Origami Lotus ?
Yeah, it's a re branded something made in China. Anyone own one of these ? What size wheels (305 or 349) ? Actual wheelbase, the website is vague ? Actual weight? Is the fork 100mm or 74mm spacing or something truly bizarre ? I ask because all my bikes have dynohubs and I do 70% of my cycling after dark... What about compatibility with Brompton bag frame and bags ? The components are something by Sensah, any good, awful or what ? Thanks for honest input!
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I'm not sure how many folks here either own or have ridden the Lotus. The Origami website has a chat feature and the owner's contact info. You can speak to him and get the answers to your questions.
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Ask a question in this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...ami-lotus.html
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Originally Posted by Bleu
(Post 23114162)
Yeah, it's a re branded something made in China. Anyone own one of these ? What size wheels (305 or 349) ? Actual wheelbase, the website is vague ? Actual weight? Is the fork 100mm or 74mm spacing or something truly bizarre ? I ask because all my bikes have dynohubs and I do 70% of my cycling after dark... What about compatibility with Brompton bag frame and bags ? The components are something by Sensah, any good, awful or what ? Thanks for honest input!
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I've seen that bike elsewhere.
Not too long ago, Temu.com, an online retailer that sells a diverse range of products for rock bottom prices was believe it or not, offering a bike very much like the Lotus, albeit with likely lower spec components. I remember that they were selling for about $450 for a 9-speed model. For around $75 to $00 less, you could have gone for the 7-speed. Then not long after, they were running an amazing sale for the 7-speed for about $269!!! I think they had sold out of the 9-speeds and were getting rid of the remaining stock of the 7-speed; I don't know. Maybe they still have some left or not. And the cool thing is that it comes with the Brompton style front luggage carry block. It was a good deal if the bike was legit with build quality, ride, etc. I was tempted but hesitate too long. I just recently got a Zizzo Liberte for just over $300 on special from Target.com and am glad that I acted promptly this time around as the sale is over and is back to $430. But I am curious as to what impressions are about the Lotus.
Originally Posted by Bleu
(Post 23114162)
Yeah, it's a re branded something made in China. Anyone own one of these ? What size wheels (305 or 349) ? Actual wheelbase, the website is vague ? Actual weight? Is the fork 100mm or 74mm spacing or something truly bizarre ? I ask because all my bikes have dynohubs and I do 70% of my cycling after dark... What about compatibility with Brompton bag frame and bags ? The components are something by Sensah, any good, awful or what ? Thanks for honest input!
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Originally Posted by edwong3
(Post 23119510)
Not too long ago, Temu.com, an online retailer that sells a diverse range of products for rock bottom prices was believe it or not, offering a bike very much like the Lotus...
This is the original FnHon Gust 16" which started it all and is the object of widespread emulation today. The Gust 16" is not without faults and flaws, but a dearth of imitators, bandwagoneers and copycats is not among them. |
Do you know of any rear racks that could be mounted on the Gust/Lotus using the same rivnut (?) where the rear fender is installed?
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Originally Posted by Pinigis
(Post 23116536)
the wheels are 349, weight is under 25 pounds, 100 front hub (due to disc brakes), wheelbase is 37”. The Sensah derailleur and gear selector are smooth and crisp.
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Originally Posted by Jipe
(Post 23120059)
It seems to me that with such a short wheelbase, short reach and short saddle to handlebar distance, this frame won't fit for average and above average male US and EU riders and surely not riders up to 6'1" (even if the seatpost is long enough for riders up to 6'1") !?
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What is the saddle handlebar distance of the Origami Lotus ?
