Test Rode:

1. Bike Friday Tikit
2. Bike Friday Pocket Rocket
3. Dahon Hon Solo (Single Speed)
4. Dahon Mu SL

On Saturday I took a nice drive into Maryland to test ride all of folders I could, mainly the Tikit and the Mu SL. Upon arriving at College Park Bicycles I was amazed at all the vintage frames hanging from everywhere (but this is another story)! While they were a little busy, okay swamped would be more like it, Charles (Store Manager) was very helpful.

First out was the Tikit, man this thing is cool. Under first impressions I loved it. I want to marry it. The design is nothing you have seen before. It folds in seconds, it is a master piece of engineering. However, they left out the engineering of a ridged bike. The one word for this bike is FLEXIE, oh and bumpie. The 16in wheels only hurt the ride. I would love to feel this bike on 20in wheels. I guess BF needs a little R&D to get the ride solid like the rest of their line. If you are looking for a bike to jump on and off trains this is your bike. If you are only going a mile down a flat road this is your bike. If you are looking for a bike to have in your trunk for a cruise around the block when you get to your vacation spot this is your bike. However, if you are looking for a solid folder with a smooth ride this is not your bike.

Second up was the MU SL. Now, the one concern I had about this bike were the latches, however, after talking with Charles he made me feel much better about them. He reassured me that they have never seen issues with the latches in the long period they have been carrying Dahon. The MU is a good looking bike, nice gray and orange accents. After riding this bike around for a bit it was very stiff and the 20in wheels made all the difference in the bumps. The bike didn’t flex pulling up hills and was lightning fast downhill. Simply, it rolled very smooth and fast. **Something I forgot to mention the front hub on the MU SL is a suspension hub. I will provide a link to see what I’m talking about. Dahon Kinetix Pro Wheels There is also a MU XL that comes with fenders, rear rack and more.

After riding the MU I was interested in seeing how the Hon Solo (Dahon’s limited edition single speed) compared. Even though the Hon is one of the lower grade Dahon frames, it still rode nice. The Brooks saddle and mustache bars probably helped out. The bike was as stiff as the MU and very solid. Too much money for what you are buying. You are paying for the Brooks and wood fenders. The same frame in another model sells for around $400.

The last bike I rode was the BF Pocket Rocket. Wow, what a nice ride! It was a solid folder. The Pocket Rocket felt almost as good as my Cannondale R1000 (I said almost). Weighing in around 30 lbs and 20in wheels made this bike have a very nice ride. The only drawback is this is not a commuter folder. To fold the bike you have to pull out the handle bars and that would make getting on and off the train messy and painful.

If you want a bike for a quick commute, easy to fold, compact fold and ingenious design the Bike Friday Tikit is your machine. If you are looking for a travel bike that can be packed for airlines and feel like our full size bike on the road, the BF Pocket Rocket is your ride. If you want all style and nice performance, the Dahon Hon Solo is a great ride (you better call your dealer soon, because it was a limited production bike). And if you want a bike that is a compact folder, one of the lightest in its class, smooth ride and ridged frame the MU line by Dahon is your bike.

My decision is to get the MU XL. This bike has fenders, rear rack, front hub generator and rear track style dropouts (so I convert to single speed without a chain tensioner).

Cheers!