Powder coating will need me to send the bikes to the workshop and then comes back to me and I still have to do the clear coating as I have to protect the water slide decals. Might as well do everything myself. If done properly, it will last, just that it can't take hard sharp knocks. That's the original colour of the Dash X20 which has also stopped production already. I took back the bikes from the bike shop as it was lying there for the past 5 months.

It was a pity since the bike is nice. So took it back, rode up Fraser's Hill and then my wife suggested we keep the bikes. So, we can do a short ride to Genting Peras whenever there was not enough time to do off road mounting biking. We don't really fancy riding road with MTBs anyway.

Bike shops don't do painting jobs but there are a few powder coaters advertising in BBS. If bike shop does, they are already charging RM150 just to dis-assemble and assemble again. The one advertised in BBS charge RM250 just to powder coat the frames and if you want them to assemble, that's another RM50.

http://bicyclebuysell.com/item/246190/powd...int-works-rm250

This post has been edited by etigge: May 21 2015, 05:54 PM

I say the Brompton at that price is OK, I guess. A new P6L now cost 7K already. That's because our currency is getting more and more depreciative. Brommmies belongs to an elite group though. Many buy not because it is nicer to ride or what ! It weights a hefty 14 kgs +. I won't describe why they buy though, it's their money so it is none of my business. As for MIT, there are no issues actually. It rides just the same and folds just the same. It's even lighter because it's aluminum so the ride might be a tad harsher as aluminum don't flex as much as steel. Heck, it is not even chromoly but steel. The rear triangle latch might need some adjustments on the MIT but that's just a minor problem. Maybe you don't even need to do anything. It is not as though we will be doing bunny hops with it.

Other disadvantage is maybe with the MIT is, when you need to shift the gears, you have to stop for a moment for the gear to set in after shifting as it is the regular rear derailleurs but with the Brompton, it's internal so you can shift while pedalling, but only 3 speed.

Seriously, the Brompton is an OK buy.

MIT is not an imitation of Bromptons. It just uses the innovative fold Bromptons uses after their patent ended. It's a design of their own. Other brands which uses that fold is TXed and another one brand I can't recall. There was an imitation of Brompton from China, 2 brands in fact. They use the same fold, the same tubular steel and even looks the same. A few European riders even did a test on it and they say it almost rides the same. Another plus point for MIT that I can see is the front FD braze is already there so adding the front D is easier in case you need more gears as you progress.

For Bromptons , you are stuck with the 6 speed max. Although there are bike builders who makes rear triangles for Bromptons to use Rohloff or Alfines it's very expensive. Note that Bromptons triangles are only 118mm compared to the usual 130 mm to 135 mm on most bikes. So, only Sturmey Archers can be used. The MIT on the other hand is 135mm and he you like internal hubs, the Alfine , Nexus or even Rohloff can be fitted easily. Also another mention is, most Brompton owners has other bikes for further rides, means the Bromptons have a limitation.

Just consider your needs and also aspirations on your cycling, then decide which to get. I am just putting a fair comment. MIT don't sell because for that price, many went for Terns or Dahons.

Before committing to the Brompton, why don't you wait for another week or two. New shipment of Dahons is already docked and this time , I heard Dahon Curl is included. Only 6 is ordered by Guan Chow. This is their second shipment of Dahon bikes to our shores and Curl was already out but they were new to folding bikes and omitted the Curl. Kimbell Jaya has ordered one and should be in the shops later this week. Price estimated to be 4K plus. The one on the right is the Dahon Curl and the other one is the Brompton. Even smaller than Brompton when folded and lighter too. Same wheel size too!



This post has been edited by etigge: May 23 2015, 03:34 PM

If you have time, change the rear cogs to Shimano. The China made cogs are not up to par. I once tried to adjust a Hummer with Shimano Tourney RD. It just skips and skips. Then I took out and change the cogs and change to one that I have lying around when someone upgraded a Vybe with 9 speed. The 7 speed cog was changed into the Hummer and after that it shifted nicely.

The Curl was launched last year already. Here's the news.
http://dahon.com/mainnav/dahon-bikes-lates...s-for-2015.html

Don't know what specs will the Malaysian model will be though! I don't think Malaysian will use the Schlumpf gears for the front cranks as they are expensive but maybe , who knows. It was supposed to be imported last year but Guan Chow guys don't really understand folding bikes so they missed out on the first shipment. In fact I assembled 6 riders to buy together and form a group but the stocks never came and now given up already.

