Folding bikes

[Rm2s]

what about getting a bike rack and not put it in the car, cleaner too. If you do that, there is no need for a brompton, just a common bike that you can lock anywhere and parts can be gotten for cheap or the bike replaced for even cheaper lol.

 

I like the brompton if have to choose but do check out the price of its spares.

 

I live in HDB so not only it is an issue to transport the bike but storing it while not in use also a big factor. I have tried quite a few bikes and eventually settled with Brompton. Now I can just fold it up and store at a corner of the flat without even noticing it.

 

Also, like car, I buy used. There are many people upgrade their brompton bike, so, visit togoparts regularly, check on brompton bikes for sale and wait for the one with best price. The one I got was made in 2008, even after so many years, it still ride smoothly and gave me zero problems after 6 months of ownership. I spend a bit of time to clean her up, use $5 lube oil I bought from hardware shop and it now looks and work very good.

 

For spares, I also camp out at togoparts, there are people who likes to upgrade their bike and sell brand new parts for low price. I got a pair of new stock paddle for $45 and use that to upgrade my old 2nd hand bike.

 

Generally if you take care of the bike, it seems to last a long time.

[Duckduck]

appreciate all your responses guys. so far no feedback on dahon yet... i went to a shop recently n saw that theyre made in china (MIC) now... i know iphone also MIC but just feel a little weary abt the MIC tag?

[Rm2s]

appreciate all your responses guys. so far no feedback on dahon yet... i went to a shop recently n saw that theyre made in china (MIC) now... i know iphone also MIC but just feel a little weary abt the MIC tag?

 

I had a Tern which is a close cousin of Dahon.

 

They are very value for money even if you buy new. The one thing I do not like them was the practicality portion. For example, when you fold the bike in half, they are held together by a small piece of circular magnet. The bike is not light so there is no way the magnet will hold. So what Tern did was they also give you some velcro straps. So, to carry it securely, you will have to fold and then velcro. Not a very intuitive things to do.

 

The folding itself also expose the chain portion of the bike, so, when you want to carry it, be careful, you might dirtied yourself if you carry it on the wrong side.

 

One thing about bike is that each is designed with some sort of geometry in mind. So the same bike might not fit your riding posture. For e.g. Brompton's copy called Flamingo (I think they changed name already) just doesn't setup right for me. When I sat on it, it felt funny. Tern was ok for me though. So my advise, while you can compare on paper, the final decision must only be made after a proper test ride.

[inlinesix]

appreciate all your responses guys. so far no feedback on dahon yet... i went to a shop recently n saw that theyre made in china (MIC) now... i know iphone also MIC but just feel a little weary abt the MIC tag?

 

I have another folding bike call Bike Friday. Made in USA. Encountered 2 major parts replacement since i bought it in 2008.

 

Go & compare the workmanship btw Dahon & Brompton. If you are serious about Brompton, do a test ride.

 

Brompton AD price is fix. Don't try to bargain down.

 

I had brought Brompton to Penang, Bkk & Ho Chi Minh. For all 3 places, we rode outside of the city area.

Edited September 1, 2014 by Davidtch

[Kangadrool]

Any good recommendation for online purchase for Brompton?

[inlinesix]

Any good recommendation for online purchase for Brompton?

 

Forget buying online lah. No longer possible as factory clamped down.

 

Your best option is fly to HK.

 

Price in HK might be cheaper, which also means lesser options included.

 

Aiya just get a used 1 in Togoparts.

[Duckduck]

ok after thinking for awhile & reading comments here, i thk ill just the bike w the smallest fold n thats d brompton... gona go n test ride soon..

[Count-Bracula]

Any one got a Vert 8?

[Vegas]

i had 3 dahons, D7, Formula S18, P18. also currently have a tern p18 and tyrell cx.

i find dahon most value for money and durable, parts easily available. Tern is set up by Dahon's founder son and mum => more fasionable but quality i feel so so..

Performance wise, Tern is more rigid, but that because no telescopic handle bar.

 

brommy is good if you want to ride for leisure... not speed... nor more than 50km ride.

Spares for brommy are more difficult to source, including hubs, tyres, etc

 

Birdy good, fast, suspension, but fold not as easy as brompton

Tyrell Fast, but folding => erm could be better..

 

the are more entry level brands, but for foldy, i would not recommend them

[Rm2s]

 

Forget buying online lah. No longer possible as factory clamped down.

 

Your best option is fly to HK.

 

Price in HK might be cheaper, which also means lesser options included.

 

Aiya just get a used 1 in Togoparts.

 

I agree. All online sites in UK won't ship to Singapore, not even spare parts, unless you go with forwarding service like vPost.

[Duckduck]

 

I agree. All online sites in UK won't ship to Singapore, not even spare parts, unless you go with forwarding service like vPost.

 

is spare parts a big issue for bromptons? cannot just replace parts with shimano parts?

[inlinesix]

i had 3 dahons, D7, Formula S18, P18. also currently have a tern p18 and tyrell cx.

i find dahon most value for money and durable, parts easily available. Tern is set up by Dahon's founder son and mum => more fasionable but quality i feel so so..

Performance wise, Tern is more rigid, but that because no telescopic handle bar.

 

brommy is good if you want to ride for leisure... not speed... nor more than 50km ride.

Spares for brommy are more difficult to source, including hubs, tyres, etc

 

Birdy good, fast, suspension, but fold not as easy as brompton

Tyrell Fast, but folding => erm could be better..

 

the are more entry level brands, but for foldy, i would not recommend them

 

Disagree on the speeding parts. For OCBC cycle 2012, my average speed is btw 30 & 35km/h.

 

Other than tyres, most of the parts you quoted will not break easily. This is based my daily ride to work.

 

Tyre can be easily sourced locally. In fact, i m using Schwalbe Kojak, which is a racing slick tyre.

 

 

is spare parts a big issue for bromptons? cannot just replace parts with shimano parts?

 

If you buy the parts from AD, no issue. Mightty Velo stock up almost every parts of Brompton.

 

If you crashed a Brompton and the frame in good shape, you can even rebuild the entire bike.

 

Why do u need Shimano parts?

[nazerath]

Ts what is the intended use for your folding bike? If you buy a brompton, consider adding a brass bell.

[Duckduck]

Why do u need Shimano parts?

 

coz im familiar w shimano its available everywhere cheap lor

 

Ts what is the intended use for your folding bike? If you buy a brompton, consider adding a brass bell.

 

possible work commute + weekend exercise bike

[inlinesix]

 

coz im familiar w shimano its available everywhere cheap lor

 

 

possible work commute + weekend exercise bike

 

Shimano is not compatibile. Need DIY.

 

With its compact size, it is easier to store in the office as compared to other foldy.

 

If you gonna commute to work, need to check with the building management whether they are ok.

 

 

[nazerath]

You intend to fold yr bike n bring by the side of yr desk?

[Cleefho]

I have a Dahon which I bought for more than 5 years. it is the cheapest they have and for so many years, it never give any problem at all, really reliable. Best is I bought it at $350 only.

 

however I never folded the bike so cant commend on that. speed wise it is quite fast.

[inlinesix]

I have a Dahon which I bought for more than 5 years. it is the cheapest they have and for so many years, it never give any problem at all, really reliable. Best is I bought it at $350 only.

 

however I never folded the bike so cant commend on that. speed wise it is quite fast.

 

How many km has your Dahon travelled?

 

How fast in terms of km/h is quite fast?