EastBiker

It certainly wins hands down in the cracked frame category.

Biont

There is no hands-down winner in folding bike category unless the criterion is limited to a few subjective.

Multimodal transport, elegance, might be fitted with smal electric motor : Brompton
Ride quality, standard components, speed of fold, : Tikit

Ride quality, 30 km daily commute, Bionx electric motor fittable ! : Birdy might be better for me.


I now understand why folder owners is likely to get more than 1 or 2 bikes soon. I want all three and more !

feijai

Do you have anything else to contribute to the discussion?

EastBiker

Hey aren't you the guy who has no experience on the Brompton yet you singled it out as being vastly inferior to your Tikit?

invisiblehand

https://www.diblasi.co.uk/Caratterist...Prd=R22&Lng=En

Seat
adjustable in 4 positions:
minimum height from the ground: 87 cm
maximum height from the ground: 101 cm

feijai

I can't think of any reason a Tikit can't be straightforwardly outfitted with a brushless rear electric hub. Don't know of anyone who's done it though.

feijai

I'm a guy who has actually tested both bikes (and Dahons) side by side. My claims are backed up with actual testing and data. You are the troll who sits around thinking of new ways of using the word "frame crack" in a message.

Speaking of which, is there a troll-banning policy on the board?

Lalato

I really don't understand why anyone would hate a bike so much. Tikits are good bikes. Bromptons are good bikes. Both have qualities I like. Both have qualities I dislike. I opted for a Tikit because it fit my needs better. I needed something that fit my size, folded fast and that I could wheel about easily. I also happened to find a used one at a price I could afford (barely). If I had found a Brompton, I might have jumped on that.

Come on folks... there is a difference between advocating for a bike you love and denigrating others. I see no need to denigrate a Brompton or a Tikit or a DiBlasi or a Birdy... (you get the idea). They're all good bikes, and depending on your needs, they might be perfect for you.

What's the point of this thread anyway? Well... back to work for me.

--sam

mup24

In the entire history of the Interwebs there has never been an 'x vs. y' thread that has not denegerated like this one. One must just roll with the flow.

As for the Tikit, I am upset at Bike Friday because they did not include a coupon for free alterations of my favorite jeans which are all now too big because I have been riding my Tikit so much.

Joako

If you can afford any of these bikes, then you might have a high probability of affording both bikes. Therefore, why not buy both bikes and sell the one you dislike after a few weeks/month, or keep both? Both bikes have a good resale value.

kamtsa

EastBiker, it's is only a small crack in one location on the frame. Don't focus on the negative side, 99% of the frame is not cracked.

Kam

karprive

Just curious, but is the Tikit still rideable with the crack? Anyone have the crack and the BF suggested fix...still feel confident/safe riding it?

I like the comment about owning both (I almost bought one 3 months ago)...and I would like to eventually (hopefully) add a Tikit to my lineup...but the manufacturing fixes/upgrades (changing the cable/folding mechanism and crack potential) have made me a bit nervous. While it's great that BF makes these fixes, I would feel more comfortable purchasing the bike after BF has done some longer-term testing and quality control checks.

I think I'll wait another model year to see what happens with the Tikit...however, if more upgrades occur, I'll probably pass on BF products altogether.

I'm sure it's no different than an automobile company recalling vehicles and making repairs...but it doesn't make me feel safe or happy...and I do try to avoid manufacturers/products that have low reliability ratings.

alhedges

Actually, aside from Eastbiker's, umm, cracks, this has been a fairly productive thread.

mup24

Ok, I'll agree. To me the best advice was to buy 'em both

feijai

It's not that safe to ride with the crack. But the crack has been appearing in a fairly easily replaceable part. If the crack appears, BF is replacing the part free of charge. If the crack hasn't appeared yet, or if you have had the part replaced, BF has a brace to install which will prevent it from doing so.

ChiapasFixed

indeed, many bike co's would do well to learn about innovative r & d....
as for the crack, well all frames do crack eventually, if you ride them. few companies will replace them even years lates (as BF will: is there anything unclear about lifetime guarantee?)

The reason I suggested the Tikit wins hands down in its category -which, in my opinion, is Functional Daily Folding Bike, as opposed to Packable or Collapsible Bike (Airnimals, Xootr Swifts, other Bike Fridays, most Pacific bikes). This category features ease of rolling of the folded bike (which discounts Dahons and similar designs), as well as a fast, easy fold that will not get you dirty and you can take on public transport- but I digress... The Reasons Tikit wins are the many points brought up before which have not been rivaled by any other folder in this category as far as I know, nor have they been disputed in this thread (which, at the risk of sounding redundant, is why I suggested a clear victory for the Tikit):

-Easily adaptable to ANY gearing system (including fixed gear or IGH without the need for a tensioner)
-Capable of fully loaded touring
-Custom build (for a very low premium)
-Lifetime guarantee
-Disc brake option
to that I may add
-Constant innovation (in my opinion, a bonus, esp. when the company will offer to retrofit innovations to old bikes for FREE!)

There has been alot of innovation in the last 25 years. Brommie is a timeless design, yes, but it needs some uptading in the performance department, in my humble opinion.

