As part of the run-up to the 2024 MADE Bike Show in Portland, we're featuring some builders that we're stoked to have in our booth at the show. Next in our series is Bike Friday from Eugene, Oregon. Bike Friday invented the first suitcase travel bike in 1992 with the tag line "Performance That Packs".
We love this frame so much! It's very exciting to see the Bosch SX drive unit packaged in the frame in such an unconventional way. This is the first time (to our knowledge) that a SX motor has been put in a folding bike this way. It's amazing how compact it is when all folded. The orange of the frame really pops, and we can't wait to see it all built up!
 |
 |
 |
We talked with Hanna, and she gave us all the great details about the company and their newest project - a Bosch SX-powered folding bike!
VPL
Why did you decide to build this particular bike?
Hanna
Bike Friday is always focused on designing and building products that customers want and no one else is offering in the way Bike Friday can. As an established bike brand of 32 years, Bike Friday was one of the early adopters for E-assist as our customers kept asking for it. We originally tried going with a proprietary brand named Bion-x and when they went out of business our customers had no options to keep their e-assist systems running. We only want to build bikes to last for decades so they must be repairable and maintainable. That's why the next e-assist systems we developed for Bike Fridays were not proprietary, instead they were open source and a feature choice that could be taken on and off the frame of the bike, with out affecting the bike frames ability to be a great riding non-assisted bike.
However Bike Friday customers have been asking for a UL-certified name brand e-assist Bike Friday. So we decided on doing a collaboration with Bosch. Bosch is a strong, respected and well established company that will reliably be around to support its products for many many years. Bosch is also a UL certified brand with an established supply chain for replacement parts in the USA, with strong documentation and customer service.
VPL
What sort of customer is this bike for?
Hanna
Like all Bike Fridays this bike is designed to fit and be efficient to ride for each customer. This new bike is built for exceptional multi-modal All-road Commuting and Touring with high quality e-assist. It folds in 20 seconds to easily stow in a car trunk, train, bus, closet or pack into a airline check-able suitcase (minus the battery).
VPL
What are some of the things that make this bike so special?
Hanna
Several Firsts:
- Lightest production Bosch bike in the world: Only 33.7lbs with the SRAM Apex AXS component group making it ultra light. The standard 9spd Microshift bike starts at 37lbs (includes saddle and pedals).
- First Bosch bike to pack into a suitcase with unmatched portability and travel savey. It folds up in 20 seconds to fit in a car trunk, train or bus and it can pack into a standard airline suitcase, making it perfect for multi-modal travel. While Bosch batteries can’t fly, they can be shipped by qualified shippers or rented at destinations with Bosch’s extensive retail network in many countries around the world.
- First Bosch bike with an eccentric bottom bracket/motor design in the world. This allows the adjustment needed when installing a belt drive or single speed drive train.
- Customize-able: Like all Bike Fridays it's built to your size and color specifications, options for various drivetrain setups including belt, 3X3, Rohloff, singlespeed, and derailleur.
- Advanced Motor System: Powered by the latest Bosch Performance Line SX motor, delivering efficient and reliable performance.
- Exceptional Range: Compatible with Bosch's PowerPack 400Wh and 545Wh batteries, plus an additional 250Wh PowerMore battery.
- All-road capability: Current tire clearance is 2.2"x 406mm with fender clearance.
- Commuting and Touring: Comes with braze-ons to take standard rear rack and front rack
