pammieellen

I bought the Brompton online from Calhoun Cycles at (I think) Raw Lacquer, M6R, with lower gearing for (I think) 1480. And, I must admit the quality is sky high so far. I've traveled with it to Hawaii and Orlando from LA no problem.

Dahon.Steve

I searched all over the Flamingo web and didn't find a place where they sell spare parts? I guess this doesn't bother anybody because they expect the LBS to come to the rescue. I think spending 1K on a folder without a location to buy parts is taking a risk.

The Brompton has hundreds of parts and all are available online. From the Brompton website.

>>>>>>>>>
The Brompton consists of some 1,200 parts, over three-quarters of which are unique to our bicycles (exceptions include the chain and various screws, washers and other sundry fixtures). As most parts have had to be designed in-house to meet our particular needs, we have also had to design and build the machines, tools and fixtures needed to manufacture them, including over 500 purpose-made press tools, moulds, braze jigs and assembly fixtures. We are continually refining our manufacturing methods, raising productivity, and every year sees a large investment in new machinery and equipment

bhkyte

Nearly all Bromptom part fitted my Merc. So I dont think this is an issue at all.

iamdougsbike

Does anyone know where these can actually be bought??

I like the idea of the flamingo because it has an Shimano hub stock, no messing with customizing just to get a decent range of gears...

-Doug

Dynocoaster 

I read in another thread that they have been rebadged as Providence Bikes. https://foldingbike2u.com/index.php?m...facturers_id=3

Casbah

I wonder why Dahon, etc. hasn't tried to make a bike that folds like the Brompton. There's obviously a market for bikes that fold small but at a cheaper price. Not everyone can afford the cost of a Brompton and there are some that can afford it but can't warrant spending that much on just one bike.

Azreal911

They did, it's called the curl. Unfortunately it costs just as much as a brompton. But I'm not sure about long term support on that one off model in the long run. If you don't need a 20 inch ride difference but want super small brompton style fold then you might as well pick the B for long term parts, support and huge resale value. I myself am eyeing for a Tern for some 20 inch wheel goodness cause alot of the roads on my commute is atrocious which was really bad when my strida had 16 inch wheels (upgraded to a spring seat to save my behind) and traded bikes with a coworkers B for a week and it was just the same because of REALLY bad roads. We're not talking about small cracks i'm talking about crumbling pavement some parts hahah!

Dahon.Steve

Dahon can't make an inexpensive 16' inch wheel folder anymore. The folks at Dahon will tell you the 3 speed Curve is every bit as good as the Brompton. Seriously.
As someone stated before, Curl was the Brompton killer that never went into production. Dahon did sell a very good 8 speed Cuve but the price was 1K. Those bikes did not sell well either and took a long time before they were bought.

Looking at the price of Dahon's folding bikes, I'm amazed at how fast they went up over the years. Dahon was never able to control their manufacturing costs and a number of their bikes are more expensive than a custom Bike Friday!

The days when you could make a high quality $300.00 dollar 16' inch wheel folding bike are over.

Casbah

That's why I got my Tern and love it. Roads are bad here in MI too. I decided a comfy ride was more important than a smaller fold since the only public transport here are buses and taxis so folding ultra small isn't really necessary here. But I would like it if the rear wheel folded under like the B so that the rear rack (with little wheels on top of course) would be underneath for rolling the bike while folded more easily. I don't know, maybe that isn't possible with 20" wheels? Otherwise, I don't have much to complain about my Tern.

ccmfolder

Did the Curl ever go into production? I only see fragments of webpages here and there.

ansikutero

The Flamingo London is available in Singapore and I know a couple guys who own one and use it for work. Luckily, one of them has a blog: https://handsonbike.blogspot.com/p/fl...ondon-nx7.html Steve's pretty bike-savvy so if you have any questions, go and ask him on the blog. Our cycling group has a ton of Bromptons so it's not hard for him to find a bike to compare his to.

fietsbob

Looking at the overlap of the wheel on the mp4, on the wheel under, folded flamingo,
it looks more like they copied the older Mk2, the newer Mk4 frame is longer.

In the same parking mode, there is less overlap..

tcs

Not sure what you're trying to say here. A quick check seems to show that in the US market a Dahon Curve D3 is under $500US and a basic three-speed Brompton is over $1300US.

Jiten

You are linking to a non-existent Curve D3.

tcs

Sheesh. You can't do better than that? Here.

Jiten

I knew about the NYCEWheels Curve D3, it was discussed in another thread. Dahon.Steve's point is still sound in that Dahon does not seem to make the Curve D3 anymore, at least not for the US market, and there doesn't seem to be any viable 16-inch options from Dahon currently. I think what we're seeing are remaining stock in the inventory.

Pinigis 

Another option for a Brompton-style fold is a new model from Origami.

bhkyte

looks like a space genie (or simular) with 349 or smaller wheels, not as compact a fold in my experience. But it does appear to have small footprint any more information?

Pinigis 

There will be more information on the OrigamiBicycles.com website in June. The photos are a teaser for now.

invisiblehand

It might be new for the company, but there have been bikes with that type of fold.

It looks like the derailer is woefully inadequate for the fold. And the front wheel folds to the non-drive side exposing the derailer and chain. Hopefully it will be dirt cheap.

invisiblehand

Ahhhhhhh ... I just noticed that the derailer can pull enough chain for the fold. I need to get my glasses fixed.

Pinigis 

invisablehand, there is no derailleur, just a tensioner to take up the slack when folding. The bike has a 3-speed internally geared hub.

HGR3inOK

And there's the currently available in the U.S. Dahon JIFO 16
(See: https://www.dahonbikes.com/index.php?...ts%5Bbike%5D=9)


and the announced but not-yet-avalable in the U.S. Dahon EEZZ
(See: https://www.dahonbikes.com/index.php?id=107)


-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

invisiblehand

Understood. Functionally, there is no difference in this case.

invisiblehand

Heeeeeeeey! That is pretty neat ...


BTW ... is there a typo regarding the tire size? Below is from the specification page. AFAIK, Marathon Racers don't come in ERTO 349 but they do come in 305 ... I'm assuming that whoever entered 359 meant 349.

[TABLE="width: 471"]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]Tires[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Schwalbe Marathon Racer or Citizen, Reflex, 35 - 359,16" x 1.35", 67 EPI[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]