I find myself having a requirement for one but they all look deeply un-cool. Can someone point me in the direction of something that i wouldn’t look like a nobber on?

Bromptons are cool. Fact.

(Kids stop and go, “cool bike, Mister”, and that’s enough for me. I also grin everytime I ride it.)

Depends what you mean by cool. I’m in Japan at the moment and there are loads here that I’d ride but my girlfriend just laughs at them

My Dad’s old Bikerton was seriously cool… (ok, NOT)

(not actually my Dad’s one – for a start the stem’s the wrong way round 😯 )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bickerton_(bicycle)

I did take it off road once when an ex-gf (who mtb’d) was over and I let her ride my mtb while I rode the Bikerton (not a euphemism 😉 ) – I managed to bend the forks…

Mu SL – my son has one. Seriously fast.

Sadly usually bought by fat porky commuter types who bugger up the wheels and then spend the rest of their lives whining on forums that lightweight performance wheels don’t last forever.

Ritchey made a ti cross bike that the rear triangle came off of I seem to remember, very cool!

Yeah wiggle have one!

Dahon or Airnimal.

Dahon FTW.

You can pretend this is a Klein Mantra

http://www.militarybikes.com/products.html

or
http://swissbike.co.uk/catalog/images/imagecache/250x149_bostonlg.jpg

Good point, my Mantra is seriously cool (or is that fugly?) 🙂

Ibis tranny, I think the rear triangle unbolts and sits in the front triangle for transport

I think the Giants are pretty cool:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/halfway.2/4877/39004/

Single sided fork and chainstay !

Good point, my Mantra is seriously cool (or is that fugly?)

I like to think of it as seriously fugly, in a cool kinda way 🙂

I can live with that… 8)

Not strictly folding in the Brompton sense but it is cool and it’s ours! Means I can pack a bloomin great bike inside a small hatchback!

Macgyver

http://img359.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img359/1126/1217114195r33.smil

I have a monocoque carbon fibre folding bike. Full suss EPX Speedster with Rohloff and 26″ wheels. Would that be cool?

The swing arm folds under the frame.

Can’t find a photo to show, and it’s under a pile of bikes in the attic because I prefer my Scandal.

Here’s a photo of someone else’s EPX from http://www.epxbikes.com

there are quite a few HERE
i especially like the cannondale

Interesting
What about a Moulton??

+1 Moulton … space age coolness … and always being ridden fast.

Cool – but it doesn’t fold!

try the carryme http://www.pacific-cycles.com/

then let me know, i’m seriously considering it

I think Scott Forbes may win this one…

http://www.on-one.co.uk/news/teams-and-riders/q/date/2010/05/24/the-man-who-cut-his-inbred-in-half

My 1970s Cinzia has oodles of Retro-Italian coolness…..

I may even get around to riding it one day if I ever sort out the b”ggered bottom bracket

Loads more cool folders on this Flickr group…

http://www.flickr.com/groups/foldr/pool/

The Ritchey/Dahon stuff is well cool, not a “proper” folder I suspect.

1970s Cinzia

Same as various Brit bikes IIRC.

I had one of those Dahons, a Speed Pro, and i could swear it was faster than my road bike. Not sure it really fits the definition of cool though.

Brompton is the only cool folder IMO, in london anyway. You might get laughed at somewhere up north.

Dahon Mu Sl – really very quick. Looks OK though nothing looks good with mudguards on.

How could i forget!

The Dahon Hon Solo
http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/dahon_hon_solo.htm

Mine,

How about an Airnimal Rhino

or for a more road based bike the Joey

http://www.g-whizzcycles.co.uk/ohn0334.html

I’ve also got this Dahon Groove – doesn’t hinge in the middle but designed to fold thin.

Only takes 2 minutes more round the ‘Puffer track than my 29er.

Does anyone know anything about these?

http://www.slingshotbikes.com/mountain-foldtech.php

Always wanted to try one. I suspect there would be torsional flex, but I could be wrong – which is why I’d like to have a go.

Dahon Flo does the same as the modified on-one and is probably a better frame…

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/folding/product/flo-folding-mtb-9425

They used to do a full-suspension as well:

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/bike-full/dahon/fuego/PRD_414768_95crx.aspx

I use a Birdy folder – a couple of railway staff have complemented me on having a cooler than usual looking folder…

Dahon Jetstream P8 or EX – full sus, disc brakes and 20″ wheel.

http://uk.dahon.com/bikes/2010/jetstream-p8
http://uk.dahon.com/bikes/2010/jetstream-ex

Airnimal Joey Explorer Elite – rohloff, magura HS33’s, mix of Hope bits etc.

Cool? No idea but it’s done me proud for 8000+ miles so far. Since been updated with new, narrower rims running Schwalbe Duranos and a Royce front hub, lighter saddle, shiny gold KMC chain, rid of the gopping bar end covers etc.

Had a Dahon MU SL previously that lasted about 3 months before I got too irritated with the constant fettling required to keep it rattle-free…

I really like my Brompton Ti (s2lx):

http://mike-dean.fotopic.net/p65690800.html

Lots of upgrades since new; cranks/bb, bars, bar ends, tyres

Like someone mentioned above, it would be ultra-cool in London, but sadly my commutes are around the Cheshire lanes and train journeys into Liverpool – where it does get the occasional laugh. Having said that, I almost always get stopped by admirers (of the bike) when I’m folding/unfolding outside Costa coffee (or other brand coffee shops, of course)!