Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Brompton have sussed that-- at a cost
Kwiggle folding bike
- Thread starter webcraft
- Start date
ylop
Well-Known Member
We are both cyclists. If e-scooters were legal (we are U.K. based) we would have e-scooters on board - the folders in the OP are interesting but I suspect are too many compromises to be fun for a “real” cyclist anyway.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
My e-scooter is an off roader....and can be fun. But as the video says, first and foremost you need transport for victualling. E-scooters are very handy for that...you can take them inside the shop for security. If you want cycling as exercise....or to go great distances....then you need a bicycle....a proper one
st599
Well-Known Member
You can own an escooter in the UK, but you can only use it on private land, only hired escooters are legal in oublic and you need to have category Q on your driving licence.
Obviously this is widely disregarded and not enforced.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
In France there are many laws…and I am probably the only person who obeys them. First is they have to be emasculated (20kph I think)…insured (expensive as the wife reminds me especially as I hardly use it)…no seat (then it’s classed as a motorcycle). Helmet. I also use reflective jacket and gloves. One person only…even though you see mothers picking up their child from school…or two young people on them. You can use cycle lanes or roads that are no more than 50kph. But it’s up to the mayor where you can use them
ylop
Well-Known Member
Actually it is enforced up here - not 100%, but certainly far too much for any normal driver to take the risk with - usually prosecuted for driving without insurance 6pts and £300 + seized scooter…
thinwater
Well-Known Member
Very little regulation in the US, and so far, accidents have not been a big problem. But it could change with rising popularity. For the present, it is wait-and-see.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
There are quite a lot of stories of people touring europe on Bromptons, so they are not quite as restrictive as your post suggests. I am using mine for exercise. My road bike has not been used much in the last few years, (Especially since I fell off it due to exhaustion)
They can be part folded & wheeled around a shop, or dropped into a shopping trolley. Although I think the E version too heavy for that.
That being said, no one could deny that the Brompton really is a city bike, rather than a tourer
Bouba
Well-Known Member
E-scooters used to be cheap....but after covid the price skyrocketed. So a pair of them is a lot of money....and that gives you a dilemma as there aren’t really any recognizable brands....they all tend to be clones of each other from the same Far East monolith. Also they have known faults....the control switches, and the internal wiring (which I have repaired myself with YouTube guidance....but you have to like soldering angel hair wires before you start)....what I’m saying is they are a gamble....plus you need charging facilities onboard. But as far as utility to storage size goes.....they are unbeatable
webcraft
Well-Known Member
. . . so no-one has ridden a Kwiggle?
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fredrussell
Well-Known Member
It would seem not. They’ve certainly pulled off an amazing feat by making a bike fold smaller than a Brompton. Any rider reviews of the Kwiggle yet?
I’ve had Dahons, Birdys, cheapos and Bromptons- the latter is still the benchmark folder in my opinion.
billskip
Well-Known Member
Not ridden one but seen many around los cristianos...escooters here are beginning to be a problem with legislation and police stop many, but seem to ignore the bikes on the pavement/ pedestrian ways.
But if you want small have you seen this?
Attachments
ylop
Well-Known Member
Ah now that looks like a clone of Clive Sinclairs A-bike which I have briefly ridden: it had a lot of redeeming features but felt like a circus act. I think you could probably get used to the precariousness, but I’d worry that a cloned version skimped on the things that actually made the original unique - oil free, very light weight etc. it’s definitely a “mile to the shops” rather than an all day ride machine.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
What one needs to look at is the load carrying ability of the bike. My Brompton is OK with my current 17 stone but looking at the Kwiggle I might feel a little insecure
In addition the extra long seat post copes OK with my 6ft 6 ins height. I think that I might be a bit bunched up on a kwiggle making cycling difficult
In addition the extra long seat post copes OK with my 6ft 6 ins height. I think that I might be a bit bunched up on a kwiggle making cycling difficult
Ammonite
Well-Known Member
It's an amazing bit of design but I can't help thinking it could lead to a pretty horrific accident if you were to hit a pothole with the small front wheel tucked under the frame like that, as you are pitch poled over the handle bars. It just seems wrong from a balance perspective but I haven't ridden one.
billskip
Well-Known Member
Did just that on my escooter ....took three months for the ribs pain to go away.....
Mister E
Well-Known Member
This is the first that I have seen of the design. Maybe webby can give a review if it is any good.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
Some links at the bottom of the Kwiggle homepage to press reviews.
Brompton the benchmark on quality, Dahon the benchmark on price.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
I think the problem is the £1500 purchase price
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Quite, for an odd looking and VERY small wheeled contrivence. Maybe they should give a few to some 'influencers' In the way that stuff was gifted to known people to jump start things.
Never tried any of them, as no real use out here.
But, a long time back, I briefly had a Moulton folding bike. Sort of useful, but lacked the stability of the big wheels gyroscopic effect. Not to mention the folding clamp let go suddenly, dumping me on the road..
