Folding bike experiences ?

Havana Shamrock

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Sep 9, 2008
5,422
Sarasota Fla.
Boat Info
2019. 250 SDX OB
Engines
300 Verado V8
so we’re looking into getting 2 folding bikes for the boat we know Nothing about them other than Dahon brand
Does anyone have or experienced other brands ? Or have a recommendation?
Thanks in advance.
 
We have 2 folding Montague bikes. We really like them and they have full size tires. My wife has the cruiser style with comfy seat and higher handle bars. I have the mountain bike style with lower handlebars and a small, firm seat. After having them for 10 years now, they are still like new and function perfectly.
 
so we’re looking into getting 2 folding bikes for the boat we know Nothing about them other than Dahon brand
Does anyone have or experienced other brands ? Or have a recommendation?
Thanks in advance.
Like tc410 we have Montague folding bikes, we started with Dahon and switched to Montague last year the weight is very similar and folded in the bag they take up about the same amount of room and riding a full size bike is so much better.
 
We never did buy the folding bikes, but we rode a bunch of them back in 2015 when we did the Canadian portion of the loop. The loopers we were traveling with were most kind in letting us try out their bikes to help us decide.
We decided that the bikes with the little tires were a no go for us. We decided that storage was most likely going to be an issue for us, even if the bikes were the folding type, so we just took 2 regular size bikes when we resumed the loop the following year. My wife rode one that was my daughters when she was a kid (she's now 37) and I bought a 21 speed mountain bike at a pawn shop for $50. We figured if the salt got the best of them, we didn't have much to loose. The daughters bike made it but was in really rough shape at the end, junk. The pawn shop bike is in great shape and I now have it down at the marina where I ride the bike path along the Buffalo waterfront.
If we were to get the folding bikes, we would definitely opt for the big tires and construction that can handle a salty environment.
 
Citizen. One multispeed, one single speed. Don’t remember the models. Been happy with them.
 
I have a pair of older Dahons. They have served us well but they don't like salt water. I wash them off after every trip and liberally spray WD-40 on the frames, wheels, handle bars and control levers and cables after each use. Mine look as good as they did 15 years ago.

The thing I like most about the Dahons is that they handle like a regular 26" road bike, except for the ride. Those little bitty tires will beat you to death on rough or gravel roads. The fact that they are engineered to fold up in a small package is a very helpful feature. Mine ride folded up under the aft cockpit seat and are so light you can set them on the dock with one hand then chain them to a piling off the boat out of the way until you are ready to ride.

After the first trip with Dahons, I bought a new set of Maxxis road tires as big as would fit in the Dahon frame. Made a huge difference and is one good reason to buy used bikes if you can find them. Bike tires tend to dry rot quickly so buying new tires for used bike for riding comfort is an easier decision than taking new tires off a new bike.
 
Electric all the way, there are some decent full size foldable on the market ,its always uphill from the marina. I reccomend 48V 1000 w models with either crystalyte permanent magnet brushless hub motor or a bafang geared motor at 70Watts if you want lighter weight.
 
We tried the folding bikes but with our long bodies and those crappy seats, it seemed like more work than it was worth...
 
Having once upon a time averaged over 5k miles a year we have tried most everything. Once did a 50 mile road ride with a guy on a Dahon with small wheels. Everyone had high end road bikes but him.

I have the West Marine $350 bikes and they work well but are heavy. The small tire diameter is greatly affected by the tire width. Our 20 inch wheels with proper gearing work great but they are fat, over 2 inches wide. That is a lot of shock absorption that narrower tires do not have. With an in shape rider we have ridden them on dirt paths and gravel roads just fine. They are better on pavement particularly if the rider is not in at least 20 mile ride shape.

Good luck,

MM
 
I have a Tern folding bike. I love it. We dock in Ft Pierce every winter for several months. A couple boating buddies and I take a lot of long rides up and down both Hutchinson islands, while we are there. They have regular size bikes. I keep up just fine with my little 20" wheels.
 
