I would like to give some advices to those who are going to their first bike.

1. For at least for a month, read everthing about bicycles. From V1 to V6 if possible. Also other internet stuff.

2. Increase your budget 50% or 100%. If your initial budget is RM1K, then get a RM1.5k or RM2k bike.

3. For those who are above 50 yrs old, buy the most expensive bike. Life is short. Also love yourself and you will be happy.

great advise

Don't look at price la, as long you ok, buy only, be it 200 or 20k. Not suitable? Change only.
Life is too short to regret over spend and under spend.
Start cycling soonest possible!

Stick to your budget, it's only a bicycle, don't buy anything you cannot afford. One should prioritize cycling exercise above bicycle shopping activity BUT THEN AGAIN… don't listen to me if bicycle shopping activity is what you are after…

If you put you mind to it, any bicycle will serve you well and vice versa.

Do allocate extra 50~200% of you bicycle purchase, you will need that for accessories，cycling wear, helmet, mods and allthe cool stuff you think you need…

Even ppl who bought 20k bicycle mod their bike even before they received their new toy…

This post has been edited by KenC: Mar 27 2018, 07:13 PM

yes definitely true, I'm myself bought foldable bike which is mtb as a starter. price at RM500, mod only changing pedal, crankset and front fork when stock fork loosen by time. very2 cheap but ok for beginner like me.

This post has been edited by MANSTIR: Mar 27 2018, 08:31 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

does anyone know whether there are 20" trainer tyres 451 in the market?

Hey guys wta anyone have experience from riding a cheap bike then upgraded to a expensive bike like Brompton??

My neighbor who is moving state gave me his folding bike Oscar Imagine, i wanted to give him rm200 but he refused to except any money for it bcs he said he bought it for a few hundred only.

So i have been riding this Oscar Imagine bike for the past 2 weeks and this is my first bike own. I just seriously want to know what i am missing out on from this bike that i could get from a Brompton??

I am a fan of Brompton but besides the sexy design i really don't know how much better performance it is compare to this cheap Oscar Imagine bike. Can sifu please tell the advantages of expensive bike compare to my cheap bike besides the design la???

Oscar brand new is RM250-300...... Brampton add another 0 behind and adjust the front number to 8-9

Congrats, you started cycling without time wasted in saving up for Brompton.
I don't own a Brompton and probly will never own one… so can not comment.
Just buy that damn Brompton if it give you insomnia.

This post has been edited by KenC: Apr 4 2018, 09:15 AM

TBH, the only answer is, to test ride the brommie yourself. only by then, you can justify whether it's worth your money or not. whatever people write here, doesn't really matter. we humans value things differently.

this never ending cheap vs expensive bike discussion with some bickering in between that has been happening in this forum lately has left such a virile vibe and has greatly reduce my interest to join the discussion. the harmonious and healthy discussion that used to happen before seems to be slowly fading away.

having said that, a bike, is a bike, whether it's cheap or expensive. a kancil or a ferrari will still get you from point A to B. cheap bike oso can go anywhere, so why bother with the expensive one, right? i own both cheap and slightly expensive bike. from my exp, the exact saying is , "you get what you pay for". i still ride those bikes religiously though, cheap or exp.

This post has been edited by fatani: Apr 4 2018, 11:15 AM

Forget about Brompton, get a Dahon Curl i4 for RM4,200. Later upgrade to Rohloff 11 spd, no other bikes can come close to you. Just a suggestion.

Happy riding.

It that's your medicine, by all means.
How you know? U got one ah?

Anyway, If I have one of this configuration, almost everyone can still over take me let alone come close… I am too obese to go fast…

This post has been edited by KenC: Apr 4 2018, 04:55 PM

Uograde rohloff then no need dahon curl la.. Basic dahon or tern model shud be ok.. 😂

From what i know so far is that i like the brompton sexy build design. I am just curious how much better would the performance be from my cheap bike. If there is no riding performance difference or i can reach the same performace by just spending few hundred ringgit by modify few parts i think will just stay with my free bike. Bcs spend few thousand for that bike it better have a massive difference in performance. I love the design but end of the day it is the riding performance that really matters.

The problem is i don't know anyone who ownes one and i doubt the brompton shop seller going to let you take it far for a spin. I am new to cycling and this free bike given to me is my frist bike. Just want to know from experience bike owner here besides the obvious better design quality is there a massive difference in riding performance from my cheap bike vs dahon and brampton? Or can i also get same performance by just upgrading some parts.

