jcrider

Have we discussed the Change brand of folding bikes here? I searched, but the word change is too ubiquitous.

As somebody who has been on the infamous helix list for 3+ years, I wish I knew of this option for a folding full size bike. It appears to be lighter than the Helix as well. I saw a lady rolling one on the way to the DC metro today and it looked good. Any experience?

https://www.changebike.com/df-702b

violini

Yes, it was mentioned here quite some time ago. You need to search with the key word " changebike ". I am going to Taipei in March and will try to test ride 702.
The price for a complete bike is 31,800 NTD, frame 19,800

Raxel

I heard the frame weighs 2.3kg, and is available separately. You can build a very lightweight (~15lbs or less) hybrid bike using that frame.

tcs

Changebike - I'm guessing some of Montague's patents have run out?

BCATC

Been really interested in this. Wished they made a 650b road/gravel bike sort of frame. The 700c version seems to fit 28mm tires max based on what I've been reading and I'm not sure how well their 650b MTB frame would respond to drop bars with its geometry...

Raxel

They use quite different (and I think to be better) folding mechanism, and is lighter than montague frame (no need for super thick single top tube)

Unless you are short, their 27.5" MTB frame will make a nice disc brake road (or adventure) bike. Their smallest MTB frame has TT length of 55.5cm.

BCATC

Fortunately I normally fit 56cm road bikes so I think I'd fit their smallest MTB frame. I wasn't sure how big of a difference head tube length would make between their 27.5 and 700c frame (20mm difference)

Roegmann

Actually, I'm saving up for the 602. I am 5'-8" (173 cm), so the 18" would fit me perfectly. They've come out with a new line, the 812, but there is not much on it in the blogoshpere yet. The website folding tales (https://www.foldingtales.com/) does a nice review of a couple other Changebike options. That's the site that convinced me to get the PC GT.

tcs

Seems very similar to the older Montague design.

Roegmann

pinholecam

For the 700c version, I asked Ekaputra who reviewed it on his Folding Tales site.
This is what he had to say :
"Thanks for the kind words, JK! Now that you’ve mentioned it, I have been considering this exact 650b project myself. Based on initial measurements taken 320mm from the brake mounting point, the clearance between chainstays measures to be about 46mm. I believe 42mm tires should be able to fit, but I will need to find someone with a spare 650b wheel to try this out. But if considering 38mm tires, those will fit without any doubts! As far as rims go, I am seeing Pacenti and HED rims as they are the only two that I know of right now that have rim brake specific 650b rims."

With respect to the DF-611MB (ie. Hybrid version)
A online vendor said that they tried it out and the limitation is the carbon front fork, which will only comfortably fit 1.5" tires. I presume he meant knobblies which are wider as he said 1.65" tires would only fit if the tire pressure was enough.
On the rear, and for the MTB version (MTB fork), its been shown to take up till 2.1"
https://flatbike.com/27-5/


There is supposed to be a 650b version coming Mar or Apr, I am waiting for this one so that there is less hassle to get the DF-611MB and find a wider non-tapered carbon fork.

Planned build will be :
105 groupset
50-34 compact crank
11-36t XT cassette (expanded by roadlink if necessary)
650b wheels with 42mm tires (probably Panaracer gravel Kings or Pari moto)

pinholecam

Its now on the Change Bike webpage.

The new head tube for tapered forks is welcome as most of the newer and better forks are now tapered.

BCATC

It looks very promising, hopefully a price on the frame and fork will follow soon. Foldingtale's review of the Ritchey Breakaway also has me considering that, or the cheaper Raleigh Grand Prix which seems to use an identical system.

pinholecam

Yes, I actually dropped a message on their website to check on availability.
Hope they reply.

The Raleigh version of the breakaway is no more iirc.
It was a steal at the price they were selling it, though the often negative about that version was the lack of mounting points for what is supposed to be a touring orientated frame.
I also was apprehensive of the setup/take-down times and some constraints like having to break down the bike to get on trains/coaches/hotels/etc (if necessary)

BCATC

Roegmann

Did you inquire as to the "folded" dimensions as well? The 602 line is 31"x13"x28" (from an e-mail reply from ChangeBike about a year ago) and I'd be interested how they compare (larger wheels not withstanding).