Bike Forums - New - to folders, anyhow - and could use a bit of advice.

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- - New - to folders, anyhow - and could use a bit of advice. (https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/866871-new-folders-anyhow-could-use-bit-advice.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynocoaster (Post 15154091)

There is a Dahon frame for sale
http://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/3403908619.html

Thank you. Looking into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykerocker (Post 15153825)

OK, you've answered my first new question: 20" vs 16". I had a feeling 20" would be better, but wasn't sure what the current technology was capable of.

When I mentioned panniers, it was more in terms of what I'm using on the current three speed, because I fully recognize this little matter of height of the rear rack off the road. Plus wheelbase. On a folder, I'd probably go with a canvas/fabric/ripstock top box on top of the carrier for carrying bank bags ro whatever else is necessary in the day to day duties of my mundane job. I've already got one of those on the 21-speed hybrid that I use as my commuter from home and am quite happy with it. Back in the day, I had one of the huge Raleigh canvas/leather seat packs strapped to the Brooks on my Twenty which worked quite well.

Other question: Just how good are those $150-300.00 folders I'm seeing popping up on eBay? Obviously Chinese and never heard of the brands (assuming the brands even matter). I assume they're not even playing in the same ballpark as a Dahon, Bike Friday, etc., but are they actually viable bicycles or just the modern day equivalent jokes of those U-shaped frame folders you could buy 40 years ago that weren't worth riding out of the parking lot.

This discussion has been as invaluable to me as when I discovered Sheldon's web pages back when I got back into cycling and was doing the crash catchup on everything that I'd missed in the intervening years (I did the entire website in less than three weeks). Thank you all. Game plan is the Westminster, MD swap meet in four weeks and I'm probably going to start looking seriously there. The farm show building its in has a huge area to try riding bikes that you're looking at, which is nice if it snows. Again.

Oh yeah, price matters. At present Syke's Cyclery is a small repair shop out in the wilds of rural Virginia, about 35 miles from Richmond. Repairs and restorations only, I haven't considered going to a showroom and new bikes. I've been doing repairs and refurbishing used bikes for four years now, it's a hobby business but has made me a nice little bit of mad money. For 2013 I'm taking it legitimate, county business license, tax collection, accounts with bicycle parts wholesalers, etc. The latter is the reason for the going legit efforts - the hobby has gotten too big to live without a regular source of wholesale replacement parts.

Syke,

20" wheels are better because they do offer more tire selections. It's hard to say if a $300 folding bike is going to be good for your needs. I guess you will have to find this out yourself. I've ridden the cheaper versions before, Downtube, and while I find it adequate, it did not equal my current Dahon Mu SL in almost everything. But this is just me. Some people don't like the Mu SL being so stiff and they like the Speed 8 better because of the forgiving steel frame. But you know what. Cheap bikes are just that, cheap. If you just go and buy what you really need, paying more than you want will eventually justify itself in the end once you start riding it.

By the way, I also own a cheap Dahon Speed Uno (a steel single speed bike) which is now a dual speed bike. Nice ride, easy to fold and use it as a summer commuter and short hop bike. It's amazing what you can get out of off with just 2 speeds especially in the most hilliest city on the West Coast and not to mention your cardio strength! I haven't taken it on short trips, but maybe this summer. It has the ability to carry up to 20L already.

"20" wheels are better because they do offer more tire selections."

:roflmao:

Heck, Syke, you should just get in touch with Sixty fiver and work out a sale/trade on one of his excess twenties.

Syke will be entirely too happy moding the darn thing.

The problem I see with a lot of the cheaper folders is you'll likely start tearing sub-standard parts off and replacing them as quickly as possible anyway (as we discussed yesterday). Look what I did to my Nano; very little of that bike is original stock. Chances are they severely undergeared. This may be a positive, as you like wrenching.

Small wheel bikes are at their best in urban environments; the Nano is quick and nimble and gets up to speed fast. It does not hold speed as well as a roadie, however. Despite what many here might say, I wouldn't pick a folder for a long countryside cruise. You can, but it's not the best.

The QBP account might give you access to some folders even cheaper (origin8?).

Or you could just buy the pink with flames twenty down in Norfolk, it'd look good on you.:lol::lol:

http://images.craigslist.org/3E73Fb3...04dc9a1b1b.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykerocker (Post 15153825)

...Other question: Just how good are those $150-300.00 folders I'm seeing popping up on eBay? Obviously Chinese and never heard of the brands (assuming the brands even matter). I assume they're not even playing in the same ballpark as a Dahon, Bike Friday, etc., but are they actually viable bicycles or just the modern day equivalent jokes of those U-shaped frame folders you could buy 40 years ago that weren't worth riding...

