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Swissbike TX review: It doesn't fold under pressure

Swissbike TX

Car racks may become a thing of the past, thanks to the improving quality of folding bicycles. Forget those strange-looking contraptions with tiny rubber tires.

Today’s folding bikes are big, sturdy and, best of all, cool looking. We tested a new folding mountain bike by Swissbike that performed admirably.

The TX model looks like a bonafide mountain bike with front shocks, front disc brakes, an 18-inch frame and 26-inch knobby tires. Within 30 seconds or so, we had the bike folded to a size of 36 inches by 28 inches.

We are also happy to report that the bike did not fold up during an outdoor test ride. The bike, weighing 30 pounds, was agile and rugged. Our only critique: The rear rubber brakes lose friction when they get wet and the pedals are too small.

The bike sells for $679. Shop online at the Swissbike website or call (800) 736-5348 to find a nearby dealer.

– Hugo Martin, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

This entry was posted on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 4:31 pm by Hugo Martin and is filed under News, Tips & Advice, Outdoors & Adventure, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.

One Comment on “Swissbike TX review: It doesn't fold under pressure”

Ed Says:
June 16th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Are you able to switch the pedals on the bike for larger ones or “clip-ons”? Also, from my experience, unless you opt for the metal disc brakes, all traditional rubber brakes lose friction when wet.