When I first met my wife in 1994, one of the first things I discovered that we had in common was an interest in bicycle touring. At the time, we both rode diamond-frame (DF) bikes. We enjoyed the bike tours immensely. However, we both suffered from hand and seat pain after long hours on our DF bikes. Our search for a more comfortable bike led us to start researching recumbent bikes.

Getting A Crash Course

In September 2002, on our way to start a bike trip in Oregon, our car was rear-ended, crushing our DF bikes on the rear rack. We needed to buy two new bikes immediately in order to be able to continue with our trip, so with the insurance money we took the plunge and bought two Burley Django recumbent bikes.

We loved riding the Djangos, but traveling with them was not easy. Forget trying to fly with them. The only practical way to transport them was by car with a roof rack (we were done with rear racks after the accident). As enjoyable as the Burleys were to ride, after a few trips with them on our car's roof, we started looking for a recumbent bike that was easier to take places.

You Gotta Know When To Fold 'em

Through friends in our local bike club, I heard about Bike Friday in Eugene, Oregon, which makes folding bikes that can be packed into a standard suitcase for flying. I discovered that Bike Friday had recently come out with a folding recumbent bike called the SatRDay. After arranging a test ride, we bought two SatRDays. This was in 2003.

You have to be the kind of person who really enjoys assembling and disassembling a bike to be able to pack the SatRDay into the hardshell suitcase it comes with, and then reassemble it at your destination. Fortunately, I am that kind of person. With experience, I was able (with my wife's help) to pack one bike in about an hour, and then reassemble it at the other end in the same amount of time. The SatRDays proved to be comfortable and fun to ride, and mechanically very reliable. Although packing the SatRDays into their suitcases was time-consuming, it also was possible to remove the seat and fold the bike into a smallish but awkward bundle, as shown in this photo:

That enabled us to put BOTH bikes into the trunk of our Toyota Camry, with room to spare. It was a great way to incorporate biking into our driving trips - without the need for a bike rack.

Trains, Planes, and Folding Bikes

After many years of riding the SatRDays, two developments caused me to consider replacing them with a newer model of a folding recumbent bike. First, my wife and I wanted to travel around Europe with bikes that we could more easily take onto trains and into hotel rooms to keep our bikes secure. While we had done both of these things with the SatRDays, they were very awkward to handle when folded. I had often dreamed of a better solution.

Secondly, my wife had taken a liking to e-bikes, and dreamed of a folding recumbent e-bike. In theory it was possible to equip the SatRDay with an electric motor and battery, but it would make folding and packing the SatRDay much more difficult, if not impossible. I set out to see what newer bike models might be available.

A Better Mousetrap

Fortunately, I was happy to discover that time has not stood still for recumbent bikes. In the intervening years since buying the SatRDays, several new designs have been developed for this admittedly niche market. One of the first models I happened upon in my research was the Alt-Falter (German for ALT-Folder). It is hand-built by master bike-builder Dieter Baumann in Germany:

The folding mechanism of this bike is genius. It takes Dieter 45 seconds to fold it into a small package that can be rolled away (a la Brompton)! You can see how he does it in this video on his website. This model has been sold since 2003 and has a loyal following, including riders who have taken tours of several thousand miles on this bike.

As a long-time recumbent rider, I have gotten used to riding funny-looking bikes. But, even I thought this bike looked beyond the pale - at least I wouldn't have to worry about someone stealing it! I wasn't crazy about the complexity and the weight (37-39 lbs.) of the bike, but it did open my eyes to the possibility of designing a recumbent with an effective folding mechanism.

Ah, Grasshopper

Next, I found a more mainstream option from HP Velotechnik (HPV), a well-known German manufacturer of recumbents. HPV has a folding model with dual 20-inch wheels called the Grasshopper FX.

The folding mechanism of the Grasshopper FX can be seen in this video (in Spanish).

(Note that the Grasshopper in the video has under-seat steering, whereas the one pictured above has above-seat steering, but the folding procedure is similar.)

The Grasshopper FX is a very refined bike, benefiting from the long experience of HPV and years of production of the Grasshopper in substantial numbers. It has dual shock absorbers (front and rear), and a highly adjustable shell seat. I test rode a Grasshopper FX, and I was very impressed. The only problem I found was that the seat was too reclined for my taste, even in its highest position. Also it's a heavy bike (on the order of 35-36 pounds once you add a rear rack and kickstand), and doesn't fold up as compactly as I would have hoped. Here's a photo from the HPV website, depicting a sturdy young man carrying the bike and seat (which you have to remove to fold the bike) down some stairs while managing to look casual and relaxed:

Still, I considered it a good option as it met most of my criteria. What's more, HPV offers an electric motor upgrade to this bike (albeit making the bike heavier still), which would satisfy my ultimate goal of having an electrified bike for my wife.

Call Me A Toxy

Another entrant to my folding recumbent sweepstakes was yet another bicycle made in Germany, the Toxy Flite.

However, Toxy is not a well-known manufacturer, and I couldn't find anyone on the internet who had actually ridden the bike, nor could I find any opportunity to test ride this model. For these reasons I did not pursue it further, although the folding mechanism looks impressive:

Czech, Please

Then I came across yet another contender: a folding model called the Origami made by the recumbent manufacturer Azub in the Czech Republic. Azub does not have the long history or following of HPV, but they are a newer recumbent bike maker with a reputation for building indestructible bikes and trikes.

At 32 pounds with the optional dual kickstand, the Origami is a little lighter than the Grasshopper, due to the absence of any shock absorbers and a rear rack built in to the frame. Instead of shock absorbers, the Origami typically comes with Schwalbe Big Apple 2-inch tires, which are nearly as effective as shock absorbers in absorbing bumps, with less weight and complexity.

A Two Fold Problem

My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to test-ride the Origami and the Grasshopper side by side, on the same day over the same course. While we enjoyed riding both bikes, we both preferred the Origami, particularly for the ability to adjust the shell seat to a more upright position, and the more straightforward steering. To try out the Grasshopper's shock absorbers, parts of the test course consisted of very rough pavement. I was not impressed. I found the Origami with its 2-inch tires to be just as rideable and comfortable in the rough sections.

The Origami has a relatively simple folding procedure, with a knob on the front hub that locks into a bracket on the rear hub to hold the bike in its folded position (something the Grasshopper lacks - instead requiring a Velcro strap). Also, unlike the Grasshopper, the seat can remain on the Origami when folding. Here is a video of the Origami being folded, and then put in the optional carrying bag.

A New Bike That Fits Into My Hall Closet

Of the four bikes I found, I was won over by the relative simplicity of the Azub Origami. My decision was greatly simplified when I found a lightly used Origami available for sale in Los Angeles, which I purchased sight unseen.

I have not been disappointed. Here is my new Azub Origami on a ride in Golden Gate Park. So far, it is just what I was looking for - a fun, faster bike than the SatRDay, built like a tank with fewer moving parts. I have learned to fold the bike as quickly as the man in the demonstration video above, and can carry it up the stairs to our 3rd floor apartment without too much difficulty.

Folded, it is compact enough to fit in our hall closet, next to our cleaning supplies and under our hanging jackets. I really like the innovative double kickstand which supports the bike during folding and unfolding, as well as keeping it upright when I'm not on it.

To top it all off, Azub has just introduced an electrified version of the Origami, with the wiring between the motor, controller, and battery all deftly integrated into the frame without interfering with the folding mechanism.

Perhaps this will be my wife's next bike and we will again be a two recumbent family!

Note: The author isn't the site's owner. It is his good friend Matt.

Return to Home Page