New Big Fish folder model shown @ Eurobike
09-04-11 | 08:45 AM
#2
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From: Washington, DC
Someone explain the appeal of this bike. It costs $850, folds like crap, weighs 27 pounds, has horrible handlebars harkening back to the Bickerton days, and only comes in 1 or 3 speeds. Did I mention its rear brake was a coaster brake?
09-04-11 | 11:30 AM
#3
09-04-11 | 11:43 AM
#4
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From: London
Bikes: 2011 Jetstream P11 Alfine; 3sp Presto-Lite; Occasional Access to 6sp Brompton
Don't knock it, it's all part of the rich diversity that's modern folding bikes, and remember, before Lord Sheldon picked up on and championed the R20, people thought that was a crap bike.
I rode one at a demonstration track at the last london bike show and i would say its a very nice little cruiser.
I rode one at a demonstration track at the last london bike show and i would say its a very nice little cruiser.
09-04-11 | 12:36 PM
#6
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From: Washington, DC
So let's restrict ourselves to just bikes of the same wheel size and approximate wheelbase Can you name a single reason why anyone, anyone, would prefer this hunk of junk over a Dahon Curve SL? The Curve has better support, costs less, is lighter and better constructed, has far better gearing and components, and folds much much MUCH better. And it doesn't have junk brakes.
Heck, how about just a Dahon Curve D3, at half the price of the BigFish and still superior to it? Geez.
As to Dahon Girls....
Last edited by feijai; 09-04-11 at 02:23 PM.
09-04-11 | 02:23 PM
#8
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I'm all for diversity, as long as we're talking bikes which aren't Pareto-dominated. Sheldon Brown (may he rest in peace) championed the R20 because it was *non*-dominated. That is, there was no bike which was superior to it in all aspects (including price). So it had a niche. But the BigFish is entirely pareto-dominated by a whole host of folding bikes.
So let's restrict ourselves to just bikes of the same wheel size and approximate wheelbase Can you name a single reason why anyone, anyone, would prefer this hunk of junk over a Dahon Curve SL? The Curve has better support, costs less, is lighter and better constructed, has far better gearing and components, and folds much much MUCH better. And it doesn't have junk brakes.
Heck, how about just a Dahon Curve D3, at half the price of the BigFish and still superior to it? Geez.
As to Dahon Girls....
So let's restrict ourselves to just bikes of the same wheel size and approximate wheelbase Can you name a single reason why anyone, anyone, would prefer this hunk of junk over a Dahon Curve SL? The Curve has better support, costs less, is lighter and better constructed, has far better gearing and components, and folds much much MUCH better. And it doesn't have junk brakes.
Heck, how about just a Dahon Curve D3, at half the price of the BigFish and still superior to it? Geez.
As to Dahon Girls....
09-04-11 | 06:52 PM
#11
Schwinnasaur
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: New Orleans, LA
It is very hard to find a folder that is bigger when it is folded.
09-04-11 | 08:23 PM
#12
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From: Washington, DC
09-05-11 | 03:17 AM
#13
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Bikes: Folders, MTB's, Road bikes, Omafiets
09-05-11 | 04:13 AM
#14
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From: London
Bikes: 2011 Jetstream P11 Alfine; 3sp Presto-Lite; Occasional Access to 6sp Brompton
[QUOTE=feijai;13177254]Can you name a single reason why anyone would prefer this hunk of junk over a Dahon Curve SL? QUOTE]
They don't do the Curve in orange ?
The Bigfish has been on sale for a good few years in various countries, now they are expanding the range, so they must be doing something right, something that is finding favour with customers, even if you can't see it.
Anyway the Curve SL is way too expensive for what it is, even when compared to Dahon's own Mu XL
They don't do the Curve in orange ?
The Bigfish has been on sale for a good few years in various countries, now they are expanding the range, so they must be doing something right, something that is finding favour with customers, even if you can't see it.
