Yep, I saw one of these last year when shopping around, though it had 14" wheels and a three speed hub. Bridgestone do make good bikes... The Dahon vs Brompton thing is a little silly, so I'll stick with my Birdy.

Quite mis-leading & doesn't tell the whole story since the imports are probably way overpriced due to protectionism to begin with. Assuming of course that the taxes are still in effect.

http://www.capitalcycles.co.uk/cycle...5-bicycle-tax/

Take away the taxes & I bet that the shoe would be on the other foot as far as what's left on the showroom floors.

It's not clear what you're referencing ... the time period. But from the graph, it's doubtful that $100 annual growth has much to do with exchange rates between the US and British Pound.

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=G...rce=undefined;

If my memory is correct, FF has a C model Brompton which was its "economy" model ... perfectly functional from what I recall ... before it was discontinued some time ago. I don't remember what, but even at the time, there was a notable price difference between the C models and M, P, S types.

FWIW, I would never buy a bike for its financial investment. The investment in a bike gets paid off when one rides the bike.

I dont agree,

They are different, each has pros and cons. Mezzo main disadvantage is that one has to take the rack bag off to half fold it. A Brommies front bag makes it great for shopping.
Mezzo have choice of 2 dedicated rear rack bags. An day trip sized small one,or large laptop bag. The later is well equipped, and practical for my needs. It is also tucks in behind the bike therefore it does not create as much extra wind drag as a head tube front bag.

I have found doing longer commutes easier with a large rack bag placed out of the wind.
Its also easier in my experience to handle a fully loaded mezzo down train station stairs, as the front bag Brompton set up gets very front heavy. Lots of people half fold a Brompton when going down stairs for this reason. I feel its dangerous to do this as the back of the bike dangles down, but many of people don't seem to find this a problem.

Yes, it harder to run two bags on a mezzo, but most Brompton owners I see tend to only use the front one. I have never used a rear rack bag on my previous Brompton. Its is possible to run two bags on a Mezzo via the seat post tube, or on the handle bar stem, or (as I do sometimes) attach one above the large commuter bag, or simply run a rucksack if need be.

Dahons have extensive luggage options ie the curve takes a front mounted QR bag block simular to bromptons.
Older models of Diblasi are able to be folded with a front and rear rack bag attached.

Yes I would like Mezzo to bring out More luggage options, but I think is wrong to just dismiss Mezzo as a rival on this bais.
Its a case of preferrences.

Back to new on the dahon, any buyers, any test rides yet?

I don't think that's it; Bike Fridays have been going up by a similar amount every year.

Raw materials, labor and taxes are all playing into the rising costs. Materials in particular, raw materials manufacturers cut back on their total production and some stuff went way up.

Aaron :)

Are you referring to the Tikit caution notice? If so, then I'd like to know where they said this exactly.

I am tough on my tikit. And yet BF has repaired parts of my tikit frame not once but *twice* for free.

I owned-or have in the recent past-both bikes, 2 (not only one) Dahons & of course my present Brompton. One of the Dahons, 16 inch Piccolo, was bought right around the same time I purchased the Brompton as a supposed back up to the Brompton. I still have the Brompton only at present. Price is not the only consideration at the times I buy any product, be it bicycles or some other durable (long time use) product. I look for other things as well. One of the things I look for is the ease of buying proprietary parts as needed when I want it. Either at a bike shop, online sent to my residence, or even better at a local hardware store. If the bike in question does not offer this feature out it goes to Craigslist to be sold off. If it give me too much trouble needing to be tightened up all the time to major repairs, ditto to Craigslist. If it fails in the durable requirement, Craigslist as well.

Skimp? How so? I don't see any skimpiness in the Brompton itself or it's design. It does what it does very well & is very, very durable. Only my Raleigh Twenty & Jetstar passes the Brompton in being durable. And these bikes hail from the early 1970s, long before Brompton came to these shores or even existed.

