Compass fast forward aluminium folding bike 20 inch wheels £199 at Go Outdoors

I got his bike today to replace my old Dahon folding bike.
It has some good points, light weight, quick release wheels, it has a proper freewhell cassete and quango hubs. the handle bar grips have allen key bolts, it has a nice shimNo thumb shifter and 8 gears that work well. Saddle is a decent and narrow, not an armchair type saddle. All aluminium components.
20 inch wheel with decent tyres.
This is brompton killer.

weight is 11.8 kgs, which is about 23 pounds which is nothing
plus is has a straight fork ,which looks cool.
welds around the front look thick and solid so should not break

How small does it fold to

tharinduasanka15/07/2019 19:26

How small does it fold to

not as small as a brompton, but smaller enough to fit in honda jazz boot. folding size is not its best point

lumsdot15/07/2019 18:39

I got his bike today to replace my old Dahon folding bike.It has some good …I got his bike today to replace my old Dahon folding bike.It has some good points, light weight, quick release wheels, it has a proper freewhell cassete and quango hubs. the handle bar grips have allen key bolts, it has a nice shimNo thumb shifter and 8 gears that work well. Saddle is a decent and narrow, not an armchair type saddle. All aluminium components.20 inch wheel with decent tyres.This is brompton killer.Read lessRead more

How is it held together when folded?

NATHANDRAKEUNCHARTED15/07/2019 20:05

How is it held together when folded?

i dont know, ive not tried folding it yet and its somewhere else at the moment.
my dahon had two magnet which stuck together when folded.
i assume it will fold to same size as dahon sice it looks the same design

lumsdot15/07/2019 20:08

i dont know, ive not tried folding it yet and its somewhere else at the …i dont know, ive not tried folding it yet and its somewhere else at the moment.my dahon had two magnet which stuck together when folded.i assume it will fold to same size as dahon sice it looks the same designRead lessRead more

Yeah I would assume magnets but I can't see any attatched in any of the pics

NATHANDRAKEUNCHARTED15/07/2019 20:09

Yeah I would assume magnets but I can't see any attatched in any of the …Yeah I would assume magnets but I can't see any attatched in any of the picsRead lessRead more

If it doesn't have a mechanism that holds it in the fold position, you can easily buy one pretty cheaply.
Better than the magnets are the snap lok ones.

lumsdot15/07/2019 18:39

I got his bike today to replace my old Dahon folding bike.It has some good …I got his bike today to replace my old Dahon folding bike.It has some good points, light weight, quick release wheels, it has a proper freewhell cassete and quango hubs. the handle bar grips have allen key bolts, it has a nice shimNo thumb shifter and 8 gears that work well. Saddle is a decent and narrow, not an armchair type saddle. All aluminium components.20 inch wheel with decent tyres.This is brompton killer.Read lessRead more

Quango hubs, based on how Quango's work they'd probably make about 1 hub every 200 years if they could decide to make any at all while they pay themselves huge money. I suspect you mean Quando hubs which are pretty good entry level hubs, nothing amazing but not terrible either. Great spec for the price anyway and definitely the best folding bike deal at the moment. Halfords Carrera Intercity is over £300 which is a broadly similar spec.

bonzobanana15/07/2019 20:52

Quango hubs, based on how Quango's work they'd probably make about 1 hub …Quango hubs, based on how Quango's work they'd probably make about 1 hub every 200 years if they could decide to make any at all while they pay themselves huge money. I suspect you mean Quando hubs which are pretty good entry level hubs, nothing amazing but not terrible either. Great spec for the price anyway and definitely the best folding bike deal at the moment. Halfords Carrera Intercity is over £300 which is a broadly similar spec.Read lessRead more

yes quando sounds more like it. plus they are full width hubs, (my dahon had very narrow hubs)
so the option to put in a elec powered hub motor is a possibilty

Can you get decent puncture resistant tyres for these? I love my marathon plus tyres on my hybrids - Tete pretty much bullet proof!

woldranger15/07/2019 21:07

Can you get decent puncture resistant tyres for these? I love my marathon …Can you get decent puncture resistant tyres for these? I love my marathon plus tyres on my hybrids - Tete pretty much bullet proof!Read lessRead more

these solid tyres may fit, altough i guess thats not what you had in mind

lumsdot15/07/2019 21:14

these solid tyres may fit, altough i guess thats not what you had in mind

Nah not really, I appreciate the little bit of cushioning you get with the tyres but if it's solid only then I'd most likely go for that.

woldranger15/07/2019 21:07

Can you get decent puncture resistant tyres for these? I love my marathon …Can you get decent puncture resistant tyres for these? I love my marathon plus tyres on my hybrids - Tete pretty much bullet proof!Read lessRead more

Lots of different tyres available for these and the bike seems to have pretty good tyre clearance for wider tyres. ETRTO 406 is a very common size including many heavy e-bikes so most top tyre brands offer heavier duty tyre options. It's also the same size as many BMX bikes so you get lots of options there too for oversized tyres. Pretty sure you can get Marathon Plus too.