Anyway the Curve SL is way too expensive for what it is, even when compared to Dahon's own Mu XL
09-05-11 | 04:22 AM
#15
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From: London
Bikes: Pacific-Reach SL
+1
We need more generic fold in half hinge & lock folding bikes please! there is not enough in the market
But seriously, having seen this bike in the flesh for 500 Euro, this bike is a bargain.
We need more generic fold in half hinge & lock folding bikes please! there is not enough in the market
But seriously, having seen this bike in the flesh for 500 Euro, this bike is a bargain.
09-05-11 | 12:59 PM
#16
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Someone out there might indeed think it better for reasons which are opaque to you. Again, there's that choice thing, of which this represents some. I don't own one, nor have I owned the Dahon you compared it to, so I got no personal experience to fall back on regarding quality or "better-ness," only the macro view that more folding bike companies, more folding bikes, heck, more bikes period, is a good thing, rather than the alternative.
09-05-11 | 04:16 PM
#18
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It's a little known fact that 90% of folding bikes that are sold are rarely or ever actually folded, they are bought by people who want a "shopping" type bike and most of the bikes that fit that bill that are on sale today happen to fold, in one sense or another. Italy for example has whole legions of their ubiquitous Bianchi U frame folders and such like that all have the hinge rusted shut, having been bought because they are small, ie not full size, with an open frame and easy for everyone in the family to ride. I'm sure the same is also true for the majority of the 10's or 100's of 1,000's cooking model Dahons that are sold round the world. It's only us obsessives who actually fold their folding bikes.
09-05-11 | 04:51 PM
#19
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From: Albany, WA
It's a little known fact that 90% of folding bikes that are sold are rarely or ever actually folded, they are bought by people who want a "shopping" type bike and most of the bikes that fit that bill that are on sale today happen to fold, in one sense or another. Italy for example has whole legions of their ubiquitous Bianchi U frame folders and such like that all have the hinge rusted shut, having been bought because they are small, ie not full size, with an open frame and easy for everyone in the family to ride. I'm sure the same is also true for the majority of the 10's or 100's of 1,000's cooking model Dahons that are sold round the world. It's only us obsessives who actually fold their folding bikes.
1. Yes you can roll it next to you but you might as well just wheel it unfolded.
2. Once you have rolled to to where you want to be for a while, what do you do with it next, and how is that better than just flicking out a kickstand?
3. It has small wheels but no apparent design for carrying stuff in the space above the wheels?
4. Technically, I foresee cracking problems with that unbraced loooooooooooooong seatpost structure.
5. I also foresee play developing in the rear folding mech, where normal riding has the tendency to open the hinge lock instead of closing it; it must be made of extremely strong stuff to withstand riding stresses.
09-05-11 | 05:11 PM
#21
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From: Washington, DC
Here's BigFish's answer to my question (on their website):
The only consequential claims here are that the BigFish doesn't have a mid-frame latch, and can be wheeled about in its gigantic package. Plus, comes in orange. Otherwise worse in all respects, including warranty and price, when compared to the Curve D3 (which is 40 euros less in Slovenia, where the BigFish is manufactured). Choice is AWESOME.
Did I mention that BigFish is a brand of Studio Moderna, makers of mattresses, food supplements, cookware, and back support devices via direct marketing?
1. What’s special about Bigfish next to other folding bikes??
Apart from its amazing looks! Bigfish can be wheeled along with you when it’s folded - really convenient on the underground or railway station platform. It’s also different because of the unique way it folds…, it uses an innovative ‘click-clack’ technology. This system means that the bike can be folded or assembled in less than 10 seconds without screwing joints together, the use of tools, and no need to get your hands or clothes dirty.
The majority of folding bikes fold in the middle of the frame which decreases the bike's rigidity. Due to its own unique patented folding system Bigfish’s single frame is not broken up by a hinge, and this ensures responsiveness and stability on your ride.
One of the Bigfish’s advantages compared to other folding bikes is the riding quality. All the key points necessary for a great ride are positioned the same as with an ordinary city bike. Equal distances between the front and back wheels and the seat and handlebars provide a full-size bike ride.