I have a C type or Companion model. Yes, it was considered an economy model I suppose. It has a bit more steel in it's makeup than the other models-and I prefer that to aluminum any day as I don't have much use for that weenie lighter weight mania big time obsession interwoven in the bike world. It came in only one color-Red-and that was fine with me. I did not see paying for accessories at the time I did not need. Some were considered, then pass over (like fenders/mudguards) as I don't like to ride in the rain. I have other bikes set up for the occasional shower, but I don't care to go out in bad weather on any bike unless I have to. Many of my Brompton parts were exchanged for parts that I like better and were not offered such as Kool Stop Brake Pads, Razor 98mm Skate wheels in place of Brompton's own Easy Wheels, Nirve beach cruiser sprung saddle instead of that awful forgettable saddle it came with, Front Carrier Block & One Front Metal Carrier Frame (frame only), Seat Pillar Rubber Bung, plus all the bags the bike needs which I sew myself for it (see below from clockwise Upper Left: Brompton completely covered up in my own design Metallic Butterfly Blue Denim-Jeans-slipcover, Adapted Adidas Blue Bag on Brompton for the metal frame, Beaded Bicycle bag-Brompton, I Luv Union Jack Beaded Bag for Brompton's own metal frame, specialized custom sewn Rear Rack Blue Dual Pannier Bags for the Jetstar, the final photo while filled with over 30 pounds of groceries).

Remember that I bought my own bike just before the A La Carte, later the Bespoke option was even offered. I bought the basic model to add only what I wanted for that bike. If I bought now, I would buy a basic Bespoke bike and still do it just like I did before choosing both Brompton made & other's accessories and/or components for what I want out of the bike. And all my bikes, new or used, are considered an very valued tool or appliance. I take good care of them and want them to last as long as they can. Investment is simply another word for the same attitude I have for bicycles as a group.


In case you have not noticed, but most everything is going up. Don't believe me? Just go to your local grocery store. Then you will see the hidden costs are the ones hurting people's limited budgets.

The frame may well generally be durable. Brompton offset the heaviness of the (high tensile steel) frame by using plastic parts and foam grips. When they switched the right pedal to something less revolting than the previous plastic one they had a choice to add weight or attempt to keep it around the same, the result is the flimsiest pedal I've ever seen. It works, sort of, but the pressed alloy section starts warping quickly. If you want something half decent you end up adding weight. Same with the awful foam grips. You could argue that grips are a personal choice and so it makes sense to leave the foam ones as stock, but upgrading them adds weight. The chainset is amongst the lightest I've seen, however they're hugely overcharging for what is a bottom of the range Stronglight model which is somewhat underbuilt; if you don't want to be locked into this chainset generally you're going to add weight to the bike.
My biggest gripe with the frame parts is with the stem. Anyone using higher handlebar types, i.e M, H or an extended S is going to put enough torque on the headset region that the stem wobbles around. It's not been properly designed, unless the rationale behind the stem is that if it were stiffer more stress would be redirected to areas of the frame (in which case those frame areas should be designed to cope with the extra stress). Other companies have focussed on resolving these design challenges, e.g. Mezzo, but there's just no way these alternative folding designs can provide the utitlity that the Brompton fold does. The Mezzo luggage system might carry luggage just fine but doesn't have anything like the utility of the Brompton system that allows the luggage to stay on the bike as it folds, with bike turning into a trolley for the luggage once folded. The options this creates can't be found elsewhere. If there was a direct competitor then either Brompton or someone else would have engineered something lighter, stiffer and cheaper. I haven't even mentioned gearing options.

I would guess that is the rather hidden price of being touted as "conservative" in the sense of upgrades by it's own creator. Plus trying to keep both the present and future customer base happy. Everyone is different in regards to what they want out of a bike. I buy the bike's frame, the major parts (like the Bottom Bracket, rear hubs, headsets, and similar) and swap out most anything else over a longer period of time. Others would go for a "quick fix" buy a given bike, play around with it until it loses it's newness or appeal and dump it on the used market. By the way, I still have my original grips that came with the bike (see handlebar photos above in the last post of mine). For the "cheapie" then basic version, I seem to get the more proven parts as these were on the earlier models over the years before mine. Including the chain ring. It seems that the steel one that came with the bike was even better than the aluminum one offered either as stock then (at 52 T), or it's lower version (at 44 T) in the fancier models. My-not even noticeable in weight-steel chain ring is actually a nice 46 T and perfect for the S/A AW three speed's gearing range span in a rapidly changing terrain from pancake flat to extremely hilly in a very short distance. The other previous options, 44t & 52t, are too extreme in either direction to deal with the extreme terrain that I must cycle here. Being "stripped" as mine is made it a bit more sporty, concentrating mainly on the most important things that bike offers. I find most overdo something best left alone.

