mulleady

Folder Fanatic, only a minority of over-zealous people are vociferous if you have an opinion that does not please them. Most people on this sub-forum are a nice group of quite diverse and eclectic characters. That would include yourself! Alec E practically went on a vendetta over a minor point of difference with BF. When some people disagreed with him, he got personal with some members and also slagged off the sub-forum as a whole. Churlish and self-righteous if you ask me.

I think Phil Cowles has drafted a very dignified and helpful response. He was under no obligation to do so but it is commendable when companies participate in forums directly related to them. It sends a clear message that BF are not remotely interested in hard-sell. I use the same approach with my students at university. It is far too difficult and overly time consuming to resolve more complex queries by email. Email is useful for short precise queries and as a supplementary form of communication. Some students think everything can be conducted by email and they are very mistaken.

I'm sure Phil welcomes constructive comments such as issues on website usability and e-fulfilment. I hope Alec E welcomes the invitation to engage in dialogue.

EastBiker

Was that the time when you pretended to be your own family rushing to your rescue?

vik 

I'm glad you are enjoying your new bike. Here is a blog post I wrote about rolling the Tikit that might be useful to you. I don't find the Tikit roll tiring, but I guess I'm coming up on 3 years of being a Tikiteer...perhaps I've developed the Tikit Grip!...

kamtsa

The past is past ;-)

Dynocoaster 

What type of dropouts does the Tikit have?

vik 

- Front are 70mm.
- Rear are 135mm vertical [stock]
- they have a different custom option for modular dropouts where you can swap vertical, sliding horizontal and Rohloff specific-sliding.

If I was buying a new Tikit I'd pop for the custom dropouts so I could build my bike up in different configurations.

vmaniqui

vik,

have you changed your handlebar to a regular size (22 inches). i know that tikit's handlebar is a little bit narrow or can i just slide the brake and shifter to the center so that i can fit in my ergon grips. ergon grips are wider than the standard tikit grip.

vik 

I am using the stock bars. I just slid controls in slightly. That has caused no issues. Don't forget to get the Gripshift version of the Ergon Grips to work with your Tikit.

Dynocoaster 

Thank you Vik for the info, it is nice to know I can get any Tikit and turn it into a horizontal dropout.

feijai

I'm not sure if that's true. Do the current basic Model-T and hyperfold have the replaceable dropouts?

vik 

Not any Tikit....you need to order your Tikit upfront with modular dropouts. If you do that you can swap in any dropouts you like. If not you are stuck with whatever comes on your Tikit. The modular dropouts cost more and most people are never going to want anything, but vertical dropouts so BF makes the modular version an option.

My stock Hyperfold Tikit came with vertical dropouts and that's what I have to work with. Next time I order a Tikit it will come with modular dropouts so I can change the bike when I feel like a different setup.

kamtsa

Is this option available for other BF models as well or just the Tikit?

vmaniqui

this is interesting though....

https://bikefridaywalter.wordpress.co...ikit-dropouts/

Dynocoaster 

Vik, thank you for explaining that. Now I understand. It looks like the Season and one way Tikit come with this option.

vik 

You can get a standard 8 speed derailleur Tikit with the modular dropouts....you'd just have to ask for them when you ordered your bike and pay the extra cost.

vik 

That I'm not sure of...it would make sense that the same modular dropouts could be used on the back end of a NWT, but you'd have to ask BF if they do that...?

bokes

I know one guy who has a NWT with a sliding Rohloff dropout. He told me he had to promise the BF salesguy that he would not fold the bike without first removing the chain. I could imagine some serious damage to the frame if he'd fold it with a taught chain.

vik 

I have standard vertical dropouts on my NWT and with a Nexus 8 and Surly Singlenator chain tensioner I have to take the chain off the ring before I fold the bike.

folder fanatic

No, it was the time my dear misguided real-as you supposed to be-was family attempted to help out by hyjacking my personal computer. My illness was quite real (you might not believe that too since you and your other dear online cohorts did not volunteer to take me to the emergency room-that is the work of people who are very much real). I assure you I am quite well & back now and a real little spitfire than ever. Perhaps you should change your name to "Vulture." My now deceased daddy many years ago took me to the desert east of us to see nature at work with the weak and the dying (see below for a nice photo of these birds at work-just like it is here sometimes with people overstepping their boundaries). Do give my regards to your other cohorts too. I do exercise my choice not to accept unsolicited bike parts from online sources as there is the actual North American Dahon HQ is nearby.

Besides my Dahons are now dropped to day-to-day possession status-can be let go at any time-so any proprietary parts now is simply not needed. The few months separation and storage of all the bikes was a trial run on what are the possessions I actually have use for in my life. The Dahons were a wonderful introduction into what folding bikes could be used in my lifestyle. They were a good choice for the circumstances and situations I needed a folding bike for at a certain point in my life. I simply grew as a person and moved on to other things & bikes. That did not mean Dahons bikes were bad or anything like that.

The tikit is not in any danger of losing fans. It is a great bike for people who need a performance bike that just happens to collapse into a smaller bundle-not the other way around.

EastBiker

Nice family pic dude!

kamtsa

I envy your clean bike ;-)

Is that a FD behind the chainring? What's purpose? Is it standard with a single chainring Tikit?

Kam

feijai

1. It's not his tikit. It's his New World Tourist.

2. You can get a front derailleur (I presume that's what you meant by "FD") for the tikit but it has to be a braze-on, and getting the braze-on mounts require that they be ordered specially with the rear triangle (I know, I just asked today! And it ain't cheap).

3. Absolutely no idea why it's there on his NWT. Vik?

JimT

My guess is that it's just the guide off a front derailleur which is being used to keep the chain on the front chain ring when folding..................good idea.

Jim

vmaniqui

yes you're right. probably just a guide for the chain not to jump off the crank. but seeing that it is a real FD, then it's quite possible to add a FD to a BF without any adapter ?? we will all be here and staring at Vik's bike and guessing until he tells us what it really is.

vmaniqui

do they have the same triangle as the TIKIT ?