As I mentioned elsewhere, a flurry of purchases were made, by me and people who are close to me that included:

1. A Novara Flyby Buzz (Rebranded Dahon Mu).
2. A Bike Friday Tikit. No, make that 2.
3. A Brompton M6.
4. 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:

1. hunt for a folding bike – part 3
2. hunt for a folding bike – part 1
3. hunt for a folding bike – part 2

• Brompton <-> Apple OSX. Fully proprietary and focussed heavily on industrial Design. Works extremely well out of the box but hardware upgrades are a pain in the ass if not extremely expensive  Accessories cost a bomb too.
• Dahon <-> Microsoft Windows. A product that works. Lots of proprietary components but is well supported due to large distributor base. They try to be pretty but stop short of exemplary. They probably have the best bang for buck setups. You can find extremely high end hardware too but at the heart the design is a compromise. he hee.
• Bike Friday <-> Linux. Customize everything. Very robust core design and allows for customizing to do literally anything one wants. You can get a pre-specified flavor of the bike or geek out totally on setting it up in your own unique way.

The lesson is that all three options are viable, it is a question of what you really want

Related posts:

1. Hunt for a folding bike – addendum
2. Influencing biking attitude
3. hunt for a folding bike – part 1

I have written about getting folding bikes for a while, to supplement my stable, it is like getting a pony to supplement the stable of thorough bred’s and donkeys. Well once you get the imagery out, I was in two minds for a long while. It is easy to rationalize the need for a bike but having an unused bike is far worse than not having a bike. So I have been putting off my purchase for a long while now.

But lust never disappears fully and now and then, I would be tempted to ‘research’ the updates at the usual haunts and hold back just in time by rational thought. that was until hell broke loose when REI decided to offer a rebranded dahon Mu (downgraded Sport) for an attractive price. That along with the fact that REI sweetened the deal with its annual 20% sale and made it an offer too good to pass.

So, I ordered my Novarra Buzz Flyby and waited for it to come to me. There was the issue of Dahon’s Global recall for handleposts. But I will save that story for another post.

I will write a more detailed impression on the bike later but let me mention that the Flyby is an amazing value.

1. It has a very good choice of gearing,
2. an internal Geared hub (standard 8 speed Nexus),
3. comes standard with fenders,
4. reasonable saddle,
5. nice handlebar grips,
6. good tires,
7. a pump hidden in the seat post,
8. a cute addition of a bell,
9. A kick stand,
10. front and rear reflectors and
11. the plastic foldable saddles.

It follows the basic frame of a Mu and seems to be a lower speced Mu XL Sport, which is a high end model offered by Dahon. To top it, it comes in a color and decent graphics that is not typically Dahon. I think REI did a nice job with the graphics.

Dahon’s bike design has been copied in much of the cheap bikes and hence teh design is usually linked to the cheaper bikes. But it seems to me that though not revolutionary anymore, they have regular updates to the basic components and are constantly improving them. I have ridden the bike before and I knew pretty much what I was getting. But though I was not expecting to be blown away, I was plesantly surprised by the package and the nice thoughtful touches in the bike.

I did mention that Foldinitis is a infection. What happened after a week of getting the bike is that the infection started spreading. A friend of mine laid claim to my bike and another one (in my household) decided to try commuting to his workplace about 6km from home.

This is like giving a candy to a kid, what happens next is obvious to victims. But I will mention anyway. So he rides the bike to work, stuff the bike in the bag, takes it to his office. Then spend a major portion of his day explaining to curious colleagues on why he started biking and what he is riding on, gets a bunch of “thumb’s up” and says to himself, this is cool, I should be doing this daily.

I was checking out my usual haunts and realized that diginexx has a Sale for foldies. A good one at that. I found that the Bike Friday tikit was selling at almost the dealer price. I casually mentioned to the new victim of foldinitis and before we knew it, we were at the shop, signing on the dotted line after a quick test ride. A Bike Friday Tikit, the bike that broke the barriers on how quickly one can fold / unfold a usable bike. A bike that is from a different planet compared to the elegance of the Brompton. A bike I have been lusting over for the past 2 years and now it is in my living room and it is not mine.

Well I am like a kid in a horse ranch, I have the option of choosing what to ride when I have to ride and I have friends who would let me take a ride or two without getting paranoid over their possessions. That I am glad for. But now that I have had close contact with victims and had a whiff of what is in offer, it is going to be a very short while before I will breakdown again and add another pony to the stable. Now, the question is what will it be?

No related posts.

One of the folding bikes that has been getting a lot of press is the strida. It is an interesting design and seems to be able to get people talking about bikes and riding. That is a good thing. The bike has some things going for it. It is a ‘unique’ design – I would us weird, but unique none the less. It has a very quick fold. Not as fast as the tikit but a nice trouble free fold. The best part is the ability to roll comfortably. That is really cool about this design.