I find that it is where your own weight is distributed is the crucial factor over all. To illustrate the point, I like to sit straight up in traffic for safety & comfort reasons. I prefer to ride bikes that reflect this preference of mine. Once I discovered for myself how much I liked this position about 20 years ago (especially after the Dahon Piccolo & road bikes I since sold off), I could ride more bike types-like folding bikes with the long stem and those ape hanger or harp U shaped handlebars. The trick or intent is to keep your weight off the handlebars and centered on your seat, bum, tush, ass, whatever. Or climb up hills out of your saddle. If you cannot go up that hill sitting comfortably, walk up (many here would not do so). At that time when I bought the C Type, I did not really know or understand very well about all the features or abilities that this bike offers. It has been a real learning experience. I have recently tried the H Type. If I was in the market now, I would buy this one as it seems to be type that really keeps your torso straight up, no matter how tall you are. That is the subtle, not-screaming-out-at-you, improvement that has came out over the past several years. The rest has always been there, still turning itself into a trolley, tiny compact suitcase/package, whatever.

No, I'd rather have a stiffer (and lighter) bike that responds better to situations where you have to pull on the bars. In London (the 'spiritual home of the Brompton'), perhaps particularly in the non-super-affluent areas, you're constantly dealing with traffic and having to pull away quickly at traffic lights. It's not possible to adopt a cruiser riding style. In those situations the Brompton (bar the S-type) handles like a bendy-bike, and there's no reason why that should be the case other than that the company have no incentive to improve the design. Sorting out the bendy-stem might be enough, or there may be a need to optimise tubing size on the main frame such that it's ovalised and taller towards the front.

Wow, with all this discussion about the Jifo 16, I recently managed to see and play with one!

Initial observation is that, it's definitely lighter than the six speed Brompton. Size is comparable, perhaps a teeny bit smaller in certain dimensions. It definitely has a shorter top tube than my Speed Uno, which will definitely put me in a very upright position. But the most impressive of all is the weight. It's lighter than a folded Brompton, so you can lift it up and carry it with you. It's definitely designed for the last 2 miles due to the shorter wheelbase. Nice -- for a commuter.

Jifo 16 beside my Dahon Speed Uno

http://s9.postimage.org/zdocurdin/DSCN4251.jpg
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Jifo 16 folded..

http://s13.postimage.org/np63fyhvb/DSCN4248.jpg
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It looks as thought the rear wheel touches the seat tube or seat post, does that mean it doesn't roll when folded?

saddle should be moved back ..... on that dealer model... lol
did You take a ride on it ?
Its surprising how well it actually rides.....
and how bout those fenders.... you agree, they have to go ..lol

FYI,I'm 6' w/33" inseam,and my Mezzo fits me fine. Without bothering to unfold the bike and check,I can say that there's at least enough seatpost left for someone with a 34" inseam.

I would hope it would weigh less than a Brompton 6 speed! It is a single speed!

That is like comparing my Redline R530 with an 8 speed Nexus to my Redline 9.2.5 single speed.

Aaron :)

Surprised me as well for such a short wheelbase! If I get one, I'll keep the fenders. :p

Very good question. Never think of that though. Got to try that the next time I'm by the shop.

Mezzos are not offered in the US the last time I checked. "Wahoonc's" Aaron would be hard pressed to find one, even to test it out.

I like the color. I would try painting the fenders black.

I got mine on the boat.... it dissapears..literally ..lol
will take it out and try to push it around.... but than its so light its easy to carry ...thats why I didnt try it earlier...
I probaly will mod it lightly, with some alloy bolts, loose the fenders, maybe seatpost? Seat... although I like the one on there.... maybe I loose the front brake altogether... hmmm,, ? decisions decisions ...

thor

Sure they are. For example, Bikes@Vienna (DC) has quite a number of them.

Yes they are, http://www.bfold.com/StoreFrameset.htm

You know Thor, it's perfect for rush hour bus and train travel as it's way smaller folded than my Speed Uno. Give us some feedback if it does roll. When I was testing it, I was so impressed being so light that I didn't bother rolling it :D. Front brake yuck, but I probably need it here cause we have nasty hills. :eek::eek:

They are available, I just haven't been near any of their dealers yet. I live in a hell hole when it comes to cycling and cycle availablity. I can get BSO's all day long, there are exactly 2 LBS's in an area with over 300,000 people. They stock the usual stuff. If you want anything other than a standard fare road bike/MTB you have to travel for them. Fortunately I do travel for a living so I get to see and try some other things.

Aaron :)