1nterceptor

Test rode Bike Friday's latest model. Included a general comparison with a titanium Brompton.
Big thanks to BFold of New York City for letting me play with their bike.
First time using a Bike Friday and Alfine IGh; both were super smooth:

blakcloud

So are you going to buy it?

fourknees

Looks like you could easily fit the brompton in the BF designed backpack.

Flimbs

The elite pakit would be an amazing lightweight choice, but for multi-modal commuting, I want a quicker fold, as opposed to a disassembly fold. Fairly good looking though.

fietsbob

their 24 of 36 wheel builds work OK..

1nterceptor

BFold told me there is a 3 month waiting period; but I think I'm getting it.

1nterceptor

That bag is from S & S. Designed to fit full sized bike frames with couplers. Yes, the Brompton does fit:
As well as a Dahon Speed Uno:
Dahon Speed Uno in S & S Backpack by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

tdonline

Nice video Interceptor--I thumbs upped it.

Can you elaborate on the pros and cons with the bike? How does it work with BFold? Do they carry a demo and then you custom-order the bike from BF? Financially does it go thru Bfold or BF?

The Pakit seems ungainly but in your photos, it doesn't seem that much bigger than the Brompton.

1nterceptor

There's plenty to like with the Pakit; nice ride, can be ordered in different sizes, standard parts, etc.
There are 2 folds. Quick fold; flip rear triangle forward, drop seat post & mast, pull out handle bar mast. 18 second mark on my video. It's a bit long; but this should be enough to follow the rules on public transport requiring folded bikes to get on. Deep fold; pull out seat mast, take off front wheel. 29 second mark on my clip. This makes the bike smaller but you need to have a bag to put the loose parts in.

1nterceptor

Didn't notice this while I was riding bike and taking photos/videos.
I only noticed when I returned the bike and shop owner pointed it out.
I guess Alfine IGH only comes in 36H? And BF doesn't want to deal with
24H & 36H rims? Either way; seems to work fine. And I'm sure BF knows
what they're doing. I'll order my bike with a rear der. though. So, 24H rear
cassette hub for me. If I can find one.

1nterceptor

Pros: lighter weight, standard parts make it easy to replace/modify/upgrade(I'm looking at you Brompton),
frame can be ordered in your size(not one size fits most), smooth ride(steel is real?), lifetime frame warranty
(only 5 years for Dahon & Brompton), small size(need to partly disassemble), customization(3 caliper choices,
4 seatposts offered, 5 gearing choices), custom backpack available(also waiting list), etc.

Cons: local dealer told me 3 month waiting list, folding process is really more like dismantling.

Check out BFold's demo model; if you like it - I think BFold will sell it. I would have been happy
buying it; but it has belt drive & IGH. I prefer chain & der. I've never bought a BF before; so I'm
a bit unfamiliar with the process. I think it's better to deal with a local BF dealer if there is one near
you. But BF can ship to those that don't have a local shop.

Oh, and thanks for the thumbs up. A few Brompton diehards/fanboys gave it a thumbs down.

fietsbob

another + ... they offer better fit by having the offering of rider sized frame tube* and both mast length choices..

* the travel bikes have 8 length choices. + the steering and seat mast lengths and types ..


....

tdonline

Yeah, I saw one thumb down and thought what the heck!? It's not like you did or said anything offensive. But I guess for certain folding fans--it takes very little!

fietsbob

yea with the Pak It they dropped their folding bike, the Tikit, from production..

they dropped their folding recumbent, the Sat R Day in the change over to building the Tikit folders.


Tikit rolls on its front wheel when folded up.




....

invisiblehand

I'm about 200 pounds without stuff. I use 24 spoke wheels in 349.

What is it about IGHs that dissuade you from doing the 24-36 trick?

ladi

Care to elaborate on that? I keep hearing this argument in favor of BF, but as an avid user of both companies' bikes, I seriously don't get it. As I see it, this argument only holds in regards to the rear wheel (OLD + Brompton chain tensioner). Also this argument may be more valid for the larger Bike Fridays. But in general, it's all folding bikes that are hard to modify/upgrade.

