Hunt for a Folding Bike – Aftermath – Part 1
It has been a few months and a few folding bikes tested, purchased and ridden. Though the initial posts were hinting at helping a friend decide on a foldie, it also was an exercise for me to figure out what I need (see, I walk the talk too).
As I mentioned elsewhere, a flurry of purchases were made, by me and people who are close to me that included:
- A Novara Flyby Buzz (Rebranded Dahon Mu).
- A Bike Friday Tikit. No, make that 2.
- A Brompton M6.
- A custom New World Tourist.
Each bike was bought for a specific reason and till now, everyone is extremely happy with their choice. There goes the debate on which ‘brand’ is better. All these are cool bikes with very unique features and equally unique quirks. I guess I should start with my bike, the New world tourist and continue on to other bikes in future essays.
Note: Most of the following is grabbed from my response to a comment from Al. so you might find duplicated info, but I suppose most of you are not reading comments…
Firstly, I decided I needed a custom sized bike as I could not get a comfortable fit on the Dahons / Bromptons. Of course, I could have obtained a decent fit from either one, but I had planned for a long term upgrade plan for the foldie and decided to go with Bike Friday.
Off the bat I decided to base the bike on a NWT and not the tikit, that made the decisions simpler. Nothing against the Tikit, I am just holding it out for a future purchase 
I was considering between the Sport / companion / expedition. I guess a large portion of the decision was factoring in the cost for a custom build. BF does some awesome custom specs but I did not want to decide up front (Didn’t have much lead time either, the bike was delivered in 2 weeks flat… Awesome).
I wanted to build the components on my own schedule. So I decided on the bike that gives me enough options. Sport has a narrower fork and I believe it can take up to 38mm tires without fenders. I wanted fenders and so that was easily eliminated. The expedition, it seems, is built with a more robust tubing and a wider fork. I was looking at the clearances for the fork and figured that I could do up to 2″ tires on the Companion without fenders and 1.75 with fenders. That was plenty good for me. Regards the overall strength of the tubing, I believe there is not much separating the NWT Companion / Sport / Expedition, people tour in all of them. So it essentially boiled down to the cost of a custom spec.
I was in discussion with BF and figured that I can get a custom spec NWT for as low as $948. Now that is a really good price point and I decided to upgrade to a Chris King headset with the savings. It is well worth it. Note I got a 8 Speed version that is plenty good for city riding. I am sure it is fine for loaded touring too but a wider gear range never hurt anyone (except pride when riding granny).
My idea currently is to make a slow and steady upgrade. The following are in the pipeline:
1. SON equipped front wheel.
2. Dual drive equipped rear wheel.
3. Rear D with a shorter cage. Stock rear D is too long (spec’d for Triple front) I like the idea of a dual drive heaps, especially for a 20″ wheel.
4. Handle Bar upgrade (midge or Moustache, still on the wall)
5. Bar end shifters (and a twist shifter for the Dual drive)
6. Front rack. I hear the bike handles extremely well with load up front, I got to try that some time
Since I did not want to go the whole hog upfront, I went in for the cheapest custom. Turned out to be the NWT
Related posts:
September 21st, 2009 00:48
Hi, I`m an occasional reader who`s looking to buy a touring bike and since you`ve just bought one, I`d like to ask a few comments from you.
As said, I`m looking to buy a folding bike, but I`m presented with a lot of choices and I`m a little confused.
Right now I`m looking at Dahon Vitesse or D7, an Ori M8[from Diginexx] or Bike Friday, but price is a major concern.
I`m looking to do a two week-long bicycle tour in Japan next year or so, but I`d also like to use it to commute locally as well.
What are the kind of options I should be looking for and which do you think is more bang for buck? I`m not looking at high end gear, just some entry level stuff, maybe a little higher.
I`m hoping to be able to slowly upgrade up my bike as I go further into biking.
Hoping for a quick replay, thanks!
