HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx newbie
 

Hi folks- just before Christmas I was fortunate to hear about a sale at a nearby bike shop which enabled me to buy a fully equipped Grasshopper fx . For those who haven't heard of it this is a German 20/20 folding SWB with a Rohloff hub, hydraulic disk brakes and full suspension. So far I've only ridden about 350 miles on it (the weather is not very conducive to riding far at this time of year over here!) Has anyone out there got one of these machines? If so I would love to hear your experiences and opinions. I was slightly dissapointed with the fold-- although the frame does fold sideways in the middle one would need to remove the RH pedal and probably the tiller/handlebars before getting it down to a size where air travel might be a possibility. I have however managed to get it on the train to and from London on a couple of occasions - but only at off-peak times!
I'm all ears!

I don't have any info to add but also curious about feedback on the Grasshopper FX. This is a bike I'm interested in purchasing but it isn't available to demo in my area.

Specifically, I'd like to...
Know suitability for train/bus/plane travel when folded
See a video of the folding process
(- Kiwi, if you could post a vid of this on YouTube I'm sure it would be appreciated by many)
Get feedback on how it handles on rough dirt/gravel roads with the 20" wheels
Get feedback from someone using this bike long distance touring.

Surely someone must have some info to share.

Thanks

I haven't got the FX version as I bought mine just before they released the new model, very comfortable bike though, the 20" wheels haven't been a problem, like all recumbents you have to be careful on dirt & gravel, but once I realised that the front wheel wasn't going to go from underneath me I have cycled these sort of surfaces without any problems.

I am planning some long distance touring this year, so far only day rides, but the comfort, build quality and reliability is superb

I have the non-folding GH and I love it. The GH, for me, is a great get-on-and-ride bike. It's not fast as my Giro 26. But I feel is much easier to ride. It has great low speed handling so creeping up hills at 3 mph is not a problem. Low seat height inspires confidence in stop and go riding (i'm 5'8"). On the flip side, the GH is a little twitchy and took a few rides to get used to the handling, especially at 30+ mph. Dual suspension is a very nice (takes a while to dial out the pedal induced bobbing) and makes i easier to ride on dirt trails and not so perfect roads. Mine is an OSS equipped with SRAM 3X8 dual drive, disk brakes, and a rear rack. Outfitted with dual fastback century hydration system and a radical designs solo classic bag.

I wouldn't trade it for anything except for maybe a USS Street Machine.

I know of some round the world tourers ( 1 pair from Canada, and one pair from Europe) who are riding HP Streetmachines, not sure of anyone on Grasshoppers, though the recumbent shop in New York recommended the Grasshopper for me ( I eventually went with RANS Stratus XP because I couldn't trial a Grashopper in Australia - but then I couldn't trial the Stratus here either!!).

Here are blogs for the world tourers on Streetmachines FWIW:


http://goingeast.ca/blog/http:/going...ations/page/2/

http://frogsonbents.over-blog.com/pa...gs-413825.html

If I can think of someone on Grasshoppers I'll post the link.

you may be able to find some pedals from a folding upright, like a bike friday or something, the pedals simply click down when you fold them up

I'm in Mallorca (Spain) with my Brompton right now (working) but when I get back I'll endeavour to video the folding and post more details. I have to say though that unless one did some serious dismantlling it's not really suitable for air travel-- I have taken it on the train to London on a few occasions-- wouldn't recommend it at peak times though!

This guy is going from Seoul to London on a Grasshopper fx. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7_boDQ2gA

I have a non-folding GH... bought it with only three options - disc brakes, fenders and rear rack.

I found the SRAM dualdrive rear hub disappointing, because it rattled a lot, but this problem was solved recently when I upgraded the rear suspension to a Fox Float RP23 unit.

Grasshopper fx
 

I purchased a used (but new) Grasshopper fx about a month ago after having ridden my Gold Rush for about a year. Here's my comparison. The Grasshopper is well designed and made. Mine has the front fork shocks as well as the Swiss pneumatic main shock. It is comfortable and a pleasure to ride. I prefer the position with under seat steering. However, I don't think it is as comfortable or as fast as my Gold Rush. Part of the difference in speed is certainly the width of the tires, as the Gold Rush has a 700 x 32 rear tire while the Grasshopper's are both 20 x 1.75". Personally I also prefer the lower crank level on the Gold Rush. The Grasshopper is easier to transport, even without folding. I bought it with the idea of being able to take it on a plane. Toward that end, I am having a traveling bag made for it out of a Cordura type cloth. The bike comes with a light nylon bag/cover, but I've designed something with a little more protection, handles, zippered, and shoulder strap. The post from someone saying you need to remove the right pedal to fold it was not quite accurate. As described in the instructions, before folding, the right pedal should be positioned in the forward position. This removes the pedal from being in the way after folding (removing the pedal would not make the bike any more compact). I'm planning to go to Vienna, Serbia and Croatia next month and am considering traveling with this. Will let you know how it goes.

I, too, recently bought a used Grasshopper FX. I am really curious about the travel bag you are going to use for air travel. Are you making it yourself? If not, where are you buying one? For air travel, how do you plan to dissemble the bike? The normal fold or are you going to remove fenders, wheels, ect.?

I designed the bag based roughly on the dimensions of the nylon "cover" that comes with the bike. The material for my new bag is heavier and tougher than "cordura". My idea was to make it 40" by 66" (33" when folded). After folding the bike you put the wheels in the fold and then there is a zipper that goes around the rest of the bag. I also have two 1-1/2" flat webbing stitched about a foot apart that go all the way around the outside of the bag and then form handles. At the top end corners (when the bike is standing in the bag) I stitched D-rings so I can hook the should strap that came with the bike. Finally, I had an extra layer of material stitched on inside three sides of each half of the bag (the unstitched side is next to the fold) so I can try different kinds of foam slid into the "envelope". I just got some 1" open cell foam sheets to put in the envelope. I had the bag sewn at the local tent maker for $150 (all I provided was the plan). Without the foam the bag weighs 4+ lbs. I'm hope that the whole thing with the bike will be under 50 lbs, but tonight is the weigh-in so I don't know. I plan to just fold it in the normal fashion, but may remove the outside pedal, to make it flatter. I don't plan to remove the fenders, and am not sure how they will fare. Thursday I leave for a month in Europe and right now am planning to take the bike. If you contact me in August, I can give you a report on the bag, and how it was traveling with it. I could also send you photos with perhaps a suggested modification or two. contact me at heiss@vcn.com

I'll also be most interested to hear how you get on. My bike didn't come with any sort of bag so it's something I'll eventually have to sort out if I want to take it to the continent. Incidentally-- which seat design do you have fitted and have you made provision for this in the bag? All the best with your travels- I'm just back from a 70 mile ride from one side of London to the other-- great weather for it at the moment.