However, I do not like how the bike looks. Note I am not only complaining the aesthetics I am also concerned about the triangle that is “oh, so close” to the crotch. The design also gets very cramped as you raise the seats and not very comfy if you are tall.  Finally, it seems to fail in the aspect of ‘rideability’. The bike is twitchy overall ( though common among folding bikes), the strida is a lot more twitchier.

I am sure there might be some people who might find some use for the bike but given the price, a mid-range Dahon might be a much better bet for overall ‘rideability’.

I was surprised to find a nice video comparing the Strida’s to the Brompton. I should say I agree with the observations made in the video.

Related posts:

1. hunt for a folding bike – part 1
2. hunt for a folding bike – part 2
3. hunt for a folding bike – part 3

Bike Friday Tikit:

The Tikit is a pretty innovative bike in terms of folding and has got a sizable online following for all the thought that has gone into its design. There are number of places discussing its merits and problems and I shall refrain from repeating it here. The tikit is to be bought bare-bones and we will have accessorize it. that means additional cost but also means that one has an option to decide the best additions in terms of lights etc…

I personally like the fact that the racks (optional) on tikit allow for fitting the ortlieb back rollers and one can setup fenders without much trouble. The designers have thoughtfully included a  handle to help in rolling the bike but I found that rolling on one wheel needs considerable strength on ones wrist. It is doable and pretty maneuverable but tiring on the hands none the less.

I like the fact that tikit has a wide gearing range (I like to take it easy on hills) and primarily uses non proprietary components – which means I can get it serviced and fixed at nearby bike shops.

Additionally, the tikit looks very clumsy after the fold but it is a tradeoff that one has to accept. If fold size is prime consideration, you should give tikit a miss.

Brompton:

There are a few models from brompton that more or less have similar geometries and have a 3 or 6 sped setup. The 3 speed is more affordable and would be great for city riding. The best thing going for brompton is its fold. it folds up like a little puppy and takes up such little space, I can probably take it into a crowded train and no one would complain. Additional small wheels on the rear rack (optional) make it a breeze to move the bike around when folded. Probably the neatest way to push around a folding bike

I would not comment on the folding speed as it is realistically not too long. But the compactness of fold mans that there are a few knobs to twiddle and one should be aware of the sequence. Also it means that it is difficult to fit a large rack and expect it to fold small. So full size panniers are not an option. But brompton makes really nice handlebar bag that can be fit on the bike to carry stuff.

Further, most of the components are proprietary to brompton (including the bag). I am sure the products are designed for durability and great that brompton is willing to custom design components to support their design. The problem I have with custom components is that I will have to rely on one source for replacements / repairs. Realistically speaking, bicycles are robust and do not need much attention, so this criticism is not too relevant.

A 3 speed drive train is simple and reliable but it also means that there is probably less chance of easing up during tough climbs.

Dahon Speed TR:

Dahon has a number of models to choose from and the variety can be a killer in choosing an option to analyze. After looking through the options, I suppose a good version to compare would be the Speed TR. Note Dahon makes a number of bikes that are very reasonably priced and are probably flooding the folding market (after the Chinese / Taiwanese rock bottom price models). The comments on the speed TR may or may not relate to other Dahon models.

The new model speed TR comes with numerous useful accessories. It has factory fitted fenders (SKS) and racks. Racks can take full size ortlieb’s ( I have to try them on to see if there is any heel strike though). Comes with Front racks too  and a nice thoughtful attachment to put on handlebar bags (can put a Ortlieb!) Additionally, it has kick stands and even a dynamo. Additionally, it also has front and rear lights. These are pretty thoughtful add-ons for a utility bike. All my bikes run these accessories and my Foldies would too (eventually).

The flip side is that Dahon’s have a lot of custom components. The same comments as Brompton’s apply. Personally, I think the brompton has more style but to me it is usually function over form. The speed runs 24 speed gearing and it is wide (like tikit).

The speed TR has a more simple fold compared to the rest of the Dahon (skip a few steps) and you need not adjust the handle bar after unfolding. Rolling is fine but as Vik mentioned elsewhere, it will roll in only one direction. But a 2 wheel roll (compared to a 1 wheel roll) means that your hands don’t strain much. Not as elegant as brompton bot not as straining as tikit.

The size after folding is not as clean as Brompton (difficult to match brompton’s elegance) but it is smaller than the tikit. Couple of design quirks exist but I suppose all bikes have their own set.

I will tabulate the outcome of the review in another post. This is just food for thought.

Related posts:

1. hunt for a folding bike – part 2
2. Hunt for a Folding Bike – Aftermath – Part 1
3. hunt for a folding bike – part 1

There are tons of online and offline sources available for getting details. What is needed is a hunger to gather as much information as possible including, pros and cons of folding bikes, how people use it, how easy it is to operate and manage etc… It is possible that you might want to skip this step. But I personally enjoy this process most as I get a good insight into what my money gets me and what compromises I have to live with.

