Anyone have one? What kind, and how do you like it?

http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewt ... ding+bikes

http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewt ... ding+bikes

http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewt ... ding+bikes

I had done that search already, and most of the hits I read involved 'I saw this bike one time' and 'This places sells those things'. But I had not waded all the way back to 2008, where some discussion between people who actually own and ride them regularly occurred. So thanks for that third link.

No problem. I never hesitate to put a two word phrase into a search box for a perfect stranger.

Perfect stranger? I thought we were a community, man.

So maybe I'm that guy.

I'll attempt to rephrase and be more specific. For those of you with folding bikes, what sorts of mechanical issues have you had? What do you dislike about your folder(s)? Have you done any mods? Would you recommend the model you have, or do you wish you had a different one? Have you had any problems bringing your folder anywhere?

I've owned a couple of cheapish ones that I have put better parts on. Still cheaper than a brompton, though not as compact (I rode one on loan for a week so I could compare). The Downtube (which got stolen) and the Dahon (which I currently own) are both ok bikes for trips of 40 miles or less. They can fit in a compact car trunk (just put the Dahon in back of VW bug I was returning to the rental place). But if you plan on flying with it, or need better performance than my knock-about reasons for owning one, maybe a higher-end model is what you need.

I would test ride a few at Calhoun Cycle. They're nice people and they know their folding bikes. It's where I bought the Dahon (cheapest model was my main criterium).

Also, where is fafnir?

I'm in Ely

I have a Raleigh 20, a bike friday tikit, bike friday pocket rocket, two bromptons and a dahon speed. out of all of them I think I like the bromptons best. They fold the smallest and also ride reasonably well.

I do like the bike friday pocket rocket second best as it is fast enough to be able to keep up on group rides and it fits about like my road bike.

Fafnir, what do you think of the Tikit? It's a nice setup, but how does it ride?

The tikit is a nice bike, the pros are:

1. Most easily rolled bike while folded and with the front rack you can leave your pannier attached while rolling while folded.
2. Extremely fast fold
3. Very comfortable ride, the geometry feels like a full size bike.
4. Good company to work with.


cons:

1. Flexy mast that the handlebars are attached to, this bugs me, although I hear you can have it made with a thicker tubing that takes are of this.
2. Microshift components and joytech hubs are ok components, but considering what I paid for the bike I would have expected nice shimano stuff, but I sort of knew this when I ordered it.
3. Currently having a paint problem, its flaking off the rear triangle, and need to contact bike friday.

Thanks for the replies, Ted Welter & fafnir!!! (Sorry it's taken me a bit to post -- I was in the wilds of northern WI for a few days, and have been rather busy since I got back -- and when I did, I wrote a long reply, only to have my browser die before I posted, and didn't have time to rewrite.)

I think I'm not quite ready to spend the $$$ for a Brompton or a Bike Friday -- which both sound like they function the best. As of right now, my plans for this hypothetical bike are to throw it in my car, and use it as my own personal Nice Ride for errands, jaunts around the city/lakes, biking with friends who have fashionable not functional bikes, etc. I currently will throw my regular bike on the roof for this purpose, but I typically end up getting a little dirty in the process, usually will wear bike-friendly clothes when I do it, and end up with a calf tattoo as well. And getting the bike on and off the roof late at night is a bit of a drag. (I do bike in and out of the city, but again, that trip back late at night can get long.) It would be nice to be able to spontaneously do this, rather than planning ahead, dressin' funny, etc. Plus I'm intrigued by cool toys.

So of the commonly available brands (that I know of anyway), that kind of leaves me at a Dahon or a Citizen. Has anyone had experience with Citizens? They seem to be the lowest priced that I know of. Is this just a case of you-get-what-you-pay-for? (In poking around their website, I didn't find a list of components, so maybe that answers that question.)

And again -- thanks for your comments! I've been toying with the idea for several years, and I think I finally might be ready to pull the trigger on this.

Buy used, there was a brompton on craigs a week or 2 ago for $650. I picked up a nice Damon speed for $50 last fall. Deals are out there.

I'mma start looking for one. I think it'd be a hoot.

Hey, Svenn, lookit this one.

Ted Welter, when your Downtube got stolen, where did it get stolen from? (And what was it locked with?) I haven't seen that many folders locked up outside, and I've wondered if they are more of a target for thieves. I did see a Dahon near Hell's Kitchen earlier this week as I was walking to First Ave, and I've wondered how whatever folder I might have would fare locked up in that area. (Other reason I don't want to get a Brompton or Bike Friday right now.)