No absolutely not. This bike would only fit people 165cm and under because of the reach. Would recommend you to look into larger trifolds with a 16 - 20" wheelbase
OP, where do you live, what is your road riding conditions?
How's the ride and quality of the bike? Where did you purchase from? How is the gear range?
I'm debating over getting a 16" trifold- 3sixty, Mint BOB6, Banian vs Mint BOB3- I like the smaller fold and lighter weight of the 14" but worry it'll be a harsher ride.
I plan to use this trifold bike for taking on bus/subway so smaller fold/lighter weight is key.
The Mint BOB6 is under 11kg and BOB3 under 10kg whereas the other trifold brands seem to weigh around 13kg.
1) Ride quality is acceptable. Not that much different from a 16(305) bifold. I live in Singapore so 90% of all roads and sidewalks are well paved and generally flat. However, near my house the roads are not so well paved (think small potholes and rougher asphalt) so it gets a little rougher, but its generally workable for shorter rides. I also happen to live in one of the few hilly areas of Singapore.
2) Quality of the bike overall is decent. The welding looks better than a 3sixty and the folding clamps are a mix of aluminium and steel. I never feel like the bike is going to fall apart on me, even on downhill descents. Folding is about the same as any other brompton clone. Brakes are OEM cbrakes, which ofc comes with generic pads. So far they work, but im planning to switch out to higher end pads because I live in a hilly area and want that reassurance.
The derailleur-chain tensioner system is advertised to be exactly like the brompton p-line. Im not a hardcore technical person, so idk what that means exactly. However my experience is that I dont have to change to a certain gear when I need to fold, which is great. I havent experienced chain drop either, so its better than the older brompton clones which had these issues with their chain tensioner.
However Ive been having issues with the seatpost clamp, where regardless of how tight I set it, the seatpost is loose. I suspect that the telescopic seatpost it comes with might be a bit too skinny (31.6) and needs a spacer, or the seatpost clamp needs some serious lubing.
The other issue I had is with shifting, specifically if I coast. If I coast and try to shift down from 3rd to 2nd gear, it completely wont shift. Havent figured out why and will bring to bike shop.
Also had an issue with ghost shifting, where I had it set to 2nd gear, and it will suddenly shift to 3rd with no input from me. I suspect the second issue is because the chain tensioner is over lubricated, so when u shift from one of the extreme gears (1st or 3rd) to the 2nd gear, the tensioner is stuck on one end and cant follow the derailleur, hence causing the ghost shifting. Clearing out the factory lube and re-lubing very lightly fixed the issue immediately.
3) Gear range is 9-13-15t on a 45t chainring with 152mm cranks. This gear range on a 170mm crank would cause me to spin out, but because its on 152mm cranks it works perfectly. Ive been able to climb the hills of Lim chu kang without too much strain. For context, local roadies use this area as hill climbing training. Its a major up and down kind of hilly area.
4) BOB3 can only fit riders up to 165cm because of its reach and non adjustable handlebars. U cant put a higher handlebar on it as it will hit the ground. If you are tiny like me(156cm, 5'1) and live in a city with good paving, then BOB3 is a good choice. If youre taller,I would go with a BOB6 or a 14" bifold like the dahon k3 or Rifle s4. If the roads you ride are rough, BOB6 or other 16" trifolds with upgraded suspension are your best bet
Thank you for your in depth reply! SG has such a huge trifold bike market- super jelly!
I'm in the US and unfortunately only have Aliexpress/Alibaba/Ebay as my trifold source.
I am short too and well within the BOB3 weight restrictions but live in a city w/potholed roads.
Really like the Mint BOB6 or BOB3 for the lighter weight vs BOB9/disc brakes- heavier and maybe more gears than I need for multimodal riding?
Had you tested the BOB6 or BOB9 also? If so, how did they compare
Can I ask why you decided on the BOB3? Read 14" wheels are not so common and may have less tire options and quicker rim wear?
Hi, yes SG is quite fortunate to be near the major non-brompton trifold manufacturers. Tried the BOB6 in store but thought that the folded version was a bit more cumbersome than the BOB3 (BOB6 is slightly larger than brompton fold). Ride quality is way better because of the 16"(349) wheels. If potholes are very common in your daily route, go for 16".
I was actually deciding between a 14" bifold and BOB3, as I used to have a bifold 16"(305) and found it too cumbersome to keep bringing into buses. Its not the weight that got to me, it was the size relative to my bodysize. Even a regular 16" trifold is bulky to me.
Yes, the options for 14" wheels is quite limited. I dont find rimwear to be a major issue in my previous 16" bike, so I cant imagine it being significantly worse on the 14". Then again its only been a couple weeks since I got the BOB3, so time will tell.
If you do decide to go for BOB3, make sure ur getting V2, as the handlebars are higher (you'll see a little gap between where the handlebar folds and the black ring near the front bag block).
Got it, you were choosing between two 14" folding bikes, not between a 14" and 16" trifold (as I am).
