What are some of the fastest folding bikes?
#51
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I can see where Abu Mahendra is coming from.
(Being in SEA and not in the US)
There are loads of folding/mini velo bike options here in SEA (often at good prices).
Someone based here gets to try/see lots of the bikes mentioned.
I too seem to see that there is a view here that the BF (and often Brompton) being the only best options. (implying most other stuff being 'cheap copies', inferior workmanship, etc)
Is it really true or is it because of the realities of availability, price (imported vs local), perception of quality, vocal user base?
Even the general size/weight/height of the user base play a part in this perception.
Take a Tyrell FX for instance.
Its a really nice bike, speedy, configurable, etc.
Sadly, most of the available English info on them are limited to distributor and 'self love' selfies type material.
Other info being in Chinese (from HK, Taiwan, China), and Japanese (where the bike originates).
The BF on the other hand, being more readily available in the US (which folks tend to be more vocal and willing to create good content), will turn out lots of good info/material on real world usage upon a google search.
(Being in SEA and not in the US)
There are loads of folding/mini velo bike options here in SEA (often at good prices).
Someone based here gets to try/see lots of the bikes mentioned.
I too seem to see that there is a view here that the BF (and often Brompton) being the only best options. (implying most other stuff being 'cheap copies', inferior workmanship, etc)
Is it really true or is it because of the realities of availability, price (imported vs local), perception of quality, vocal user base?
Even the general size/weight/height of the user base play a part in this perception.
Take a Tyrell FX for instance.
Its a really nice bike, speedy, configurable, etc.
Sadly, most of the available English info on them are limited to distributor and 'self love' selfies type material.
Other info being in Chinese (from HK, Taiwan, China), and Japanese (where the bike originates).
The BF on the other hand, being more readily available in the US (which folks tend to be more vocal and willing to create good content), will turn out lots of good info/material on real world usage upon a google search.
#52
Senior Member
Both Bike Friday and Brompton have done a good job of building a community of loyalists.
Even though Dahon has sold many more bikes worldwide they have not built a community.
The company Story of Being Built in Downtown London to Help solve London Traffic.
The BF Company Story of Custom Made for you Right here in Oregon.
Selling Direct has also been a key to success for BF. No distributor margin and no bike shop margin has allowed them to be profitable in a fairly small scale manufacturing.
Even though Dahon has sold many more bikes worldwide they have not built a community.
The company Story of Being Built in Downtown London to Help solve London Traffic.
The BF Company Story of Custom Made for you Right here in Oregon.
Selling Direct has also been a key to success for BF. No distributor margin and no bike shop margin has allowed them to be profitable in a fairly small scale manufacturing.
#53
Senior Member
Both Bike Friday and Brompton have done a good job of building a community of loyalists.
Even though Dahon has sold many more bikes worldwide they have not built a community.
The company Story of Being Built in Downtown London to Help solve London Traffic.
The BF Company Story of Custom Made for you Right here in Oregon.
Selling Direct has also been a key to success for BF. No distributor margin and no bike shop margin has allowed them to be profitable in a fairly small scale manufacturing.
Even though Dahon has sold many more bikes worldwide they have not built a community.
The company Story of Being Built in Downtown London to Help solve London Traffic.
The BF Company Story of Custom Made for you Right here in Oregon.
Selling Direct has also been a key to success for BF. No distributor margin and no bike shop margin has allowed them to be profitable in a fairly small scale manufacturing.
#54
Senior Member
Actually, long before one guy from Indonesia showed up here, Dahon minivelos were already appreciated and used by some very prominent forumers. Remember SesameCrunch with his Dahon Hammerhead? And of course he was far from the only one. Only, these guys didn't make demeaning chauvinistic statements.
#55
Senior Member
Wrong again, mate. I am American. What you and others misconstrue for 'nationalism' or as 'chauvinistic' [sic] is simply an awareness and sensitivity, derived from having lived abroad for many years in many different places, about the proper place of my own country and an antidote to the belief of many Americans and of those of the West that the world revolves around them. We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto. It's the 21st century. In any case, this bit about prior appreciation for Dahons is a straw-man because the debate is not about lack of love for Dahons, but rather fawning, obsequious, I dare say, even religious devotion for another brand. i question your dogma, and I am on an inquisitorial rack worthy of medieval Spain.