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so we’re looking into getting 2 folding bikes for the boat we know Nothing about them other than Dahon brand
Does anyone have or experienced other brands ? Or have a recommendation?
Thanks in advance.
We have two folding citizen bikes in like new condition with the bags that we are looking to sell. PM or call my cell if you are interested
 
Thanks for all the info so it seems if I can fit a bit larger tire size it would be more comfy?
I imagine we'd have to store them in the bunk room I'd put something on top of the bunk then lay them down.
If they don't fit I'll go with a 20" bike with more rubber
Electric is out right now as this is our first time with bikes and I want to make sure we'd use them before we upgrade.
 
I stowed mine in the engine room lazarette when I had my 52DB. Do the same now with 58. With that said, we only take them to one port - Mackinac Island - and once there, they come out right away. I don’t carry them with me any other time of the year. In fact, this year I decided to leave the bikes locked up right on the island since we always go back for a week in August (we were there the week of July 4th).
 
Thanks for all the info so it seems if I can fit a bit larger tire size it would be more comfy?
I imagine we'd have to store them in the bunk room I'd put something on top of the bunk then lay them down.
If they don't fit I'll go with a 20" bike with more rubber
Electric is out right now as this is our first time with bikes and I want to make sure we'd use them before we upgrade.
I get that sentiment from many people on the electric option. It seems there is a commonality among them regarding cost being high( an off the shelf one I purchased this year was 2000 Canadian dollars). As a person who has mobility issues from some major injuries I can say this after 7 years with s home converted electric and this year with a store bought one. My e bike with pedal assist allows me to bike trailering my 2 children to and from our dock with ease . The pedal assist is really an encourager, you feel super human being able to maintain 20mph uphill pulling a trailer weight of close to 90 lbs . I use mine exclusively in season without a car or its costs I figure I save its cost every 3 months I use it. The great thing is it makes anything within 30 miles of a.pirt accessible and with the addition of s folding trailer makes resupplying your boat an easy task . I unhitch it and use it as a grocery cart .and dock cart. I think that if I had a non electric and based my decision to buy an electric on the frequency of using the pedal one I would never have made it.
No I don't own an e bike company but I cant really say enough good things about them. I'm not sure if RadPower Bikes have a USA outlet or ship there they are in Vancouver. I bought the Rad Rover because it's my full time car in summer months but there is also the RadMini which would have been my choice if I was after a stowable. Sorry for the longish post but I am really the a bike's biggest fan
 
We have 12+ year old Dahon Mariners (7 speed, 20” wheels). They have traveled with us from Maine to the Bahamas through three boats.

These bikes definitely compromise performance, but we’ve done up to 20 mile rides on them, and use them often for grocery shopping and exercise.
 
So I’m picking up 2 bikes from GaryB today I think these will be just fine for our first set.
I’ll have to see how often we use them as we’re going to be south for the winters now so we need to do shopping,etc.
Thanks for all the replies. Good info.
 
I get that sentiment from many people on the electric option. It seems there is a commonality among them regarding cost being high( an off the shelf one I purchased this year was 2000 Canadian dollars). As a person who has mobility issues from some major injuries I can say this after 7 years with s home converted electric and this year with a store bought one. My e bike with pedal assist allows me to bike trailering my 2 children to and from our dock with ease . The pedal assist is really an encourager, you feel super human being able to maintain 20mph uphill pulling a trailer weight of close to 90 lbs . I use mine exclusively in season without a car or its costs I figure I save its cost every 3 months I use it. The great thing is it makes anything within 30 miles of a.pirt accessible and with the addition of s folding trailer makes resupplying your boat an easy task . I unhitch it and use it as a grocery cart .and dock cart. I think that if I had a non electric and based my decision to buy an electric on the frequency of using the pedal one I would never have made it.
No I don't own an e bike company but I cant really say enough good things about them. I'm not sure if RadPower Bikes have a USA outlet or ship there they are in Vancouver. I bought the Rad Rover because it's my full time car in summer months but there is also the RadMini which would have been my choice if I was after a stowable. Sorry for the longish post but I am really the a bike's biggest fan
Peddling is out for me. I've started looking for electric scooter/bike that can handle two and can be hauled easily on the boat. Any suggestions?
 
Peddling is out for me. I've started looking for electric scooter/bike that can handle two and can be hauled easily on the boat. Any suggestions?
Yes check out Rad wagon it is a nice platform that can have a secondary seat added other than that any tandem bike with an e conversion kit ,Imho crystalyte.comhave one of the better off shelf conversion kits and they are within capability of average diy skills to install
 

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