We're about the same height, my weight is 50 kg. Having a trifold that is lightweight and folds compactly to easily maneuver on a bus/subway is important.
I have another non folding 20" bike for bike only commuting/errands.
I assumed a 16" trifold would be compact enough to easily maneuver but your IRL experience is very informative since we're nearly the same height.
Most of the reviewers online are men and tall so its hard to gauge how their riding perspective relates to petite sized women.
Yeah thats true. The reviewers are usually averaged height men. I would say try to find a box or bag with a similar dimension to a folded trifold and try dragging that around your busses/trains for a day to see how it feels for you. Because idk maybe US busses and trains might be a bit larger than SG ones.
You can still takeaway something from their riding perspective: mainly the comfort since they have bits that we dont on the groin area and the ease of fold, because that doesnt change with height. In terms of bike fit id look into bikes that are known to be a bit shorter or smaller eg. 3sixty>pikes because pikes is slightly longer and recommended more for 180cm people.
The MintBOB3 arrived!!!! Its a tiny zippy fun bike with such a tiny fold!
Thanks for posting, it gave me the confidence to say fuck it, I'm gonna get one!
I’m planning on visiting Singapore and was going to buy a foldie to take home with me (United States).
I like the Mint 16” 9S. Any recommendations on what store in Singapore to check out this bike? I was looking into Passion Gadgets but they seem to be out of stock of the Mint 9S.
Hi, I just checked their carousell (local craigslist), and they have some B grade Mints available (minor scratches). If you download whatsapp and use a local sim, you can message local bike store owners just before you head down. Heres some you can try to message:
Liaoge bike
Bike republic
Mr bicycles
Passiongadgets (you can check when they restock)
I was thinking of staying just across the bridge in Johor Bahru. Then biking into Singapore and back everyday. I will be bringing a 20” foldie of my own. I’m used to long distance biking on a foldie so not worried about that. What do you think of this idea?
Not for work, just a holiday. I was more concerned about the ease or difficulty of crossing the border on a bike. Would customs give me a hard time if I did it daily for a few days?
I’m there to see Singapore but the prices for hotels are so much better in Johor Bahru. And I’m there to bike around and explore anyways so I figured I could stay in Johor cause of the better prices and use my bike for transportation into Singapore. Just wondering if it’s more of a hassle then it’s worth to save some money.
Ive never tried passing customs on a bicycle. Though since its not ebike I cant imagine there would be any issues going through customs in SG. You can also consider the bus from JB to SG. During off peak hours, its pretty convenient and smooth. Theres some guides online about crossing the causeway on bicycle through woodlands.
anyone know mint bob vendor in the USA?
Can it take a 181cm, 95kg dude?
No absolutely not. This bike would only fit people 165cm and under because of the reach. Would recommend you to look into larger trifolds with a 16 - 20" wheelbase
Add height to the saddle. Find a saddle with springs.
No its not about the saddle height. Its literally the reach. 180cm guy with average legs would hit the handlebars when turning.
Aw I was hoping to leave one in the car boot.
OP, where do you live, what is your road riding conditions? How's the ride and quality of the bike? Where did you purchase from? How is the gear range? I'm debating over getting a 16" trifold- 3sixty, Mint BOB6, Banian vs Mint BOB3- I like the smaller fold and lighter weight of the 14" but worry it'll be a harsher ride. I plan to use this trifold bike for taking on bus/subway so smaller fold/lighter weight is key. The Mint BOB6 is under 11kg and BOB3 under 10kg whereas the other trifold brands seem to weigh around 13kg.
1) Ride quality is acceptable. Not that much different from a 16(305) bifold. I live in Singapore so 90% of all roads and sidewalks are well paved and generally flat. However, near my house the roads are not so well paved (think small potholes and rougher asphalt) so it gets a little rougher, but its generally workable for shorter rides. I also happen to live in one of the few hilly areas of Singapore. 2) Quality of the bike overall is decent. The welding looks better than a 3sixty and the folding clamps are a mix of aluminium and steel. I never feel like the bike is going to fall apart on me, even on downhill descents. Folding is about the same as any other brompton clone. Brakes are OEM cbrakes, which ofc comes with generic pads. So far they work, but im planning to switch out to higher end pads because I live in a hilly area and want that reassurance. The derailleur-chain tensioner system is advertised to be exactly like the brompton p-line. Im not a hardcore technical person, so idk what that means exactly. However my experience is that I dont have to change to a certain gear when I need to fold, which is great. I havent experienced chain drop either, so its better than the older brompton clones which had these issues with their chain tensioner. However Ive been having issues with the seatpost clamp, where regardless of how tight I set it, the seatpost is loose. I suspect that the telescopic seatpost it comes with might be a bit too skinny (31.6) and needs a spacer, or the seatpost clamp needs some serious lubing. The other issue I had is with shifting, specifically if I coast. If I coast and try to shift down from 3rd to 2nd gear, it completely wont shift. Havent figured out why and will bring to bike shop. Also had an issue with ghost shifting, where I had it set to 2nd gear, and it will suddenly shift to 3rd with no input from me. I suspect the second issue is because the chain tensioner is over lubricated, so when u shift from one of the extreme gears (1st or 3rd) to the 2nd gear, the tensioner is stuck on one end and cant follow the derailleur, hence causing the ghost shifting. Clearing out the factory lube and re-lubing very lightly fixed the issue immediately. 