike Friday Crusoe and Pocket Tourist. Dahon Curve D3 and Speed P8. Raleigh Twenty. Bianchi Eros. Highly modified Mongoose Dynametric (hybrid)
Originally Posted by wubrew
I am sure this will give a good alternative to Bike Friday at a very UN Bike Friday $$$$.
But now that I look on the other Reach thread, I see prices there.
#7
Seņor Mambo

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 34
From: Fremont, CA
Bikes: TST roadie, Cannondale CAAD 3, Surly Karate Stokemonkey Leap, Tern Cargo Node, Helix Alfine; 36er and 29er Triton Unicycles; a couple Bike Fridays; one Brompton; RadPower Radburro
You've got to applaud any manufacturer who's trying to break into the high end folding bike market, but it seems a bike that "rides well" is not going to cut it anymore. Problem is, most bikes at the high end ride well and there are a slew of bikes in the mid to lower range which can ride just as well with few modifications and are cheaper. Don't know if Reach can make an impact here but we'll see. If they're trying to position themselves to take on Birdy or Dahon's Jetstream, they'll have to come up with a better price than what they've proposed. But frankly, I don't see them offering much more than what a Swift or Downtube offer, in terms of aluminum bikes of course.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Washington
Bikes: Specialized, Trek, Brompton
There are only two ditributors in the USA.
https://edinabike.com/map.cfm?StoreID=1 in the midwest and the other is
https://www.rad-innovations.com/.
As far as I know none of them has set the price yet.
https://edinabike.com/map.cfm?StoreID=1 in the midwest and the other is
https://www.rad-innovations.com/.
As far as I know none of them has set the price yet.
#9
Thread Starter
Car free since 1995
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 10
From: NYC
Bikes: M5 Carbon High Racer, Trek Emonda SL6
After reading the initial review, I was very impressed. Then I realized that you have to take the front wheel off to get a decent fold. That seems kind of silly to me. Also, I don't want to diss anyone, but shopping for Birdys, I had one dealer tell me that Rad-Innovations is extremely flakey and they were no longer carrying the bike. I experienced this firsthand when I emailed to ask a question and they didn't get back to me.
#10
Seņor Mambo

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,408
Likes: 34
From: Fremont, CA
Bikes: TST roadie, Cannondale CAAD 3, Surly Karate Stokemonkey Leap, Tern Cargo Node, Helix Alfine; 36er and 29er Triton Unicycles; a couple Bike Fridays; one Brompton; RadPower Radburro
The weird thing is that any distributor who has ever tried to distribute Birdies has never done it for very long in the U.S. I don't know why, but it seems R&M don't really care about the U.S. market; witness that hardly anyone has been able to get one of the new monocoque frames though they've debuted it for a few years now. Also, the price they sell for is a deal breaker for most since you're in the custom bike price range with their intro model.
If Burley dropped Birdy after distributing them for only a few years, then you know something is wrong. This was during Burley's heyday too when they had tremendous pull in the bike market.
If Burley dropped Birdy after distributing them for only a few years, then you know something is wrong. This was during Burley's heyday too when they had tremendous pull in the bike market.
#11
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
The fork on your Reach bike is on BACKWARDS! The fork is a trailing link affair - not a leading link. The photos above all show the fork mounted backwards. That may have accounted for the "clicking" sound you heard during your ride.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma Washington
Bikes: Specialized, Trek, Brompton
Originally Posted by pm124
Rad-Innovations is extremely flakey and they were no longer carrying the bike. I experienced this firsthand when I emailed to ask a question and they didn't get back to me.
Last edited by wubrew; 11-13-06 at 11:21 AM.