They can be worthwhile, especially if you know your stuff. The makes seem to revolve around just a few frames from the big factories. They always have pretty dismal cheap tyres and generally need tightening up and saddle, grips, bars and the like swapped to taste but it sounds like that's not a problem for you.

The stock parts on many el cheapos are often more than serviceable compared to what was around a few decades back - plenty alloy, good brakes, braze-ons for carriers, LED dynamo lights etc.. Mine came with Shimano 3-speed coaster hubs that shift far smoother and brake far more sensitively than the old Sturmey Archers ever did.

They do pack up nice and small for storage, but for public transport you're still basically looking at lugging a 9 cubic feet bag, and the cheapies are not particularly light to lift either.

If you're lucky, as I was, you can even get a couple. One of mine is set up for winter, the other for fair-weather pootling.

This is one of them (a 139 Euro bike):

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg690...pg&res=landing

Elvis, I like that 'trunk' bag... is it waxed cotton and still sold?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassNotBass (Post 15155336)

Elvis, I like that 'trunk' bag... is it waxed cotton and still sold?

I quite like the look of the bike - what is it please ?

Sorry for derailing the thread - bag is Dad's 1950s Carradice Camper Longflap; Carradice make the exact same model to this day, a great piece of kit. Bike is German supermarket chain ALDI's rebadged MIFA: http://mifa-shop.de/Fahrraeder/Klapp...ung-Nexus.html - I believe Flying Pigeon in China build the aluminium frames. All stock apart from saddle, bar and grips.

Bump.

Doing some digging in the local area, and I find out about a guy who had a Dahon Jack frameset plus bottom bracket for sale. Now, of course, I've got no idea what a Jack is. So I look up the company webpage. Hmmn, basically what I'd call a folder hybrid, but with mtb sized wheels. I could build that up easily with stuff I've got in inventory. Folded, it'd still fit in my office like a small wheeled bike.

Anybody here lived with one? Thoughts?

oh for pete's sake, just buy the damn thing already. build it. post pics.

This is your life. It's ebbing away, one day at a time:

Tick...
tick...
tick...

('Fight Club')

Jack: A cosmetic re-imagining of what was the too-expensive but desirable Dahon Zero G in 2003/4. The Zero G frame begat the Matrix (front-sus XC disk-braked hardtail), the Espresso (urbanised cityfied sit-up and pose café-cruiser) and the Jack (death-metal punk-ass grunge-meister).

The Jack is the Bruce Willis of folders, the Matrix; the John Wayne, and the Espresso; Liberace. You cannot own a Jack without getting tattooed the same week, and possibly, acquiring a disease of Venus. While others are asking about cup-holders, Jack owners are shoving chillis down their shorts.

Alternatives to the Whacko Jacko are few, but include the Montague 26" folders.

'Hybrid' is too limp a term; The Jack is a hard-tail cross-country frame with beefed up BMX-themed straight street forks. The Jack was originally a 7-speed, upped to 24 speed in 2012. The stripped street-urchin look is aided by a minimalist paint job, and tidy grip-shifts. Trigger shifters belong elsewhere.

The frame design was by ace downhill guru Joe Murray. who also did the Dahon Flo, and many others. It is sweet beyond compare off-road, and works well, as do many MTBs', in the urban jungle.

"The Zero G was designed with the singular purpose of serious off-road riding by hard-core mountain bikers. The frame geometry and components were selected for this singular purpose, with no consideration made for riding on other surfaces or for riders who want something other than an aggressive, stretched out riding position." -Josh Hon; 2004.

Er, yes. Calm down, Josh. Things have moved on. Everything is like that, now.

Jack frames build up into a very pleasant urban street-fighter, or with suspension forks and seat-post into something close to a capable cross-country (XC) trail blazer. The frame will take 26" rims with V-Brakes, or 700c wheels with long reach calipers, and can become an urban runabout, or something darker, muddier, knobblier, filthier.

Drops can be fitted, but the usual street fitment is MTB inspired and because of the MTB/Murray compact frame, tends toward a riser stem and riser bar atop an Ahead-set spacer stack for more viewing height in town.

That compact frame means if you're 5' 9" or taller, you'll probably need the large size 20" frame. Comes in small, medium, and large. Expect to show lots of seat-tube and fork-tube.

Jack frames are on closeout over here, and building one is fun. All parts are standard: 27.2mm seatpost, English 68mm x 115mm cup 'n cone square taper bottom bracket, 1 1/8 Ahead type threadless headset. NVO 'FIT' stem and spacer useful if you can find one, as bars can be lifted straight off for stowage.

