Xootr Swift folding bike as donor bike ???

[manstir99]

Hello,

is a Xootr Swift folding bike a suitible donor bike to build a Cruzbike?

Kind regards
E-Kagu

 

[Gromit]

The distance from the top surface of the Xootr Swift's main frame tube to the ground is 25" (640 mm).
The bike is very rigid, so as there is no suspension, IMHO you are going to need some extra seat foam on top of the standard Cruzbike conversion seat.

 

[manstir99]

@ Gromit:

"The distance from the top surface of the Xootr Swift's main frame tube to the ground is 25" (640 mm)."
Question:
Is this OK or a problem? What is the distance on a Softrider?

"The bike is very rigid, so as there is no suspension"
I have good experience with Schwalbe Big Apple tires on my trekking bike. The have a good damping effect. But I'm not sure if I can install these thick tires on this bike.

 

[manstir99]

I have found an additional picture on the homepage of Xootr (http://www.Xootr.com)

Compared to this picture of a Softrider, I think the height of the horizontal part of the seat is similar to the Softrider.

 

[Gromit]

manstir99 wrote:

Gromit wrote:
The distance from the top surface of the Xootr Swift's main frame tube to the ground is 25" (640 mm).

Question:
Is this OK or a problem? What is the distance on a Softrider?

Sorry, I no longer have my Sofrider. Would someone else, please post the dimension.
I wasn't offering an opinion on the frame tube height, just information.

Gromit wrote: The bike is very rigid, so as there is no suspension, IMHO you are going to need some extra seat foam on top of the standard Cruzbike conversion seat.

manstir99 wrote: I have good experience with Schwalbe Big Apple tires on my trekking bike. They have a good damping effect. But I'm not sure if I can install these thick tires on this bike.

Here is Xootr's advice on Big Apple tyres,"We had enough customers ask if they could use Schwalbe's Big Apple on the Swift to try them out for ourselves. We found that they work on the bikes we have tried them on, but slight variances in the frame or hub may make it infeasable in the rear. We found these tires to offer a super comfortable and stable ride, just as promised. Weighs 530 grams."
Xootr do not mention the size of Big Apple tyre that they are referring to on their website but by reference to Schwalbe's North American website, it becomes clear that they are selling the 50-406 (20" x 2.00") size as that weigh's 530 grams.

 

[Gromit]

I notice that nobody answered the question on the height of the Sofrider's top tube.
Based on manstir99's side view of the Sofrider V2, I notice that the red line is tangential to the spoke face of the rear wheel rim. I took that measurement off another bike's 26" wheel and got the result - 24" (610mm). So the Xootr Swift's top tube is about an inch higher (25mm). IMHO that is perfectly acceptable.

I've ordered a pair of 20" x 2.0" (50-406) Big Apples for my Swift. I'll post my impressions of them on here when they arrive (early June, I hope).
I found a very long thread with lots of useful info about the bike on Bike Forums. The rear, Big Apple tyre apparently is quite a close fit at the chainstay. I hope that mine's alright.

 

[Doug Burton]

The V1 top tube height is nominally 25"; The V2 is an inch lower at 24". Depending on how the rear shock preload is set and the tires used, these dimensions can vary a little.

Best,

Doug

 

[Gromit]

Doug Burton wrote: The V1 top tube height is nominally 25"; The V2 is an inch lower at 24". Depending on how the rear shock preload is set and the tires used, these dimensions can vary a little.

Best,

Doug

Thanks Doug

I guess that those dimensions would also be very useful to folks looking for a donor bike for conversion?
May I suggest, that you could put it in the Cruzbike FAQs?