Anyone here have experience with Montague bikes?
 

I'm curious about Montague's bike frames. They'll soon be selling JUST their frames and I'm thinking I can marry that up with a bike from Craigslist in order to make an awesome commuter/transit bike. Currently riding a Jamis Trail X2 and have occasionally had to lock it up outside the bike racks at the train station (TriRail). I'm thinking the folder would come onboard both the bus and trains without an issue

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks in advance :)
JKLaud

Check with your transit company to verify the folded dimensions that are permitted to be carried on-board. Many requrie the folded bike to be less than 35" x 24" x 15" and the Montague may not qualify.

I must admit I've thought about doing the same thing, but not in conjunction with mass transit. Given the Montague's tire size I wouldn't want to be squeezing it between a bunch of seated or standing passengers. I've got a folder with 20 inch tires and it seems huge when I carry it around people, up the stairs, or down a hallway.

My mass transit agency doesn't talk about dimensions of folding bikes, but specifically says that folding bikes need to have 20" or smaller wheels to be brought on the train (or - egads - bus) and stowed anywhere other than the bike racks.

Although, honestly, a Montague with the front wheel removed is about the same dimensions as my Swift, and probably requires no more straps to hold itself together securely and not flop around. I agree, my 20"er can still feel big when folded, and I don't know that a Montague would be much more awkward.

I am thinking about a Montague myself, especially now that the frames will be available separately and I would just be moving components over from another bike. I would use the folding ability more for stowing the bike in a car trunk or for travel than for taking it on mass transit. But I might still fold it occasionally to get on a train; I'm guessing most of our inspectors don't even know the rule, and chances are I'd get away with it as long as I didn't interfere with anyone else while doing it.

Montague + my hallway = me riding more often. I have my bikes all in the backyard, in the garage. It's a total PITA to get 'em out. Montague makes some fantastic & strong bikes.