BikeBiz

The Folding Bike Market

Dahon Dahon’s latest includes the Curve SL, a nifty super-lightweight commuter bike that folds in seconds down to shopping bag size. Using Dahon’s refined BioLogic II frame geography, the Curve SL feels stable too – and all for RRP £849.99.

Next up is the Mu Uno, a single-speed backpedal brake. The Mu Uno retails for £469.99 and the next step up is the Cadenza Solo, priced at £549.99. The Solo sports a flip/flop rear hub that can go single speed or fixed, plus Dahon’s Lockjaw tech that helps fold the bike in under ten seconds.

Moving up the prices is the Vitesse P18 (RRP £749.99), a versatile bike ready to hit just about any kind of terrain and fast enough for hard training rides. And finally, the Mu Ex, priced one pence short of £2k, is Dahon’s latest top of the range bike.

This no-compromise speed machine is light, stiff and fast and the Mu Ex comes with the kind of precision that you get from being made from some of the very best components available.

Brompton London’s own Brompton key model for 2009 is the M3L-X. Weighing 10.5 kg and retailing at £1,050, the M3L-X comes in a range of colour combos, including red, black and a combination of the two. As with all of Brompton’s M Types, this all-rounder is pitched at both the city and the country, and comes with bags of room for luggage at the front.

The M3L-X is an extra light version of the M3L – the main frame is made from steel, while the front forks, rear frame and other components are made from titanium.*

Raleigh Raleigh’s comprehensive range includes four key models. First up is top of the range Boardwalk Lite. Retailing at £379.99, it has an alloy frame, seven speed gears and Sram shifters.

Next up is the Boardwalk, which has the same alloy frame as the Lite, but with a six-speed gearset. The Boardwalk retails at £299.99 – an impressive feat as the bike uses Dahon licensed tech and a component package usually associated with much more expensive bikes.

Finally the Parkway Lite (£249.99) and Parkway (£179.99) complete the Raleigh quartet. The Lite features a lightweight Airlite alloy frame and Sturmey Archer three speed internal hub gears.

Meanwhile the Parkway is an economical way for consumers to get into folders. Both bikes feature alloy V brakes and folding pedals.

Bronx Bronx Cycles has the Velo-City folding bike on offer for dealers. Retailing at £329.99, this folder features a lightweight aluminium frame and Shimano six speed gripshifts.

With 20” alloy rims, the Velo-city sports an alloy folding stem and the bike reduces down to a folded size of 790x420x620 mm. A magnetic clamp helps compact folding alongside VP folding pedals and a Shimano MF-TZ06 freewheel.

The Velo-City’s handlebars have a riser stain finish and the bike serves up a decent ride for consumers with Velo comfort grips, and a Velo double spring comfort saddle.

AmmacoAmmaco PCM has three new folders from Ammaco arriving at the beginning of May. These MTB models include the Gekko – a fully folding frame with built-in rear carrier. It even comes with a sturdy black nylon carry bag. Next up is a mega oversize low step through folder. Boasting Shimano six speed index gears with grip change it comes in either champagne, or silver/black. Finally the unisex cycle has a folding low step-through frame. With mudguards, chrome seatpost with quick release and soft saddle, plus 20” alloy rims, it also comes in blue and champagne.

Montague Swissbike UK exclusive distributor Montague offers an updated 26” wheel range for 2009.

‘Special edition’ models include an upgraded Swissbike LX and a revised Montague mid-range model featuring Rockshox forks, twin discs and a polished aluminium top-tube finish. A more varied spread of pricing and specs will range from £450 to £1995.

All bikes are full-size and utilise David Montague’s unique and simple tool-free folding mechanism –who is also responsible for redefining the front wheel quick-release with his patented CLIX system – something all Montague UK bikes feature on their front wheels.

“For some people a full-on cycle commute is initially a step too far and trains can be costly and impractical in some situations,” Montague UK MD Jim Griffiths told BikeBiz. “By encouraging park and ride using a car and a bike, we’re getting people used to the idea of cycling without the shock of losing their independence with a vehicle. It still encompasses a level of environmental awareness and helps reduce inner-city congestion.”

Madison Madison carries Ridgeback’s top of the range folding bike –the Attache. Retailing at £489.35, the Attache features a lightweight aluminium frame (7005 heat treated) – essential for those commuters breaking up their train journeys. The Attache also features an aluminium stem, handlebars and rims.

The Attache features Shimano revoshift and a Shimano Nexus 7 speed internal hub is designed for both low maintenance and long-term reliability, while folding pedals and a comfort saddle all help the Attache make the most of the increasing market for folding bikes.

Airnimal Airnimal has firmly placed bike performance at the front of its design remit for its folding bikes, and all of the firm’s bikes boast a quick fold – taking only a few seconds to do the business. Similarly, they all fold to suitcase size for easy transporting.

Airnimal’s Joey Explore is an great example of the firm’s commitment, being an all rounder – suitable for every day utility style use, but with the gearing and performance required for long leisure and sporting rides, or even heavy duty touring. It includes a SRAM 27speed Dual Drive gearing system, V brakes, handbuilt wheels and durably ‘puncture-proof’ tyres. The Joey Explore has an SRP of £895 including VAT.

Avocet Avocet is carrying the Viking range of bikes – including six models for 2009. Ranging from low cost Easy Street (£159.99) to the Volari (priced at £169.99), the Voss (£179.99) all the way up to the Safari line-up – with top of the range Safari SE priced at £235.00.

The Easy Street boasts a hi-tensile folding frame with quick release mechanism. Meanwhile, the Safari SE is a Shimano six speed folder, with hi tensile fork, 20” double wall alloy rims, chrome plastic full mudguards and an alloy kickstand. Coming in chrome silver, the lightweight Safari SE has a 13” frame size.

Mission Cycles Mission Cycles told BikeBiz that it is aiming to concentrate on folding Tricycles in future, including the compact Carry All folding tricycle from Pacific. The firm is still holding some folding bikes though, and is offering a special deal on the Space Invader 20” wheel alloy folding bicycle together with a free carry bag – worth £30.

Weighing 13kg and foldable in less that six seconds, Mission tells us stock is limited and urged dealers to act quickly to take advantage.

Giant Giant’s offerings in the folder market include two of their latest – the Giant Halfway, and the Giant Halfway Lite.

The Halfway includes an ALUXX aluminium folding frame, with 20 inch alu rims, Shimano Revoshift 7 speed shifter with Sora rear mech. With a Giant comfort saddle and Suntour 48T crank, the Halfway sports JoyTech mono mount hubs. Aluminium monoblade forks, riser handlebars, and folding stem also feature in the Halfway.

The Giant Halfway Lite benefits from many of the various features of the Halfway, only without the carriers of the top of the range model.

Land Rover Land Rover tells BikeBiz that it’s seeing increasing success with its folding bikes range, all of which use Dahon Licensed Technology.

Two models make up the latest on offer from the firm, including the City Lite and the City Elite. The Lite is a 20” wheel alloy framed weighing approx 12kg. The frame and handlebars fold alongside the seat post, and the handlebars offer quick release for size reduction. The Lite also features six speed Shimano gearing, and it all neatly folds up into a carry holdall included with the bike.

Next up, the Elite is a 26” wheel offering with an alloy mountain bike style frame. Handlebars are also alloy-based to keep weight low, while the tyres are big volume semi-slick – ideal for tarmac and comfort on pesky rough surfaces. Suspensions forks, Shimano 18 speed gearing and carry holdall also feature. *Please note that Brompton's M3L-X's forks, rear frame and other components are made from titanium, unlike stated in the print edition of BikeBiz.