Brompton vs. Tikit
#77
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It's that top tube and lack of ahead stem which was the killer for me: at 5'11" I found the bike more or less unrideable for long distances. I like the Brompton a lot. But tall people make significant sacrifices to ride it.
It's an age old argument and I notice most of the most critics of the Brompton hail from the US and don't appreciate it's price or functionality as much.
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So there is a Tikit and there is a Brompton. So they compare the Tikit with the Brompton. And they compare the Dahon with the Brompton, and they compare the Gobike with the Brompton, etc.
What's the raison they always compare with Brompton?
But maybe that's another question...
IMO the best bike is the bike that fits you the best. If that is a Dahon, Bike Friday, Birdy,Gobike, Buzzbike etc, who cares. . .
I did choose the Brompton. Did try a Tikit, but for now not my bike. But if I could afford a Moulton, ...
What's the raison they always compare with Brompton?
But maybe that's another question...
IMO the best bike is the bike that fits you the best. If that is a Dahon, Bike Friday, Birdy,Gobike, Buzzbike etc, who cares. . .
I did choose the Brompton. Did try a Tikit, but for now not my bike. But if I could afford a Moulton, ...
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I actually see that story as being a major advantage of the Tikit.
Short wrap up.
Some bikes developed cracks. Before it even had a chance to pop up on online forums, Bike Friday recalled those bikes, and sent out easy fixes, that didn't require sending the bikes in to Bike Friday or even going to a store, within a couple weeks.
Show me another bike company that handled a similar situation as well or as quickly ...
Short wrap up.
Some bikes developed cracks. Before it even had a chance to pop up on online forums, Bike Friday recalled those bikes, and sent out easy fixes, that didn't require sending the bikes in to Bike Friday or even going to a store, within a couple weeks.
Show me another bike company that handled a similar situation as well or as quickly ...
#80
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Class act, if you ask me.
Note: I don't own a tikit, just impressed with how they handled it ...
#81
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I think it is ok, but far from being impressive.
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You're impressed with a band-aid solution? You're impressed with a solution that ruined the Tikit's rolling capability?
#83
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I'm a Brommie and tikit owner and just toured on the tikit in Bintan, Indonesia. 200km on it, sometimes over pretty bad roads, got me really impressed on the performance of the tikit. I dare say its a superior bike for touring compared to the Brompton but you don't have to agree with me. Here's why...
https://lovethefold.blogspot.com/2009...indonesia.html
https://lovethefold.blogspot.com/2009...indonesia.html

#84
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I'm a Brommie and tikit owner and just toured on the tikit in Bintan, Indonesia. 200km on it, sometimes over pretty bad roads, got me really impressed on the performance of the tikit. I dare say its a superior bike for touring compared to the Brompton but you don't have to agree with me. Here's why...

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#88
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Hey Oldies! I was just at that same ferry terminal in Singapore with 2 Bike Fridays! (A NWT and a Tikit!)
Did the baggage handlers give you a y grief? They did not want us to put the bikes through security, so we walked them through the baggage gate ourselves....
Did the baggage handlers give you a y grief? They did not want us to put the bikes through security, so we walked them through the baggage gate ourselves....
#89
Small wheels ARE better!
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We just paid $10 and the baggage handlers took care of the bikes for us... Was told we cant fold it and walk it to the ferry ourselves. The authorities need to be educated about foldies me thinkz. So where did you cycle to ChiapasFixed?

#90
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did around 1000kms in Sumatra and Malaysia. The Tikit was great to get on ferries and buses, the only "authorities" that hassled us were at the mall terminal in Singapore.
Perhaps a Brommie would have been a bit easier to squeeze into some of the boats and stuff, but I doubt it would have ridden as nicely on the rough roads or the amazing descent to lake Manijau:
Perhaps a Brommie would have been a bit easier to squeeze into some of the boats and stuff, but I doubt it would have ridden as nicely on the rough roads or the amazing descent to lake Manijau:
#91
Small wheels ARE better!
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Lake Maninjau - I was there and know exactly what you mean abt the 44 hair pin descend! I crossed from Medan to Sibolga thru Lake Toba. The ride was absolutely amazing. I love Sumatra! Do you have pics and report on your ride? Mine is here written by my buddy Chris. I was on a Surly LHT on this trip:
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...ra&context=all
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...ra&context=all
#92
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tikit is best
on the days i dont cycle to work i see loads of bromptons neatly folded on the tram...looks like people have bromptons just for pose value. a real cyclist would:
1 ride the bike to work
2 get a tikit
someone who buys a bike to show off, use it for 2 months in summer and then never use it again (or go 100m to bus stop and then 100m to work) and then say "oh yes i cycle to work every day."..would definately get a brompton
best use for a folding bike is to stop people stealing it
1 ride the bike to work
2 get a tikit
someone who buys a bike to show off, use it for 2 months in summer and then never use it again (or go 100m to bus stop and then 100m to work) and then say "oh yes i cycle to work every day."..would definately get a brompton
best use for a folding bike is to stop people stealing it
#94
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on the days i dont cycle to work i see loads of bromptons neatly folded on the tram...looks like people have bromptons just for pose value. a real cyclist would:
1 ride the bike to work
2 get a tikit
someone who buys a bike to show off, use it for 2 months in summer and then never use it again (or go 100m to bus stop and then 100m to work) and then say "oh yes i cycle to work every day."..would definately get a brompton
best use for a folding bike is to stop people stealing it
1 ride the bike to work
2 get a tikit
someone who buys a bike to show off, use it for 2 months in summer and then never use it again (or go 100m to bus stop and then 100m to work) and then say "oh yes i cycle to work every day."..would definately get a brompton
best use for a folding bike is to stop people stealing it

