SesameCrunch

OK, I really need help from my BF friends on this one.

Parting with any of my folders is traumatizing. Choosing which of two beauties to cull from the collection is like asking which of my children to sacrifice. So, I need my BF 'peeps to show me the way.

I have three outstanding bikes in my collection that are in the same niche - high-end, high performance, transportable, and gorgeous - The Moulton TSR, a Bridgestone Moulton that I just got from Taiwan, and most recently, a Bike Friday Pocket Custom that I got for a good deal on Craigslist. Three bikes in the same niche is too much, even for a folder glutton like me. I must get rid of one of them.

I decided the TSR is staying. Its space frame is so different and superior. Plus, I have a huge emotional investment in it (full story here: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...lent+adventure).

So the choice is between the Bike Friday and the Bridgestone Moulton. Each is in excellent shape, not a nick on either frame, rides nicely, etc. The BF is valued around $1,000, the BSM is around $2,000.

Bridgestone Moulton description:
- full suspension,
- size 369 wheels
- Capreo drivetrain
- Shimano 105 brifters
- aluminum frame
- weighs about 27lbs.
- not available in the US
- stylish and gorgeous looks




Bike Friday description:
- 56/42 front with 8 speed 11-28 cassette Shimano 105 components
- Ultegra bar-end shifters
- Chromoly frame
- 24 lbs
- size 406 wheels
- Simple, practical elegance



The bottom line to me is that BSM is an exotic animal, whereas the BF is the practical, reliable house pet. Which one goes, which one stays? Sorry, keeping them both is an obvious cop-out. I don't need help with that choice. You guys get to make the tough choice only.

chagzuki

I say ditch the Bike Friday, purely because I can't stand the Comic Sans type font they chose for their logo. And the bar tape is just a bit too 80s spandex.

ratdog

I would sell the BF. It's easier to replace with another one especially if you're on the left coast if you think you may regret your decision in a month or two.

ddez

Absolutely the BF, its easily replaceable anytime. Lots around for sale. Heck ive seen at least three up here this year alone and not many folders in this town.
How many folks have even seen a Moulton in the flesh so to speak?See its easy to decide.Lol.

SesameCrunch

Yeah, but the BF is $1K less than the BSM. The tire size is more prevalent. Less unique parts. Simple to maintain. It's also 3 lbs lighter.

That's the practical side of me talking.

ratdog

$1,000 certainly is a bunch of money, but if the 1K was that much to you, I don't think you would have the bikes you already do. I could be wrong though. As far as the maintenance, how much do you think you would do on the bike? Would it be enough to make that big a difference?

Dynocoaster 

Which one do you tend to ride more? If either gets a scratch which one do you shed a tear over? Which is practical to travel with?

lexm

+1: You could replace the Bike Friday in every particular with a phone call to Eugene and a few weeks' wait. The Bridgestone Moulton, as I said of Moultons generally in an earlier thread, is its own thing. (And jur said I was astute - so there! ) As you're already the curator of one damn impressive bicycle museum, what's one more perhaps finicky, hard-to-find-parts exhibit? You're in too deep to plead practicality with a straight face. Brother ddez has it right.

About the only colorable argument I can see for selling the Bridgestone Moulton would be that you need to raise $2k for your next fix and the Bike Friday can't get you more than halfway there.

Foldable Two

Well, in the same "fix", I'd likely sell the Moulton. The Moulton you'd have left is a an even more unusual model, and it has a better wheel size for a road bike. Also, the Friday will be an easier bike to maintain in the long-run, with the factory just a days drive up the road from you.

The Bike Friday looks like a Crusoe or Pocket Rocket based upon the lite weight, 'straight' brace connected to the frame and down tube, just above the bottom bracket. It would cost $2,000+ to replace with a new one, as equipped. The bar tape is a bit garish to be sure -

The Moultons are pretty expensive (and unusual) to be out there beating up on a regular basis - besides, as a collector of folders, I think variety is nice. If interest rates pick up someday (and we have any money left), I'd consider a TSR2 or TSR8.

A couple of questions: Are you running out of space for bikes? Is the family questioning your sanity? What is real reason for selling off one of them? (If it were just $, you'd be looking to unload all of them, IMO.)

Lou

SesameCrunch

Your line of thinking is kinda where my head is at. But I'm really appreciating all the feedback so far.

I'm not selling for any other reason than I simply have too many bikes. I can't even get to ride them enough. Over time, I have rotated and reduced my bike collection to fewer, but more high end bikes. But, as I said, even this folder glutton has a conscience.