On the Pakit, I don't think you can simply switch to V-Brakes? Can you switch to derailleur from belt drive? Are there standard components from other companies that you can use instead of BF mudguards and rack? Could you for example use a dahon folding stem? Maybe there is even an alternative fork that has suspension? (All this does not seem so easy to me on any folding bike...)

1nterceptor

Can you do any of those on a Brompton?

Ok my turn to ask questions. On a Brompton, can you mount any standard calipers without modifying the cable run
(affecting the fold)? Does the Brompton use the more common 100 spacing front hub or the less common 74? Does the Brompton use the more common 27.2 seatpost or the harder to source 31.6? Standard seatpost collar/quick release or propietary? Can you mount a sprocket larger than 18? Easily mount various bottom brackets without worrying about spacers and affecting the fold? Can you easily find a der. shifter replacement? Can you easily find a der.? The answer to all of these questions(and more) for a Pakit is yes.

1nterceptor

I'll probably order a cassette hub, not IGh. I might choose my own hub; if that's the case I'll try to
find a 24H hub to match the 24H rim. If I go with BF's stock hubs; it's w/ me fine if they use a 36H
cassette hub.

fietsbob

Shimano's 9-26 hub/cassette combo is made for a small wheels But they are a fixed combo

Just one cassette fits that hub. but it is a 9t high..

the telescoping post can be remade, cutting off the top, adding an alternate 2nd QR band Clamp,

And the machined shims available can let you fit a 27.2 seat post. [but buying theirs its not a 27.2 or a 25.4 post]

NB there is a LightSkin LED Tail light array upper section post for Bromptons

May be better combined with the steel seat post.. for heavy riders




....

wilfried

Randall's Island, eh? Or were you on the Queens side?

tcs

36° & 32°. Edit - if you're a big company placing an OEM order, the IGH manufacturers will put any number of holes in the hub flange you want. Dahon bikes regularly have reduced hole count hubs.

Educational: look at the distance spoke-to-spoke at the rim on 24° ISO349 wheels and 36° ISO622 wheels.

PS - Nice shots of Hell Gate Bridge.

1nterceptor

Randall's Island; even though this is NYC can usually find a quiet spot or two.
2015 New York City Century by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

1nterceptor

Thanks. Was a bit cloudy that day; could have been nicer with some (setting)sun.

tcs

Hmm, I just noticed that when the Pakit is folded, the chainstays/seatstays are cantilevered rather than triangulated. When reconfigured for riding the seatstays will need to exactly realign with receiver on the back of the seat tube. I wonder why BF didn't include a triangulating strut?

pakit packed up.jpg

1nterceptor

In the few times that I unfolded & folded the bike(about 20 times); it always lined up.

I updated the description in my video:
Test ride of Bike Friday's latest model, Pakit. Alfine 11 speed IGH, belt drive. Big thanks to BFold of New York City for trusting me with their bike. I returned it in the same condition.
I included a general comparison with a 2013 Brompton S6L-X(titanium). Photos were taken with a Nikon COOLPIX series camera. On board videos were taken with a first generation Polaroid CUBE; not the latest Polaroid CUBE+.
0:01 Randall's Island, New York City
0:12 Unlock button; flip rear forward. Parked position.
0:18 Lower seat mast + seatpost, pull out stem mast. Quick fold.
0:23 Undo skewer, remove front wheel. May need to let air out of tires.
0:29 Pull out seatmast. Fold pedals. Deep fold, smallest dimension.
0:34 Midtown Manhattan spin; from 57th st. turning to 2nd av.
2:27 Side by side comparisons with a 2013 S6L-X(titanium/superlight).
2:51 Brompton weight; 6 speed with fenders & luggage carrier block.
2:56 Pakit weight, 11 speed IGH.
3:22 Inside a S & S backpack.
3:44 Heading south in Manhattan. 2nd ave turning to 13th st. going to BFold bikeshop.
6:09 Randall's Island, looking west.
6:27 Grand Central Station.

