prathmann

Looks very nice - but I'd probably replace the saddle. My BF has a Brooks Pro.

keyven

And what about your girlfriend? lol

wagonfanatic

Haha, she's not sure between the Brompton and the BF. If I buy the BF, we'll head over the Harris and test them both back to back (and I'll take some pics for a good comparative thread here).

invisiblehand

Hard to tell value without looking at the components. I have not looked at new Bike Fridays -- or new bikes -- in a long time. But in the past -- I think ~7 years ago -- the premium for a Bike Friday NWT was roughly $600. That is, if I spec'd out a Surly Crosscheck with 105 components + wheels, I might find a shop willing to put it together for ~$1300. The NWT built to your specifications -- this includes elements of the bikes geometry -- at the time would cost ~1900. So I would look at the components, think of what a Crosscheck would sell for with those components, and then add a few hundred dollars depending on condition.

Remember that Bike Friday has pretty reasonable prices when selling new stem posts and such. It's been a few years, but a new swan stem post was a little more than $100 for my old NWT.

jur

I am surprised nobody has mentioned this yet

Russ Roca and partner Laura who started out on Surly LHTs but found that a big problem, so they switched to Bromptons and toured extensively on them.

pathlesspedaled.com/

invisiblehand

Ahhhhh ... yes, I couldn't remember their names or blog.

fietsbob

I read they went back to big wheel tourers .. this guy started out on bigger wheels , got a bike friday , rode it into more countries

then left it back with the BF company when he got a sponsorship from Brompton to ride their bike.

a lot of Russ and Laura's ideas for packing their Bomptons were adopting Heinz's.. like the backpack on the rear rack, standing up ..


Heinz Stücke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia .... https://www.heinzstucke.com/

He is writing in Spanish , now ..

cplager

This link leads to the top of their blog, where there's no mention of any problems. Care to give a more detailed link?

jur

I read that a long time ago, and don't remember the specific place... But the problem was that their Surlys were "too good", they were dragging too much stuff along. The heavy touring got to them. So they sent all the excess home or something and got the 2 brommies. Most likely this tale will be at the beginning of their Brompton tales. I think the packability also attracted them. The similarity to the OP was striking, at least as much as I remember.

Ozonation

To the OP... this looks interesting from PathLessPedaled... The Brompton Touring Book is Here! ? UPDATED @ The Path Less Pedaled

wagonfanatic

Pulled the trigger on the Bike Friday NTW. $800 -- I consider that a steal, especially with a 27-speed gearbox and disc brakes.

I have to modify it to fit my frame though (this guy was 6'4!). Just ordered a Brooks B17, and will also install drop down bars. Will go from there.

Any advice on a travel bag for the BF, one where I can wear it as a backpack and easily fold it like this Northface? (not sure if this one will fit)
The North Face Base Camp Duffel - XX Large - Free Shipping at REI.com

prathmann

Bike Friday sells a travel bag:
https://store.bikefriday.com/product...e0d63a1e95bd28
Don't think it's designed to be worn as a backpack, but I have an earlier version and just roll it up and tie it on the rear rack. It's come in handy for travel on buses and trains - for airline travel I use a hardshell suitcase.

wagonfanatic

Yeah I saw that bag. Looked okay, but not as solid as the North Face. I think your solution is spot on thought with the soft duffle for around town and the hard case for travel.

cplager

As far as touring on upright bikes, BF are at the top of the list. Well done!

(You can still convert it to a recumbent if you want. Then the only problem you have to worry about is falling asleep on long climbs ).

wagonfanatic

Wow, Charles that's an impressive project. I fear my mechanical skills are light years away from what would be required to execute that. Great work though.

We are looking at another BF Pocket Tourist (used) for the GF today, although she really wants a Brompton (since it can be a carry-on for airplanes). I'd be happy with a Brompton, too, so I can steal it when shes not around!

wagonfanatic

My girlfriend just bought a Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe 27 speed, with excellent components. We found it on Ebay for $1250. Our long search is over! Now its time to tour.

Thanks all for the help

keyven

Nice~ happy touring!

invisiblehand

Congratulations! Have a great time.

cplager

The kit makes it easy. There was very little skill on my part.

Congratulations on finding two BFs. I think you guys will be well served.

wagonfanatic

Thanks everyone! You'll certainly see photos from our adventures posted on this forum soon. We are doing the Isle of Man, France, and Spain this June.

fietsbob

pedaling around the TT circuit on the IOM would be interesting ...I bet they worked on the roadway a lot since they started racing on it..

rode my bicycle on a super smooth portion of highway in northern Ireland , and when I commented how smooth it was

the locals said the road is used in a Race curcuit there.

fourknees

i've test ridden both and agree that the tikit rides better. Whichever comes out first with a 20 inch wheel version will get a sale from me. Just have to wait....

BassNotBass

... 107 years ago.

cplager

For commuting, I think the Brompton is a very strong option because of the tight fold (and could imagine getting one for exactly that reason).

For touring where you are spending hours and hours on the bike, I think ergonomics/gearing, etc is going to win out. I'd much rather have a BF than a Brompton for this.

As far as packing, those things get easier with time. But, yes, a packable bike isn't as easy as a foldable bike.

I guess for me the question comes down to the intent of the bike:

Do you want something that folds well that you can ride? Or something that rides well that you can fold?

Azreal911

They are now riding Salsa Vaya's which cost even more than Bromptons in my neck of the woods. But if you look at their recent adventures it's not on paved trails which isn't what small wheels are good for. So it pretty much depends on the majority of the paths you will be taking, if it's gravel and some dirt and you really really want a folder you might want to make sure it can take fat tires "schwalbe big apples".

The Path Less Pedaled

I think Wagonfanatic did great, he's got something inbetween, wheels are not too small and iso 406 size so he'll have quite a bit of tire options. As well as BF has a long history of their foldable (not tikit) bikes being made for distance touring without a problem. It's not something you can bring into a crowded transit train on rush hour, BUT yet it is small enough to fold and take apart to fit them all into a suitcase for the airport.

Enjoy your trip!