downtube

Just got back from the Taipei Show (hence my inactivity on this forum in the last few days).

Folding bike news from the show:
#1 GoBike has added a Canadian and German distributor. These bikes should be available in the US and Europe soon.
#2 Pacific Cycle, manufacturer of the Birdy, has added a Canadian distributor. This should drop prices in the US and Canada.
#3 Many new folding bikes and parts. Wheeler and Oyama had some nice high end folders.
#4 Dahon did not introduce anything new, however they had many test bikes.
#5 Neobike was a no-show
#6 Several Folding Recumbent trikes were at the show.
#7 Huge advances in electic motors.
#8 Many copies of the Mobiky and a few of the Brompton.
#9 Strida's (and clones) were very popular at the show. I think Strida has a new owner with better distribution. They also recieved a 2nd place award for engineering excellence hence recieved alot of hype at the show.

Downtube News:
#1 We will introduce a 26" folder in August 2007.
#2 We will begin testing Electric bikes at the end of the summer...hopefully in 2008 we will have an electric lineup.
#3 We may import a Brompton copy in 2008.
#4 We are adding bags, sunglasses, and clothing to our product line in 2007.
#5 We are opening a new shop in Ocracoke Island next week. I will staff it on weekends in April and will staff it full time in May (after I finish teaching). If our two shops do well we will open more in 2008.

Thanks,
Yan

Speedo

It's been a while since I visted Ocracoke. It strikes me as being somewhat, well, out of the way. I was there in the spring. Does it pick up much in summer?

(edit) Maybe I've got the wrong Ocracoke. Is it Ocracoke, NC, on the outer banks? (/edit)
Speedo

Baldone

Yan, that is exactly what I was looking for! If it is anything like the foldability of the brompton and the interchangablity and price of the downtube. Consider one already sold.

DVC45

Exciting news indeed!
Any chance for a S.A. hub equiped NS? How about an adjustable suspension for DT's? Are those E-bikes going to be on a DT bike platform?
Thanks!

downtube

SA NS has been in the works for a while and will be in the US around June. ebikes will be on a Downtube platform. The ebike will have the entire motor at the BB, hence it will be a true power assist.

Thanks,
Yan

downtube

Importing these is dependant on sales of our current models. If we continue to sell out we will probably take the risk. If sales of the current models is not as brisk it will go on the backburner with a few other ideas.

Thanks,
Yan

downtube

Not sure if it picks up much. I have been going there every weekend all winter long and fell in love with the island. A few weeks ago a shop on the docks was up for rent, hence I took it. I can manage everything from the island....so why not hang there for the summer.

We will also sell/rent kayaks and dive gear.

Thanks,
Yan

Speedo

It is very pretty there. Well, good luck!

Speedo

DVC45

Great! ' can't wait to see those.

SesameCrunch

$#@$%^ Curses, curses, curses to you, Yan!!!!

Just when I get close to buying every item in your product line, you go and add more!

Now I got to break into the kid's college fund again. At this rate, he may end up in community college instead of Stanford. Sheesh!

PS: Brompton copy sounds real good, like Baldone said...

14R 

Brompton copy, Downtube price. THERE IS a God.

Make it available before the end of the year and I will take it with me to Italy!

downtube

No worries our bikes will always be very cost effective....no breaking into college funds for our bikes

Yan

SesameCrunch

My sister has a place in Rome. She admired my NS and said she could really use it for their apartment there, so I gave it to her. She wants another folder. I was thinking that the upcoming DT Brommie would be even better for that purpose!

JosephLMonti

Can we expect a new generation of the other DT staples in June as well?

downtube

The new generation bikes will arrive in January 2008. I can not continue changing bikes at the pace I did 2 years ago. This year I am focused on marketing and sales....not changing much.

Thanks,
Yan

flatlander_48

Really envious here as this is the first Taipei that I've missed of the last four. Sounds like it was another good show!

bookishboy

Brompton copy? Sign me up!

Just curious what wheel size you envision for the bikes, and what rear dropout spacing you plan on. Are we talking 16" wheels? 20"? Standard hub sizes or weird Brompton hub sizes?

Also, if you need anyone in the PA area to beta test either the Brompton clones or the electric-assist, I'd be happy to. (schmooze schmooze) The electric assist I'd probably turn back over to you at the end of it, but I'd likely buy the Brompton clone at the end of the test period.

Lastly: Any worries about violating Brompton's "copyrighted appearance", even if the patents have expired?

bookishboy

Added:

Yan, if you're looking for ideas in the future, my next request (after the Brompton clone) would be for some sort of recumbent option. Either a partnership with Cruzbikes for kits which are tailored to your DT models, or something original, a folding recumbent from DT. I understand that this would be further down the line, if at all.... but may not be too much of a risk, if you partner with someone like Cruzbike who already offers conversion kits.

DaFriMon

A Downton or Bromptube could be interesting, especially if it had adjustable height bars and better brakes, like a Merc. Would have to see the details. At some point, though, most of us just have to stop buying bikes and stick with what we've got for a few years. Amazing how many makes and models there are now, that are worth considering. And yet, since I got my first folder in 1995, I think I've only encountered one other folder rider outside of New York City.

James H Haury

When did Pacific Cycle Buy out Reise and Mueller?

downtube

It was not much different than the last four shows....you didn't miss much.

Thanks,
Yan

makeinu

I don't think they bought them out, I think they just manufacture the Birdy for them.

flatlander_48

Yeah, but it's a good excuse to hang out with bike people and that's always a good thing. Besides, I've learned a lot from talking to folks from Ritchey, FSA, Selle Italia, Continental, etc.

downtube

I worry about everything, however I do not believe Brompton has any copyrighted apprearance. Thus far only Neobike had problems importing a Brompton clone in Europe. I thought it was a patent issue, however I was told it was a contract issue. FYI Neobike manufactured Bromptons a long time ago, however they lost the account due to poor quality control.

Thanks,
Yan

maunakea

Neither copyrights nor trademarks can protect functionality... that is the exclusive turf of patent protection. Copyright is the expression of an idea, not the idea or functional structure... the graphic design printed on a fabric, not the fabric yarn. Trademarks are words, symbols, designs, sounds, etc., use to identify the origin of goods. The shape of the Coke bottle, but not bottles themselves (inherent functionality, like bottles holding fluids, is permitted in trademarks, but not protected by trademark).

Great news for DT, Yan. I, too, would buy a DT improvement of a Brompton. What a fold!

Neo-Bike not showing means something must be very wrong in Neoland. Nothing new on their website for a long time.