Swift Folder/Xootr by Peter Reich
08-23-10, 05:45 PM
#1
Upper West Side NYC
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Swift Folder/Xootr by Peter Reich
Hi all,
I currently own a Brompton, but decided to do a full on search for another bike so my wife could take over my Brompton. I narrowed it down to 1) another Brompton; 2) Bike Friday; and 3) a Xootr which was converted by Peter Reich to an 8 speed internal hub. I ruled out the Brompton because while I ride it everyday to work, it still did not have that big bike, smooth feel of a full size bike. I ruled out the Bike Friday (although I was very tempted by the tikit) because of the price, the not very good fold, and the fact that I couldn't find a good place to test ride it. I am sure it is a great bike, but couldn't find a place to test ride it.
I did test ride the xootr folder on the upper east side - although not the internal hub version, and immediately loved the ride. Firm and smooth. Still I wasn't crazy about having a big derailler system - having loved the simplicity of the Brompton 3 speed internal hub.
I read a lot about Peter Reich and his willingness to take the stock Xootr folder and modify it with the Shimano 8 speed internal hub. After e-mailing and discussing with Peter, I decided to go with it. It took him about a month to source the parts and to put it all together. I picked it up at Recycle a bicycle in Brooklyn and rode it home over the Brooklyn bridge to the upper west side.
It's now been about a year since I've had the bike and I just love it. Trust me, there is nobody that can say that it doesn't ride better than the Brompton. It rides a great deal smoother and is much more solid than the Brompton. There is no comparison. However, it does not fold nearly as nicely as the Brompton, so I continue to ride the Brompton to work for short rides.
But for taking a nice medium to long ride, I love the Xootr. The internal hub works like a charm and is simple as pie to use. I know that some say that it is heavy. I don't know if that is true, but it doesn't matter much to me. Peter did a great job putting it together and he is a joy to work with.
Now, the Xootr folds very simply, but not into the small package like the Brompton. So, if you plan to ride it to work, you will need a place to store it (rather than under your desk, like the Brompton), but if you have a space for it, the Xootr is a superior bike.
Since I never had the chance to demo the Tikit, I really can't say much about it. I was very close to getting one, and probably would have if I had gotten the various e-mails about discounts I now get. I am sure it is a great bike, and maybe it will be my next one. But, I'm so happy with the Peter Reich modified Xootr.
It's been a year since I got if and this review is well over due, but hope you appreciate it.
I currently own a Brompton, but decided to do a full on search for another bike so my wife could take over my Brompton. I narrowed it down to 1) another Brompton; 2) Bike Friday; and 3) a Xootr which was converted by Peter Reich to an 8 speed internal hub. I ruled out the Brompton because while I ride it everyday to work, it still did not have that big bike, smooth feel of a full size bike. I ruled out the Bike Friday (although I was very tempted by the tikit) because of the price, the not very good fold, and the fact that I couldn't find a good place to test ride it. I am sure it is a great bike, but couldn't find a place to test ride it.
I did test ride the xootr folder on the upper east side - although not the internal hub version, and immediately loved the ride. Firm and smooth. Still I wasn't crazy about having a big derailler system - having loved the simplicity of the Brompton 3 speed internal hub.
I read a lot about Peter Reich and his willingness to take the stock Xootr folder and modify it with the Shimano 8 speed internal hub. After e-mailing and discussing with Peter, I decided to go with it. It took him about a month to source the parts and to put it all together. I picked it up at Recycle a bicycle in Brooklyn and rode it home over the Brooklyn bridge to the upper west side.
It's now been about a year since I've had the bike and I just love it. Trust me, there is nobody that can say that it doesn't ride better than the Brompton. It rides a great deal smoother and is much more solid than the Brompton. There is no comparison. However, it does not fold nearly as nicely as the Brompton, so I continue to ride the Brompton to work for short rides.
But for taking a nice medium to long ride, I love the Xootr. The internal hub works like a charm and is simple as pie to use. I know that some say that it is heavy. I don't know if that is true, but it doesn't matter much to me. Peter did a great job putting it together and he is a joy to work with.
Now, the Xootr folds very simply, but not into the small package like the Brompton. So, if you plan to ride it to work, you will need a place to store it (rather than under your desk, like the Brompton), but if you have a space for it, the Xootr is a superior bike.
