daviddillard

Rebuild came from a Xootr Swift that I had powdercoated locally. I got a set of Swift Folder decals from Peter Reich.

daviddillard

I'll post the pictures and description over on the Swift folder thread when I can.

daviddillard

Actually got a few derailleur hangers from the folks at Xootr. They work with a little modification. Talked for awhile with one of their workers--he was bummed that the company got out of the Swift folder business.

Pinigis 

I will get a photo of the grey tomorrow, but for now I have a photo of the production model in green. Note the adjustable handlebar stem, full fenders, black rims, and added bottle mounts.

joey buzzard

​​​​​​Lovely bottle mount on the top tube. Wide 1x gear range. Disc brakes and lots of mounts to attack bags and whatnots. The decals are nicer and more understated than on its Xootr predecessor. And incredible hulk green goes well with black and white (who woulda thunk it) Congratulations and thank you Paul for sifting through the oftentimes conflicting noise of us bike forum aficionados. That new Swift looks like great fun and on your part a well curated synthesis of our opinionated opinions. In my own humble opinion it might be the best thing to come out of here since the Titanium Swift discussion. Hope that this product catches on. Swift folders deserve to be more famous and widely enjoyed. This really does look like "a new version of a classic".

Have you had an opportunity to take it out for a spin? I'd love to see a photo of it in the nude (without the rack, fenders, rear reflector, and maybe with the adjustable stem in a lowered position) but for now I guess I'll just have to use my imagination

daviddillard

I hope it becomes a new classic!

Leon S. Kennedy

I suggest updating the Origami website since the May 2023 delivery date is not possible.

Darth Lefty 

Heck, I want to see it with BMX gearing and Hookworms

Pinigis 

You can purchase the frame kit and do whatever you want with it.

Pinigis 

Yes, I was trying to get a better date first, but that is pointless. I decided to remake all of the frames for this initial production run because I was not happy with them. I know it will add time, but I can't offer something that doesn't make me happy.

Darth Lefty 

I missed that you had added a frame set option. What’s included? Everything you could think of, or just a seat clamp, rack or not…

Leon S. Kennedy

Thank you for your dedication to quality. It means a lot to us who are purchasing the bike.

Pinigis 

The frame set includes the frame, fork, seatpost, and handlebar riser.

Pinigis 

This the is "boring" paint job. It is actually quite attractive.

joey buzzard

I love the subtle graphic of the paper origami swift bird on that top tube. It looks very pretty. +1 style points.

Pinigis 

It is hard to see in the photo, but we included a message below the word Swift that says, "Original design by Peter Reich, reimagined by Origami". I wanted to make sure that Peter alway gets credit for his design.

joey buzzard

Yes, good to acknowledge Peter Reich'. Also makes the bike a bit more special with its original designer's name attached. Random people ask me about my Xootr Swift from time to time. How to pronounce Xootr can be confusing for them and the word "Swift" doesn't jump out. I think your graphics are a definite improvement. Now if someone is really intrigued by what they see they can look up Peter Reich bike and get all the info off the web. Anyway, nice job

jfouellette

This is great, being able to build the bike as wanted. In my case I would transfer the components from an existing bike to this swift.

This is the donor bicycle I would use:

Pinigis 

Which parts were you most interested in using?

jfouellette

Every thing except frame, fork, seatpost, handlebar riser, brakes

tds101 

I have mine (same bike, LoL) hanging up in the basement, on a hook, gathering dust. This is a great bike, but just not for me. Building a custom Origami Xootr is definitely a better option.

GeezyRider 

I can see the appeal of building a custom Swift especially if you have a lot of the needed parts on hand. In my case, I believe it would be better to buy the complete bike and make any changes I find necessary somewhere down the road. I'm not sure I could build a complete Swift for any where close to the $460 price difference between the frameset and a complete bike. At least not with components of the same quality or better. If anyone has done it or knows how to do it, please share your experience/knowledge because it could be a fascinating project.

Ron Damon

If the Swift frameset carries standard size, non proprietary parts (which is likely the case), building one up should not be a big deal and is fundamentally no different from building the FnHon, Dahon and FSIR frames that I've built into complete, road-ready bikes over the years. Once you've installed the headset (press fit tool required) and handlepost, everything else is rather easy and straightforward. You'll need a specialized tool here and there. BB wrench, cogset key to tighten the cogset onto the spline, press fit tool, for example. I find it quite relaxing and satisfying to build my own bikes, usually with a beer on hand. And if you tour like I do, it pays to know how your bike is built so you can effect preventive and corrective maintainace on the road.

Regarding the price differential between the complete bike and the frameset, $460, depending on your world location, you may well acquire the parts yourself totaling $460 and arrive at a better specced bike than a stock complete one for the same money. Your biggest expenses will be, in decreasing order, the wheelset, the brake system and the RD. If Paul sends me a frameset, I'll build it out of my own pocket and document the process. Kinda free publicity.

In any case, we can't know whether we can build a Swift with higher quality components on our own for $460 if the part-by-part spec sheet of the complete bike is not made available for reference. Before spending $900 on a complete bike, I would like to know the components on it. For example, much is made of the 11-42T cogset. Is it and the RD and shifter with which it is mated Shimano (or SRAM, the two segment leaders)? What make are the disc brakes?

Happy to share my knowledge and experience in building small-wheel, non-proprietary part folding bikes.

BikeLite

lol, Paul should send us all a free frameset so we can show our skilz.

joey buzzard

LoLz. "Kinda free publicity..."

Wasn't aware that you're a famous celebrity, Ron. Do you have a YouTube channel or are you mostly on TikTok? Maybe I'll tune into your content. Celebrity chefs are getting to be just a little pasé, so maybe it's time to watch some genius celebrity bike mechanic like yourself giving up the dirt on best practices regarding how to drink beer and order cheap components from Asia. I'm sure that millions of people are already subscribed and they'll heed your gold plated endorsement of any product you feature on your podcast. A $460 item in exchange for such publicity is sorta like the same as free. lol. lol. And... lol. And thanks for all the entertainment!