Frames are eyeletted for racks or fenders with a 7005 double-butted alloy frame, bearing 'Designed By Joe Murray'. The frame will take a front derailleur to become a 7/8 speed X 3, = D21 or D24 Jack. Rear will be standard MTB medium or long cage stuff. Think Shimmy 'Acera', SRAM MTB or similar.

The fold is adequate, for full-scale hiding-it-under-the-desk mode, the handlebars slip off, assuming some familiarity with a hex-wrench.

Fits in the trunk of almost anything when folded.

The ride is relaxed and fun. Standard Jack forks are BMX-look Cro-MO, but medium travel (4" travel) sus forks go straight on.

If bicycle nerdery is avoided, a simple Jack build comes out around 11.5-12 Kg.

They are lovely do-it -all bikes. I just built one. I had a Matrix and missed it too much.

If someone is selling a used Jack frame, ask why; hinge damage? Downhill damage? Corrosion? Wussiness?

Built-up bikes sell well on Flee-Bay. If the hinge hasn't been correctly adjusted, lubed and maintained there can be creaks.

Have some pix: This is a 2009 frame & forks built up with dumpster single-wall 26" MTB wheels and parts-bin MTB spares.

Matte-black Jack-ness has been retained where-ever possible. Note SDG I-Beam Bel-Air saddle as fitted to the original Zero G and Matrix.

"Procrastination is the thief of time."

Put some Tabasco on your French Fries: Get a Jack!

http://i47.tinypic.com/vebz9c.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/2drie6p.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/2qi5kde.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/293hssg.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/nxus2g.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/24njofo.jpg

and for comparision, my 2007 Matrix:

http://i26.tinypic.com/2s7w42d.jpg

My Dahon Zero G is still my only mountain bike ... still no issues with it after many years of use.. pretty much a workhorse ... here it is heading uphill at about 6000' elevation..

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=294572

surely, after snafu21's eloquent advert, sykerocker is now on his way to purchase the jack frame set....

Sykey is an old Rocker. He's going to love matte black paint, grip-shifts, and grease marks up his leg.

^^^ Old Bulgarian Proverb: You've either got chillis down your shorts, or you haven't.

snafu21,

Halfway down the read, I noticed my right hand had disappeared into my pants. Oh baby, I detect a bit of interest. You've just listed the bicycle equivalent of a 1998 Triumph Speed Triple in Dog Pecker Pink, er, Nuclear Red. Definitely got to look at this (arrangements made for tomorrow, noon-ish).

If you ever manage to describe yourself as good, my passport will be out of the safe in the next five minutes, I'll be touching down at Heathrow by tomorrow evening.

Thanks for the warnings/what-to-look-out-fors. This bike could turn out to be very fascinating on a number of levels: 1. Looking at the pictures and specs, I've got everything I need to put it on the road sitting in the shop inventory. 2. While I'm a hard core roadie, my yard is 10 acres of near-virgin woods, to which I've cut about a mile of trails. I always have one mtb in the collection, invariably late-80's/early-90's hardnose/hardtail. If this and I can get along on the trail, the Nishiki may be going. I tend to swap mtb's every six months anyway. 3. It more and more looks like it'd be very workable at the office, relegating that Ranger 3-speed to the "real vintage" (ridden but not often) collection.

Eagerly anticipating tomorrow's trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykerocker (Post 15178269)

Eagerly anticipating tomorrow's trip.

Trip where ? Heathrow is snowed in right now, you might be diverted.

The seller called me back tonight. He had a few moments, went out to the garage with a tape, and measured the frame.

It's the small size. :bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

Just when you get all excited . . . . . . . . . . .

So snafu21.... just how "tough" are these Jack folding bikes from Dahon? I had started an earlier thread about a folding mountain bike for riding mountain paths and rail-to-trails when traveling back to British Columbia to visit family. Most responses focused on the Montague, but a couple mentioned the Jack, which I don't think Dahon currently makes anymore. I have no experience with either, but I think I prefer the fold of the Jack better.

Update: I was looking at the Espresso. Is there really a difference between the Jack and the Espresso? Assuming I actually wanted one, I figure I might be better off with the Espresso since it has wider gearing, and just up certain parts (like a suspension fork).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynocoaster (Post 15180142)

Thor has the Jack and Expresso
Have you checked the Tern?
http://www.thorusa.com/tern/joec21.htm
http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/current/jack.htm
http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/current/espressobaltic.htm

Great that Thor has the bikes... but I'm in Canada so duty kind of kills US based purchases.

But anyways, yes, I did take a look at the Joe from Tern. Not sure what to make of it. I recall reading NYCE (maybe someone else?) is no longer stocking them due to some quality or performance issues. Maybe it's an urban myth for all I know: it's been a while since I looked into larger folders.