Actually, long before one guy from Indonesia showed up here, Dahon minivelos were already appreciated and used by some very prominent forumers. Remember SesameCrunch with his Dahon Hammerhead? And of course he was far from the only one. Only, these guys didn't make demeaning chauvinistic statements.
Last edited by Abu Mahendra; 11-17-16 at 01:36 AM.
#56
“The company Story of Being Built in Downtown London to Help solve London Traffic.”
We have to be careful of swallowing the jingo-istic Cult of Brompton myth, hook, line and sinker. Will Butler-Adams is a bicycle salesman. He hasn’t solved any of London’s traffic problems. The Brompton factory is 9 miles away from 'downtown London.'
His position is that Transport for London shouldn’t be investing in more Underground train services, but more cycle paths. The simple issue of cycling in London has been given the stance of militant political activism, with the Brompton elevated to a symbol of ‘freedom’ by the man who sells them.
This ignores the 7 million other Londoners for whom riding a Brompton to work would be the worst possible form of torture.
The Brompton’s saving feature is that it makes better luggage than a bicycle. Both Butler-Adams and Ritchie freely admit this. Yet everywhere, the ‘weirdos’ (quoting Butler-Adams) elevate the Brompton to some sort of apotheosis of life-style, when the reality is that it’s just a convenient bent-steel utility bike which costs three times the price of a better spec import, but fits under a desk.
The romanticised Cult of Brompton turns some people (not all) into narcissistic and elitist onanists, who judge themselves by what they’ve bought, and others by what they haven’t.
Not all of us have drunk the Butler-Adams Kool-Aid.
We have to be careful of swallowing the jingo-istic Cult of Brompton myth, hook, line and sinker. Will Butler-Adams is a bicycle salesman. He hasn’t solved any of London’s traffic problems. The Brompton factory is 9 miles away from 'downtown London.'
His position is that Transport for London shouldn’t be investing in more Underground train services, but more cycle paths. The simple issue of cycling in London has been given the stance of militant political activism, with the Brompton elevated to a symbol of ‘freedom’ by the man who sells them.
This ignores the 7 million other Londoners for whom riding a Brompton to work would be the worst possible form of torture.
The Brompton’s saving feature is that it makes better luggage than a bicycle. Both Butler-Adams and Ritchie freely admit this. Yet everywhere, the ‘weirdos’ (quoting Butler-Adams) elevate the Brompton to some sort of apotheosis of life-style, when the reality is that it’s just a convenient bent-steel utility bike which costs three times the price of a better spec import, but fits under a desk.
The romanticised Cult of Brompton turns some people (not all) into narcissistic and elitist onanists, who judge themselves by what they’ve bought, and others by what they haven’t.
Not all of us have drunk the Butler-Adams Kool-Aid.
Last edited by snafu22; 11-17-16 at 07:17 AM.
#57
Banned
You slap the back of the saddle forward, and lift the back of the bike UP . the cable attached to the seat mast, opens that Clamp, lets the bar mast fall ,
and so.. the Bike Friday Hyper Fold Tikit was Made to be the fastest folding folding Bike ..
and so.. the Bike Friday Hyper Fold Tikit was Made to be the fastest folding folding Bike ..
#58
Part-time epistemologist
Absolutely. I think Sheldon Brown wrote a blip on this prior to the research over the past ... 7 years or so.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#59
Part-time epistemologist
Actually, long before one guy from Indonesia showed up here, Dahon minivelos were already appreciated and used by some very prominent forumers. Remember SesameCrunch with his Dahon Hammerhead? And of course he was far from the only one. Only, these guys didn't make demeaning chauvinistic statements.
Anyway, I remain comfortable labelling the previous conversation as trolling. So there is little more to write, IMO.
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#60
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Listen guys
my personal facebook page is full of political crap. I hoped after this insane pre election debacle and the divisiveness which resulted from it, those mental posts and shares would disappear. But unfortunately they even seem to get more vicious.
We all love our foldies and this forum is the best knowledge grab anybody can find.
Please, please, forget that "new" normal and be civil with each other.
Thor
my personal facebook page is full of political crap. I hoped after this insane pre election debacle and the divisiveness which resulted from it, those mental posts and shares would disappear. But unfortunately they even seem to get more vicious.
We all love our foldies and this forum is the best knowledge grab anybody can find.
Please, please, forget that "new" normal and be civil with each other.
