How Do You Join The Folder Club?
 

Ok, I just bought my first folding bike--a Giant Expressway. I am kind of hooked on this bike. What is the best folding bike on the market?

My LBS says that some buyers put a lot of miles on these Giants besides using them for commuting and traveling by train.

Just wondering,

Fred

Asking for the best folding bike is nothing like asking for the best racer or MTB. Folding bikes are extremely diverse in design and can be a sub-category all of their own.

IMO,
For multi-modal commuting - Brompton
For touring - Bike Fridays
For off-road - Montague, Birdys
Most common - Dahon, Tern

Their diverse design means they may be terrible in certain aspects but amazing in others. Every brand listed here but the lower-end Dahon/Terns run into the thousands of dollars. Be prepared to pay a sizable fraction of the cost for a good fold. There are cheaper folders which are mainly commuters like Citizen, Origami, etc.

the Ultimate Folding Bike ? .. 42 .. but there is only one of them made.. & he wants to keep it..

I own a Dahon, I like it and it works well for me. I've ridden a few other folders , IMO Birdy is a great bike, is it the best ? Ride it and other folders, then let us know.

I was only able to ride Dahons at my LBS but it gave me a feeling for how folders ride. Bought a Downtube 9FS. Spend a week or two of spare time reviewing these forums to see the pros and cons.

hey hey Keyven! Birdy's Off road!? I thought they are only on road and the small travel shocks are mainly for road irregularities. I guess you can fit some big apples on there and lower the psi to try such craziness :)

I like keyven's short list: it's probably pretty accurate in terms of broad descriptions. Of course, you're going to find exceptions to everything. And then you're going to have to decide on trade-offs - usually money versus some feature - like lots of us already do when contemplating "just one more bike" or N+1 syndrome. ;)

Last year, when I was in southern Alberta, I rode my Brompton up this really, really long uphill slope. I was in 1st gear all the way, and sweating like crazy. I even passed and embarrassed a big guy on his mountain bike! At the same time, I wouldn't want to do that too often: any other bike listed probably could have handled that slope easier.

As for "how do you join the folder club"... I guess you have one, so you're in the club! Now all you have to do is to ride your folder in absolutely insane circumstances and post a ton of photos to brag about the experience! Welcome and have fun! :thumb:

Every folding bike is a compromise for some kind of riding, just like every non-folding bike is.

There is no "Ultimate" bike; there is only n+1.

Brompton. It may not be the best riding bike when compared to other bikes with larger wheels, but it's by far the best folding bike. That said I didn't buy mine expecting it to be a road/mountain/touring bike because I have other non-folding bikes for those purposes. I bought my bike with the intent of commuting, having a bike to travel with, and fun rides around town. For those uses, it's perfect.

Once you fold and unfold your bike for us, we'll show you the secret handshake.

Don't get your fingers caught in the fold though!;)

Damn, so that's why I've been fending off weirdos with outstretched hands all week! Had to take down an entire peloton of Dahon-riders just last Friday.

In order to be an official club member, you must post pictures. This is mrsbrowngw's Expressway. Been a great bike and has travelled far and wide.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...9&d=1344877424

This is my Giant Halfway on the beach in South Carolina this Spring. Both bikes travel in our Pleasureway Van Camper.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...5&d=1399642361