Full specs for both bikes, please let me know of any errors -
Pakit, as tested:
Main Frame/BF Model, Pakit HiTen/CroMo (Med 55cm TT) 980g
Seatmast type, Pakit CroMo mast 1.25 X .049 x 18." Blk 220lb limit 428g
Stem riser, Pakit 1 1/8" stem riser 15" CroMoly .035 Black 230g
Headset, 1 1/8" FSA, Black 99g
Fork, Pakit std Cromoly 1 1/8 Cro unicrown for Dual Pivot 435g
Frame - Rear-end, Pakit HiTen/CroMo 825g
Brakes, Origin-8 Classic Road Dual Pivot Brakeset 375g
Seatpost, FSA Gossamer Black - 27.2 X 350
Bottom Bracket, FSA 110.5 JIS Square Taper BB 300g
Crank Arms, Alloy single 170mm 130BCD 750g
Chainrings on crankset, Gates Carbon Drive Centertrack 60T 130BCD Sprocket (chainring) 185g
Chain, Carbon Drive belt, centertrack, 115 tooth (black)Gates 83g
Individual cogs, Carbon Drive, centertrack, 22 tooth cog for Nexus/Alfine 75g
Handlebars, BF Flat 48cm Polished 5degree Mod F bar 139g
Stem, Origin8 80mm 1 1/8" x 25.4 black 121g
Gear Shifters, Shimano Alfine 11 Rapidfire Shifter, Black 180g
Brake Levers, Cane Creek Cross Top canti/ caliper 26.0 brake levers 86g
Hub (Front Wheel), BF Alloy Front Quick Release Hub 36o 203g
Rims, Alex 24o w/ machined brake surfaces ETRTO 349 576g
Spokes, 24/wheel; stainless steel
Tires, Schwalbe Kojak 16 x 1 1/4" (349) 70-115 psi 460g
Inner Tubes, 16x1 3/8 SV (349), 16" , Schraeder valve 204g
Geared hubs, Shimano Alfine 11 36o Black centerlock disc 135 1700g
Saddle, Brooks C17 Cambium
Pedals, VP Folding pedals F2 400g
Kickstand, pakiT fold stand , bolt on 60g
Est. Price: US$2,400

2013 Brompton S6L-X, as tested:
Main Frame, Butt brazed, low carbon steel
Stem riser, butt brazed, low carbon steel
Headset, Brompton Head bearing set 1 1/8, ALUMINIUM
Fork, titanium
Frame - Rear-end, titanium
Brakes, Brompton dual-pivot calipers with Fibrax cartridge pads
Seatpost, H & H titanium - 31.6 X 600
Bottom Bracket, Brompton Sealed, square taper ISO type, 119mm spindle length
Crank Arms, Alloy single 170mm 130 BCD
Chainring on crankset, Shimano Dura Ace 39T 130BCD 10 speed
Chain, Shimano Ultegra 10 speed
Individual cogs, Brompton sprockets, 13T &16T for 6-speed
Handlebars, Brompton; aluminum alloy
Gear Shifters, Brompton thumb Shifters, Black
Brake Levers, Brompton Aluminum alloy
Hub (Front Wheel), Brompton superlight(2012)Alloy 28H
Rims, Double Wall 28H Aluminum alloy. ETRTO 349
Spokes, Sapim 28/wheel; stainless steel
Tires, Primo Comets 16 x 1 1/4" (349) 85 max. psi
Inner Tubes, Schwalbe AV4, 16" - 18" Schraeder valve
Derailleur (for 2/6 speeds): Brompton
Geared hubs, 3 spd Brompton wide ratio for 6 speed
Saddle, Selle Anatomica C series - full carbon
Pedals, Xpedo M Force 8 titanium clipless SPD type
Extra’s : Mudguards included, front luggage carrier block
Est. Price: US$3,500