September 21st, 2009 09:43
Hi ZS:
You are right, it is a field day if you are in the market for folding bikes now. There are a lot of choices out there and one of the perks of living in Singapore is that there is access to most of the better options. Anyhow, I understand your dilemma and to help a friend clarify hers, I wrote the this set of posts.
I am not aware of the entire range of bikes out there and one of the bikes I never rode is the Ori M8. So I cannot comment on that.
If you want to be able to upgrade your bike (I suppose the components), you might want to look for a frame that allows for easy upgrades. I mean a frame that can accept standard components (at least easy to find ones). For instance, upgrading the drive train for a brompton might be a lot more expensive affair compared to lets say the Tikit. You might not have too many options on upgrading the handle bar in either the Dahon or the Brompton. So, if you specifically know what upgrades you are likely to make, it will make your choice a little easier.
Anyhow, if you are planning on a long tour, I am sure the cost of the bike is going to be a small fraction of your trip cost and it will be worthwhile to find a bike that fits / you as opposed to saving a few hundred $. I would go along the route of listing down my needs and upgrade path. Then shop around with an open mind about brands. Then choose the option that suits my wallet.
The important part is to be very realistic about the needs. I am sure everyone would want a extremely strong yet extremely light bike that folds in an instant and easy to transport and provides unlimited upgradeability. The truth is that such a bike does not exist, waiting for one is futile too. So pick the most important of your needs and compare bikes that offer them. You can go by cost once your needs are met
That said, The Vitesse or D7 are very competitively priced bike. I am sure you can tour on them. Dahon sells racks that fit on all their bikes. But are you sure the gearing will be good for you? If you are planning to upgrade the gearing, I would suggest, you should consider the Speed TR up front. A very good option to tour on and a good bang for the buck if you ask me… But they will be a bit heavy to carry around, if that is your idea for commuting.
I believe that Bike Friday frames are one that allow lot of flexibility in terms of ease of upgrade. The NWT is a good option but you might have to make a special order through Diginexx or directly with BF. The Pocket 8 costs only 798 USD. It is a brilliant starting point for a very comfy and upgradable touring bike. But their fold is very messy. Very good packing bike not recommended if you want to carry in and out of MRT’s on a daily basis. If you ride to work, it is fine to dismantle and hide it under your cubicle.
I know I have not answered your questions precisely, that is because you have a lot of options open… Do you wish to use panniers (can you find a rack that fits)? Are you built different from the average person (I am tall and Dahon frames are not the best fit, especially for long rides)?what upgrades are you looking at (For instance, If you want to switch to disc brakes, your only option might be to go for a custom frame)? etc…
Why not you start with a realistic need list, may be list them here and you can weigh between needs / wants / price. Sometimes it is easier to see that some feature costs so much that you actually can avoid it and live with the compromise…
Hope you can find your bike quickly, and hope you join the fold
September 22nd, 2009 22:15
Right now I`m looking for a bike that can
Handle city commuting or commuting to work, maybe up to 30 km x2 a day,
Able to hold panniers
Handle overseas bicycle touring well
Able to upgrade
Rolling capability when folded
And definitely go fast. I`m very worried about this point, the gearing as I find that small wheel bikes are more reliant on good gearing compared to bigger wheeled bikes. Correct me if I`m wrong.
I`m a little handicapped by a lack of technical knowledge about bicycles and the terms for all the different parts[I only know a few like rear derailleur and saddle].
I`m quite new to biking and I`m choosing to jump directly into folding, so I don`t think it`s helping me in any way..
I`m looking for a bike that folds like a Tikit or a Birdy[something where the wheels swings below rather than the body breaks into two]. I currently have a cheap single speed folding bike where its body folds like the Dahon D7 with some differences.
I`m finding it a chore to fold it and because the body doesn`t align properly, it`s hard for me to wheel it around and let it stand properly. I`m not very inclined to fold it around, so I find it pointless like you mentioned in your previous posts if I was to find another bike that folds the same way.
