Bike talk
Industry buzz and brand chat
Failure to launch
US-made Bike Friday is a big name among the folding bike community, but if failed to make an impact here in Malaysia..
CAN Bike Friday thrive in Malaysia? Well, the answer is no.
Why? Poor sales and expensive bikes.
That said, the brand is not to be scoffed at because they have been around for a while.
Here in Malaysia, there are a group of Bike Friday enthusiasts.
They would ride at the KL Car Free Day and other social events.
Having tried one, the BF Pocket Llama Select, I would say that the Bike Fridays are well-built.
But for a whooping pricetag of RM8,800, it's rather high and would attract only a handful of people who are interested in it.
What made it a legend in the folding bike genre is the fact that the bike frames are handmade in Oregon, USA.
It's assembled as a complete bike and sold through Bike Friday directly on their website and through dealers.
The only shop selling this bike in the region is in Singapore.
Spare the high cost, Bike Fridays could be packaged better.
I found the components too cheap to match the price and if you want a bike that works, you really need to retrofit the bike with better components.
Even the Tikit hyperfold that is one of the fastest folding bike was plagued with problems. They suffered from frame failure
resulting with hairline cracks. But Bike Friday made good by replacing them.
What kept the company going, is the good reputation and commitment to their customers.
In Southeast Asia, Bike Friday is pretty big in countries like Thailand and Singapore.