They've managed to put 9 pictures of it on the site, but none of them show the bike folded up!

sprouty7616/07/2019 09:11

They've managed to put 9 pictures of it on the site, but none of them show …They've managed to put 9 pictures of it on the site, but none of them show the bike folded up!Read lessRead more

i assume it will be like a dahon folded since they both look the same design

obviously the pedals fold as well , but the pic above they did not bother folding the pedals

lumsdot16/07/2019 09:14

i assume it will be like a dahon folded since they both look the same …i assume it will be like a dahon folded since they both look the same design[Image]Read lessRead more

It will be, the vast majority of 20" folders fold like this. Some of them will have the handlebar post on the outside of the fold, instead of the inside.This is usually the only difference.

my favorite feature is the shimano underbar claris thumb shifter and claris rear deralauuer (spelling wrong).
the thumb shifter is not attached to the brake like the cheaper thumb shifters

it says you need a discount card is that the case? Discount card price

gareth_reynolds16/07/2019 09:33

it says you need a discount card is that the case? Discount card price

5 pounds, ill add to the title

Also 5% cashback at topcashback for new customers so possibly £10 back there and you can buy your discount card at time of ordering. Saving that I've never bought anything from go outdoors so assume you can buy the £5 discount card and automatically get the discount unless you have to buy that first and do a second order for the bike.

lumsdot16/07/2019 09:14

i assume it will be like a dahon folded since they both look the same …i assume it will be like a dahon folded since they both look the same design[Image]Read lessRead more

Thanks for that, really useful - just a pity the retailer couldn't be bothered folding it up and taking a photo!

Is this likely to fit in an overhead rack on a train, or would I have to go full-Brompton for that?

sprouty7616/07/2019 10:10

Thanks for that, really useful - just a pity the retailer couldn't be …Thanks for that, really useful - just a pity the retailer couldn't be bothered folding it up and taking a photo!Is this likely to fit in an overhead rack on a train, or would I have to go full-Brompton for that?Read lessRead more

This definetly won't fit on an overhead rack.

lumsdot16/07/2019 09:40

5 pounds, ill add to the title

Any news on how it's held together when folded?

NATHANDRAKEUNCHARTED16/07/2019 10:28

Any news on how it's held together when folded?

its at my flat and im at my mums so i will need a day or two before i see it again

lumsdot16/07/2019 10:42

its at my flat and im at my mums so i will need a day or two before i see …its at my flat and im at my mums so i will need a day or two before i see it againRead lessRead more

Thanks!

sprouty7616/07/2019 10:10

Thanks for that, really useful - just a pity the retailer couldn't be …Thanks for that, really useful - just a pity the retailer couldn't be bothered folding it up and taking a photo!Is this likely to fit in an overhead rack on a train, or would I have to go full-Brompton for that?Read lessRead more

20" folding bikes are normally still relatively large compared to a Brompton they would normally be at the end of a coach with other baggage I think but I think most services allow them on as baggage unlike normal full size bikes. You'd get a folding bike bag to put it in.

Other folding bikes are available with smaller 12-18" wheels that are easy to store on public transport although the Brompton is probably the best in practical terms. The steel frame is very durable and knock resistant and the components are difficult to damage as the drivetrain is very minimalist.

There is the city zoom at bicycles4u for £149. A weird penny farthing style bike except it has a tiny front wheel but folds compactly although is long. Sort of bike that is easy to move about on public transport as the wheels come together. Again more likely stored with larger luggage at the end of the coach etc.






bicycles4u.com/pro…oom

Well I called go outdoors about this bike and not even they know how its held together. WTF.

NATHANDRAKEUNCHARTED17/07/2019 18:16

Well I called go outdoors about this bike and not even they know how its …Well I called go outdoors about this bike and not even they know how its held together. WTF.Read lessRead more

nothing holds it together when closed apart from gravity

NATHANDRAKEUNCHARTED17/07/2019 18:16

Well I called go outdoors about this bike and not even they know how its …Well I called go outdoors about this bike and not even they know how its held together. WTF.Read lessRead more

nothing but gravity holds it together. ive just tried it

lumsdot19/07/2019 14:05

nothing holds it together when closed apart from gravitynothing but …nothing holds it together when closed apart from gravitynothing but gravity holds it together. ive just tried itRead lessRead more

Thanks for taking the time to reply to me, so basically it can just fall back apart once folded or is there some other magic..