I still stand by my first bit of advice to the OP: Get them both if you can, they are both good bikes. If I had them both, I would end up selling the Brommie (if I had to) simply because I cant carry as much on it when touring, and it dosent ride as nice (AND the brakes are dubious), but I am sure the OP can make his own desicion based on his own needs, and may very well end up keping them both, and for good reasons too.

I love all bikes.

bhkyte

-1
no thanks.

bhkyte

Quote (Can you really not adjust the DiBlasi's seatpost? That seems extremely...limiting).

As mentioned on the web site, it is adjustable in 4 positions: This is a mixed bag really.

The twin seat post does not need inserting to fold, rather like the tikit. This speeds up the fold and results in it being at the right height automatically when unfolded it also means the seat is more difficult to steal. Something that I appreciate on a Brompton, but the Brompton set up drove me nuts.

On my older Diblasi there were 2 wing nuted carriage bolts to undo if you wanted to alter the seat height for a different person.
There was only just enough insert for me. However one could always add a longer piece of tubing and alter it accordingly. The 16" fitted up to about my height of 5"10, and could easily fit a 6" person or more by adding longer tubing. About 2" was possible before it would get in the way of the fold. The seatpost is a loose fit as it does not use a seat post clamp and therefore extending the seatpost tubing will not require finding the exact diametre tubing. I feel the 20" will not suffer from this problem due to its greater height, and maybe Diblasi have addressed this problem over time anyway.

I would still love to hear an owners review of the R22,I started a thread ,but no responses as yet.

OldiesONfoldies

"I really don't understand why anyone would hate a bike so much. Tikits are good bikes. Bromptons are good bikes..."

Yes, tell us Eastbiker why you hate the tikit so much. I really love to understand your extreme prejudice.

tmac100

I am starting to emulate women and their shoes - aka you can never have enough shoes.

So with me it is bicycles. I have a custom built 2 wheeler that cost me just over $2000 Canadian to put together - thanks to an excellent Canadian custom builder who used S&S connectors and (supplied by me) Phil 48 hole hubs. Damn thing weighs 40 pounds without bags, but man is it strong. Not stopping there - I got a Greenspeed GTO 2 years ago and last year I got a set of plans and the 3 wheels and front axles to build another GTO... I also just purchased my first folder - a modified Raleigh 20 with drum brakes front and back and a SRAM rear 3-speed hub. Now to strip it down and powder coat the frame...

That said, I just missed out on a couple of 6-speed Brommies that could be rebuilt, etc and custom powder coated. But as the missis said "You have enough on your plate right now. Get the projects finished then start on another..."

Heck, I doubt that I could bicycle across Australia or Canada with any of the folders I have seen. The 2-wheeler and GTO fill that bill nicely. However, a folder is nice for city travel, etc. Any one will do the job fine - but all are like men and women: flawed :-( Alas, there is NO IDEAL single bike out there.

There!! I said it......

I don't want to keep watching a pissing contenst continue over cracked frames or electric-power etc. I rode a handicapped electric cart for over a year and am VERY happy my leg injuries have healed: I use both legs to do what they were created for: to power myself by swimming, walking and bicycling.

Don't need no electricity and if my frame is cracked it can get fixed - anywhere. That is why all three 'cycles I own have steel frames. Repair options include: brazed, welded, TIG'd, epoxied and fiberglassed temporarily.

Besides, while I ride whatever I can now, in 50 years it won't matter to me what is out there - even a Jetson styled 2-wheeler, 'cause I won't be around to use one. Ride on, and enjoy what you have NOW..... as in today. We are wasting time at our keyboards today ;-)

edwong3

Which is why I believe that any "x vs y" thread invites trouble. People need to understand that why suits one person, may not suit another.

But I guess this forum needs some "excitement" every now and then.

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

tmac-100

I took my 61 y.o body out for a spin tonight on my 30 (??) y.o. Raleigh 20 and started to wonder: "Why do I need a modern folder? Why don't I just get another Twenty and 'hot rod' it up with a better rear hub, or even make it into a single speed - aka Sheldon Brown (RIP)?" Hummm. Can you do THAT with a modern foldie********** Just wonderin'.....

Lalato

Actually... yes you can. We see folks on the forums doing all sorts of "hot rodding" with their modern folders. From SS conversions to recumbent conversions.

--sam

mulleady

I had this argument with feijai a while back lol! Based on YOUR tests and YOUR opinion feijai!

For me I'll have a Brompton over Tikit any day for commuting. It's a superior commute and go bike and folds much more compact. The Brompton will always outsell the Tikit and for obvious reasons.

And to repeat no I'm not a Bromptomite as I love all folders and have a Dahon Cadenza 08 which is a also a fine folding bike for its purposes.

feijai get over it, if you love your Tikit then enjoy it rather than debating the shortcomings of the Brompton lol! What are you trying to prove?

mulleady

I think you are being wound up feijai and should not take comments that 'disrespect' the Tikit so seriously.

I thought the cracks thing quite ironic as it arose just after the time you first sung the praises of the Tikit. I wonder was eastbiker's comment just sheer opportunism lol?

Any bike can have a recall or safety issue. Even Mercedes has recalls in their time with cars and that's rare. the Brompton is a more mature product than the Tikit but it had its teething problems earlier on but mostly with the spokes and the brakes.