Ride-Fly

I known they are in different spectrum of folders, but that is where I'm leaning at the moment.

Brompton- known quantity. Lasts a long time and has smallest fold. Hand made in UK.

Formula- Avid BB5 discs. 18 speeds. Faster and better handling most likely.

What do I need it for? Not a multi mode commuter. But I have a crash pad in NEwark NJ and want to visit the city often. Will be better than my vintage Raleigh 10 speed I picked up as a tool-around bike. Can't really take the Raleigh on the train during rush hour.

What do you guys think?

Dan515

So... you are doing multi-modal commuting? How often do you plan on visiting Newark? Also, do you plan on just riding around the city a bit, or would you want to do more extensive riding?

If you're just going on the train with a folder once a month or something like that, with only the chance of getting caught in rush hour public transit traffic, then the bulkier fold of the Dahon Formula is something you could just put up with, and you could save some money. However, if you're doing it fairly frequently, especially during rush hour, perhaps a Brompton would be a better investment.

jur

What is you budget? How tall are you? What is your weight? What is your riding ability?

I recommend the Brompton. It is more versatile due to the fold. It has the best bar none re-sale value. It is probably sturdier for taller, heavier riders.

fietsbob

+ the Brompton front wheel folds back over the drivetrain , to make it less likely it will make other people get chain grime on them.

dynaryder

Brompton for folding,Dahon for riding.

Ride-Fly

I'm 5'10", 180lbs and an avid roadie. I usually ride about 4,000 to 5,000 miles a year with lots of climbing. My budget is prob around $1500. I was under the impression that Bromps weren't as stiff and sturdy as the newer Dahons and Terns, primarily because of their folding joints. Good to get that straight as i value a stiff precise ride.

I'll probably only get into the city once or twice a month using the NJ train into NY Penn Station. Then want to ride around to visit sights, Central Park, and the museums. With what I have in mind, the Dahon is probably more than adequate, but the ultra small fold of the Bromps appeal to me. Plus, from some of my research of Dahons, I'm a little concerned of Dahon's fold joint loosening over time. Is that a non-factor with the newer Dahons?

Thats another positive for Bromp, but I'm not a huge fan of their gearing options. Wish Brompton offered more that 6 speeds.

fietsbob

Sell You My Custom Front Derailleur clamp on mount, and braze on FD that mounts on it, and thumb shifter. to put a Double or triple crank on it..

I am OK with my M3L + Mountain drive 2 speed planetary crankset..

Then theres Ben Cooper's Shop in Glasgow Scotland he hand makes a new fork and rear section to put disc Brakes and alfine 11speeds and Rohloff 14 speed hubs in them.

Kinetics ? Recumbents, Folding Bikes, Custom Bicycles | Brompton Disc Brakes

jur

We are a close match. I am also 5'10", a bit less than 180lbs, and also a keen climber. Based on those, I would say that the limited gearing will be zero problems to you. I rode my S2-speed Brommie up to Glacier point in Yosemite,
https://app.strava.com/activities/200092842/overview

I had to do lots and lots of climbing out of the saddle (and refuse lots of offers for a lift, crazy fool!) but it presented no problem at all. (I didn't quite reach the Point before my wife caught up in the car and and the weather turned freezing with me only wearing a thin shirt, so I bailed).

That Dahon looks like it is based on the Vitesse frame. These do have a not inconsiderable amount of flex. The S2 Brommie also flexes but less so.

I doubt that the gearing will be much of a problem. Sure you can't spin at optimum cadence but you're not doing road rides anyway.

Plus there is something uniquely satisfying in overtaking a roadie on a Brommie up some long climb. (Few realise it's the engine not the wheels.)

dadbar

I have a Formula S18 and use it a fair amount for commuting on the train here in the Boston area. Much of the time, I don't bother folding it because the double decker commuter rail trains have bike racks.

The only flex I find is in the stem but if you keep it tight it is not a problem. I keep a narrow profile 8mm box wrench with me for a quick tighten every now and then. This bike is such a pleasure to ride.

1nterceptor

I've taken the Newark to NYC train a few times.
It gets very crowded; get the Brompton.

