Rode a Bike Friday today...WOW...Now what???
08-26-10, 07:18 PM
#26
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Hmmmm, if you compare new ones, I don't think that the price point is that different. Although it sort of depends on what you mean by much lower.
I think of the stock Swiftfolder as a hybrid. From memory, a Pocket Companion is about $1000 but it has 24 speeds. Last I checked a Xootr Swiftfolder is $750 + $125 for the front derailer + another chainring for a double. I think Bike Friday has a model with just 8-speeds that is a $100 less. So roughly speaking we're talking $100 or $150 according to whether you want multiple chainrings or not. It is a 10%+ difference which could be "much lower" by many accounts.
There are some other differences. Off the top of my head, the Bike Friday comes in three frame sizes and I believe their warranty is slightly better in that it is transferable. Whether it is worth the premium is another story.
I think of the stock Swiftfolder as a hybrid. From memory, a Pocket Companion is about $1000 but it has 24 speeds. Last I checked a Xootr Swiftfolder is $750 + $125 for the front derailer + another chainring for a double. I think Bike Friday has a model with just 8-speeds that is a $100 less. So roughly speaking we're talking $100 or $150 according to whether you want multiple chainrings or not. It is a 10%+ difference which could be "much lower" by many accounts.
There are some other differences. Off the top of my head, the Bike Friday comes in three frame sizes and I believe their warranty is slightly better in that it is transferable. Whether it is worth the premium is another story.
The OP did mention a Dahon Boardwalk so the particular riding gear did not seem to be the primary point of emphasis. With a Swift you can buy now and gradually upgrade.But I do admit, when the OP mentioned as riding same as his Giant TCR, I thought, heck get rid of the TCR and buy the BF!!
08-26-10, 07:24 PM
#27
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08-26-10, 10:28 PM
#28
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Now for the important stuff....what colour are you going to get?...
08-27-10, 04:23 AM
#30
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Yep, good choice, but did you try one of these https://www.airnimal.eu/Joey/
08-27-10, 04:25 AM
#31
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Yep, good choice, but did you try one of these https://www.airnimal.eu/Joey/
08-27-10, 11:52 AM
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Now don't get me wrong guy's, I'm not bashing my Dahon. The Dahon Boardwalk D7 is a good riding bike as well as my Citizen Miami However, they are nothing like the ride of the BF NWT I rode. I'm hoping to thin out the heard by selling my Specialized Sirus Sport which is set up for Commuting, my Giant TCR I use only as a road bike and my Dahon which I like to toss in the back of the SUV and take for quick spur of the moment rides with my wife. The Bike Friday would replace all three of those. I'm also thinking about a BF Pocket Llama I could take off road some as well. Then I might get rid of my old Trek 7000 seeing as I don't do heavy off road trail riding any more. Think I'm getting too old for that activity Thanks for all the response to my post.
Thanks for all the response to my post.I was trying to ride it as much as possible to get used to it, and commuted on it quite a bit. As much as I love the ride, NWT is not a good commuter bike. It's way too expensive to lock it up outside, and it's too heavy to carry it (I need to carry it down the hall, open the doors, to and off the elevator, open doors, to my desk. It's not that easy and every time I do it, I end up with massive bruises on my thigh from bike bouncing off as I carry it. I haven't found a way to roll it without attaching contraptions.
I don't know where you'd keep your bike at work, maybe you'd have an easier time, just wanted you to take this into consideration.
08-27-10, 12:24 PM
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Horses for courses. For commuting, I would take a Dahon or Brompton or even a CarryMe depending on modality and distance. For touring I think the Swift, Friday or Moulton take the cake. Although if you read crazyguyonabike.com, lots of people tour with Dahons and Fridays (various models from Pocket Llama to NWT to Pocket Rocket). Oops forgot the Tikit which folds very very rapidly indeed.
08-27-10, 01:26 PM
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Come on mulleady,im having to do your job here. Your supposed to stick up for Bromptons.
Theres folks touring on Bromptons too. There i said it.
Actually im mulleadys second,i cover for him when he's missing. Cant let the Bromptonauts down.
Theres folks touring on Bromptons too. There i said it.
Actually im mulleadys second,i cover for him when he's missing. Cant let the Bromptonauts down.
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