Upgrades for my Tikit
 

PDR said it was getting quiet around here so I thought I would start a thread...

I got a job a month ago (after a little over a month of unemployment). So I'm going to treat myself. This winter I'll be doing some upgrades to my Bike Friday Tikit. It's pretty much a standard large hyperfold model.

Here are the upgrades I'm thinking about...

• new Ergon grips... never made the effort to buy them (even though I complain about the grips any time I ride for extended periods of time.
• rear rack... I have the front rack, but I think I would like the rear for the additional stability while folded
• swap rear triangle and conver to IGH or possibly a SRAM 3x9... this is the really expensive upgrade, but I think ultimately it will be worth it for the hills around here.
• shower cap bag... I bought my Tikit used, and it didn't come with this bag. Probably time to get it
• new handlebar... I'm seriously considering mustache or commuter style bars. I'm not super aggressive when I ride so this should fit my style of riding pretty well

Your thoughts, comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
--sam

No clue on the grips, but would be interested to see what type of handle bar change you come up with. I am STILL saving pennies, nickels and dimes (quarters are for laundry) to get a high end folder. I have yet to see a tikit in person, but when I get a bit closer to purchase time I will try harder. Brommie and BF Tikit are at the top of the list.

What do you have to swap out to go IGH? and what are your IGH options?

Aaron:)

Unless your gears are being jammed up by the snow/salt, I think it'd be a whole lot cheaper and easier to add a Front Derailleur and a smaller chain ring to give you those low gears for going up hills.

I'd consider the H-bars on their site which are used for touring and can break down/split in in two for easy packing into a suitcase. Of course, you'll need new cables and shifters. I tend to like Bar ends particularly w/ friction shifting for the RD.

If you keep flat bars than Ergons would be a must! However w/ H-bars I find being able to grip in different hand positions fixes a lot of hand/wrist soreness...

Would rather have a rear rack than front esp. if you're not using a shower cap. I've heard the front rack also affects the handling more.

If you're getting by without a showercap now, I think it'd be the last thing I add.

My BF NWT has Ergon GP1-L grips and I am very happy with them. Significantly more comfortable that the stock round grips. I don't need gloves anymore, even for very long rides.

The grips are installed on BF touring handler bar (similar to their 'H' bars but longer horns) with SRAM DD 3x9 trigger shifters and this configuration works very well for me.

Kam

I would caution you to try out any bars and/or bar ends with the fold before committing. I have the bike friday break apart H bars, and they do interfere a bit with the folded package (making it a little wider and harder to fit in places). Moustache bars or big bar ends could get in the way of optimal folding.

as for the IGH, i hughly recommend, especially the Shimano Alfine! I absolutely LOVE mine!

Ergon grips are awesome. I ordered my Tikit with them installed and I love them. I commute about 40 miles a day and I switch back and borth between my "normal" fixed gear bike with Nitto bullhorns and my fixed gear Tikit with Ergons and when I ride the Tikits my hands and wrists thank me. For ~$40 this is one of the best upgrades one could make to a stock Tikit.

The rear rack definitely makes the bike more stable when folded. I have never had an issue with the bike tipping over whereas when I test folded a Tikit without the rack it seemed more difficult to get it to balance. For $50 this is a worthy upgrade.

I have the stock mountain bike handlebars with a 5 degree bend that Bike Friday defaults to on most built-to-order Tikits. These are great when paired with Ergon grips. I feel I have still have the ability to ride fast if I want but this setup also encourages me to relax and enjoy the view more often than on any other of my bikes.

Replacing the rear triangle? Are you nuts? :-) By the time you do that and purchase an internal gear drivetrain I would think it would be easier to sell your Tikit and just let Bike Friday build you a new one or wait for a used one to pop up on their site. But it does sound like fun.

Well, the main option I'm considering is the Shimano Alfine. Unfortunately, any change to an IGH would require me to replace the rear triangle. So... even if I were to do a 3x9, it will be very expensive.

Unfortunately, there is no way to put a front derailleur on the Tikit. I did see pics where some guy in Japan modified his Tikit with a front derailleur, but it's not something that Bike Friday has adopted.

Yeah... if I keep the current bars, I will definitely get Ergons.

Well, the beauty of the front rack is the ability to shop with it. Though I must admit that since my move from Chicago to Salt Lake City... I generally go shopping with the car. As for the shower cap... I agree, it's not absolutely necessary... and is the least of my concerns.

Thanks for the tip. I'm definitely going to try before I buy with the handlebars. It's also possible that once I get the Ergons, I'll be completely satisfied.

I've considered doing that too, but I think it will still be cheaper to just replace the rear and go from there. Once I start discussing this with Bike Friday I'll know for sure.

I suppose it's safe to say you've investigated the front derailleur. I know they offer Speeding tikits w/ a Shimano FD2300 Braze Double (or sub 2200). Are they customizing those frames to place the derailleur?

I think Lynette Chiang had the H-bars on her Tikit. It was a size small but seemed to fold as well as any other tikit in her videos.

Re. using the front rack for shopping w/ the Tikit, I think it's fine to do it and is a good little workout, but honestly, putting the folded bike in a shopping cart is probably going to be easier.

Unless you really need the cargo space for a long tour or work, I'd say save the weight and just use your rear rack. If you do get your showercap though then the front rack is helpful for allowing you to wheel the capped bike.

I lived in Salt Lake, so I'm not going to fault you for driving 2 blocks in the winter, but I do hope you can take advantage of your bike in better weather to complete those sorts of errands.

Edit: blasted board won't let me, "by 2 blocks" I meant I'd take the car not that you're necessarily doing that!

According to Bike Friday, you can use an IGH with any Tikit if you use a chain tensioner.

I'll check into that. I was thinking I needed the new rear triangle for the proper dropouts.