Price is quite a major factor here, and I`m willing to skimp out on a few things first. My budget is about <1000 SGD, capping at 1k.
Panniers probably can come later[buy later, not included in this cost range], but ability to place them is a must.
I`m looking at the Bike Friday`s Tikits, but navigating their website, I`m a little confused on how their Tikits are sold.
Are all the Bikes on the BF websites Tikits, or do they fold like the Tikit?
I`m attracted to the Tikit`s quick folding and [what I read online about] their abiity to be folded into suit cases which can double as a bicycle trailer. The trailer-suitcase thing will be a huge bonus for me when I go bike touring.
Is there any BF Tikit within the range of a thousand SGD odd? That`s just the vanilla price, upgrades can come at a later date[I`m looking to get drop handlebars in the future]!
Or am I looking too far or way out of my budget range?
Thanks for taking your time out to answer my questions, Nat.
September 23rd, 2009 11:13
ZS:
As I understand it, On top of your list is Budget
It usually is in my case too 
The truth is that one can tour in any bike. If you read stories on CrazyGuyOnABike, you will come across many tour stories that are not constrained by the bike type. So If you avoid that as a constraint, you are probably looking for a good commuting bike that is easily portable (which can be used for touring) under 1K SGD.
Well if you have already been through the supermarket bikes and if you appreciate their limitations and lack of build quality, I guess that can be eliminated as an option off the bat. So here are comments based on my experience with the 3 ‘brands’ of bikes.
1. Brompton: I suppose this is out of your budget. Though it is probably the perfect commuter
It indeed is, in my opinion. The 6 speed can be used for longer trips, but the gearing is not sufficient for tough climbs. I have tried a strenuous climb on these once and I guess I would not do that again. Even if it is just to satiate my ego… Further, I do not see a good rack to fit standard panniers. You could try to hack existing racks, but I would avoid that route. However, it is probably the perfect commuter, did I mention it earlier!
2. Dahon: Like I mentioned, Dahon’s do provide the best value for $. It is subjective, but that is my opinion. The bikes are excellently built and I would think if you want a bike within budget, One of the Dahon’s will suit you best. The Traveler rear rack accepts standard size panniers and they also make a front rack that is not too expensive. They fit all their bikes which is pretty cool. The Speed series are steel bikes and Al swears that the ride is nice. He has done extensive tours around the region with a variety of bikes and he should know
I think it is possible to start with something like a Speed or the Vitesse and have a reasonable commuting bike that can be toured on. You can later upgrade to wider gears etc., if that is necessary.
Why a reasonable commuter only? Well it is because I have not really found the sweet spot for rolling it. It works best if you put it in a bag and carry it, but that is additional bag that you have to carry. You can carry it on its own but gets unwieldy after a few hundred meters. getting in and out of MRT should be no problem I suppose, but if you are going to be in and out of shopping malls, then you might feel the pain.
The Hinges are well constructed and the frame does feel pretty stiff though it folds in half. I don’t think that is an issue at all. Though the folding design is the same as your current bike, Dahon frames should be built to higher quality standards, my friend’s Mu does not have any issue folding. A bit of oil in the hinges makes it a pretty smooth action.
Given its well spread shop / user base in Sg, I am guessing this might be the best option if you are budget constrained.
3. Bike Friday: Going beyond your budget again. BF makes a variety of bikes that are based on a few frame designs. The New World Tourist, Air Friday and the Tikit are probably three core frame designs. I have not ridden an Air Friday but looks like a cool bike. the NWT based bikes are not technically foldable, but dismantling bikes and are a bit more painful to handle than the Dahon design, if you need a quick fold. they also do not roll well. Tikit is the model that is aimed at the commuter. Al, once again is at it and taking it on a multi day tour in Sabah. He would definitely be commenting on its handling over the long haul. I am confident it will hold up.
Tikit rolls best and is very cleverly and meticulously engineered. It is a wonderful bike and I do think is a value buy at 1k USD. As I mentioned earlier, it is very conducive for upgrading in the future too. But if it is beyond your budget, dont worry about it.