And that is true the best trait for a folder is that it's theft proof! unless you are my co worker! yeah can't really trust those shirt and dresspants wearing hippies! the techies where eyeing it already!
#95
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Hooray for the strida 5.
It's a great concept. And hooray for Mark Sanders....even if I did secretly call his iF Mode the foldable steamroller.....
Just for the record. I still think the Brompton is the better bike overall. I just think that the tikit doesn't offer much more convenience than a seperable bike. It's cool to analyse the innovation BF employed to modify their usual fold into something else, but the rolling-while-folded feature didn't really work out for me. The tikit does offer a better ride, but stuff like a flexible front that requires you to treat it gently means that it isn't as a forgiving bike as the overly engineered brompton.
I do agree that the Brompton fit is either a hit or miss. It's a hit for me, but I recognize the fact that many many more would not have found it comfortable.
Bromptons for poseurs? hmm. Will have to agree to disagree there. Gosh. Stop trolling. Bad troll...... hyuk hyuk

Just for the record. I still think the Brompton is the better bike overall. I just think that the tikit doesn't offer much more convenience than a seperable bike. It's cool to analyse the innovation BF employed to modify their usual fold into something else, but the rolling-while-folded feature didn't really work out for me. The tikit does offer a better ride, but stuff like a flexible front that requires you to treat it gently means that it isn't as a forgiving bike as the overly engineered brompton.
I do agree that the Brompton fit is either a hit or miss. It's a hit for me, but I recognize the fact that many many more would not have found it comfortable.
Bromptons for poseurs? hmm. Will have to agree to disagree there. Gosh. Stop trolling. Bad troll...... hyuk hyuk
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on the days i dont cycle to work i see loads of bromptons neatly folded on the tram...looks like people have bromptons just for pose value. a real cyclist would:
1 ride the bike to work
2 get a tikit
someone who buys a bike to show off, use it for 2 months in summer and then never use it again (or go 100m to bus stop and then 100m to work) and then say "oh yes i cycle to work every day."..would definately get a brompton
best use for a folding bike is to stop people stealing it
1 ride the bike to work
2 get a tikit
someone who buys a bike to show off, use it for 2 months in summer and then never use it again (or go 100m to bus stop and then 100m to work) and then say "oh yes i cycle to work every day."..would definately get a brompton
best use for a folding bike is to stop people stealing it
#99
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Obviously if you absolutely need a supercompact fold, the Brompton is the bike to get. But I think you are dramatically downplaying the tradeoffs made with the Brompton in order to achieve that: a great many custom parts, with some [brakes] of low quality; a very small, cramped effective top tube, about the size of the *smallest* Tikit; no real ahead stem options; few, and poor, gearing options; slow folding; etc.
It's that top tube and lack of ahead stem which was the killer for me: at 5'11" I found the bike more or less unrideable for long distances. I like the Brompton a lot. But tall people make significant sacrifices to ride it.
Perhaps. Or maybe Britain consists entirely of hobbits. :-)
It's that top tube and lack of ahead stem which was the killer for me: at 5'11" I found the bike more or less unrideable for long distances. I like the Brompton a lot. But tall people make significant sacrifices to ride it.
Perhaps. Or maybe Britain consists entirely of hobbits. :-)
[quote=brommie;9201309]What's the raison they always compare with Brompton?
But maybe that's another question...
QUOTE]
Yes thats IS the problem.
This convention needs to change.
The bike is a good package, but over rated, and over reviewed and is not "the cure all tonic" in commuting. Mezzo critisied a review of their D9 for having more refferences to the Brompton in than the reviewed bike!
I would love to see a more vairied reviews ie a DIblasi or other bikes also.
#100
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Also, if someone actually rode the Brompton to work (without the tram)...is that person still posing?
What about if a person brought a Tikit onto the tram...real cyclist or not?
Brompton, Tikit, or whatever...I think it's great that people want to ride...regardless if it's the entire way to work...or just part of their commute.
You're definitely entitled to your opinion...but it's wrong.