Folding bike or adult scooter for commute

[gassy]

My business is moving next month and with its new location comes the option for me to take the Metra (Chicago) train to work if I want to sometimes. The station is a mile and a half away from my new studio so I have been researching some options.

First up is an adult scooter, which sounds funny. BUT - if you have kids and have ever ridden their Razor scooter, you know their a blast to ride, and I can only imagine what an adult one would be like. The one I'm looking at is a KickPed from NYCeWheels:

KickPed our toughest kick scooter, designed for NYC

My second option is a Dahon folding bike. I know JYL posted about his Dahon a couple of years ago. Here's the one I'm looking at:

Amazon.com : Dahon Mariner D7 Folding Bike, Brushed : Folding Bicycles : Sports & Outdoors

It's still kinda big when it's folded and the scooter would be much easier to deal with on the train, but admittedly I've never seen a Dahon in person. Anyone have a big scooter or experience with a folding bike on a daily commute?

I'm leaning towards the scooter because over all it just seems like less of a headache.

[Nostril Cheese]

Least the scooter could be an effective weapon if needed.

[MFAFF]

Look at a Brompton or Strida, both more compact than the Dahon, maybe spendier but a better urban bike

[tevake]

I've got a Dihon folding bike, From my boating days. Used to carry it aboard and it made a great shore exploring ride. But I would not want to carry one around on a train. Too bulky and heavy for ease of carrying. Surprisingly good to ride, very adjustable to different sized riders.

Cheers Richard

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Least the scooter could be an effective weapon if needed.

Yeah if you enjoy bashing your own shins with a sharp metal edge.

You ever pick one of those up by the handlebars?

[gassy]

I've taken a header on a little Razor scooter and that wasn't fun. Those little wheels can stop amazingly fast on a small crack.

[gassy]

Originally Posted by MFAFF

Look at a Brompton or Strida, both more compact than the Dahon, maybe spendier but a better urban bike

Yeah the Bromptons are really nice. And customizable...

[ckelly78z]

Are either one of those options actually going to speed your 1.5 mile commute up that much to make it worth the hassle of toting a buky item onto the train. I think a good set of walking shoes and a rain suit might be your best option for the 20 minute walk.

Are there sidewalks all the way to your new studio ? Is there possibly someone near the train station that could rent you a small place for a bike ?

[gassy]

I could always walk but I thought it would be fun to ride. Renting a small space near the train station is a great idea since I already have a real bike. A Klein Mantra -- trickiest suspension around!

[Aragorn]

How about this...

[jyl]

Dahon makes a solid and inexpensive folding bike. I gave mine to a friend who lives in Brooklyn and works/goes to school in Manhattan. About $200-300 used, $500-600 new.

But if I was going to be taking it on the train, storing it under my desk, etc, I'd get a Brompton for sure. Much easier and much more compact fold, a classy bike, UK-made. Used might be $600-700, new $1000+. Buy a good one used, take care of it, and you won't lose a penny if you decide to resell it. They have a cool bag mount on the head tube, you can carry a sizeable bag which allows stuff like stopping at the grocery store on the way home etc.

You might just walk for awhile and check out the route. Are the roads okay for bikes, are the sidewalks too crowded for scooters, any hills, etc.

[Racerbvd]

As I always say, if you are going to do something, you need to do it right.

FeaturesReviewsAsk a question (5)DeliverySelect
The Moulton TSR 8 2013 Folding Bike. Wide-ratio gears and all-purpose tyres make the TSR 8 a versatile machine, at home in town or in the country. The Sturmey-Archer gears provide easy shifting – even whilst stationary – and a wider gear range than the TSR 9.

A seperable frame allows for the bicycle to be easily transported or stowed away with no compromise to the stiffness or ride quality of the frame. Seperation takes no more than 3 minutes. Dry Cone Suspension- The hollow cone shape reacts to load the rubber in compression and shear, providing a smoothly rising spring rate with integral damping. A separate floating fork stirrup in used to keep unsprung weight to a minimum, damping and ride height are adjustable. Suitable for inside leg 27-36".

Frame:
Moulton Hand Brazed Space Separable Frame
Rear Shock:
Dry Cone Rear Suspension
Fork:
Moulton Hand Brazed
Number of Gears:
8
Gear Lever Rear:
SA 8 Twist
Chainset:
Stronglight Success S with guard
Chainrings:
32T
Bottom Bracket:
Sealed cartridge
Cassette:
SA 20T sprocket 3/32
Chain:
Taya 3/32
Pedals:
Not Included
Front Brake:
Avid Single Digit 5
Rear Brake:
Avid Single Digit 5
Brake Levers:
Avid FR-5
Handlebars:
Kalloy AL-007 DB
Stem:
Uno adjustable
Headset:
Miche Team threadless
Grips:
Rubber moulded
Rims:
Silver alloy, CNC brake track
Front Hub:
KT 36 q/r
Rear Hub:
Sturmey-Archer XRF-8 (wide)
Spokes:
SS 14g
Front Tyre:
Continental Contact 37-406
Rear Tyre:
Continental Contact 37-406
Tubes:
Schwalbe 20" presta
Saddle:
Selle Royal Viper
Seatpost:
Kalloy SP265
Weight:
Approx. 12.8kg (28.2lb) fixed frame, no pedals

[jyl]

Not a train commute bike. Very cool though.

[djmcmath]

Just a heads up on scooters: I rode a Xootr to work for about 6 weeks before I fell off and broke my ankle. I saved about 45 minutes a day on my 4 mile round trip commute, which was awesome, but I lost three months of my life on crutches. I'm 37 and was, at the time, considered unusually fit -- 6 minute miles for 3-5mi in the afternoon, with a backpack full of work clothes and a scooter strapped on, so it's not like I'm some old out-of-shape guy trying to ride a scooter.

Just a word of caution, that's all.

Dan

[911_Dude]

Get a real motorcycle or a real bicycle. Otherwise hang up your balls on the way out.

[MysticLlama]

These are awesome, see them in Seattle quite often going right up and down some pretty big hills.

inventist - Solowheel

[gassy]

My balls fit in my murse so I usually keep them there.

[LeeH]

Don't know if it will work for your needs, but I REALLY like my Zike Saber!

[jyl]

Gassy needs yoga pants and a crop top, open midriff shirt if he's going to ride, umm walk, err pump that bad boy.

Don't know if it will work for your needs, but I REALLY like my Zike Saber!

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by jyl

Gassy needs yoga pants and a crop top, open midriff shirt if he's going to ride, umm walk, err pump that bad boy.

Yoga pants? No way! They'd melt or burst into flames from the friction.