Using your picture of the bike and the given wheelbase, it seems to be only about 59cm/23.20" ? Much shorter than on a Brompton H or Birdy with sport stem. For a tall rider, the result is like with the latest Decathlon, the rider has an excessively upright position and the bike seems ridiculously small/short under him: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bba8c59fd1.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...16aa79332c.jpg I guess its the same for the Fnhon Gust ? |
Let me chime in. On many occasions, life is about compromises. If you live in a tiny apartment or bedroom, drive a sub-compact car or have to "park" your bike under a desk at work, such small bikes like the one in the photos you posted present the better option. Yes, models from Brompton and Birdy fold quite small too and you can do pretty much the same things I just mentioned but price might be a consideration since these bikes are not within everyone's budget.
As for how tiny the bike looks under a relatively tall rider, is up to how secure that individual is about themselves and having a healthy self-image. And lastly, these very compact bikes are "last mile" applications anyway. It's not like one is going to cross continents riding one of these. Horses for courses as they say.
Originally Posted by Jipe
(Post 23120092)
What is the saddle handlebar distance of the Origami Lotus ?
Using your picture of the bike and the given wheelbase, it seems to be only about 59cm/23.20" ? Much shorter than on a Brompton H or Birdy with sport stem. For a tall rider, the result is like with the latest Decathlon, the rider has an excessively upright position and the bike seems ridiculously small/short under him: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bba8c59fd1.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...16aa79332c.jpg I guess its the same for the Fnhon Gust ? |
Originally Posted by Jipe
(Post 23120092)
What is the saddle handlebar distance of the Origami Lotus ?
Using your picture of the bike and the given wheelbase, it seems to be only about 59cm/23.20" ? Much shorter than on a Brompton H or Birdy with sport stem. For a tall rider, the result is like with the latest Decathlon, the rider has an excessively upright position and the bike seems ridiculously small/short under him: I guess its the same for the Fnhon Gust ? https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3bc7767c4.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d055af514.jpeg |
Originally Posted by edwong3
(Post 23120226)
Let me chime in. On many occasions, life is about compromises. If you live in a tiny apartment or bedroom, drive a sub-compact car or have to "park" your bike under a desk at work, such small bikes like the one in the photos you posted present the better option. Yes, models from Brompton and Birdy fold quite small too and you can do pretty much the same things I just mentioned but price might be a consideration since these bikes are not within everyone's budget.
As for how tiny the bike looks under a relatively tall rider, is up to how secure that individual is about themselves and having a healthy self-image. And lastly, these very compact bikes are "last mile" applications anyway. It's not like one is going to cross continents riding one of these. Horses for courses as they say. But, indeed, the price is (much) higher. Many people do much more than just the last mile with their Brompton or Birdy, they are even used for touring. |
Originally Posted by edwong3
(Post 23120226)
Let me chime in. On many occasions, life is about compromises. If you live in a tiny apartment or bedroom, drive a sub-compact car or have to "park" your bike under a desk at work, such small bikes like the one in the photos you posted present the better option...
.... And lastly, these very compact bikes are "last mile" applications anyway. It's not like one is going to cross continents riding one of these. Horses for courses as they say. And no, they are not necessarily last mile rides. So long as you have customized the fit, are in good physical condition and are not unordinarily tall, you can ride them long distance. I've toured cross-country for weeks and cross-province for days in a 16" folder. My personal one-day record is 111km (69 miles). Two such examples:Don't short change these bikes. |
Ron,
Why this reaction? I wasn't scolding you or trying to lecture you. You're a grown man after all. I was merely trying to add another perspective to your previous remarks. Show me where I was being dismissive of small folders. Quite the contrary. You enjoy having fun building them and appreciate their quirkiness., and that is fine. Others have to own one in that size class because of their unique situation, circumstances and needs. Yes, I know that a number of people do tours and long rides on these compact bikes, but it is not the most common use case scenarios. Much like those folks who tour on a single or fixed gear bike, and they are accused frequently of being "crazy" for doing so. Sorry if I offended your sensibilities. Now I know for the future. Ride safe, Ed
Originally Posted by Ron Damon
(Post 23120792)
Really, Ed? I live neither in an apartment nor am space constrained. I choose to build and ride 16" (ISO305) bikes, not out of necessity, but rather due to their lively ride and spritely handling characteristics, quirky X-factor and relative uniqueness. They accelerate like a jack rabbit and are nimble, highly maneuverable and agile, turning on a dime, offering frolic and glee like no larger or longer bicycle.
