Bike Forums - Folder recommendation

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What kind of front rack is that, Russcoles?

Thanks 14R. BD mini-velo might be just the ticket. I'm guessing this Mercier is one of them.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1292538832

Too bad it's not out till may. In the meantime, I'd have to find a mini to test ride, which might be a bit of a challenge. I've never been on one.

There are definitely some inspiring images of Bromptons out there in some far-flung places with serious loads. I like the look of those giant Brompton bags that go up front. Obviously very non-aero, but super convenient to travel with. Also avoids the need for a front rack.

That dawes is also very cool. I thought about the raleigh twenty, but they're so heavy and I'm a little leery of getting one on ebay. I have heard about people touring on those as well, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstone (Post 12329656)

Thanks 14R. BD mini-velo might be just the ticket. I'm guessing this Mercier is one of them.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1292538832

Exactly. This bike on Shimano 105's (or higher), 4 C&C couplings, front and rear rack (by Dahon) and some Brooks saddle and you are just as well served as any major CroMo frame (conventional size).

All my bikes are on Sale. I might get one of these minis in May and upgrade de 541T&*$ out of it.

Looked into the swift more. Research indicates that it requires major disassembly - a good bit more than BF - for air travel. The hinge has to be taken apart and the fork removed (I don't really like the idea of tinkering with my headset in the airport). Unless someone can tell me about a great experience traveling with one, I think the swift is out. This leaves Bike Friday as the primary 20" wheeled contender (although I'm still open to suggestions), with Brompton ahead among 16" wheelers.

Anyone every fly with a BF without a hard or padded travel case?

Any nice stories about a BF?

For anyone who's still interested in this thread, I actually went with the swift. Price ended up being a big factor. For almost half the cost of Brompton set up for touring, I got a swift with an 8-speed wheel built by Peter Reich. If my funds were unlimited, I'd get the Brompton and just see how touring on one goes, but the swift seems like a more reliable ride. Aluminum is not my favorite, but for travel, I appreciate how light the swift is. Taking the hinge apart actaully isn't that difficult, although I haven't packed it yet. Thanks for all of the input.

Quote:

Originally Posted by feijai (Post 12324881)

The Brompton packs in seconds. The Tikit and various Dahons pack in, I dunno, about 30 minutes for me -- I'm not good at it -- but Rob English does it in his video in 8 minutes including lots of talking. Other Bike Fridays pack in about that time too.

The Brompton also folds beautifully small: but the Tikit hyperfold folds beautifully fast. Most other Bike Fridays are not amazing at folding (they're really designed to pack and ride well), nor is the Swift. Though the new folding stem for non-Tikits helps matters. Dahons are inelegant folders though they're generally more compact than the Tikit and more elegant than other BF or the Swift.

But, and this is a big but, in my opinion the Tikit and *definitely* other BFs are better rides than the Brompton, especially for longer distances. Bike Friday's bikes are highly customizable and upgradable with standard parts: they can be sized to fit you properly, and they're much stabler. And in the US BF has an Apple-like customer satisfaction rating.

So given that you expressed interest in longer rides, before you pick up your Brompton, you should go check out a Tikit (at least) and ideally one of BFs "bigger" bikes.

i own both a tikit and a brompton, and i have to disagree with you that the brompton rides "worse". handling on the brompton is different, way more responsive, but i wouldn't call it a worse ride. after getting used to both bikes, i found them to be pretty similar. the tikit is of course faster because of its stiff frame, but not by much after i changed the suspension block on my brompton to the firmest version.

As OP was a Fixie guy, BF Season Tikit is their adaptable model ..
the rear folds as a unit, including the BB, the chain tensioner, making a fixie possible,
is also a replaceable dropout .. so drive train choices can be changed after the fact.

[#36] .. Oh , a Swift.. that will work ..

Mezzo can be picked up for £400-£500 in sales (in UK) and work well with bull bars and kojack tires if you like a fastish road bike that fold about as big as a Brommie, but has more cockpit space. Its is a harsher ride than a brommie however. See my posts on "upgrading a Mezzo" or "dual drive mezzo"

Other alternatives Birdie,Pacific reach?

I just flew from Virginia to Seattle, WA with my Pacific Reach Racing and rode the Seattle to Portland, STP, double century (204 miles) in 1 day. The pace line I was in averaged 17.56 mph, so the bike has long legs and yet is a sharp performer. I can't think of any other folder I would try that ride on. I rode both the Bike Friday and the Airnmal Chameleon and felt the Pacific Reach performed more like my full sied bike than any other folder I tested. Folding takes some work, but I got the bike into a 30" suitcase that checked without any oversized baggage fees. Can't beat this bike!http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=212312 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=212313 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=212314

^ Good going!! I feel that way about my Swift. I had a ride on my friend's CF Cervelo and I could not say it has anything better to offer than the Swift.

I'm a owner of bromptons dahon and birdy.
Let me sum up this 3 bikes

Brompton - if you want it small, fold it fast , ride in style over the ride quality than this one. If you were to buy this go for P6R

dahon- fold fast but not the fastest, easy customization, hard ride. Very fast bike close to a full size. iF you want to buy this get the vector x27

Birdy - most comfy ride, folds ok, could go quite fast as well if you change it to slim tires.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jur (Post 12997341)

^ Good going!! I feel that way about my Swift. I had a ride on my friend's CF Cervelo and I could not say it has anything better to offer than the Swift.

I can maintance a good speed on my modded Mezzo.Proberly a rougher ride however. I guess I feel the same as the last two posters. We have proof that folders can preform very well indeed.