To fold or not to Fold?
- Thread starter Dwarfman
- Start date
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Falco Frank
Veteran
- Location
- Oup Norf'
Cant comment on a folding 'bent but our folding bikes weigh an absolute ton, which I'm sure is accounted for with much needed welding & engineering around the folding sections.
FrankCrank
Old layabout
....one comment over on BROL a while back was something about most people who have folders only unfolded the machine on first arrival, never to be folded back up again!
So, the real question is are you actually going to make use of the extra complexity/weight? - certainly a case of a niche within a niche in terms of the bike industry
So, the real question is are you actually going to make use of the extra complexity/weight? - certainly a case of a niche within a niche in terms of the bike industry
Falco Frank
Veteran
- Location
- Oup Norf'
Great handle @FrankCrank 
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
i currently have a home built fixed frame recumbent but i moved home about a month ago and now when i want to take the trike out i need to remove the front wheels and brakes then remove the tie rod between them and fold the handlebars in just so i can go threw the front door i butilt it to fit threw a gate just nicely but not a door so im now in the process of converting it to a folding trike. as i know i will be useing the folding and unfolding all the time yes it will add a bit of weight due to the hinges and plates i need to weld on but it shouldnt be more than about 1kg at the very most 2 kg my trike is already 28kg as it stands but i know if i made a few modifications to the fram i could easily loose 3 or 4 kg but then to me wheight isnt to much of an issue as im not interested in how fast i can go or how far i can go in a day i just want a trike that is comfey and reliable and will get me from a to b and back again
starhawk
Senior Member
- Location
- Bandhagen Sweden
....one comment over on BROL a while back was something about most people who have folders only unfolded the machine on first arrival, never to be folded back up again!
So, the real question is are you actually going to make use of the extra complexity/weight? - certainly a case of a niche within a niche in terms of the bike industry
It is true that most trikers never fold their trikes, I am one, but I don't think that there is an added weight in the case of the suspended tadpole trike, you just let the normal suspension movement be as to say free in the downward direction resulting in the rearfork folding in. The only extra complexity in my case is a velcro band preventing the trike from folding when you lift it up.
I fold my Gekko daily as that was why I bought it
I work in a rather rough area of Porstmouth and after the theft of a Bachetta from the site, took the hit and bought the Gekko
When I get to work it folds,and goes into the secure locker:
Then comes design....
These trikes tend to have a hinge with a failsafe and a fastener... one of the first things that I did was ride with the hinge open.... to make sure it worked!
In the case of the Gekko, the hinge is held by a quick release, but there is also a bolt that needs to be slid out before the frame will fold this engages automaticaly so you cannot ride without it engaged
Finally the hinge is underneath so that should everything fail than the riding pressure will still close the hinge
This video shows the details quite well
It is heavier than the Catrike, and without the additional stiffness of Catrike's "space frame" is a little more flexible, however it is a superbly well designed machine that takes anythingthat you can throw at it...
My only "issue" is that the hinge does require frequent cleaning and lubrication as it picks up road muck.
However a wipe and use of a good quality lubricant ever fortnight is adequate
I work in a rather rough area of Porstmouth and after the theft of a Bachetta from the site, took the hit and bought the Gekko
When I get to work it folds,and goes into the secure locker:
Then comes design....
These trikes tend to have a hinge with a failsafe and a fastener... one of the first things that I did was ride with the hinge open.... to make sure it worked!
In the case of the Gekko, the hinge is held by a quick release, but there is also a bolt that needs to be slid out before the frame will fold this engages automaticaly so you cannot ride without it engaged
Finally the hinge is underneath so that should everything fail than the riding pressure will still close the hinge
This video shows the details quite well
It is heavier than the Catrike, and without the additional stiffness of Catrike's "space frame" is a little more flexible, however it is a superbly well designed machine that takes anythingthat you can throw at it...
My only "issue" is that the hinge does require frequent cleaning and lubrication as it picks up road muck.
However a wipe and use of a good quality lubricant ever fortnight is adequate
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DaddyPaddey
Über Member
- Location
- Fareham
When I first got the Grasshopper it took about half an hour to work out how to fold it [well who does read instructions]. Once sussed I now fold it regularly and pop it in the back of the wife's Hyundi i10, where none of the DF's will fit, even with a wheel removed!
Great Western Railway require you to pre-book the bike, guess which service is available to me? Thanks to Jorgemartin for the bike. Raced across London overground and Underground, got back to Paddington J.I.T to catch the booked train.
I found it easier to unfold and wheel for distances of plus 200 yard. I lost 3 lbs in sweat hauling it up and down the escalators and along the underground tunnels. I also had a few bruises from the clunking I got.
I post updates once I have got it sorted 6'3 to 5'6 is a bit of a change for the bike. So yes it folds and yes that is good because it allows to be transported very easily. It is a 1 minute fold (ish) The re-assembly is a bit of a trial due to the reattach of the seat, but that is W.I.P
I found it easier to unfold and wheel for distances of plus 200 yard. I lost 3 lbs in sweat hauling it up and down the escalators and along the underground tunnels. I also had a few bruises from the clunking I got.
I post updates once I have got it sorted 6'3 to 5'6 is a bit of a change for the bike. So yes it folds and yes that is good because it allows to be transported very easily. It is a 1 minute fold (ish) The re-assembly is a bit of a trial due to the reattach of the seat, but that is W.I.P
