Kiffy - Foldable Trike: What do we reckon?

[RickH]

Colin
That gear changer is a necessary compromise due to the seperable wheelchair nature of the vehicle.IMHO it won't wash for an everyday bike,and may even be a mark against it in a world of fingertip STI convenience.
I could be wrong though.

I think, in the case of the wheelchair model that Colin linked to, the need for gears to be able to get the bike with an adult passenger aboard up an incline (as well as being able to use the front section separately) will possibly override considerations on the positioning of the shifter. That's my view anyway.

Rick.

[MartinC]

Yes, attaching the shifter to the seat post is the first solution that comes to mind. I think reaching down between your legs to fiddle about with a hidden shifter is going to cause some levity.

[531colin]

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/components/clangers-comp.html

[MartinC]

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/components/clangers-comp.html

Yes, there's nothing new In the world!

[reohn2]

Colin
That gear changer is a necessary compromise due to the seperable wheelchair nature of the vehicle.IMHO it won't wash for an everyday bike,and may even be a mark against it in a world of fingertip STI convenience.
I could be wrong though.

I think, in the case of the wheelchair model that Colin linked to, the need for gears to be able to get the bike with an adult passenger aboard up an incline (as well as being able to use the front section separately) will possibly override considerations on the positioning of the shifter. That's my view anyway.

Rick.

I agree,there's some weight to be considered with a wheelchair up front and no pedalling passenger in it.

[RickH]

I occurred to me earlier that SRAM's wireless shifting (it wouldn't surprise me if they produce a flat bar version before long) might be a good candidate for a separable bike if you want handlebar mounted shifting & a wider range of gears!

Rick.

[hercule]

Apart from a comment that it is "tricycle stable on uneven ground" (my Ken Rogers trike certainly isn't stable on uneven ground!) there's nothing that suggests it has a tilt lock that will keep it upright when you stop.

There have been a number of attempts to build tilting trikes but when you add in the tilt facility you have to make sure the machine doesn't fall over when you stop. This might mean adding in fancy hardware to lock up the tilting mechanism below a certain speed (complex, heavy, pricey) or limiting the degree of lean - which might make for an unwelcome surprise if you're cornering at speed and suddenly come up to the limit at the apex of your turn. Alternatively you could add a manually engaged lock to lock out the tilt when you come to a stop. So other versions have done without these, you end up having to put a foot down when you stop - rather un-trike-like and no benefit if your sense of balance has gone.

There was a device reviewed in Velovision a while ago (sorry, I can't remember the name) that added the same format of two tilting wheels and a load carrying area to a conventional bike frame - replacing the front forks. They concluded that while it could be a useful load carrier the trike advantages of being able to stand upright were lost (I think you needed a kickstand to keep the rear half upright. They also commented that the necessary linkage between front wheels led to potentially dangerous bump steer if you hit something with one wheel.

My guess is that there isn't a tilt lock - I think that's why the two trolley wheels pop down in the static pictures. There may be enough friction in the system to keep it upright if the machine is unladen (cafe picture), but if it's going to tilt whilst being ridden I can't see that there would be enough friction to hold the machine upright at rest with the rider on board. I think that then leaves you with the disadvantages of a trike (three tyre tracks to avoid debris and potholes, extra drag of the third wheel) without the advantage of static stability for traffic junctions, etc. You maybe get an increased load capacity as compensation, but how stable would a heavy load forward of the front axle be under emergency braking?

If they've designed it to overcome these potential shortcomings, then I'm enthused and can see myself being a potential purchaser if the price was a bit lower. If not, then I'd see it as a bike-with-three-wheels that combines disadvantages of bikes and trikes.

[CREPELLO]

Hercule, there are plenty of pictures showing the Kiffy upright when stationary - does that address your concern? I think my concern would be that the engineering is really robust and that bearing slop doesn't become an issue down the line.

All this talk about gears? Kiffy have a rather useless website, but I did glean that there are two models, a 'Fixed' 1 speed, non foldable and the 'Flash', foldable, two speed, which is what Spa are selling.

I wonder how much can be loaded safely on the front before it becomes dangerous in emergency braking? Pictures show quaint things like guitars and plant pots , rather than serious utility loads. I suppose the bag pictured is perhaps 40 litres or so, so not completely useless.

It's an interesting design, that (in the folding form) must have some appeal to well off rail commuters. I don't imagine there will that many bought for the streets of Harrogate though, but I could be wrong

[hercule]

I forgot that an earlier poster has seen them in the metal, so I may be jumping to conclusions But I would like to know how they manage the switch from static balance to dynamic lean.

Pity about the two speed drive max - you might be able to squeeze a Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub in there as they do offer a 120mm OLN version (I have one on an upgraded 60s Moulton). If the two front brakes are operated independently then you'd still have a road legal machine.