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Thanks to the wifey, I now have a side bag/pannier that doesn't have heel strike issues. I had her sew an additional 12 inches of fabric to my Performance Metro bag and it works perfectly with my clamp on rack positioned high up on the seatpost.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/swift-folder2.jpg This is turning out to be a very sweet commuter. My speeds are hovering around the same as my full size road bike. (Granted I'm not the world's strongest rider). |
Carradice Bagman or SQR
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You should have no problems using a Bagman support for a saddle bag as it does not interfere with the folding action of the Swift at all. The SQR may prevent the seat post dropping down completely but it will still hold everything together.
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Originally Posted by kb5ql
Thanks to the wifey, I now have a side bag/pannier that doesn't have heel strike issues. I had her sew an additional 12 inches of fabric to my Performance Metro bag and it works perfectly with my clamp on rack positioned high up on the seatpost.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/swift-folder2.jpg This is turning out to be a very sweet commuter. My speeds are hovering around the same as my full size road bike. (Granted I'm not the world's strongest rider). Thanks, Juan |
Mudguards
3 Attachment(s)
Having tried the "clip-on" type short mudguards, which offer little protection from water and dirt thrown up from the road, I went in search of some "proper guards". I came across the Zefal Junior 20" MGZ 2050B mudguards. Zefal must have a team of people who dream up fantastic names for their products but I think MGZ 2050B is a little over he top for a couple of pieces of plastic!
The front 'guard fits without any problems but a certain amount of "adaption" is required before the rear unit can be installed. Firstly the rear mudguard is too wide to squeeze between the frame members (what would be the seat stays on a conventional bike) and needs to have a "waist" cut into it. This is quite easy to do using a small hacksaw but measure twice and cut once! The mudguard stays will also need to be trimmed a little but again a sharp hacksaw will make short work of it. The front of the rear mudguard (if that makes sense) bolts onto the small strengthening frame member behind the bottom bracket. On conventional bikes this member has a hole (sometimes threaded) running through it from side to side. For some reason the Swift has the hole running from top to bottom which means that a right angled bracket is required to secure the mudguard. I used a bracket from a pair of short mudguards to hold the 'guard in place and it works very well. Take your time with this job and be careful to double check your measurments before picking up the hacksaw! Once fitted the full mudguards do an excellent job of keeping both bike and rider clean. The attached photographs are a little deceptive as it appears that the mudguards are quite narrow but they are more than wide enough to span the width of the tyres. |
Do you have a web source for these mudguards? Any help is appreciated.
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Does anyone think there is enough interest in these swift folders to perhaps do a group buy (maybe if we can get 50 people or so interested, they will give us a discount?). It's worked well for the SS/FG folks, and the roadies in the past. Whaddaya think?
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depends on the discount. I am interested.
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Even with 50 people, I don't think you'd get them to go anywhere near Downtube's price point or component spec. If they're sold out at their current price and spec, that should already tell you something.
Still I'd like to see what you're able to negotiate. |
I'm waiting for the new steel frame. Are you talking about a group buy from Xootr for the aluminum frame?
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Originally Posted by jyossarian
I'm waiting for the new steel frame. Are you talking about a group buy from Xootr for the aluminum frame?
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Originally Posted by Bop
Do you have a web source for these mudguards? Any help is appreciated.
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Originally Posted by worker4youth
Does anyone think there is enough interest in these swift folders to perhaps do a group buy (maybe if we can get 50 people or so interested, they will give us a discount?). It's worked well for the SS/FG folks, and the roadies in the past. Whaddaya think?
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I just thought I'd add my $0.02 after three months of Xootr Swift ownership. I bought my bike from Trophy Bikes in Philly - great people to deal with and were willing to make sure I got the cheapest shipping rate available (made a huge difference, as I live in Australia). After a few weeks I had what seem to be the expected problems: creaking while riding out of the saddle, cured by regreasing the seatpost, and an alarming rocking sensation in the front end of the bike as the crown race seated itself. My modifications have included installing drop handlebars, ultegra rear mech, 8-sp bar end shifter, gutted campag ergo levers, cantilever brakes, dura-ace crank. The right hand cup of the stock bottom bracket was screwed in extremely tightly and only extracted with considerable effort. I cut the head off the stock seatpost, and drilled, slotted, shimmed and clamped a 25mm time post inside to get the setback I needed for my brooks saddle. The chain guard was put into the parts bin, replaced with a hose clamp around the seat tube with a longer bolt holding two washers with a spacer in between. This arrangement works well with no rubbing or dropping of the chain. Primo comets have replaced the stock kenda tyres and improved the whole package considerably. In hindsight I’d have been better off buying a bare frameset; however I was initially unsure how far I was going to take this projectJ I’m considering a new pair of wheels as the stock hubs are pretty ordinary. All in all I’m happy with the ride and handling. The chubby tyres take the sting out of bad pavement and the steering firms up at about 20kph so once you are moving you don’t notice the small wheels. My daily commute takes about the same time as on a big wheeled bike and once I wear out the original cassette and chain ring I will address the big jumps at the top end of the gear range. |
Originally Posted by steveonbike
I just thought I'd add my $0.02 after three months of Xootr Swift ownership.
