Montague Folding Bike Video

[ceroeck]

is it heavy...? how much does it weigh

[RideTHISbike]

@ceroeck Although this particular model is no longer in production, Montague's full size folding bikes weigh anywhere from 25.5 to 31 lbs.

[hanspotato22]

Yeah it folds but not portable I mean when it is fold it looks ugly

[jose01ification]

how much is the bike and were do u buy it

[RideTHISbike]

The SwissBike X50 is the current version of this bike (the video's @ 3 yrs old). The X50 costs $499 & is available @ RideTHISbike (dot) com.

[Thugathan]

He should have taken of the front wheel so he cheated.

There are some really nice Montague bikes on ebay with mag wheels the white one with white wheels looks so sick. I will get one on my January pay check.

[RideTHISbike]

Although the Montague can fold even smaller, the purpose of the video was to demonstrate a "quick and easy" fold the bike.

Montague now builds their bikes with a patented quick release that requires no loosening or tightening to lock or unlock. As a result, folding the bike and removing the front wheel take both can be done in @ 10-15 seconds.

If you see a "New Montague" w/mag rims, it's a fake made with poor quality parts. Beware.

[Thugathan]

From what I understand it's a real Montague bike, but this guy also sells Mag wheels, all he has done is put his wheels on there, also he mentions that the original wheels are available. Also has a picture of the box. I heard a couple of comments that the wheels are good (don't know if their better than the originals) so I would get both if the mags aren't that great.

Thanks for the advise, I will try and find out more.

[RideTHISbike]

As a rule, molded plastic wheels are heavier than typical spoked wheels; however, I know that a wheel maker in Taiwan has created molded plastic wheels that are more sturdy than standard metal spoked wheels yet just as light. Still, I'd be skeptical until I saw the product.

[RideTHISbike]

At 29 lbs, the Montague is no heavier than other full size bikes that fold.

If you want a folder that's light and very compact, the CarryMe weighs just 18 lbs (when folded, it's the size of an umbrella stroller). Of course, the CarryMe is not a mountaing bike and only comes as a single spd or dual speed.

[bigrainydays]

cool! is that heavy?

[bguffer]

Got my Paratrooper today. Good, sturdy bike. Great concept. FYI, the youtube video is what convinced me to buy the bike from you. Well that and a great price.

[AreThereNoMoreNames]

Just got my Paratrooper today, got back from a quick 8 mile ride, and it's really a nice bike. The Paratrooper has a disk front brake, some awesome Shimano ratchet shifters, and the Clix quick detatch front and rear wheels. I had someone tell me it's not a serious bike, but after riding it, I don't think they know what they're talking about.

And just for curiosities sake, I did do a little bit of the ride today with the frame quick release a little loose, and it's still quite solid.

[Burnoutss]

wow... its so small..

[RideTHISbike]

The frame on this bike was created with a grant from the Dept. of Defense. Since then, Montague's folding bikes have seen use by the military in the field in Afghanistan and other world hot spots. Paratroopers & special forces have dropped these bikes from planes & rode them with 300 lbs of weight (gear & rider combined)... given those creds and my experience on these folding bikes, I'm very comfortable riding this folder on mtb trails.

[SeoulDriver]

Is there a video of the military demonstration of this bike?

[RideTHISbike]

All I've seen are photos, not video.

[RideTHISbike]

Perhaps you missed it but in the videos in which I remove the front wheel, the bikes had disc brakes, not pads, so all that is needed is to open the quick release. Like the MX in this video, the DX has pads. You will need to slide the cable out of the retainer as I explained.

Had I thought about it, I would have demonstrated removal of the front wheel on a bike with brake pads but I was only concerned with showing how to fold/unfold the sturdy, patented and foolproof Montague frame.

[anthonyklam]

(continued) In your videos, you were able to take off the front wheel, as well as put it back on, WITHOUT having to touch the brakes' calipers at all. How did you accomplish this? Right now, as I see it, everytime I want to take out the front wheel I'd have to unlatch the brakes' calipers so the wheel can go through...

[RideTHISbike]

Mounting The Wheel (cont'd): The slot is there so you can remove the cable from the retainer. Once you remove the cable from the retainer, you'll have plenty of clearance to mount the wheel to the fork. Once the wheel is mounted, grasp the two caliper arms, thread the cable through the slot in the retainer and you're done. By the way, new cables are typically tight so you may have to loosen the brake cable thumb nut where the brake cable goes into the brake lever on the handlebars.

[RideTHISbike]

Before removing the brakes, try this: With one hand, clasp the top of the arms that the brake pads are mounted to and pull the arms together (if the wheel was on the bike, this would cause the pads to grab the wheel but it's not). Look at the brake cable where it is bolted to the caliper and trace the cable across to the other caliper arm. You'll see that the cable runs through and rests in a sloted metal retainer. (cont'd below)

[anthonyklam]

I just got the DX... but the brakes were preinstalled and I couldn't get the front wheel to go in without removing the brakes. I don't have any bike tools with me either. The package also didn't come with the L-shaped tool (six sides) needed to unscrew the brakes... how am I suppose to just get this bike and be able to ride it without any tools..?

[RideTHISbike]

All Montague folding bikes including the SwissBike and the Montague DX are now equipped with the Clix quick release on the front wheel so they all do work the same way.

FYI, this video demonstrates how to fold the Montague MX. The reason why the bike in the video did not have the Clix system is because it was a 2006 model (the Clix system was just introduced at the start of 2007 so it was not available when the video was produced).

[anthonyklam]

does the DX work the same way? i noticed that the front wheel does not come off like the SwissBike. can you confirm this?

[RideTHISbike]

Also, I've heard that an undisclosed nation in Asia is back channnel buying Paratroopers for their military.

[radium05]

I know the IDF (Israel's Army) bought some of these that are now being tested in order to get them to some troops that do some patroling on urban and rural areas. If the army starts using them, there's no problem in them at all. I guess.

Just to note, I read there were some modifications made on the bikes to suit the IDF's requirements. It folds a bit more and is easy to carry, much lighter too.

[RideTHISbike]

There are ways to make the Montague lighter but this does involve compromises. For example, a lower weight magnesium/alluminum alloy could be substituted for the current frame and some components could also be changed out (such as the rims); however, the current components were carefully selected for reliability, durability and reasonable cost. In a military environment, going lighter could lead to a critical structural failure while under fire - not good.

[RideTHISbike]

Though not shown in the video, the seat post tube and front wheel both have quick releases so they can easily be removed, making the bike smaller. There are a variety of types of folding handlebars but none suitable for the pounding that a mountain bike typically receives.

[tyrantmind]

i think its pretty cool maybe some more thing could be added maybe be foled flatter and/or the handle bars fold

[RideTHISbike]

This full size folding mountain bike is excellent for apartment or urbanites with little/no storage space; it's much easier to carry a full size bike that folds in half upstairs. A folding bike will fit in the car, making bike racks unnecessary on your vehicle. The suspension really comes in handy on broken pavement and the bike is just as capable on single track. I've taken mine to ride trails @ Dupont State Park in N. Carolina and on unpaved rail trails in Idaho; it performed flawlessly.