The first few online sources I would go to are forums, company web sites, user reviews, enthusiastic bloggers etc… Some of the useful resources are as follows:

1. Forums:
   • Bikeforums – folding bike forum
   • togoparts – local forum discussing local issues.
2. Company Web sites:
   • Bike Friday
   • Brompton
   • Birdy
   • Dahon
   • carry-me
   • A bike
   • Giant halfway
3. User reviews and bloggers:
   • Vik Tikit
   • Love the Fold
   • Sean Luke (updated) has a very meticulous review of Bike friday and his research. Thanks.
4. Local bike shops:
   • Diginexx
   • Speed matrix

Secondly, I would sync up with people I know who use / own / ride folding bikes. I would make appointments to try their bike out. Friends and family would be more than willing to share their experience and review and that is a first hand source that you can tap on. Further, ability to handle a bike first hand is critical in getting a feel of how the bike handles etc… It is a good idea to spend time with friends bikes as it does not put one under an obligation as it would when you try out at bike shops.

Note, bike shops are generally friendly and let you tryout their products but we should remember that it is a place of business and we should not be conducting fist cut research on their time. Friend’s bikes or at a bike shop, it is important to try out the following:

1. Bike adjustments (seat post, handlebar etc…) to ensure a comfortable ride. Do you need to adjust these every time you fold / unfold?
2. Stating and stopping, trying to break and see if the bike is stable under braking
3. Test rides. It is important to get enough time test riding in situations where you expect to ride the bike. Try out the following:
   • ride in a straight line.
   • make sudden sharp turns
   • Ride out of the saddle
   • try climbing a hill
   • Going downhill
   • try to ride in small circles
   • wobble the handlebar to see if the bike remains stable.
   • try a sudden stop
   • Try riding with one hand
4. Try folding and unfolding the bike. Do it ten times in a row. I think this is critical. If you are not comfortable with the folding mechanism, you might not use the bike or you might never fold the bike. The reality is that non-folding bikes are cheaper and more sturdy and adaptable for a lot of uses. So if you end up not folding the bike much on a regular basis due to the design mechanism, it might not pay to buy a folding bike in the first place.
5. Too many latches and too many intricate moves is a bad choice.
6. Visit more than one bike shop to see the models available.
7. Try test riding a regular bike. It is possible that you do not necessarily need a folding bike after all. visit your needs and be realistic.
8. Rent and ride a bike for a long distance. I know Speed matrix rent Dahon bikes for test rides. Long distance riding will tell you more about the bike than reading about it.
9. Rent regular bike and ride it for long distance. You might actually like the ride of a regular bike.

Try it we shall continue the research in future posts.

Related posts:

1. hunt for a folding bike – part 1
2. hunt for a folding bike – part 3
3. Hunt for a folding bike – addendum

Obviously, it is important to start from the specific need so that it is possible to filter though the various options available. There is always the lure of what could potentially be done with the bike and it would be nice to have a bike that can double up for other uses. Of course there is the budget aspect to be considered and finally, the specifics of the bikes in question.

• Need: It is very important to start with a realistic and practical set of needs. This is specific to the user / use in hand. I would think that the needs should drive the choice of bike by about 70%. In the current case, the needs are as follows:
  1. A bike to commute short to medium distances. May be used to ride about 25km once a week
  2. A folding bike. This is to increase opportunity for commuting / using the bike.
  3. The bike would be used primarily for commuting and recreation. Some aerobic activity may be exercised.
  4. Stable / Easy to maneuver.
  5. Ability to carry a bag / basket.
  6. Easily serviceable.
• Wants: It would be nice to have a bike that does everything but in the absence, it would be a good idea to figure out the stretched usage of the bike so that it covers another 5% of the bikes usage.
  1. Comfortable to do day or overnight trips an occasional romp to Malaysia / Indonesia.
  2. Preferably standard components that can be fixed easily.
• Budget: Budget is crucial as you should not chew more that you can swallow. But given that the bike would pay for itself in the long run, a good quality well designed bike that sees a lot of use is worth more than a bike that does not get used. Applying this principle, one should not go by linear price differences but by the cost of bike ownership in the long run. My advice would be to stretch the dollar as much as possible and also not to skimp on a great utility bike just because of cost. A bike that falls within a budget range should be carefully considered. I would give it 10% towards choosing a bike.
  1. For this project, there is a budget of 1000-2000 SGD. A wide range of course but given the choices, a wide range keeps options open.
• Design issues: the remaining 15% goes to aesthetics and design. Thoughtful design and aesthetics are important but it should never overrun function. The perfect bike is the one that marries form and function. May be we will be able to find the right compromise. Issues like following should be considered.
  1. How easy is it to fold / unfold. Is it easy to remember in a hurry?
  2. Are there too many strong latches?
  3. Will things get stuck in the joints?
  4. How compact is it when folded?
  5. Will it stand on its own?
  6. Is it easy to transport when folded? Will you be transporting if folded for long distance? why?
  7. can you transport with both left and right hand?
  8. Can you fit racks / fenders?

A lot more questions to ask I suppose. But lets go through the process and pick a winner.

Related posts:

1. hunt for a folding bike – part 2
2. hunt for a folding bike – part 3
3. Hunt for a Folding Bike – Aftermath – Part 1