I bought my bike from Trophy Bikes in Philly - great people to deal with and were willing to make sure I got the cheapest shipping rate available (made a huge difference, as I live in Australia). After a few weeks I had what seem to be the expected problems: creaking while riding out of the saddle, cured by regreasing the seatpost, and an alarming rocking sensation in the front end of the bike as the crown race seated itself. My modifications have included installing drop handlebars, ultegra rear mech, 8-sp bar end shifter, gutted campag ergo levers, cantilever brakes, dura-ace crank. The right hand cup of the stock bottom bracket was screwed in extremely tightly and only extracted with considerable effort. I cut the head off the stock seatpost, and drilled, slotted, shimmed and clamped a 25mm time post inside to get the setback I needed for my brooks saddle. The chain guard was put into the parts bin, replaced with a hose clamp around the seat tube with a longer bolt holding two washers with a spacer in between. This arrangement works well with no rubbing or dropping of the chain. Primo comets have replaced the stock kenda tyres and improved the whole package considerably. In hindsight I’d have been better off buying a bare frameset; however I was initially unsure how far I was going to take this projectJ I’m considering a new pair of wheels as the stock hubs are pretty ordinary. All in all I’m happy with the ride and handling. The chubby tyres take the sting out of bad pavement and the steering firms up at about 20kph so once you are moving you don’t notice the small wheels. My daily commute takes about the same time as on a big wheeled bike and once I wear out the original cassette and chain ring I will address the big jumps at the top end of the gear range. |
Originally Posted by jur
Ah, you are in Oz too. Could you have bought a bare frameset? Do you remember what the shipping amounted to?
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Originally Posted by kb5ql
Thanks everybody for all your help. Here is a quick shot of the bike. I'll probably update this info later this weekend.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/swift-folder1.jpg Nice, nice bikes guys. Nice to see how this versatile frameset caters to all tastes and desires from the mean single speed street machine to the multi geared tourer. I was surprised at all the info and pictures I found on this thread long after I'd built up my Swift; I may have done some things differently but, on the whole, I'm really satisfied with Swift. OziSwift |
Originally Posted by OziSwift
Hi other Aussie Swift fans - nice to know there's three of us. I bought a bare XOOTR Swift frameset from Peter Reich about a year ago. He shipped it by USPS and (I'm going to have to check this when I get home) I think the packaging and postage cost about 60 USD. I didn't pay any duty or GST because it was described as a "bicycle frame with a wheel size less than (I'm guessing again and I'll find the exact description later) 24 inches." What's more, the parcel arrived within a week of Peter despatching it.
[edit never mind who Peter R is - just remembered he is the designer, right?] |
Originally Posted by jur
Sounds exactly like my dreams. Who is Peter Reich? Do you remember what you roughly paid for the frame?
[edit never mind who Peter R is - just remembered he is the designer, right?] OziSwift |
Originally Posted by steveonbike
My modifications have included ...ultegra rear mech, ...dura-ace crank. The right hand cup of the stock bottom bracket was screwed in extremely tightly and only extracted with considerable effort.
...Primo comets have replaced the stock kenda tyres and improved the whole package considerably ...In hindsight I’d have been better off buying a bare frameset; however I was initially unsure how far I was going to take this project I found the Ultegra short cage struck the bottom of the rear dropout when shifting to the smallest cog. I had to dremel away a portion of the derailleur cage located behind the guide pulley. I hope that didn't weaken the assembly too much. I'm enjoying the better chain tension and reduced noise of the shorter cage. I was searching for 177.5 or 180 Dura Ace cranks to replace the stock (too short) crankset, but those are hard to come by and I got tired of losing eBay auctions when they popped up... so I splurged for the new SRAM road crankset. I'll get that installed once it arrives next week. I'm patiently awaiting SRAM to make their new i-Motion 9 rear hub available here in the US. Currently, I can import one from the UK, but the price is around $450, without shifter. I went with the 1-3/8" Comets, but wonder if I should have opted for the 1.5" version. |
Originally Posted by jur
Ah, you are in Oz too. Could you have bought a bare frameset? Do you remember what the shipping amounted to?
I think it was about $US115 via usps. Xootr quoted me $220 and weren't able to find a cheaper carrier. As the total cost was under $AUS1,000 I didn't have to pay any duties or GST. Steve |
I emailed Xootr and Peter Reich about a possible group buy.
I received a reply from Xootr that they will give us a discounted price, depending on how many people are interested. However, they don't sell just the frame alone. I'll keep everyone informed! |
Since not everyone keeps looking into this monster Swift thread, you might make a fresh thread entitled 'Swift group buy - place your order here' or something like that.
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Originally Posted by jur
Sounds exactly like my dreams. Do you remember what you roughly paid for the frame?
All these costs are in USD from my records about a year ago. Bare frameset $340 - Peter quoted +$80 for painting/powdercoating Chris King Headset fitted $120 - Peter quoted $22 to fit a Shimano STX instead Postage and fees by USPS - $66.50 Under detailed description of contents, described as "Folding Bicycle Frame for Bicycle Having Both Wheels Not Exceeding 63.5 cm (25 Inches) in Diameter". I didn't pay any import duties/GST. Peter accepts VISA or Mastercard. OziSwift |
Question for James or Anyone Else With A Fixed Xootr Swift
I'm planning on converting my Xootr Swift to a fixed. I've read that James put in a fixed rear wheel with a Surly Hub with a 130mm OLD. James, or anyone else who's done something similar, were you able to keep the original bottom bracket, or did you have to change it to get a straight chain line?
Thanks so much for your help. Jonathan |
Originally Posted by JonathanG
I'm planning on converting my Xootr Swift to a fixed. I've read that James put in a fixed rear wheel with a Surly Hub with a 130mm OLD. James, or anyone else who's done something similar, were you able to keep the original bottom bracket, or did you have to change it to get a straight chain line?
Thanks so much for your help. Jonathan To make things easier, you can order a fixed rear wheel from Peter Reich. I'm sure he can get you "fixed-up" for your particular model Xootr without having to mess with the bottom bracket. |
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