Folding bicycle choice

[jamiemoir]

I am about to buy folding bikes to put on board our 33ft yacht and am struggling to decide between two models - I wonder if anyone can offer me some advice ?
I've pretty much decided on Dahon and am now torn between a 16" wheel model (Curve SL) and a 20" model (MU P8).
Both seem to fit the bill and on a quick test ride were comfortable to use. What I don't know though is for reasonably long rides, which size of wheel would be best... My partner and I like to cycle and envisage doing rides anything from 5 to 35 miles on the folders.
Any thoughts ?

 

[sailorman]

we have 2 dahon board walks now about 6 yrs old 20 in wheels ( a must) apart from surface rust on the wheel spokes no real probs. i did fill the hollow tubes with expanding foam

 

[Steve_N]

Go for the biggest wheels that you can: as wheel size decreases you loose stability, increase rolling resistance and get a much rougher ride over potholes etc..

We have a couple of 20" wheeled Dahons (SpeedPros) on board and they really are good bikes. It takes a short while to aclimatise to the small wheels and the lack of stability, but once you get dialled-in they really perform well. I'm a keen racing cyclist so use the Dahon to keep my fitness levels up whilst cruising, and it does the job very well - rides of 100 miles+ are not a problem.

IMHO 16" wheels are really only any good for popping down the shops.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

On the 8th Sept I am embarking on a drive/bike holiday along the Loire, south of Orleans, using two Raleigh Boardwalk Lite's with 20 inch wheels.

If you want, I can take pictures to record the posterior chafing.

 

[Seven Spades]

We have 20" Dahon's but if you are not used to it the stem is so long on the folding bike it flexes and it is a bit disconcerting at first.

 

[Kawasaki]

Major, thanks butt No thanks.
I still have Children Who log on here from time to time!

 

[Kawasaki]

As said, the bigger the wheels the better.
Foldy bikes (foldy mopeds/ motor bikes even worse) don't handle as well as their rigid counterparts.
Mostly due to the angle of dangle of the forks/front end arragement.
In an effort to make em stowable, I think tne makers try to "shorten" the wheel base.
Taint a prob if you just want Transport to the Pub or Boulangerie but don''t expect to Tour de France al la The Major!

 

[johnphilip]

20" wheels undoubtedly better ride but check the size when folded and bagged.
For some reason bikes seem much heavier and bigger once you actually try to fit them into a locker which you had thought cavernous.
And even if you fit them in, if it is too much of a struggle to get them ready, you will use them very seldom.
Best day on holiday this summer was riding our 16" wheeled bikes around Alderney, not far but enough to be exercise and fun

 

[aknight]

I have a Dahon Vitesse D5 with 20" wheels, which I use regularly to go down to the boat with and which, when folded, stows in the fairly tight quarterberth of my 22' Pandora.

I agree with everyone else who has recommended that you choose a modei with 20" wheels over one with 16" wheels. I've done rides of up to 30 miles on my Vitesse, including journeys on unmade country cycle routes - it's absolutely fine, while not of course being comparable with a full-size bicycle.

I can't imagine that any model with 16" wheels would be capable of doing some of the rides I have done with my Vitesse, at least not without considerable effort on the part of the rider.

 

[pelicanpete]

If there is a stainless steel spoke option for the wheels, I'd go for it. Otherwise, I'd recommend having the wheels rebuilt using s/s spokes.

 

[cpedw]

We have had two Dahon Boardwalks (20 inch wheels, bottom end of the Dahon range) for three years on our Westerly Falcon (33 feet). They are terrific. The one thing I reccommend is the Dahon bag to keep them in. It's a very sturdy bag and it stops other things in the locker getting mucky as well as keeping salt off the bikes while they are stowed. There's no significant rust on our bikes so I don't think it's necessary to get SS spokes. A squirt of WD40 into the bag as they go back in the locker has been my corrosion treatment.

Derek

 

[aluijten]

I was looking at folding bikes as well. I would like to know the forums opinion on Brompton ( www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk ) bikes as as far as I can see they do fold to quite a small package.

Cheers,

Arno

 

[sarabande]

They are mustard and dog's bits, too.

Had one for 6 years, reliable, comfortable, folds like a dream, carries good amount of shopping in carrier bags, and doesn't rust (much) given the salt showers when cruising.

Expensive and target for theft if you don't chain them up, though. Lots on eBay; may be not from the original owners though.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Lots on eBay; may be not from the original owners though.

[/ QUOTE ]What a nice way of putting it! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Goldie]

Excellent. Ours are 11 years old and virtually as good as new. As discussed elsewhere, larger wheels are better for 'serious' cycling, but as a runabout, they're fantastic and have a lot of options as regards carriers etc depending on your needs.

 

[Seakindly]

I still carry a Bickerton bought in Harrods about 1977 before Al-Fayed. It was my only purchase there, ever, and I asked about the guarantee. "Just bring it back sir" he said. But how long is the guarantee? I asked. "As long as you keep the bicycle sir". I still have the receipt. Mind you - terrible ride, tiny wheels, falls apart, steering a loose term at best and bits rust. But it keeps going.

 

[thalassa]

Brompton is the bees' knees in folding bikes. But PLENTY beer tokens ( over here over 1000 EURO ), and the only ones with 16 inch wheels (hence the small package) and still a stable ride.

 

[jamiemoir]

Thanks to all for the excellent advice, variable to say the least! It seems it's all about getting the right compromise and I agree that the bigger the wheels the better the ride but sadly, we don't have the space. Looks likes it's going to be a 16" wheeler that folds as small as possible, which is either a Brompton (expensive, long wait) or the Dahon Curve SL.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks to all for the excellent advice, variable to say the least! It seems it's all about getting the right compromise and I agree that the bigger the wheels the better the ride but sadly, we don't have the space. Looks likes it's going to be a 16" wheeler that folds as small as possible, which is either a Brompton (expensive, long wait) or the Dahon Curve SL.
Thanks again for your help.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait for the Brompton!! Fantastic machines. Have used ours since 1996 covering thousands of miles at up to 40 miles per day whilst full time cruising, and they still look like new. Go on, you know it makes sense!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[davidfox]

Use my Brompton nearly every day in London, rode from wimbledon to kings x today, it is a fantastic bike, I have got a cheap Seasure on the boat, absolutely cr.p. Go for Brompton, but beware of theft I had my previous one stolen whilst it was chained up outside a cafe whilst I sat with my back to it. Ebay is a sure place to get a nicked Brompton, they are all serial marked and the police generally have the numbers of the stolen ones, not that it makes any difference.