tds101 

Speck SS Folding Bike $319 | Folding Bicycle for Commuting & Traveling | Retrospec Bicycles

Does anyone have any experience with this bike? I'm contemplating purchasing one to keep @my job for lunchtime jaunts to the store. I weigh 200lbs, but there's no listed specs about weight on the site. I've seen one video about a guy and his son saying he weighs 200lbs as well, and it's a solid ride. I want (hopefully) someone here to give me a hand,... I trust you guys and not a (99% probable) commercial video review.

Pinigis 

Warning: biased reply follows. For the same money you can get an Origami Crane that is better equipped, has a better frame hinge and latch, wonderful customer service! :-)

tds101 

I was actually considering an Origami bicycle, but I need a bike that can handle 250lbs plus. The Spec SS supposedly can handle the weight, as can the Xootr Swift. The area I'm about to start working in, in about a month, is pothole & bump hell. Get me a solid folder and I'm sold. I need tough! MiniVelo already made, decently priced? Maybe.

ThorUSA

Business slow ?


Back to the qustion of the OP
Slick design/colors and website .... but where is the address of the company ? A telephone number ?

There are almost copied and pasted lifestyle ..live to ride.... that enviromental statement from Dahon / Tern ... nothing wrong with that at all... just a little to much cut and paste in my opinion ...

tried to check out and seemingly didnt work for me .... wanted to find the price for shipping :-)

Thor

Pinigis 

No, but thanks for the concern. We are actually busier than ever and will soon be available through a national sporting goods chain, so we are ramping up in anticipation.

Life is good.

HGR3inOK

I don't have any experience with any Retrospec bike, but I do have experience with the Dahon Speed Uno. The Retrospec blog (Retrospec Bicycles Blog) has a comparison of their Speck SS model with the Dahon Speed Uno. I find it puzzling that they are able to provide an exact weight (24.2 pounds) for the Dahon Speed Uno but can only provide an estimate ("about 24 pounds") for their own model.
The Dahon Uno has a 4130 Chomoly frame, a significant difference IMHO.
See: Dahon Speed UNO to compare the specifications of the Dahon Speed Uno with the specifications for the Retrospec Speck SS.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

tds101 

The Speed Uno looks sweet, but 230lb max weight is a put off for me. And the lack of info on the Spec SS is worrisome. Maybe I'll see about a Tern. My LBS carries them.

Azreal911

Tern's max weight is only a little more : 240lbs.

tds101 

Hmmm,... The tern node d8 can handle 254lbs of beefiness. I may need to rethink this,...

downtube

I like the looks of the Retrospec. However the price is a little high and the specs are unclear.

Watch out for Tern, they seem to be imploding. See Tern Link D8 frame shearing in two | Tern Folding Bike and Folding Bicycle Accessories | United States

Thanks,
Yan

ThorUSA

Yan as a competitor you really should let this rest. I am not posting any broken Downtubes either, right ?

downtube

Thor,

Please post whatever you wish.....I will do the same.

There is an obvious injustice going on. Why are you so keen on keeping it quiet?

Thanks,
Yan

tds101 

I've asked questions, but please don't turn this thread into a personal dispute.

As for the tern node, I've seen no shearing issue being posted so far. But, I don't think I'll be happy until I get a xootr swift at this rate. I thought the Spec SS might fit the bill. I guess I was mistaken. Let me talk to the Mrs and see what's up. Maybe I'll go xootr frame and build it custom.

downtube

Thus far 10 terns sheared apart. 8 in the UK and 2 in the USA.

Thanks
Yan

downtube

The xootr sound like a great choice.

Thanks
Yan

tds101 

Was it the node?

PS: if you had an internal hub folding bike I'd probably have purchased one from you, considering the 245lb max weight.

downtube

Please clarify the question.

Thanks
Yan

tds101 

I was asking if the Tern Node D8 had this issue as well.

BruceMetras

[QUOTE=tds101;16821867]Was it the node?

One frame that sheared in half was an Eclipse .. you can see the similarity to the Node frame ..

tds101 

I created an acct, but I still haven't received my verification email yet.

All the same Tern is off my list,...

BruceMetras

There're over 300 posts in the thread.. get yourself a cold one before you start..

downtube

FYI Next month We will start presales of our new 8H with Shimano Nexus 8 internal hub and Gates belt drive with suspension fork.

Thanks,
Yan

downtube

They are trying to hide the issue....so it may be some time before you get the email.

FYI it reads like a novel with many ups and downs.

Thanks,
Yan

tds101 

:-0 You now have my interest,... What's the weight capacity?

downtube

I will list it at 235lbs. FYI our 9fs and 9 can handle much more than a xootr. We are conservative with our weight limits. I heard xootr advertises 275 lb limit which I find surprising.

Thanks
Yan