Apart from its amazing looks! Bigfish can be wheeled along with you when it’s folded - really convenient on the underground or railway station platform. It’s also different because of the unique way it folds…, it uses an innovative ‘click-clack’ technology. This system means that the bike can be folded or assembled in less than 10 seconds without screwing joints together, the use of tools, and no need to get your hands or clothes dirty.
The majority of folding bikes fold in the middle of the frame which decreases the bike's rigidity. Due to its own unique patented folding system Bigfish’s single frame is not broken up by a hinge, and this ensures responsiveness and stability on your ride.
One of the Bigfish’s advantages compared to other folding bikes is the riding quality. All the key points necessary for a great ride are positioned the same as with an ordinary city bike. Equal distances between the front and back wheels and the seat and handlebars provide a full-size bike ride.
Did I mention that BigFish is a brand of Studio Moderna, makers of mattresses, food supplements, cookware, and back support devices via direct marketing?
Last edited by feijai; 09-05-11 at 05:18 PM.
09-05-11 | 05:21 PM
#22
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Bikes: Brompton, Dahon Vitesse D5
I don't think it's true that a mid-frame hinge causes flex. There's flex in Brompton's hinges because of the particulars of the design but in other bikes I doubt there's any significant flex originating from the hinge. Furthermore I think on small-wheeled bikes frame flexibility is desirable as it absorbs shock/vibration. It's the stem/handlepost flex that's the problem and it looks as though this Big Fish would have plenty of that.
09-05-11 | 05:22 PM
#23
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Joined: May 2007
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From: London
Bikes: 2011 Jetstream P11 Alfine; 3sp Presto-Lite; Occasional Access to 6sp Brompton
Here's BigFish's answer to my question (on their website):
The only consequential claims here are that the BigFish doesn't have a mid-frame latch, and can be wheeled about in its gigantic package. Plus, comes in orange. Otherwise worse in all respects, including warranty and price, when compared to the Curve D3 (which is 40 euros less in Slovenia, where the BigFish is manufactured). Choice is AWESOME.
Did I mention that BigFish is a brand of Studio Moderna, makers of mattresses, food supplements, cookware, and back support devices via direct marketing?
The only consequential claims here are that the BigFish doesn't have a mid-frame latch, and can be wheeled about in its gigantic package. Plus, comes in orange. Otherwise worse in all respects, including warranty and price, when compared to the Curve D3 (which is 40 euros less in Slovenia, where the BigFish is manufactured). Choice is AWESOME.
Did I mention that BigFish is a brand of Studio Moderna, makers of mattresses, food supplements, cookware, and back support devices via direct marketing?
09-06-11 | 10:25 AM
#24
New usename ThorUSA
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,469
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From: Southern Illinois USA
choice is good and keeps everybody on its toes ( hopefully )
all I do is folding bikes.... 100 % .....therefore its a big deal for me ...besides I really like them :-)
but in the big picture all folding bikes have a 2 % marketshare ?
Maybe less .... not likely more.
Varies in some countries but not by much I would bet... so the usual famous words :
can we not all get along ?
well once in a while a stab at the Brommy fanclub is allowed.... right ?
( after all you guys try to cruzify me all the time )
thor
all I do is folding bikes.... 100 % .....therefore its a big deal for me ...besides I really like them :-)
but in the big picture all folding bikes have a 2 % marketshare ?
Maybe less .... not likely more.
Varies in some countries but not by much I would bet... so the usual famous words :
can we not all get along ?
well once in a while a stab at the Brommy fanclub is allowed.... right ?
( after all you guys try to cruzify me all the time )
thor
09-11-11 | 12:08 PM
#25
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From: Cymru (Wales)
Bikes: GoBike, Long-john, Strida III, Oke Ja recumbent, Brompton, Moulton, BSA, Strida 5
Maybe it's time for the 'Little Fish' code named Minnow
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A to Z of Folding Bikes, Designers, Sellers, Accessories, Forums, Meetings, Publications
My bicycle site
My Microcar & alternate energy vehicle site.
Site for the Rock& Roll Tour Bus that I drive.
Chop! The mad Welshman, lost in the urban jungle somewhere between LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and Vladivostock!
