Bike Friday NWT: how old is this bike ?
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Its a used NWT proposed to a friend of mine.
The seller didn't provide the frame number.
I saw that very old NWT do not have the folding seat mast (like the Tikit) but a classic seatpost.
Does anybody know when the NWT got the folding seat mast ?
The 3x7 speed transmission make me think that this NWT is pretty old, any idea till when Bike Friday was selling the NWT with a 3x7 speed transmission?
The seller didn't provide the frame number.
I saw that very old NWT do not have the folding seat mast (like the Tikit) but a classic seatpost.
Does anybody know when the NWT got the folding seat mast ?
The 3x7 speed transmission make me think that this NWT is pretty old, any idea till when Bike Friday was selling the NWT with a 3x7 speed transmission?
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Do you have a closer picture of the seat post as that looks like a folding one to me? Ask the seller for the number if you really want to find out. The age of the Bike Friday usually isn't that important as they do not have distinctive model years. With a 7 speed it is an earlier one. Maybe 2000 to 2010. Roger
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The seatpost is definitely the folding style. It looks like the rear folds to the right side (drivetrain out); at some point BF switched to left side folders to protect the derailer better.
Seven speed and V brakes would say it's ~1997 or so, but the rear derailer (and twist shifters?) look like more modern Sram parts. So it might be a little later build with budget parts. Also, the threadless stem makes me think it's just a bit later.
Just a guess, but I would say late 90s or very early '00s.
More important than the year is the size. Since BF has actual sizes, the fit can vary quite a bit. But, I'm guessing the seller doesn't know how to measure the frame properly. It looks fairly small, 54cm or 56cm or so, but that's really hard to tell from a picture.
Seven speed and V brakes would say it's ~1997 or so, but the rear derailer (and twist shifters?) look like more modern Sram parts. So it might be a little later build with budget parts. Also, the threadless stem makes me think it's just a bit later.
Just a guess, but I would say late 90s or very early '00s.
More important than the year is the size. Since BF has actual sizes, the fit can vary quite a bit. But, I'm guessing the seller doesn't know how to measure the frame properly. It looks fairly small, 54cm or 56cm or so, but that's really hard to tell from a picture.
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Thanks for the info.
I didn't knew that a change happened in the folding side of the rear triangle.
Yes, its a mall one, the vendor says 52cm for people up to 1m70 or a little more.
I didn't knew that a change happened in the folding side of the rear triangle.
Yes, its a mall one, the vendor says 52cm for people up to 1m70 or a little more.
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Our Bike Friday is from the end of 2007 an its seatpost is not folding, so this one should be from a later time. Also Tikit came out then, and I think the folding seatpost only migrated to NWT from Tikit. I.e., one way or another, it should be from after 2007.
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Thanks for the information. I was thinking that the folding seat mast was introduced earlier, something like 2002 or 2003 !
I guess your NWT isn't equipped with a 3x7 speed transmission and that this bike was for ant reason equipped with an obsolete transmission.
Found this video explaining that the seat mast was folding on the right side of the main tube till end 2009 and is folding on the left side on models 2010 and after:
From the picture, I think that the seat mast is folding on the right side, meaning that this bike was built after 2007 and before 2010.
I guess your NWT isn't equipped with a 3x7 speed transmission and that this bike was for ant reason equipped with an obsolete transmission.
Found this video explaining that the seat mast was folding on the right side of the main tube till end 2009 and is folding on the left side on models 2010 and after:
From the picture, I think that the seat mast is folding on the right side, meaning that this bike was built after 2007 and before 2010.
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was a 2d option for those who prioritized weight and easier packing.
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Very hard to see from a side view which way the seatmast drops. It's obvious from a rear picture as you can see the angle. My 2002 was right fold. Left fold was 2003 I think and put the chain on the inside. My solution was a waxed, not greased, chain.
You can see a LOT of great history here: https://www.galfromdownunder.com/arti...offridays.html
You can see a LOT of great history here: https://www.galfromdownunder.com/arti...offridays.html
Last edited by linberl; 01-18-21 at 04:34 PM.