I've been interested in
Moulton bikes [top and bottom pics] for a while and my recent experiences aboard my dual 406 Dahon have reinforced how much fun small wheeled bikes can be. I knew Moultons were expensive, but I was blown away to find out that they cost between $10,000.00 - $14,000.00CDN - yikes! That's more than my truck is worth.
A little more investigating led me to the
Pashley TSR30 [middle pic] which is a Moulton design built under license by Pashley. This is the affordable Moulton. I was still shocked to find out that a complete bike [w/o fenders, racks, etc...] would cost $3600.00CDN. That's some serious cash for a licensed copy of a bicycle.
The good news coming out of all this sticker shock is I won't have to find room in my way too crowded apartment for a Moulton or Pashley. They are some pretty cool looking bikes though!
I've been interested in Moulton bikes [top and bottom pics] for a while and my recent experiences aboard my dual 406 Dahon have reinforced how much fun small wheeled bikes can be. I knew Moultons were expensive, but I was blown away to find out that they cost between $10,000.00 - $14,000.00CDN - yikes! That's more than my truck is worth.
A little more investigating led me to the Pashley TSR30 [middle pic] which is a Moulton design built under license by Pashley. This is the affordable Moulton. I was still shocked to find out that a complete bike [w/o fenders, racks, etc...] would cost $3600.00CDN. That's some serious cash for a licensed copy of a bicycle.
The good news coming out of all this sticker shock is I won't have to find room in my way too crowded apartment for a Moulton or Pashley. They are some pretty cool looking bikes though!
9 comments:
Hi Vik
Congratulations on the Dahon. Folders are so handy. I have read about Moultons VeloVision and was shocked by the price as well. If you are considering others I have an Airnimal Chameleon (got it from Calhoun's), flown with it a few times. I used it for a couple of brevets and for group rides in the city, really it has the same components and handles just like a regular road bike, plus I can put tubus front a rear racks on if I want. I picked up the Brompton case for it this summer http://www.calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=138&idproduct=1252 and it is a snug fit but it works.
Dean
Hey Dean,
Thanks for the tip. Those Airnimals look very nice. I'm really enjoying the portability of the Dahon folder and I think I'll keep looking in that direction. My friends just became Brompton dealers unfortunately I don't really like them - at least from looking at them. I guess I'll have to take one out for a test ride.
Two days ago I was loitering in Vancouver (BC) and a guy pulled up on a Bridgestone Moulton seperable. He had purchased it in England. It was set up for touring and he said he had been doing a lot of touring with it. He was looking at my cheap and rough Swedish army surplus bike and we compared prices. If I recall, I think he said he paid 1600 (pounds) for it.
The Bridgestone Moulton is a pretty hot looking bike and he said he had no problems with the suspension. It does take a proprietary size tire so you must carry spares. If it took 406 or 451 tires I think I might get a Bridgestone Moulton myself. The separating feature would be nice for travelling.
D.Cambon
The Pashley licensed Moultons take 406 tires and can be had in a separable version. for an extra 100 pounds.
Beauty, of course, is in the eye of the beholder but I think the Bridgestone Moulton is more beautiful. I am not saying the Pashley Moulton is the most homely bike I have ever seen. There could possibly be a less-pretty bike I suppose.
If I were to get a Pashley I would get the Pashley Classic Roadster. If I were a woman I would get a Pashley Princess and ride around like I owned the place, smoking cigars and throwing empty beer cans on the road, without a care in the world.
I love the look of these bikes...but just why are they sooo expensive?!
Only Alex Moulton's hairdresser knows for sure but Moulton's are expensive to make. They have a lot of unique parts that are machined in short (therefore expensive per unit) production runs and the frames take a long time to build. From what I have seen of the Pashley and Bridgestone Moulton's the quality was pretty good and it costs more to make a quality bike. I would feel confident taking a Moulton on a world tour (if I were to take a Moulton touring).
Dahon frames, for instance, are a simple design that is not labour-intensive and they are built by low-paid production workers in China, in massive production runs (hence the low price).
Moultoneer Tony Hadland says that the Moulton is also a fashion statement that singlehandedly "arrested an almost terminal decline in interest in bicycling" in England. Perhaps the fashion aspect could explain why people are willing to pay a premium for a Moulton.
"Perhaps the fashion aspect could explain why people are willing to pay a premium for a Moulton."
Ride one first. Nothing to do with fashion, all to do with pleasure.
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