Bike Friday

Many have lamented the decline of American bike manufacturing, as most production frame builders have moved work to Taiwan or mainland China in the past 2 decades. Now most custom USA built frames will cost over $1000. Folding bikes or frames designed for traveling can cost even more. But it is still possible to get an affordable American-built frame on a Bike for the Rest of Us.

Bike Friday has been building frames for small-wheeled, foldable bikes in Eugene, Oregon for the past 22 years, and have gathered something of a following for their unique, customizable designs. Although most of the models do not fold as quickly and compactly as a Brompton folding bike, they are all designed to fit in a standard-sized suitcase for plane or train travel. A high-end Bike Friday with expensive components will cost $2000 or more, but they now offer an entry-level model with the same type of frame, hand-made in Oregon, matched with affordable parts (and an 8-speed rear derailleur), for as little as $798

They will add fenders, a kickstand, bell, and rear rack for a nearly complete 8-speed Bike for the Rest of Us priced at $920.95: the Pocket Companion (above)

They also will build you a "New World Tourist Nexus 8" with the premium "red-stripe" 8-speed Shimano nexus internal gear hub and rollerbrakes, Schwalbe Marathon tires, rear rack, fenders, kickstand, bell, water bottle, and a high-end front dynamo hub for about $1700 (not including the price of lights). The bike pictures has the Nuvinci hub instead:

And at the high end there is always the Infinity Drive Silk, with a Nuvinci continuously variable internal hub, Gates carbon belt drive, front and rear racks, and optional dynamo lighting for $2700.

Bike Friday makes it very easy to customize each of their models, or design a completely unique bike for people with special needs, so all of their models could be shipped to your door with a full complement of fenders, kickstand, dynamo lights, racks and bell, if desired. The Pocket Companion is cheaper due to using standard parts.

Here is the Silk 8sp (slct) with a Shimano Alfine hub and full dynamo lighting system:

They just unveiled a new "long-tail" cargo bike model, stay tuned for more about this.


Pocket Companion basic specifications:

2A MAIN FRAME:	04 New 2014 Poc Companion EP 1 1/8, 1.75 (to 220lbs)
2B FORK:	40 Companion /OSATA/HaD "V" Black 20"- 406-1 1/8
2C REAR END:	1.5 Pocket Companion - 2013-14 left fold 406V
2D SEATMAST:	01.21 EasyPack mast 1.25 X .055 (4130) x 13" Black
2E STEM /BF MADE:	BF 25.4 Adj Riser & clamp Black- Companion/OSATA quill/ahead
BARS:	MTB flat Kalloy 15degree flat bars,25.4 x 560mm
BB BEARING:	111.5mm BF Sealed 68xEnglish
BOTTLE CAGES:	Velocity Bottle Trap Black Cage
BOTTLES:	BF 21oz. water bottle white w/black lid - black logo
BRAKE LEVERS:	Alloy V brake levers
BRAKES:	Alloy V brake for one wheel - Black
CABLES:	Cable - Housing Black std w/ Decals Black or White
CASSETTE:	11-28 8sp Shimano Oem
CHAINS:	KMC Z-51 8sp chain
CRANKS:	Alloy 170mm crank 44T- DD,Tan front & other w/plastic guard
DERAILLEURS REAR:	Shimano TZ50 34T, 43 teeth - Change to SRAM for DD shifter
DESIGN / INTERNAL:	NO Front Derailleur Hanger -NONE on this bike -add if need
HEADSET, THREADLESS:	1 1/8" FSA Tap Adjust threadless, black, headset
HUB FRONT:	BF Select 28o 100mm FRONT Silver w/QR
HUB REAR:	BF Select 28o 130mm rear-Silver w/qr
MISCELLANEOUS:	Optional fenders, kickstand, bell
PEDALS:	Wellgo MTB Style (Pair) Pedal
RIMS:	Weinmann TM19 (406) 28o Black
SADDLE:	BF padded & bumpered saddle .
SEATPOST:	Kalloy #243 Sil adjust post 28.6 x 350mm
SHIFTERS/CONTROLS:	MicroShift twist 8 speed
SPOKES:	Spokes DT 14 ga. Stainless w/ brass nip
STEMS F:	Kalloy 22.2, 60mm quill, silver or black
TIRES:	Sunlight Kontact 20 x 1.75" (406) 40psi blk. hybrid tread
TUBES:	20x1.5 to 1.95" SV (406)

Infinity Drive Silk (baseline specifications without rack or lights) $2250

2D SEATMAST:	01 .1 Left Fold Mast 2010> Silk/NWT/ PR / PL std .055 CrMo
2E STEM /BF MADE:	BF Stem Riser, Adjustable for / Ahead,1 1/4" SVS
ACCESSORIES:	Custom Engraved Name Plate. Optional: fenders, racks, kickstand, bell
BARS:	MTB flat Kalloy 15degree flat bars,25.4 x 560mm
BB BEARING:	111.5mm BF Sealed 68xEnglish
BOTTLE CAGES:	Bottle Cage , Cateye Flexible
BOTTLES:	BF 21oz. water bottle white w/black lid - black logo
BRAKE LEVERS:	Tektro "V" style Brake Levers (TS360A)
BRAKES:	Avid Disc Brake, MTB F/R BB 7 w/160 Cable
CABLES:	Cable - Housing Black std w/ Decals Black or White
CASSETTE:	Carbon drive, centertrack, 24 tooth cog for Nuvinci
CHAINRINGS:	Carbon Drive Centertrack 60T 130BCD, Gates
CHAINS:	Carbon Drive belt, centertrack, 115 tooth, Gates
CRANKS:	Alloy single 170mm 130 53t crank w/chain guard
HEADSET, THREADLESS:	1 1/4" BF Threadless cartridge, alloy, black
HUB FRONT:	SRAM 406 32o front disc black
HUBS GEARED R:	Nuvinci 32o, black (w/ shifter, disc brake) (135)
MISCELLANEOUS:	BF Head Badge Brass -Yellow,Navy,White, w Gold trim
PEDALS:	None supplied std.
RIMS:	Alex X-101 Alum (406) 32o 20 x 1.5" Silver
SADDLE:	BYOS - NONE SUPPLIED
SEATPOST:	Kalloy #243 Sil adjust post 28.6 x 350mm
SHIFTERS/CONTROLS:	Supplied with hub
SPOKES:	Spokes DT 14 ga. Stainless w/ brass nip
STEMS F:	BF 25.4 Ahead for Adj Riser(we will size w/ bike)
TIRES:	Primo Comet 20 x 1.35" (406) 100psi Blackwall tire
TUBES:	20x1.125-1.5" SV (406x32-37)