02.Results
| What to buy |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brand |
Price |
| Dahon Boardwalk D7 |
$560 |
| Yeah YRA062 |
$599 | |
These two were rated best overall, but no one bike offers everything, and the bike that’s best for you depends on how you want to use it and the terrain you’ll be riding on.
While the Dahon Boardwalk D7 was rated top or equal-top by both the trialists and the experts, its bulk and weight mean it could be great for throwing in the car boot and taking to a bike track, but might not suit everyone for other uses. As an all-rounder, the Yeah is a good buy.
Results table
| |
Features |
Specifications |
| Brand / model (in rank order) |
Number of gears |
Type of gear shifter |
Luggage rack |
Mudguards |
Frame |
Wheel size (inches) |
Dimensions when folded (cm, H x L x W) |
Size when folded (M3) |
Weight (kg)* |
Dahon Boardwalk D7
www.advancetraders.com.au |
7 |
Twist grip |
• |
• |
Steel |
20 |
65 x 86 x 38 |
0.21 |
13.2 |
Yeah YRA062
www.charlespurtonimports.com.au |
6 |
Twist grip |
|
• |
Aluminium |
20 |
66 x 81 x 31 |
0.17 |
11.9 |
Birdy Orange
www.birdy.com.au |
8 |
Trigger / lever |
(A) |
(C) |
Aluminium |
18 |
62 x 77 x 43 |
0.21 |
11.4 |
Progear Cross Road
www.progears.net |
6 |
Twist grip |
|
|
Aluminium |
20 |
72 x 83 x 46 |
0.28 |
12 |
Brompton M3L
www.greenspeed.com.au |
3 |
Trigger / lever |
(B) |
• |
Steel |
16 |
55 x 61 x 33 |
0.11 |
11.6 |
Giatex Sport 6 speed BICI 660
www.giatex.com.au |
6 |
Twist grip |
• |
• |
Steel |
20 |
82 x 115 x 35 |
0.34 |
14 |
Strida V3.3
www.strida.com.au |
1 |
na |
• |
• |
Aluminium |
16 (D) |
23 x 53 x 117 |
0.14 |
10.2 |
| |
Table notes
- * Includes luggage rack and mudguards, when provided.
- na Not applicable: only one gear.
- (A) Optional front and rear racks for panniers.
- (B) Has a custom luggage system in which a bag clips to a bracket at the front of the bike.
- (C) Optional extra.
- (D) Non-standard wheel specific to this model.
Overall score
Equal weighting was given to the trialists’ and experts’ scores.
User trial score
Riders were asked to score their overall impression of the bike after unfolding and adjusting it, then riding, folding and carrying it.
Expert score
This score is based on our experts’ overall impression of the bikes, taking into account:
- Quality of construction, folding mechanism, wheels and components.
- Ease of use (removing and fitting front and rear wheels, and using brakes and gears).
- Impressions on riding the bike.
How we tested
Trialists: Six experienced leisure cyclists rode each bike on a 3.5km paved course with only moderate hills. They also unfolded and folded each bike, and carried it 30 metres.
Experts: The bikes were assessed by two bike experts, pictured at right. They are:
- Steve Hogg (right), a road racing bicycle expert.
- John Hardwick (left), editor of Mountain Biking Australia.
After assessing each bike’s quality of construction and ease of use, they took it for a short test ride, which included hills.