Winfried

Hello

I'm located in Paris. Besides the regular size bike I use to ride in the city, I'd like to get a compact folding bike that I could take with me to go sightseeing in the suburbs or take with me on a plane. Even a single-speed, sub-compact model saves on footwear

At this point, I know of the following compact bikes:

• Strida 5
• CarryMe Sd
• Mobiky 12 Vasco

I'd like some feedback about those bikes from people who have used them, and possibly infos about other brands that offer similar models.

Thank you.

CarryMe

Hello Winfried,

As importer of CarryMe for Spain, I could tell you many positive things about it. However, what I really recommend you is to try to ride one and feel it by yourself.
If you need some information I invite you to visit our website www.carryme.es, in which you could find some videos and get an idea of its possibilities. CarryMe is very light and resistant, has a great performance (watch the video riding at 45Km/h in flat ground https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFr56...layer_embedded) and it is probably the most foldable bike, becoming the best for commuting.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch with us.


Best regards,


Antonio Rocamora
www.carryme.es

kamtsa

Check the video of this post

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=king

Probably the best fold ever.

Winfried

Thanks. I'll visit a retailer in Paris who distributes CarryMe over here. I'm curious to know how it feels riding such a small bike.

Thanks for the info. Does someone know who the manufacturer is in China, and if their folding bike is distributed in Europe?

Amuro Lee

When Strida 3.2 encountered CarryMe DS
https://www.stridaforum.com/forum/vie....php?f=3&t=266

Maybe you have already known the following sites.
https://www.strida.fr
https://www.pacific-cycles.com/produc...?cat1=1&cat2=7
https://www.mobiky.com/fr.html

Dynocoaster 

Brompton would probably fall into that group also.

Winfried

The Brompton is a bit expensive, considering I only intend to use that folding bike once in a while when travelling.

Thanks for the pictures: I'll dump the Strida option, and focus on the smaller alternatives (CarryMe, Mobiky, others like that unnamed Chinese option).

For those of you who have tried the CarryMe, is it really worth getting the multi-speed (Ds) instead of the single-speed (Sd)?

Amuro: Based on your name + location, I guess you're Chinese. Any way to find if the manufacturer ("公司名称：中山市三角镇聋仔机械厂 -> Triangle Town, Zhongshan City, Aberdeen Machinery Factory deaf"?) offers a way to buy their unnamed folding bike from overseas?

LWaB

Mobiky is roughly the same size as Brompton when folded; taller, longer but narrower.

Winfried

Thanks for the info. The CarryMe and the still-mysterious Chinese thingie look like what I had in mind.

Actually, what I really had in mind was a really simple bike made in bamboo that could be assembled in a couple of minutes

jur

AFAIK the Mobiky is really heavy, (about 12-13kg?) whereas the CarryMe is about 8kg.

Winfried

I lifted the single-speed Mobiky 12" Vasco (12,9 kg / 27 lbs) and it didn't feel particularly heavy, but 4-5kg less and a smaller footprint is a definite benefit when carrying a folding bike on a plane.

I asked someone who lives in Shenzen, China if he's seen that brand/model in stores over there.

Diode100

i can not imagine you would be allowed to carry a Strida onto a plane, because of its size, or a Mobiky because of its weight. Isn't there size and weight limits on carry on luggage ? I'm sure most european airlines have a 7kg limit on hand luggage.

Amuro Lee

According to the video, I think you can contact the manufacturer by this e-mail address: xingfuliu@hotmail.com

Winfried

Another reason to look at the CarryMe and possibly that Chinese alternative.

Winfried

I'll send an e-mail and see what I get. Thank you.

Carlos71

Check out the weight & height limit for the CarryMe:

80 kg & 185 cm

https://www.pacific-cycles.com/upload...2010%20web.pdf

CarryMe

If you enjoy riding fast get the Dual Speed (until 45km/h in plain ground). If you just want it for short distances at slow speed, take the other. The common gear of both models is the short one, the Dual Speed has 1:1 and 1:1,65 gears. If you have any doubt, may be the following videos can help you to decide: https://carryme.es/videos-fotografia.html
Finally, the Schlumpf gearing system of the Dual Speed model is awesome and only the system cost more than half of the price of the bike, so I think it is worth to choose this model. You can check it at https://www.schlumpf.ch/hp/schlumpf/schlumpf_engl.htm

Best regards,


Antonio Rocamora
www.carryme.es

LWaB

Yup

Dynocoaster 

owenfinn has nice photos of the Carryme in this thread https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...me-in-Kamakura

Dynocoaster 

Can you get a Dahon Speed Uno in Europe? Reasonably priced single speed.

jefmcg

If you are in france, and you are going to consider the Speed Uno, you probably should check out the b'fold: https://www.decathlon.fr/b-fold-20-po...d_8186827.html

It seems to be a real bargain, and decathlon sell some excellent bikes: my partner is very happy with his hoptown.

With 20" wheels, neither the dahon or the b'fold are sub-compacts, though,

Diode100

And neither is the Strida a sub-compact, even if it does have 16" wheels.

chucky

Carryme is a fantastically engineered bike and, IMO, gives far more bang for the buck than any other bike on the market (folder or not).

If you won't be riding long distances then the singlespeed would be best....but after many years I now wish I had bought the 2 speed, just because I ride much further than I ever thought I would (time is now my only limit).

Winfried

Thanks for the feedback. I ended up buying the single-speed, and it's fine to ride on flat areas. I did change the saddle, as I found it a bit hard after a couple of hours. But then, it's not intended as a replacement for a regular bike.

Transformer

No love for the A-bike?

https://www.a-bike.co.uk/store/home.php

My biased opinion is that the prior generation R&M Frog with 12" wheels was the best sub-compact, but they're very hard to find now.