Considering a folding bike to use for commuting by train.
Anyone on here had the pleasure? Are any of the 20" wheeled ones any good?
Not looking for massive performance, just something for a couple of miles at each end of the train journey.
Bike Forum
Recommend me ... A folding bike
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Posted 11 months ago #
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The Dahon's I have ridden are pretty good.
Go outdoors are selling a folder soon on offer for £79.99 down from £200, the makes a 'Saxon' Never heard of them, but it might be worth googling them and checking them out. Might be ok for your short commute.Posted 11 months ago # -
They're all pretty crap, so don't be tempted to spend a lot...
except bromptons, which are awesome
Posted 11 months ago # -
FOLDING bike = Brompton
folding BIKE = AirnimalDepends on where your emphasis is. Dahons are good too and have a wider range with some nice riding 20" wheels, but for commuting, where you will need to fold and unfold several times, you really can't beat a Brompton. Get the lightest one your buget can stretch to. Watch out for C2Work, as they retain their value extremely well.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Ditto the above, nothing folds aswell and as easy in the real world as a Brompton - simples. Don't waste your money on anything else, yes they're relatively expensive, genuine parts are expensive also when it ones to servicing, but they are worth it. I wouldn't like to be commuting and in a hurry to fold/carry a Dahon on/off a busy train...
Posted 11 months ago # -
I've had Dahons for years. Tried a few folders and the Dahons rode the best at their price point.
Nothing beats the Brompton speed of fold though.
Posted 11 months ago # -
I wouldn't like to be commuting and in a hurry to fold/carry a Dahon on/off a busy train...
It took me under 10 seconds to fold my Dahon this morning onto my busy commuter train.
Posted 11 months ago # -
FOLDING bike = Brompton
folding BIKE = AirnimalWhat he said.
I'm using an Airnimal and riding 20+ miles a day on my commute. Folding's not super-quick and it doesn't fold down super-small but for any distance it really is a nicer ride. If I only had a couple of miles to do then I'd go for a Brompton, or, if it were flat, I'd go with a Strida. Even faster fold than a Brompton and I really rated my old one...
Posted 11 months ago # -
Been using a brompton for the last few weeks, both commuting and just getting around (hack bike is in dire need of a service). It's ace. Bit twitchy when you hit 30 going downhill and it's a struggle coming back up the same hill but the ease/speed of folding makes up for it.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Thanks for that gents.
Looks like it will be Brompton. The resale value means it makes a lot of sense to.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Bromptons are the only ones that really fold sensibly for storage on trains. Lots of thought in the design including the fact that the chain ends up in the middle of the folded bike. Small thing, but a real trouser saver.
Also if you have one, you can do the Brompton World Championship - which is ace fun!
Posted 11 months ago # -
Here's a tip ... Bromptons are rarely discounted, but Evans and CycleSurgery will knock 10% off anything in store with a valid LCC or CTC membership (which costs about 40 quid) .. All in all, if a brompton is #700 you save about 30 odd quid and get a cycling club membership for free.
One point of note - the brompton uses almost entirely proprietry (non-standard) parts.. but they are widely available and actually Very very cheap to buy (it's the brompton branded accessories that cost).
With other folding bikes (inc. Dahon) if you break something .. you'll be waiting for weeks for the supplier to special order it from foreign shores ... and then it'll be the wrong part!
Posted 11 months ago # -
I've been riding a Dahon Vitesse (in hub gearing) for a fair few months now for a simple 2 mile commute to the train station and back. I've been city riding on it too and it's a solid stable machine capable of being folded quickkly and neatly.
I tried a Brompton (the worlds almost swung me, honest) but I didn't like the flexiable ride and the almost wobbly setup feeling.
My Dahon wasn't cheap, but then who cares, but the build means that it'll still be riding for a good few years yet. It's neat, black and no one really cares about it which is stealty.Posted 11 months ago # -
Anyone got any feed back on the folders from http://www.kansi.co.uk/ ?
I know it's only a "hype" model but this does look ace:
Posted 11 months ago # -
I had a Dahon Jetstream P8 for a couple of years, awesome bike, 20" wheel, suspension, nice looking too, sold on ebay for almost the same price I paid.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Airnimals need some dismantling don't they - like out with the front wheel?
My Birdy will fold as quick as a Brompton and rides really well - almost like a real bike if you get the sport stem. Frame is monocoque so no folds in it and consequently it is really stiff.
But if you are only doing a few miles either end and don't want the possibility of being able to ride 30 odd miles home the next time the trains screw up or there is some terrorist scare, then get a Brompton, marvel at the small folded size, and get used to the clown bike ride.
Posted 11 months ago # -
At least try a Mezzo, too. They fold almost as small as a Brompton and ride better.
Posted 11 months ago # -
If you're thinking of a Brompton, get a test ride. We have one at work and I loathe it. On the plus side, it does fold down very well.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Tried the various ones, bought a Brompton. Nothing is as good for train use, for sticking in luggage racks and between back-to-back seats. They don't ride too badly either, I've done 20 miles home on it when the trains stopped working. People do events like the Dunwich Dynamo on theirs. Just takes a bit of getting used to.
Yes there's proprietary bits, but all widely available and not expensive. Just about everything will fit all Bromptons from the year dot as well.
http://www.simpsoncycles.co.uk/section.php/601/1/brompton_parts_and_accessories for an idea of parts costs - only thing I've needed to replace was a mudguard blade after a big screw went through the tyre and folded up the mudguard. New one just under £12 delivered. I also swapped the rear suspension block for the hard one - £6.50 delivered.
Posted 11 months ago # -
I also tried a Giant version of a foldie, almost forgot about that. It had a single sided fork (like a lefty) and a single sided rear (like a ducati, hahaha) and it rode like a crab and wobbled a lot. It was good to look at mind, but sh*te to ride, shame really as it could have been soooo nice if it rode as well as it looked.
The Mezzo I spotted through amn LBS window but didn't venture further into said LBS cos' I don't like the bloke that owns it, you may need to test ride it, it looked a bit flexie IMO, could be good though..
Oh yeah.. forgot to mention the Folding Bike Race at this years Rapha Nocturne in Smithfileds.. Always good for a luagh and some serious riding going on there, most all the riders were well'ard city boys used to piling into traffic and slipping in/out of buslanehell and bike handling was superb, IIRC a Brompton won that race.. (could be wrong mind)
Brompton Worlds are on in AUg this year BTW, good for a laugh yeah??
Posted 11 months ago # -
Brompton owned and used 2 extensively since late 90's
Dahon jetstream
I'd choose a brompton the Dahon was far nicer to ride... however the front linkage forks fell to bits....dahon's backup is pant's....parts are expensive...
for the Bromptons every part has alway's been available
folders are rubish to ride compared to regular bike and i'd recomend the two bike solution if your commuting by train.... but if it's a necessary evil.... then I'd pick a Brompton everytime.....
Posted 11 months ago # -
The luggage is worth mentioning too - pricey but so good for "utility" cycling in regular clothes. I get a laptop and other work bits in an S-bag just fine. No sweaty back from a rucksack.
Options on the other folders were a bit cack - Mezzo do an awkward-looking tailpack, Dahon do what looks like a box camera bag to stick on the front.
Posted 11 months ago # -
folders are rubish to ride compared to regular bike
that is just not true with my Birdy - only real difference is the steering is a bit more twitchy and will twist round on you at the drop of a hat (as with all folders).
Plus the larger Dahons ride just like a real bike, 'cos they are a real bike with 26inch wheels.
Posted 11 months ago #
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