Thor
#62
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I recently rode a Tern Verge X10, and at 21lbs it's very close in weight to some of the much more costly folders, at a small fraction of the price. I was able to keep up with a group of fairly serious riders all on carbon road bikes, so I was pretty impressed with the Tern.
So while not in line with a discussion of fastest at any price, at $1,500 it a lot of speed for the money.
So while not in line with a discussion of fastest at any price, at $1,500 it a lot of speed for the money.
#63
Full Member
Listen guys
my personal facebook page is full of political crap. I hoped after this insane pre election debacle and the divisiveness which resulted from it, those mental posts and shares would disappear. But unfortunately they even seem to get more vicious.
We all love our foldies and this forum is the best knowledge grab anybody can find.
Please, please, forget that "new" normal and be civil with each other.
Thor
my personal facebook page is full of political crap. I hoped after this insane pre election debacle and the divisiveness which resulted from it, those mental posts and shares would disappear. But unfortunately they even seem to get more vicious.
We all love our foldies and this forum is the best knowledge grab anybody can find.
Please, please, forget that "new" normal and be civil with each other.
Thor
#64
Senior Member
All the different models are not available in different areas.
#66
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All else being equal I would have thought that the Airnimal Chameleon deserves a mention. It was specifically designed to have road bike qualities and is a popular choice of racing men when they have training camps which are abroad and they have to use air travel.
Chameleon Performance Sport | Airnimal
Chameleon Performance Sport | Airnimal
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#67
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All else being equal I would have thought that the Airnimal Chameleon deserves a mention. It was specifically designed to have road bike qualities and is a popular choice of racing men when they have training camps which are abroad and they have to use air travel.
Chameleon Performance Sport | Airnimal
Chameleon Performance Sport | Airnimal
#68
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I had one for many years and I was searingly fast....at one time breaking my 12mph record.
It was a one-off but very rewarding.
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"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man". Francis Bacon
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#69
Part-time epistemologist
All else being equal I would have thought that the Airnimal Chameleon deserves a mention. It was specifically designed to have road bike qualities and is a popular choice of racing men when they have training camps which are abroad and they have to use air travel.
Chameleon Performance Sport | Airnimal
Chameleon Performance Sport | Airnimal
(1) lack of ERTO 520 tires ... I recall seeing a Panaracer Pasela tire.
(2) the suitcase was too big for US airlines
(3) the lack of US dealers/support.
I thought that they should have dropped the caliper brakes and make it easily compatible with 507 wheels like the Joey. The selection would remain terrible; but you'd have a handful more including a Kojak and some racing BMX tires.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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Last edited by invisiblehand; 11-18-16 at 10:31 AM.
#71
Part-time epistemologist
I don't understand the question. Are you asking why one would use 24" wheels instead of 20"? Or are you asking why a bike designed for ERTO 520 wheels could not also use ERTO 451 wheels?
Some folks like bigger wheels for different reasons ... the feel of the bike versus simple aesthetics. It's more straightforward to get a high trail bike with a bigger wheel.
I'd think that any bike that fits 520 wheels would have pedal or bottom bracket strike issues with 451 unless the tire was wildly bigger. But there are few wide tires in 451. None that I know of to compensate for the big change in radius. As an aside, there are bikes designed for ERTO 622, 584, 559 wheels but for different width (height) tires.
Some folks like bigger wheels for different reasons ... the feel of the bike versus simple aesthetics. It's more straightforward to get a high trail bike with a bigger wheel.
I'd think that any bike that fits 520 wheels would have pedal or bottom bracket strike issues with 451 unless the tire was wildly bigger. But there are few wide tires in 451. None that I know of to compensate for the big change in radius. As an aside, there are bikes designed for ERTO 622, 584, 559 wheels but for different width (height) tires.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#74
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Has anyone noticed the upcoming Dahon Speed D30? It looks like it's going to be AMAZING!!!
https://youtu.be/nK-AQx9gQSU
https://youtu.be/nK-AQx9gQSU
#75
Senior Member
Folders are very unavailable in the Northwestern US also. I have never seen more than two folding bikes in a shop at the same time.
Not many shops get behind folders and push them except in some big cities. If you look at a map with all the Dahon Dealers in the US ---there are tons of shops. But it seems very few of them ever have more than one or two in stock.
Not many shops get behind folders and push them except in some big cities. If you look at a map with all the Dahon Dealers in the US ---there are tons of shops. But it seems very few of them ever have more than one or two in stock.