The Folding Society

Test Reports on Folding and Separable Cycles

The most recent tests now listed first.

• The Dahon Ciao P8 - a brief report by William Reid [13/03/2008]
• A S Bikes Explorer - a test of a low-priced folder [02/03/2008]
• The Mezzo d9 - an owner's view - by Kristian Gustafson.
• Dahon Vitesse D5 - Another folder from Dahon which uses the Sturmey-Archer 5-speed hub gear. New folder owner Karl Wooldridge gives his impressions of the bike.
• Bike Friday Tikit - Bike Friday's first machine aimed directly at the compact folder market, and a very interesting addition to this sector of the folder market.
• Dahon Curve SL - our test of this exciting new compact folder. The comments on the new front luggage system, used by many 2007 models, should also be of interest [20/07/2007]
• The Strida 3 (2006 version) - our rather delayed report on the Strida, with some additional very interesting information from the designer, Mark Sanders.
• The Airnimal Joey Sport - a report by Nick Hodges [29/06/2007]
• Our report on the 2006 version of the Birdy Touring [29/06/2007]
• The Birdy Light (2007 model) - a report by Marc Obrowski. [25/06/2007] UPDATED 23/07/2007 with some feedback from other owners, and more experience since the original test.
• Dahon D7 Speed (2006 model) - a report by Sue Jones. [12/06/2007]
• A Fixed Gear Airnimal - a report by Andrew Stewart on a most unusual folder. [08/01/2007]. *** UPDATE *** - Andrew has updated his report since it was originally published here on 08/01/2007. Since he keeps a continually updated version on his own web site, we recommend that you use THIS LINK to his web site to access the report, rather than the link above to our original copy [18/06/2007].
• Dahon Jack 2006 - a report by Michael Alan Jones on a folder with 26 inch wheels [05/01/2007]
• Downtube IX FS - a moderately priced full-suspension folder (December 2006)
• Dahon Flo - an enthusiastic report on this high-performance 26 inch wheeled machine by Christos Markou [28/09/2006]
• Mobiky - a 'reprint' of the test carried out by Dave Minter in March 2006 [10/03/2006]
• Trice QNT recumbent folding/separable tricycle, 800Km report - the relatively modestly priced Trice QNT for 2006 offers rear suspension and fairly easy folding/separability - we liked it so much when we tried it in January 2006, that I bought one, and this is the resulting much more detailed report.
• Towsure Lightweight Folder - Suzi Jones reports on a very modestly priced folder
• Dahon Cadenza 2006 - David Farr's report on this 26 inch wheeled folder (07/05/2006)
• Tactic Panache - a brief report by Jim Woffenden (20/04/2006)
• Trice QNT recumbent tricycle, 2006 model - the relatively modestly priced Trice QNT for 2006 offers rear suspension and fairly easy folding/separability - we liked it! (January 2006)
• The Mezzo d9. (17/11/2005)
• A Review of the Dahon Speed D7 - by Eric Reed
• 10 days with a titanium Brompton - member Mike Smithson reports on his first impressions of one of the new, super lightweight Bromptons (28/07/2005).
• A Dahon Jetstream P8 and a Rohloff hub - a report on the 2005 version of Dahon's Jetstream P8, and how a Rohloff 14-speed hub gear was fitted. This report will be updated as the bike and hub get more use. Original report posted 19/07/2005, with regular updates.
• Choosing a first folder in Canada - Chris Patten describes how he chose his first folder, and reports on his experience with the bike - a KHS Westwood (19/07/2005)
• Discovering Brompton - James Langdon reports on an L3 and one of the new super lightweight models (13/07/2005)
• Choosing and using a DiBlasi - a report by Robert Martin
• Dahon Matrix-V - another report on this moderately-priced 26-inch wheeled folding mountain bike, this time by Geoff Dabbs, and much more favourable than the earlier report by Colin Tulleth (see above). Now includes a progress report from May 2005.
