Premium/carbon folding bicycles

[Ffffaster]

I've been using a single speed Dahon Mu Uno for the best part of a couple of years and I've enjoyed the experience. It cost me something like £350 on eBay.

My usage is modest - I mostly use it for the ten minute ride to my squash club, so I'm warmed up by the time I get there. Occassionally, I might do a 30 minute ride, but that rarely happens. Single speed is fine for me, but I wouldn't say no to gears if they were part and parcel and didn't compromise weight too much.

I have a bigger birthday coming up so I'm thinking of treating myself to a more "premium" folder. The motivation behind this is (a) I would like a lighter bike, so I feel more inclined to take it out with me, (b) just because I fancy a cool man-thing.

Two bikes I have identified are the:

1. Atto - https://www.austincycles.cc/products/the-ac-atto
2. Carbo X - https://ridecarbo.com/pages/uk

For me, I think that the Atto is what I want/need because it's lighter. However, what's put me off is the price. The Carbo X has electric power for a £100 less and makes me wonder if the Atto is grossly overpriced. I don't really need electric power, so the Carbo X doesn't seem the right choice for me, but I can't look past the value it seems to offer.

PH - your advice please.

(a) what premium folders would you recommend for under £3,000?
(b) what would you choose, the Atto or the Carbo X,
(c) are the parts on the Atto more premium and therefore justify the higher price?

Grazi.

[BoRED S2upid]

Can’t you get a Brompton super light for that price? One of those is electric and therefore heavy.

[ChocolateFrog]

There's GoCycle too.

[wpa1975]

BoRED S2upid said:

Can’t you get a Brompton super light for that price? One of those is electric and therefore heavy.

Yep, Brompton P line would be my choice - https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bikes/brompton-p-line-...

[sammyb349]

wpa1975 said:

Yep, Brompton P line would be my choice - https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bikes/brompton-p-line-...

There is also the T-Line (https://www.brompton.com/shop/bikes/t-line-one?color=blasted-titanium&handlebar=low)

[Ffffaster]

Thank you. My issue with the Bromptons is that wheel size is smaller than I'd like.... Also, they are such a target for thieves.

[boyse7en]

BoRED S2upid said:

Can’t you get a Brompton super light for that price? One of those is electric and therefore heavy.

If the 13.3kg weight for the electric one is accurate, it isn't really heavy. Lighter than my hardtail MTB for a start.

If you are going to carry them around though, the extra 5kg over the Atto is soon going to be noticable

[BoRED S2upid]

boyse7en said:

BoRED S2upid said:

Can’t you get a Brompton super light for that price? One of those is electric and therefore heavy.

If the 13.3kg weight for the electric one is accurate, it isn't really heavy. Lighter than my hardtail MTB for a start.

If you are going to carry them around though, the extra 5kg over the Atto is soon going to be noticable

That’s what I was thinking. Carry it onto the train, up a flight of stairs, into the office… the lighter the better.

[Ffffaster]

Prices for all these bikes is quite punchy... Would love a used bike, but there are zero around. If any owner reads this, drop mme a PM!

[Barchettaman]

I dunno, I have two folding bikes (aluminium) and they take a massive hammering in normal use, so I’m not sure that carbon would necessarily be my frame material of choice.

Dahon and Tern do some nice higher-end offerings that get good reviews.

I have a pretty basic Tern 6-speed folder but it’s been excellent and has been well worth the £170 price tag. I’m still considering pimping it to 9-speed and drop bars, it’s so much fun.

[wpa1975]

Ffffaster said:

Thank you. My issue with the Bromptons is that wheel size is smaller than I'd like.... Also, they are such a target for thieves.

I would still pick a Brompton over 2 unknown makes

[Gazzab]

Ffffaster said:

Thank you. My issue with the Bromptons is that wheel size is smaller than I'd like.... Also, they are such a target for thieves.

There are some aftermarket conversions for Brompton. Larger wheels, disc brakes etc.

[Ffffaster]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SAVADECK-Folding-Lightwei...

This looks quite interesting. I'd probably get rid of the gears for a lower weight, cleaner look.

Any experience of this brand?

[TT1138]

Ffffaster said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SAVADECK-Folding-Lightwei...

This looks quite interesting. I'd probably get rid of the gears for a lower weight, cleaner look.

Any experience of this brand?

Possibly not nowadays but that seems pretty pricy for an unknown carbon frame with that groupset.

I hate to say it but a Brompton is the way to go. Could get the A-Line for £850. Leaves quite a lot of money to buy lighter bits and pieces, although you’d probably find you didn’t need to.

They’re not perfect, but no other folder comes close in my opinion.