Since I never had the chance to demo the Tikit, I really can't say much about it. I was very close to getting one, and probably would have if I had gotten the various e-mails about discounts I now get. I am sure it is a great bike, and maybe it will be my next one. But, I'm so happy with the Peter Reich modified Xootr.
It's been a year since I got if and this review is well over due, but hope you appreciate it.
08-24-10, 12:10 AM
#2
Formerly Known as Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 6,250
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Hello uws88 and welcome to Bike Forums.
Thanks for the introduction. I'm sure the review will be appreciated in the Folding Bikes forum, so I'll move it there (from Introductions).
--Juha, a Forum Mod
Thanks for the introduction. I'm sure the review will be appreciated in the Folding Bikes forum, so I'll move it there (from Introductions).
--Juha, a Forum Mod
__________________
To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
08-24-10, 02:37 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 202
Bikes: Brompton Custom Built
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
What kind of grips and tires are you using on the Brompton? I ride in NYC and love my Brompton, but that was only after I put aftermarket grips (Ergon Kork grips) because my hand use to go numb. With the new grip, the bike felt 100 times more stable and more like a regular bike. The stock grips were horrible. I use the marathon tires and they also help with bumps as long as you keep them inflated properly.
08-24-10, 02:56 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 386
Bikes: Xootr Swift, Dahon Speed P8, Jamis Aurora
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
uws88, welcome! Hopefully you've already discovered the enormous Swift thread here.
08-30-10, 06:42 AM
#6
The Metropolis, UK
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,353
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Originally Posted by Folder4life
What kind of grips and tires are you using on the Brompton? I ride in NYC and love my Brompton, but that was only after I put aftermarket grips (Ergon Kork grips) because my hand use to go numb. With the new grip, the bike felt 100 times more stable and more like a regular bike. The stock grips were horrible. I use the marathon tires and they also help with bumps as long as you keep them inflated properly.
12-27-10, 09:57 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Westwood MA (just south of Boston)
Posts: 2,215
Bikes: 2009 Trek Soho
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Folder4life
What kind of grips and tires are you using on the Brompton? I ride in NYC and love my Brompton, but that was only after I put aftermarket grips (Ergon Kork grips) because my hand use to go numb. With the new grip, the bike felt 100 times more stable and more like a regular bike. The stock grips were horrible. I use the marathon tires and they also help with bumps as long as you keep them inflated properly.
12-28-10, 11:39 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: seacoast nh / suburban hartford
Posts: 149
Bikes: swift folder(alfine 8, marathon plus, crossrack, klickfix freepack)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by uws88
Hi all,
Now, the Xootr folds very simply, but not into the small package like the Brompton. So, if you plan to ride it to work, you will need a place to store it (rather than under your desk, like the Brompton), but if you have a space for it, the Xootr is a superior bike.
Since I never had the chance to demo the Tikit, I really can't say much about it. I was very close to getting one, and probably would have if I had gotten the various e-mails about discounts I now get. I am sure it is a great bike, and maybe it will be my next one. But, I'm so happy with the Peter Reich modified Xootr.
Now, the Xootr folds very simply, but not into the small package like the Brompton. So, if you plan to ride it to work, you will need a place to store it (rather than under your desk, like the Brompton), but if you have a space for it, the Xootr is a superior bike.
Since I never had the chance to demo the Tikit, I really can't say much about it. I was very close to getting one, and probably would have if I had gotten the various e-mails about discounts I now get. I am sure it is a great bike, and maybe it will be my next one. But, I'm so happy with the Peter Reich modified Xootr.
swift alfine 8, customized by peter, bought from bfold here. (and a convert from brompton as well!) only 7 months, not a year yet. shocked you couldn't get a test ride of a bike friday at bfold at the time
i hear you on tikit temptations. you've got folderitis. its a tough disease.
on the folded dimensions of the xootr, i'm constnatly trying to come up with new ideas for how make it (quick) fold a litle smaller, possibly by detaching a part and putting in my backpack. i always have at least one separate bag along with the bike, mine as well use it to carry a part when folded. i think the parts that stick, cause the volume to be more awkward:
-front tire
-20 " vs 16 " tires
-seat
i've tried carry seatpost in my backpack. it was okay. but i think *very* fast removal of the front tire and easy attachment of it to a bag might help the folded shape best.
