FBI Develop Full Size Folding Bicycle: Onyerbike
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.25.08
Folding Bike Innovations (FBI), trading in Australia as Onyerbike, are, by their own admission “designers, importers and retailers of innovative bicycles.” They offer several full size folding bikes, such as their top of the range ‘Hawk’, with its magnesium alloy rim, 6 spoke, 26” wheels. The 7005 aluminium frame folds at a massive hinge in its centre, to make for a fairly compact package. The Hawk weighs15.8 kg and costs just shy of $2,000 AUD.
The slightly heavier (16kg) Hornet is lower specced and comes in at $875 AUD.
Whilst we’re very keen on the company’s promotion of folding bikes, we are a tad confused by their warranty, which states it “... will not apply if the bicycle is used for off-road riding.” Yet the promotional blurb for the Hawk clearly indicates it as a ‘Dual Purpose On or Off Road’ bicycle. and elsewhere on their website Onyerbike indicate their bikes can be “unfolded to provide a comfortable, stylish and safe ride over almost any terrain.” ::Onyerbike.
That's just horrible. A really cheap frame (same frame on the low end as the high end), really cheap forks and shock and god awful heavy wheels that you can't fix on the high end bike.
You wouldn't want to take it offroad frankly!
Cool bike. While the idea of folding bikes is not a new one, it's nice to have different options. There are only a couple companies that make them (that I know of). If I ever have to split my commute between train and bike, I'd definitely consider a folding bike.
Just an FYI: not sure of the quality of that bike, but it definitely is not innovative. Dahon, makers of awesome, tested folding bikes, makes a great full size (actually a few of them) mountain bike that folds in nearly the same way and has been tested by mountain bikers:
http://dahon.com/archive/2007/us/matrix.htm
Whoops. I forgot to note that we've been covering all kinds of folding bikes for the past four years. Here's but a small sample:
BuyGreen Large Wheel Folding Bikes
BuyGreen Small Wheel Folding Bikes
In regard to Brad's comment, there are dozens of companies that make folding bikes. A good site to learn about folding bikes is The Folding Cyclist
Warren,
Here's a real mountain bike that folds - the Montague Paratrooper. This full size folding bike was designed with a large grant from the US military so it would withstand rigorous deployment in a battle environment. It has seen service in Afghanistan, Iraq and other hotspots and has even been para-dropped. The bike weighs in at @ 30 lbs (13.6 kg) and currently costs $695 USD (that's @ $745 AUS) but the price is increasing.
By the way, the Paratrooper frame is available on other Montague models that cost several hundred less and you won't void the warranty by riding it off road.
Regards,
Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
I agree about the montague bikes. I own one and enjoy using it. I think the method of folding the montagues seems more stable than the hinge on most folding bikes, but I could be wrong since I've never tested other large folders.