• Dahon Matrix - a report by Colin Tulleth on this more modestly equipped 26 inch wheeled folder, but which shares the frame of the more expensive Zero G (12/09/2004)
• Dahon Zero G - a full test report on an interesting high performance folding mountain bike with 26 inch wheels
• Dahon Jetstream XP - the full test report on a great bike
• Dahon Jetstream XP - a ride report on using this bike for a 100Km ride, plus some discussion of the specification and general performance (14/07/2004)
• The Giatex S-port 500 Stretching Bike - report on a modestly priced bike that has a telescopic main frame member, so it stretches and compresses, rather than using a hinge. (30/06/2004)
• The Airframe - a first report (24/06/2004)
• The Dahon Speed D6 - a report by Andrew Macrow (21/04/2004)
• Using folders for longer rides - a report on some Brevet Populaires and other longer rides undertaken on folders in 2004. Bikes tested include Moulton APB, Moulton fx8, Moulton AM7, Bike Friday New World Tourist, Airnimal Chameleon and Dahon Jetstream XP.
• The Trek F400e - a report by Mike Smithson on this new entry in the folder market (09/01/2004)
• Dahon Speed Pro (2002 version) progress report - an update by Geoff Dabbs to his earlier reports (05/01/2004)
• KHS Westwood report - read Andrew Schank's report on this 20 inch wheeled folder (September 2003)
• Dahon Espresso report - a brief report by owner Colin Walker on his Espresso, a model with 26 inch wheels. (June 2003)
• The SRAM Dual Drive - a report by Mike Smithson on the latest incarnation of what started life as the Sachs 3 x 7, but has now become a 3 x 9
• The Dahon Speed Pro - a report on the 2002 version by enthusiastic owner Geoff Dabbs (April 2003)
• Dahon Boardwalk/Phillips 6 progress report - an update to his earlier report Colin Knox (February 2003)
• Dahon Boardwalk/Phillips 6 - a report by Colin Knox (December 2002)
• Schwalbe Stelvio tyres - our report on the version for the Birdy, plus some comments on sizes for other folders
• Dahon Helios - our review of a machine pitched against the Brompton in terms of price in the UK
• The DiBlasi - a short review by Clive Hogan of his experience with this rather uncommon (at least in the UK) folder
• The New Dahon Speed Pro - by William Reid. Now includes a 1-year-on report [May 2003]
• Choosing a Birdy - by Paul Worden
• The Dahon Boardwalk - Tim Pestridge's views on the Dahon Boardwalk, on his web site.
• The Giant Halfway - read Tim Pestridge's views on the Giant Halfway on his web site.
• A year with a Bickerton - read Brian Laffoley's report
• Birdy v Bike Friday - Gary Thompson comments on a year of owning a Birdy Red
• Birdy revisited - a report on a 2001 Birdy Red - much improved since our previous reports
• The Airnimal Chameleon
• The Panasonic Traincle
• The Tactic Panache 5 - tested by Richard Mathews
• The SP-Brompton - the first 120 miles
• Using folding and separable cycles for longer rides - a comparative test of some popular bicycles
• Buyers guide - some general advice on choosing your folder
• A long term test report on the Bike Friday New World Tourist, Birdy Red, Brompton, Moulton AM7 and Moulton APB
• Off-road ramblings - a report on the off-road performance of 7 leading folders and separables
• Test of 9 folders and separables - a short comparative test of 9 leading machines
• Moulton owners' other bikes - Brief comments by Moulton owners on other folders/separables they own, including Brompton, Bike Friday, Birdy, Cresswell Micro Montague and Strida
• Birdy, Brompton and Bike Friday compared - a report by an owner of all three of these leading models

Index to A to B Magazine test reports - the most comprehensive source of informed reports on folding and separable cycles

If you have a cycle for which we don't have a test report, please contact us with your views on it, so that we can include it in this section. We would of course also like to hear additional comments on equipment which has already been tested.

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