Bcs even though i like the design but the only things that matter to me is the riding performance. Like a ferrari will get you from A to B faster and smoother then a kancil.

This is an extract from comment by a KL rider who owns 2 Brompton bikes and a Dahon Curl bike.

"I have both bike. Both are good in their own way.
Brompton still fold better/smoother then Curl. You can feel the thoughtfulness on how each step it fold and lock to each other. Where else, Curl still have much to learn. There are places you need extra care as not to scratch the frame.
Brompton lock the folk on the rear triangle and Curl lock it on the rear derailleur hanger. I see it as a weak point on Curl that it might break the rear derailleur hanger when transported in as check in luggage. So extra care have to be given to this area.
Built quality on both bikes are very good. Brompton use brazing technique to put the frame together and it is wonderfully braze together. My Brompton raw lacquer are one marvelous piece of art of brazing. It is hand brazen, not by machine.
Where else Curl are using machinery to weld the aluminum frame together. Not much hype on it but it does it very smoothly on every joint.
Now, let’s talk about handling. I’m very surprised how Curl handling is. Very smooth and it absorbs most rough surface very well despite it doesn’t have a suspension block like Brompton. Although Curl uses aluminum rather then steel but I still find it more comfortable on Curl than a Brompton.
Curl cockpit area are bigger than Brompton. That means my knee on Curl are further away from the handlebar than a Brompton. Your body will bend more on curl than a Brompton.
On gearing wise, Curl uses a standard rear of 135mm and you fit in any internal hub you like. Where else, Brompton only able to use Sturney Archer hub. It’s 6 speed 2X3 are slightly complicated and need some time to getting used to but eventually it works quite well after a while. Although you will always feel the ratio is too wide apart.
As we know Curl are new in the market, you will get less people, less hype then a Brompton.
Brompton have tons of accessories on bags and upgrades then in Curl.
It really depends on what you want from your bike. "

This post has been edited by gataddhin: Apr 4 2018, 06:30 PM

I used to tour with friends with Brompton and other brand bikes. 4 bought Brompton and 2 bought Curl. I agree that Brompton is a good bike but we opted for a better bike.

My friend's bike with RM4,500 Rohloff 11 spd when USD was more favourable. Now a Rohloff will cost around RM6,000. He and his wife said that handling his Curl is better than his Tern.

By the way, I am not a Dahon representative but just to state the facts.

"It really depends on what you want from your bike"
Hands clean from reader kecam…

Anyway, just buy if you can afford it.
Buy it, ride it, sell it or junk if not happy, keep it if you are happy.
What bike also goes... Don't say I kecam ya… I too many hobby, can't put all my money on a bicycle or 2.

If you want speed, do not get the brompton. It is not designed to go fast. It's best ridden with leisure speed. But what it does best is it fold compactly. Built quality is top notch.

Here's a suggestion, just ride your cheap bike first lah. Ride it as often as possible. So at the same time, you're also upgrading your engine. When you think it's necessary, you can upgrade the groupset and wheelset first. If in the future, you decided that u had enough with your cheap bike, then change bike lor. The thing with the more expensive bike (dahon/tern/bf/etc) is, they produce better frame, but sell it with an inferior components. So by then, you can transfer your previous components from your cheap bike to your new one.

My cheap upgraded cap ayam bike is way lighter and faster than my dahon. Last night, it managed to achieve top speed of 60kmh (descend lah ) and last week it achieved average of 30kmh on a 70km ride. but the thing with that bike is, it flex like crazy as well. In fact, the flex is so annoying that sometimes i think that i want to go buy another frame on the spot. Haha..Ride quality between those 2 bikes? Massive difference. If im forced to choose one, i'd still keep the dahon. So, i hope you get the general idea.

Generally, folding bikes are not designed for speed. But with some mods, and better fitness level, it can be made to move faster. Since you are just venturing into the cycling scene, best is to keep pedalling to improve your fitness. Mods when you think it's necessary. Try finding a cycling groups and start from there. Better get the santai2 one first. When you think your fitness is getting better, try cycling with a faster group. You'll improve your speed for sure. Im sure, by that time, you'll already know what necessary mod (or bikes) that may suit your need.

Here's my cap ayam bike.



This post has been edited by fatani: Apr 5 2018, 09:01 PM

Totally agree with Fatani.
Only a small addition, ride 1000km is the milage you will really start to know your cycling needs.