Tikit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tikit is a 16-inch wheel folding bicycle that is claimed to fold and unfold faster than any other folding bike. It can be folded/unfolded in less than 5 seconds. The Tikit is manufactured in the USA by Bike Friday.
Contents |
[edit] Specifications
The Tikit is available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The effective top tube for the three sizes is 50 cm (small), 55 cm (medium), and 60 cm (large). The large is built with a slightly thicker tubing to support the strain of larger riders. The weight for the small and medium sizes is about 24 pounds. The large size is about 25 pounds. When folded, the small Tikit fits into a 15x24x35-inch space.
The stock Tikit comes with an 8-speed SRAM rear cassette gear, in black or black/blue. Bike Friday also provides build-to-order versions, including 9-, 24-, and fixed 1-speed in a variety of colors.
[edit] Folding
The Tikit folds in a unique manner. A hard slap on the seatpost pushes it forward and disengages a pin connecting the seat mast to the rear of the bike. This enables the rear half of the Tikit to rotate vertically under the bike. The seat post and handlebar stem then each fold down at slight angles to body.
Unlike the Brompton or Birdy, this fold is not particularly compact; in fact, it is larger than many 20 and 16-inch wheel folds (such as those from Dahon). However, the Tikit's claim to fame is the speed of the fold in its "Hyperfold" model. Here, the action of rotating the rear of the bike slackens an internal cable which enables the handlebar stem to be folded. As a result, there are no quick releases, latches, or locks involved in the fold at all, something which is unique among folding bicycles. This enables the Tikit to fold easily in under five seconds, an extraordinarily fast time. Folding also reveals a special handle by which the Tikit may be picked up and rolled about on one of its two wheels while in folded form.
[edit] Model History
The Tikit was introduced in 2007. Early versions of the Tikit employed a pair of brake cables in the hyperfold mechanism. This mechanism permitted excessive flex in the handlebar stem when ridden.
In 2008 a new version of the Tikit replaced the pair of brake cables with a single, and much thicker, cable, plus other improvements to the handlebar stem and to the rear seat pin assembly. The resulting bike is much stiffer. Bike Friday provides an upgrade path for 2007 Tikits which provides some of the 2008 features, notably the new cable assembly.
In 2008 a second version of the Tikit was introduced known as the "Model T", which sports a Brompton-style "twiddly knob" on the handlebar stem rather than the cable mechanism. This extends the folding time to about ten seconds, still unusually fast. The "Model T" is $250 less than the "Hyperfold" version.