And no, they are not necessarily last mile rides. So long as you have customized the fit, are in good physical condition and are not unordinarily tall, you can ride them long distance. I've toured cross-country for weeks and cross-province for days in a 16" folder. My personal one-day record is 111km (69 miles). Two such examples: Don't short change these bikes. |
Originally Posted by edwong3
(Post 23121647)
Ron,
Why this reaction? I wasn't scolding you or trying to lecture you. You're a grown man after all. I was merely trying to add another perspective to your previous remarks. Show me where I was being dismissive of small folders. Quite the contrary. You enjoy having fun building them and appreciate their quirkiness, and that is fine. Others have to own one in that size class because of their unique situation, circumstances and needs. Sorry if I offended your sensibilities. Now I know for the future. Ride safe, Ed Why this reaction? I didn't interpret it as scolding or lecturing on your part. And you offended no sensibilities. I did nothing more than to correct and add to a largely incomplete, anachronist perception of 16" folders in 2024. |
It's OK...
Originally Posted by Ron Damon
(Post 23121652)
Ed,
Why this reaction? I didn't interpret it as scolding or lecturing on your part. And you offended no sensibilities. I did nothing more than to correct and add to a largely incomplete, anachronist perception of 16" folders in 2024. Ed |
As always, I do like it when Ron chimes in with something I can't get. It is cool to see the stuff he can acquire in (Indonesia is it ?) and his subsequent builds are great. As far as Ed's compromises thing, well my folders are my only bikes, other than the two ridgid bikes in storage. Yes, my quarters are quite tiny, and I am constantly on the move and would love to eliminate compromises as much as possible. My current folder did over 1800 miles last year, with a couple of 80 mile days, fit isn't one of the issues I have. All that said , I don't know how compromised the handling would be on a bike with a 37" wheelbase.
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The problem of the short wheelbase is that the bike is then usually also short overall with a short saddle to handlebar distance and short reach (excepted if a special stem is mounted like on the Mezzo) and as consequence the position on the bike isn't good for US or EU male riders with average or above average size.
There are many bikes with such a short wheelbase sold in Asia aimed at the Asiatic market where riders are in average less tall than in US and EU. This is for instance the case of the beautiful Tyrell bikes made in Japan and aimed at the Japanese market and unfortunately unusable for many US and EU riders (maximum allowed weight is also often a problem because average riders weight is also lower in Asia, for the Tyrell it is max 85kg). |
Originally Posted by Pinigis
(Post 23120091)
we have one customer that is 6’3” and fit comfortably on the Lotus. I didn’t expect it to work for him, but bit did.
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Originally Posted by Pinigis
(Post 23120264)
The maximum seat-to-handlebar length is 25 3/8". The length increases as the seat and handlebar heights increase.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3bc7767c4.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d055af514.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b554df74e1.jpg |
Originally Posted by splithub
(Post 23347671)
The product page says the seatpost is 600mm. Is it a different one on the picture? Because it looks way longer than that - like 700mm
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I ride a 600mm Literpro A61 seatpost on my FnHon Gust 16". It is inserted at the dot between the 1 and 0 insertion lines, meaning it's nearly maxed out. I am 170cm in height with normal, average limb dimensions.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bf502ea2fc.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f73d54d4ba.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0721de0cba.jpg |
The possibility of riding a folder under 100% steam without ruining the kneecap cartilage seems to be known and is adressed by two big brands (to my knowledge) with their telescopic posts, but maybe considered elsewhere dispensable, as one of the compromises folders come with in order to make them affordable. One size fits all..
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