But who knows if those guys in Guan Chow bungles it up. Hahaaa

PS/ Come to think of it, those guys might mistakenly thought Curve is Curl,

This post has been edited by etigge: May 23 2015, 03:56 PM

Altena is available in Thailand. Nava Bikes is selling them.

It's just the outer casing of the housing. Won't affect the cable pull. Anyway, it's just a plastic piece. It's easy to file a bigger hole if one wants to. When I modded Dahon Vigor to accommodate an extra cable housing for the front D, I file it also and the Vigor ones is metal.

Use a permanent black marker or black paint and color it. It's won't be noticeable then.

Anyone here knows this Dahon model, it is call the Dove. It is a 14 inch folding bike and single speed.

My mistake once was ordering this frame for another rider. This frame can't accommodate extra gears as the rear hub width is only 74 mm, so onlt single speed. Good for train commuting as the fold is small.

I have a brand new frame, exactly the same , except it is an FNhon. Other components collected is the fork, the front hub and the rear hub (which is the most difficult component to find). I intend to put in 16 inch rims rather than 14 as it is more common and for that I need to use C-brakes. I also have the Lite pro 16 inch rims, textro C-brakes and levers. I think I also have the fork mounting screw and the headset.

Others needed is the single crank, handle bar and post, seat post , chain and cables. I gave up assembling already, anyone wants to take it over from me. It's a red color frame as in the picture. Interested can PM me.

If I am not mistaken, Century rides are 160 kilometers. A century is actually for 100 miles!

But if the ride is 100 km, then it is very much possible even for a Brompton or a 16 inch bike.

This post has been edited by etigge: May 25 2015, 04:33 PM

You can get the Trinx 16 inch folding bikes. Comes with rear gearings and also within your budget. Easy to ride and folds compactly. I think can get in Kimbell Jaya for about 600 bucks with freebies too. Try to get a helmet and bottle cage. You were saying light, hence the recommendation. If 20 inch, it's a bit heavier and the aluminum (alloy as they called it here ) there's Garion and Oscar Imagine. An extra 100 bucks can get you the Raleigh which is tough like a tank. I think you can get an entry level Dahon too within the same price range.

This post has been edited by etigge: May 27 2015, 12:42 PM

The nearest to Dahon Dove is the Trinx KA1605 that I mentioned.

The dahon Dove is not cheap so I guess that is off your budget. I got the frame and fork itself for over RM450 plus shipping the last time. With the right components it is light, appoximately 8 kgs only since it's a single speed.



This post has been edited by etigge: May 27 2015, 01:52 PM

I think you can get it for RM600 or less if you bargain from Kimbell Jaya in Cheras. I saw one on display so, there's stock of it. You can ask him if he has old stock or not, so you can avoid the 6% GST as well.

Kind of confusing The website says 20 inch 305mm. 305 is 16 inch. 20 inch should be 406 or 451. It's a 20 inch because te Kenda tires confirm it. If you are happy with it, go for it.

Very obviously the tire size, also the bike size. One is 16 inch and the other 20 inch. So heavy, naturally they won't say it in the ads lorr.

So far, the only folding bike that rolls easily after folding is Brompton. Others, very sorry lah! Even some after putting in the seat post coaster wheels still needs some effort to roll.

See the small wheel at the seat post ?
PS/ One thing I do know is, those 2 wheels cannot keep parallel even with Dahon with the magnets. That's because the handlebar with the bar keeps turning and sometimes one of the wheels keeps dragging the floor. I preferred to carry it anyway, less hassle. And usually we only want to carry or roll when we are in a enclosed surrounding like shopping complexes, train stations, bus station etc which I don't usually encounter anyway. Carrylah, senang



This post has been edited by etigge: May 28 2015, 11:28 AM

There's a park in Shamelin, just behind the PGRM building. Anyway, to travel to Putrajaya from Cheras is also not that far and after work, the jam is on the opposite. I think if you are serios about working out, twice a week in Putrajaya is not that hard. Once on the weekends and another on Wednesday nights. There are riders even at 10 or 11 pm at night in Putrajaya. Just make sure your front and rear blinkers are working.