Foldable Two

That's going to be our situation (too many bikes) once we come back permanently here to the NW. We've already I.D.'d two that will not come back here from CA - the Electra cruiser and the Huffy 924. Three bikes each works (road bike, gravel/dirt path bike and a market bike) - can't believe wife agrees...lol Might be able to add a collector bike to the mix, but the ALFA will have to go first.

Agree, too much is too much.

Lou

BruceMetras

As one our resident professors mentioned (other than being accused of astuteness ), Alan, practicality isn't necessarily one of your long suits.. but knowing what you have in the stable, I'd dump the Bridgestone .. you won't ride it.. you'll hang it up in the living room... you already have the Cal Bears 2spd if you need Moulton retro .. then there's the TSR if you actually want to grab a good riding, fast, comfortable bike .. The Friday will get lighter and faster as you pour more money into it from the sale of your Bridgestone... what's with the bar tape?!?! tell me you didn't have a roll of that sitting in the garage..

November

If these are the last bikes you'll ever own, I'd say keep the BF as you can easily find parts and the factory is right up the coast. But you will own other bikes in the future. I say sell the BF and get a Raleigh Twenty (which you will mod heavily) for your house pet bike. Sound good? No? oh.

BruceMetras

that '74 looks GLORIOUS ... hard time finding one anything close to that nice nowadays .. especially for a what used to be reasonable price .. a good '74 Alfa Spider is magic.... drive it 'til your hips give out...

ro-monster

Don't listen to your practical side. Follow your heart. Keep the one that appeals to you most.

ro-monster

It's Tekton, quite unrelated to Comic Sans. The font was based on the lettering used in architectural drawings. (However, it's not what I would choose for a logo, and I design logos for a living.)

Dave1899

I'd say keep both of them. You can never have too many bikes but if you have to let one go, dump the BM and change the tape on the BF ...BTW the BF has Stickers that don't have a clear coat so they'll come off easy if you don't like 'em and you can make your own "Custom" stickers

kamtsa

I would sell a kidney and keep both.

jur

I can appreciate the too many bikes thing.

So my call is, sell both.

feijai

Without question, sell the Moulton.

The reason is simple. The Moulton has certain advantages over the Bike Friday, and likewise vice versa. If you sell the Bike Friday, you lose those advantages in your stable. If you sell the Moulton, you don't lose its advantages... BECAUSE YOU ALREADY OWN ANOTHER, EVEN BETTER, MOULTON.

It's like saying: "I've got a BMW 3 Series which I'm keeping. Do I sell my BMW 1 Series or sell my Lotus Elise?" The answer is obvious.

SesameCrunch

Well, that would generate another poll: Do I sell my sexy kidney or the practical one?

SesameCrunch

But it goes so well with the purple lava lamp in my bedroom....

Bruce, you know me too well... Some pretty persuasive arguments. I can see Kinetix Pro wheels on the Bike Friday resulting in a very light and fast folding bike.

However, I had feared the TSR was going to be a museum piece also, but I am riding it a lot, as you know. If I kept the BSM, I would ride it too. Bikes are meant to be ridden, IMHO. I'm also vulnerable to the argument that one can pick up a Bike Friday any day of the week on Craigslist. But there are probably just a handful of BSMs in this country.


PS: rode the BSM from Half Moon Bay, up Tunitas Creek, down to Woodside, then into SF this week. 54 miles, 4,400 ft. I was only 6 minutes slower up Tunitas (2,300 ft elevation), compared to my personal best time with the 17lb Fuji. Not too bad, considering the BSM is 10 lbs heavier!

SesameCrunch

I swear I go back and forth every 15 minutes on this issue.

Here's what I think I will do: I'm going to put the BSM on eBay for a 10 day listing. If it sells for my target price, then that's settled. If it doesn't, then that's a sign from above that the BF is the one to go. My price for the BF is much more flexible, so I'm sure that will sell easily.

Whew! Thanks for all your good input.

Schwinnsta

I take it that the folding issue is not that important to you. It would be for me. I would want one to fold but then I sometimes have a need for that. Is the TSR that much better than the BM?

SesameCrunch

Folding is not what these bikes are designed for. They are more transportable than foldable. I have a Brompton and a Strida for multi-modal foldability.

I think the ride quality of the TSR is indeed better than the BSM. Which is not to say that the BSM is bad; it is not. It's more a statement of the rigidity and comfort of the TSR space frame. It's unique, in my opinion.