I guess the point I am getting towards is that if you can afford a bit more, go for the Tikit. If budget is indeed tight, go for the Dahon within your budget. Both bikes ride very well.
September 23rd, 2009 19:24
Hi Nat,
The Brompton`s definitely out, the price is is a little high for what the Brompton offers to me.. even though it`s a damn good commuter bike ;X
I`m looking at the Tikit now, as I really like the way it folds.
Have you any idea what`s the kind of price range and options it has?
I`m willing to spend a little over 1k but it`s got to be justified I guess…
Maybe I`ve not searched the website well enough, but Bike Friday doesn`t seem to have the prices of the Tikits available or what kind of stuff they can add onto it..
Should I go down to Diginexx to inquire?
September 23rd, 2009 23:48
The Tikit is a seducer, isn’t it!
I am sure Diginexx, being the local Dealer will be able to answer all your questions. However, there are many passionate Tikit riders who have a strong online presence. You can read their views and comments too. Of note
Al
Vik
Walter
Sean Luke
Folding Forum on Bikeforums.net is an excellent resource too. You can e-mail BF reg your queries and am sure you will receive some comments.
The best place to forage is, of course, the Bike friday site for tikit. Everything I know about the tikit before I induced 2 fellers to pick them up, I found from this site (and some you tube videos)
I think after looking at all the options, I think the best value is the Model T Tikit. This has the twiddly knob for the handlebar, which in my opinion is a more robust design than the Hyper fold (200+$ additional for the hyper fold is not something I am willing to pay anyway). Model T is 999 USD. Diginexx prices them at 1999 SGD (includes the small rack). A bit steep in my opinion but someone has to pay for transportation I guess
You might buy direct from BF, I am not sure if they will ship, else you can negotiate with diginexx on price.
There are fancy options on Tikit now, essentially with different drive trains. I would just pick up the basic Model T Tikit and ride around. The 8 Speed drive train is pretty decent and very good for commutes. My friend rides to work every day on the tikit. I think he has already saved a couple of hundred $ on bus fares in the past few months. Guess it pays off quickly.
Note the Next year’s tikit has a stronger seat mast. It might be worthwhile to wait for it to come on stream before placing your order. My friends tikit is the current design and it seems strong as ever. Not something I would lose sleep over. if you need the bike today, go and get it. Riding is more fun than waiting
September 24th, 2009 21:28
Heheheh, my budget seems to be rising further and further away from my original budget.. ;o
Now it`s at twice my original budget!
Really tough decision here, the main factor in my budget is my parents. They`ll make no end of noise when I mention the price. Even a 700 D7 will make them jump from their seats…
Any idea how much the hyperfold version of the Tikit will cost?
Thanks a lot, Nat. You`ve cleared up a lot of questions for me and been a great help!
September 25th, 2009 09:43
ZS: If it is not my money that I am spending, I will stick to the budget at all costs. Hopefully, I am not influencing you to spend more that you / your folks intend to.
Note that there are always numerous options at various price points. My personal choice is value over brand. The D7 will be a good bike for a long while. Like I mentioned, Dahon hits the value price point compared to other bikes in the market. I suppose they can be a lot cheaper too if the market is larger and there is more competition… Anyhow, I think it is sensible to get a bike and understand its limitations and have realistic expectations than to strain under financial burden.
FYI, Tikit is not without its flaws, the Seatmast is a case in point. Al, recently realized that the small component that ‘locks’ his handlebar when folder came loose during his recent trip. These are nagging issues I do not expect to happen when I spend a couple of thousand $, but they do happen. And the expectation should be as such.
I hope you will eventually get a bike that suits your needs best and you will be happy riding it
Anyhow, local Tikit prices are available here. Specifically, the Tikit-2-Ride (hyper fold) is 2200 SGD. Like I mentioned, I prefer the twiddly knob as it keeps the joint stiffer.
Do update when you pick up your bike