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 The Brit bible of folding and otherly-abled bikes, AtoB Magazine, recently put the tikit through its pedal strokes. Here's a condensed review from the November 2007 issue. The AtoB editors have always been aficionados of the justifiably famous Brompton, so the cover subtitle 'Brompton beaters?' suggests the tikit really tickled their fancy! A pre-BTO tikit was tested in this review; read about the new Built to Order tikit. AtoB Magazine: Subscribe to this collectible journal packed with commuter bike insights and tips - scroll to the end of this article for more info. - LC |
 READ FULL REVIEW HERE:
First impressions are quite impressive. Folding bikes with 16-inch wheels can be twitchy, but the Tikit has a much bigger feel, responding more like a 20-inch bike. Some of this steadiness can be put down to the ‘boring but trusty’ Schwalbe Marathon tyres, but credit must also go to Bike Friday’s innate skill in producing quality frames. Quite simply, it feels right: the bike transmits every subtle nuance from the road surface to the rider, but the ride is never harsh. Even on rough tracks and trails the bike is comfortable and forgiving despite the lack of suspension. A clear demonstration that even with small wheels, a good frame can make suspension unnecessary. We’d go as far as to say that the ride and handling is the best we’ve seen with this wheel size, with the exception of the classic Moulton, which, of course had full suspension. Gearing is a bit of a compromise. Fit a derailleur to a 16-inch wheel and the gear range is likely to be a bit low, and a bit narrow. This can be improved with specialist derailleurs, such as the Shimano Capreo, which is specifically designed for small-wheelers (and is expected to make an appearance on a later Tikit derivative), but the basic Tikit is equipped with a mix of entry level SRAM equipment. The gripshift and MRX cassette give eight gears between 31" and 80". That’s fine as compromises go - it won’t climb serious hills or spin fast down the other side, but the Tikit can deal with most things, and build up a reasonable head of steam on the flat too. There's no technical reason why it shouldn’t be upgraded with better quality and/or wider range gears - we’d guess that a market will soon develop in this area. Another key folding bike characteristic is (or should be) low weight. This is more than just a matter of bragging down at the pub, because if you commute with a folding bike, you will spend many hours of your life carrying it rather than riding it. The Tikit weighs 11kg (24lbs) for the small frame and 11.7kg (251/2") for the big one, which is the good side of average, but not spectacularly so. |
With the saddle stem free, the rear frame is able to drop down, so you sort of flick the rear wheel under in a Brompton/Birdy manoeuvre. At this point, you find yourself looking for something to undo, but it’s all done: the handlebars are now loose and can be folded flat against the front wheel, locking into a clip on the frame tube, the saddle stem folds down and nestles against the frame, and all that remains is to clip the rear frame to the main frame with a little plastic tab. Fold the right-hand pedal (the left hand folds, but doesn’t need to), and the operation is complete. Bike Friday claims a five-second fold, and says in no uncertain terms that it is the fastest fold around, which may well be true. In experienced hands the fold time could well be in the three-second region, but for Mr and Mrs Average, let’s say under ten seconds with a little practice. So from the slowest fold, Bike Friday has effortlessly introduced the fastest. How does it work? The rear frame and saddle stem hinge is slightly out of skew, allowing these elements to fold against, rather than under or over the main frame tube. The rear frame release is all down to clever design in the area where the front and rear frames and saddle stem come together. The handlebars are even craftier. A pair of Bowden cables (two being safer than one) connect the bottom of the rear frame to the handlebar hinge clamping plate. When you’re riding, these cables are firmly under tension, keeping the handlebars up. Folding the rear frame slackens the cables, and by magic the handlebars drop too. |
 Even more than the Brompton - where the saddle height and angle have to be set - the Tikit unfolding sequence is repeatable because the adjustment of the folding mech cables must be absolutely spot on, and certainly in the first few weeks of use, the adjustment would need to be watched closely. Similarly with the rear frame hinge and handlebar hinge, where the clamping plate is a bit weedy compared to the much chunkier versions favoured by Brompton and Birdy. Some bikes will tolerate slop and play in the mechanism, but the Tikit probably won’t. Quite how the bike will last in the cut and thrust of commuting is hard to guess, but when new it works very well. Folded size is not the Tikit’s strongest point. The actual package size is a bit of a moving target because the three frames and various saddle and handlebar adjustments can make a big difference. We tested a small-framed bike with saddle at full stretch, producing a fairly typical package. We measured the length as 87cm, width as 44cm and height as 69cm, giving a folded volume of 264 litres, or 9.4 cubic feet. That’s broadly the same as a 20-inch bike like the Dahon, but the Tikit is lighter than most Dahons and the package is securely locked together, so it’s much easier to deal with. Surprisingly, reputable bicycle manufacturers sometimes design a folding bike with no clear idea as to how it will be used. What you want is a bike that doesn’t fall apart; that can be carried with a handle in a nicely balanced position; and that can be wheeled along easily when you don’t want to carry it. Bike Friday really has put some thought into this, and the Tikit is one of the best machines we’ve seen. You lift the package by a carry-handle on the top of the frame, positioned to give near ideal balance. This works well - you can tell, because the bike feels lighter than 11kg, which is always a good sign. If you’re going further - crossing a large station concourse, for example - the package can be wheeled. On the bottom of the saddle stem is a foam grip, which is ideal for pulling (or more comfortably, pushing) the bike along. Instead of trolley wheels, the Tikit runs on its road wheels, which are not quite side by side, but the package is stable and it rolls really well. |
What do we think? We’re very impressed. The fold is fast, and the package size reasonable. Ride is wonderful, and quite a revelation for a 16-inch bike. A practical commuter? The Tikit will squeeze into all but the most sardine-like rail carriages, although its bulk would count against it on the Tube, or a typical rush-hour bus. Value for money? When we started testing folding bikes, £400 was a pricey machine. These days, you’re looking at four figures for a decent bike, so the base model Tikit at £870 (£820 until Christmas for A to B subscribers) is barely out of the mid-range. There are numerous Dahons at this sort of price, plus the Airnimal Joey, but these are all quite bulky machines. Of the compacts, the Mezzo offers good value in the £600 zone, but the Birdy now starts at £1,000. As usual it’s the Brompton that the Tikit will be compared to: the British bike starts at £565, but you really need £900 plus for a decent lightweight example. The Tikit is a little heavier, but sportier to ride and arguably quicker to fold. And it has one other attribute that’s all too rare in the folding bike world - class. |
 Stay mobile with AtoB - the magazine for Folding bikes, electric bikes, trailers, trikes, trains and alternative transport This quirky British magazine has been a favorite of the folding set for more than a decade. Known for thorough, balanced bike reviews from a pedaler's perspective (with just the right amount of useful tech talk), it has an off-beat, almanac quality that is a breath of fresh air in the cycling press. The magazine recently went digital, so check out their website for a free sample. Subscribe to AtoB and join 'those in the know'. |
All about the tikit : new Built To Order models out now! Permalink to this article: http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit/atobreview07 |