First impressions: Bike Friday Tikit

First contact
I rang up Johnny Ng from My Bicycle Shop today.
My intention was to touch base with Doc Andy of Family Cycle Services Malaysia, sole distributor of Bike Friday folding bikes.
Earlier, I made mention of this man who wanted to introduce a series of Bike Friday models to the Malaysian scene.
He cycled to Johnny's shop with his partner Daisy and showed me the BF Tikit and Tandem.


A good impression
Like what I saw in Singapore months ago, minus the hostility, the BF Tikit is a bike which is built solid.
For an asking price of RM6.5K a pop, this Made in Oregon ride is meant for the serious rider.
Tikits are built compact and they fold really fast!
Some season cyclists can actually flip this bike while they were pedaling it.
The Tikit's compact folding size made it an ideal commute bike and also for bikepacking.
Best of all, you can outfit this ride with tonnes of bells and whistles.

As good as it gets: The Tikit, proudly made in the USA

Doc Andy and the folded Tikit

Ready to roll...

The best is yet to come!
Bike Friday also customizes their bikes.
This means, you can opt for a belt-driven Tikit with a Rholoff Internal Hub Gear.
For many seeking the perfect folding bike, this is the ultimate 'Holy Grail' of folding bikes.
Doc Andy intends to reach out to the public and educate them about the BFs and I think he will do well.
In a realm that's dominated by Dahons and now Terns, the Bike Fridays will shine the way.
I have good vibes about this brand making it in Malaysia. So, a Malaysia Bike Friday Club is definitely in order!

Bike Friday is in town!

A phone call...
While having lunch with my buddy in the canteen, I received a call from Johnny Ng from My Bicycle Shop in Bandar Utama.
"Hey Sam, I got someone who is selling Bike Friday folding bikes, can you pass the word around?"
With that in mind, the folding bike scene here in Malaysia is set for some excitement.
If what that has been said is true, then we don't have to travel to Singapore or Indonesia anymore.
No more face-to-face sessions with retarded Ah Beng in the island republic's bicycle shop.
No more stuck-up fuckfaced buggers. No more road trips. Its all here!


The selection
I was told by the distributor that he has a BF Tikit and Tandem bike.
Its now at Johnny's bike store.
"Have you seen the Tikit?"
Well, I'll be damned if I told him I've never held one up close.
He also had a Brompton sample bike.
I told him to keep it because I hated it.
The guy said he will bring in a range of Bike Fridays - especially the New World Traveler and Pocket Llama select.


The Pocket Llama
This is one bike that I want to examine up close.
I told the distributor dude that I am able to meet him next week as I am on leave.
So, let's see how it goes! Stay tuned for a Tikit preview...

Bike Friday Carbon Drive Tikit

Clean, all weather ride: the Shimano Alfine hub

State-of-the art, Bike Friday's Carbon Drive Tikit

Bike Friday's 100% 'made in Oregon' folding bikes are slowly becoming a hit here in Southeast Asia.
Right now, only Singapore and Indonesia has them.
I saw some across the causeway and frankly, the pricing sucks.
For the discerning commuter, Bike Friday had come up with the Carbon Drive Tikit, a bike driven by belt.
Why belt drive? Its cleaner than the traditional chain and the Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal hub nails it in.
Price? This baby has a shelf price of USD$2,950 a pop or RM8.8K, making it one of the most expensive commuter bikes around.
Having an Alfine hub gear means a smoother and maintenance-free ride.