No problem! Thanks for putting up the photos though, this is the first time I've seen a perspective shot of the mini. It's really wee!

FYI the mini folds even smaller if you place the stem between the front and rear frame.

Thanks,
Yan

There is really little movement as I stabilize the bike with one hand. What I use to remove the tire depends on the individual tire. Some are loose enough that I can do it with just a finger. If not a Speedstick works well or I keep a set of plastic tire levers in the seat tube of each bike. They weigh just ounces and are handy. I also keep a micro-tool in the bikes I ride the most.

I recommend practicing this at home to get an idea of what you are doing. Once you have it down it goes really quickly. I also found that it is easy to repair the old tube this way and then re-use it later. Of course you could Slime the tire but I am not really in favor of that as you can still get flats and it adds a lot of weight (much more than a tube) and it slows you down quite a bit. So do tire liners for that matter and tires like the Marathon Plus. I’ll take my chances with the normal tires and carry a spare tube. Of course if I was in a very flat prone area I would still do what I do with the spare tube but go with a very flat resistant tire like the Marathon Plus.

I agree: no slime for me.

Nice pics donkeyman. Your comparison pic of the Mini really makes it look like an attractive bike.

Natness and Frazzle,

I'm really pleased that I can still do my side dismount on my VIII H 20" as I've done for all my years of Lady's bikes ... you know, right foot over the horizontal bar and down on the left hand side ... almost 50 years old and would have found it a pain not to be able to do that. I actually spent a lot of time with a measuring tape etc. trying to figure out if I could probably do it with the Downtube.

Anna

To any fence sitters, who corner like aggressive cornering on their DT FS, go ahead and change tires. I'm running Primo Comet Kevlars, 406x1.35, and what a difference in corners. At the point that the OEM tires were inducing front shock stutter, the Comets stay glued, no stutter.

(Before I'm asked, shock stutter is when the front tire momentarily slips in hard cornering, and the shock rebounds (decompresses when load is released), only to compress hard when the front tire grabs again.)

You are too damn rough on your bikes.

Granted SB11, very tough on the DT FS. Taco the crank spider, that's a first for me. In my defense, I am gentle on my Swift, the Deans, the Merckx, etc. To me, the DT FS is like a supermoto m/c, it wants to corner, not sweepers or twisties, just donuts and eights. I can shed alot of stress in 5 min. on the DT. Work for several hours straight under deadline pressure, make the deadlline, my reward: 5 min. on the DT.

Donkeyman,

Can you measure the distance from the bottom bracket center to the top of the seat with the seatpost fully extended (to the safety mark)?

jasong ---as best I can tell, eyeballing it with a tape measure, the distance from the center of the bottom crank to the top of the seat is 28 1/4 inches with the seat post at the safety mark.

Thanks! So 72 cm , ~32in inseam adequate (28.25 / 0.883) (I'm 6' and 34.5" inseam).

Yan, possibilities on the 550mm seatpost? Anyone been able to find one of them?

Different seats can play a big factor here. If you can't find the 550mm seatpost try a different seat. I have found this can affect how I have the seatpost extended.

Yeah, but I think the seats that come with these (kind of cheap and large) typically max out that spec. I don't know where I'd find a taller seat. Nor do I think I'd want to ride one as they're usually the cheap ones.

Does anybody know what racks I can use on the mini (both front and back)? Thanks!

The mini looks so CUTE!!!

But the internal hub on the VIIIH will make it easier to maintain, yes? I am not even remotely a mechanic.

I believe that if someone comes up with the right design of accessories for the DT Mini including touring racks and professional bags (maybe a front luggage for a laptop or something) chances are we will see lots of them replacing Mercs and bromptons...

This is true of Brooks sprung saddles at least. I'd wager the added height is at least 1/2" if not more, depending on the model.

More than the stock downtube? I need 50mm / 2in.

Check out the M2RACER Power Module Seat Adjuster at https://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/ST2710

Thanks,
Yan

FYI the Mini has the same internal hub as the VIIIH

Thanks,
Yan

That's a good idea - but, has anyone in their research seen just a normal "rise" adapter that does the same thing (and for less $$) and for more distance?

I thought there might have been a torque limitation making a >500mm seatpost too hard too find, but of course that's dependent on rider weight.

No one has found a 550 mm seatpost?

Don't know.

I can find 550mm seatposts, but the diameters are bigger than 27.2.

How about cutting the top off the 27.2mm 500mm seatpost and inserting a 25.4mm? A couple people did this with Thudbusters, I believe. Cheap seatposts.

From the ground, how high is the mini's handlebar? What is the maximum height that the seat can be raised? What is the distance from the handlebar to the top of the seatpost at their maximum heights?

Thanks for your help.

Wav, You're very kind to offer up you VIIIH for the cause but I'm not sure you could really part with it from the sounds of your latest update to your earlier review. I can't wait to try it out for myself. Even though we live in a fairly level area, I bought this to take with when we travel so I will be reading very closely yours and others changes to the gearing and may make that my winter project. I will also most likely be changing out the grips on the handlebars, I don't want to have a great ride ruined by numb hands. Is this like changing out the grip on a golf club or more involved and better left to LBS? A quick primer would help if you think it's something I could do.

Thanks again for your insightful reviews and options for upgrading.

Changing grips is easy, however I expect you will like the grips. The super soft foamy grips are my favorite. I have never had numb hands from these grips and I ride alot.

Thanks,
Yan