1nterceptor

And yeah; you can pass roadies on a Brompton up steep hills:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROYH...aIoDLA&index=3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmFU...aIoDLA&index=8

Ride-Fly

Ok folks, time for an update. I've decided to get a Brompton....and so will my wife. I sold her on the idea of weekend "city touring" places like Chicago, SF, Boston, and of course NYC. When we move back to the U.S., we will take the Brompton on flights as carry-on luggage and take only a small backpack with a change of clothes and essentials. We'll be getting a bag like this to put the bikes in the overhead compartment of planes. BENHEIL-WELCOME

we are both going to get M6Ls (fenders without racks) and upgraded with Schwalb Marathon tires, shimano dyno hubs, Brooks B17 saddles, and Ortlieb mini-o bags.

Now ow the only remaining question is color. I like the raw lacquer but at €172 up charge I don't know if I like it that much to pay the extra. I like the black, British Racing Green, and Orange for stock colors. For custom I like the Turkish green (Celeste-like) and Navy blue. My wife like the BRG but also likes the raw lacquer too. Decisions decisions! Btw, I have to decide by Saturday because the shop I'm buying it from has a 5% sale on Bromptons that ends at the end of February!

keyven

Get the raw lacquer - the small premium is nothing to the pride you'll ultimately have for the bike. Also, if you ever sell it, the raw lacquer's value will hold and sell much better than other Bs.

I regret not buying the raw - it looks great and few people can resist a raw lacquer'd B.

1nterceptor

I like my current British Racing Green:
2013 Brompton DA chainring Ultegra chain by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

But miss the Raw Lacquer I sold:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt5M...IoDLA&index=24

bike.gang.uk

I doubt you can get any useful help on Brompton colour decision here. For me it is TG or Bluish ...

keyven

Why Turkish Green? What's so special about the colour? I've got a TG Brompton for my wife but it's always felt a little feminine to me.

bike.gang.uk

Ha, this is just personal taste, I know even some guys ride pink bromptons. I love the classic looks of raw lacquer too, goes well with black and golden colour scheme. Probably faster too?

This one just built by our friend in Ireland. I bet it will ride fast.

keyven

I'm not one to judge, given I owned a hot pink iPod Nano years ago.

TG's not a terrible color, just a little bland IMO. There's not many colors that play well with it. I'm now thinking of pairing it with an ivory stem for a more retro look, though TG+white looks good.

The choices were limited given it was the final weeks before Brompton stopped Ti production in 2014. The remaining colors were white and red - both rejected by my wife.

Ride-Fly

is that Turkish Green? I thought (maybe more like hoping) that TG was more like Bianchi Celeste green. Anyhow, it's not my top three colors, maybe 4th. I've reassessed and My current favs are between raw lacquer, all black, or BRG mainframe with white fork, stem, and rear Tri.

My my wife has decided on tempest blue mainframe and either white or ivory peripherals.

Cant wait to get them!

dynaryder

This really isn't a good idea. I know someone's going to take issue with my saying this,but understand that the overhead compartments were never intended for 25lbs bicycles. They were intended for briefcases,handbags,coats,strollers...lighter objects. I wouldn't want to be the person in the aisle seat when the door pops open and the bike falls out.

Dahon.Steve

The Path train to Newark will accept any folding bike. Newark is idea because it's the first stop and so you should have no trouble boarding. If you were talking about boarding in Journal Square during rush hour, a different story.

Dahon.Steve

I would be cautious about taking the Brompton on as carry-on luggage and placed in the overhead compartment. Call your airline first just to be safe. The last thing you want is to be told at the last minute it has to be boxed and miss your flight!

keyven

Ivory looks good for a retro touch... though I think white looks fantastic paired with any color. The contrast just makes the other color pop.

The Brompton Black Edition can be emulated with a little creativity and cash - carbon handlebars + seatpost + black stem/saddle. Reduces weight and looks cool. Sure you might not get the exact look, but IMO it's still good.

Winfried

You can even take advantage of the attachement system in the front to carry a battery, electrify the Brompton, and enjoy the Brompton even more…

Good idea. I often travel by combining a folding bike and public transportation. It's a great way to travel and visit cities.

Watch out: Most airlines don't allow bringing a bag the size of the Brompton as carry-on luggage.

An easy and cheap way to fly with the Brompton is to simply ask a Brompton store to give you a couple of the boxes the Bromptons are originally shipped with instead of discarting them. Then, before flying back, either keep the boxes at the hotel, or go to a hardware store and shrink standard carton boxes down to the size of a Brompton.

marxmini

steel is real. :-) go for the brompton.