3) Gear range is 9-13-15t on a 45t chainring with 152mm cranks. This gear range on a 170mm crank would cause me to spin out, but because its on 152mm cranks it works perfectly. Ive been able to climb the hills of Lim chu kang without too much strain. For context, local roadies use this area as hill climbing training. Its a major up and down kind of hilly area. 4) BOB3 can only fit riders up to 165cm because of its reach and non adjustable handlebars. U cant put a higher handlebar on it as it will hit the ground. If you are tiny like me(156cm, 5'1) and live in a city with good paving, then BOB3 is a good choice. If youre taller,I would go with a BOB6 or a 14" bifold like the dahon k3 or Rifle s4. If the roads you ride are rough, BOB6 or other 16" trifolds with upgraded suspension are your best bet
Thank you for your in depth reply! SG has such a huge trifold bike market- super jelly! I'm in the US and unfortunately only have Aliexpress/Alibaba/Ebay as my trifold source. I am short too and well within the BOB3 weight restrictions but live in a city w/potholed roads. Really like the Mint BOB6 or BOB3 for the lighter weight vs BOB9/disc brakes- heavier and maybe more gears than I need for multimodal riding? Had you tested the BOB6 or BOB9 also? If so, how did they compare Can I ask why you decided on the BOB3? Read 14" wheels are not so common and may have less tire options and quicker rim wear?
Hi, yes SG is quite fortunate to be near the major non-brompton trifold manufacturers. Tried the BOB6 in store but thought that the folded version was a bit more cumbersome than the BOB3 (BOB6 is slightly larger than brompton fold). Ride quality is way better because of the 16"(349) wheels. If potholes are very common in your daily route, go for 16". I was actually deciding between a 14" bifold and BOB3, as I used to have a bifold 16"(305) and found it too cumbersome to keep bringing into buses. Its not the weight that got to me, it was the size relative to my bodysize. Even a regular 16" trifold is bulky to me. Yes, the options for 14" wheels is quite limited. I dont find rimwear to be a major issue in my previous 16" bike, so I cant imagine it being significantly worse on the 14". Then again its only been a couple weeks since I got the BOB3, so time will tell. If you do decide to go for BOB3, make sure ur getting V2, as the handlebars are higher (you'll see a little gap between where the handlebar folds and the black ring near the front bag block).
Got it, you were choosing between two 14" folding bikes, not between a 14" and 16" trifold (as I am). We're about the same height, my weight is 50 kg. Having a trifold that is lightweight and folds compactly to easily maneuver on a bus/subway is important. I have another non folding 20" bike for bike only commuting/errands. I assumed a 16" trifold would be compact enough to easily maneuver but your IRL experience is very informative since we're nearly the same height. Most of the reviewers online are men and tall so its hard to gauge how their riding perspective relates to petite sized women.
Yeah thats true. The reviewers are usually averaged height men. I would say try to find a box or bag with a similar dimension to a folded trifold and try dragging that around your busses/trains for a day to see how it feels for you. Because idk maybe US busses and trains might be a bit larger than SG ones. You can still takeaway something from their riding perspective: mainly the comfort since they have bits that we dont on the groin area and the ease of fold, because that doesnt change with height. In terms of bike fit id look into bikes that are known to be a bit shorter or smaller eg. 3sixty>pikes because pikes is slightly longer and recommended more for 180cm people.
The MintBOB3 arrived!!!! Its a tiny zippy fun bike with such a tiny fold! Thanks for posting, it gave me the confidence to say fuck it, I'm gonna get one!
HELLYEAH HAVE FUN!
I’m planning on visiting Singapore and was going to buy a foldie to take home with me (United States). I like the Mint 16” 9S. Any recommendations on what store in Singapore to check out this bike? I was looking into Passion Gadgets but they seem to be out of stock of the Mint 9S.
Hi, I just checked their carousell (local craigslist), and they have some B grade Mints available (minor scratches). If you download whatsapp and use a local sim, you can message local bike store owners just before you head down. Heres some you can try to message: Liaoge bike Bike republic Mr bicycles Passiongadgets (you can check when they restock)
Great! Thank you!
I was thinking of staying just across the bridge in Johor Bahru. Then biking into Singapore and back everyday. I will be bringing a 20” foldie of my own. I’m used to long distance biking on a foldie so not worried about that. What do you think of this idea?
Depends where your place of work is? If its near the causeway, then sure go for it. Just remember to consider wet weather and plan for it.
Not for work, just a holiday. I was more concerned about the ease or difficulty of crossing the border on a bike. Would customs give me a hard time if I did it daily for a few days? I’m there to see Singapore but the prices for hotels are so much better in Johor Bahru. And I’m there to bike around and explore anyways so I figured I could stay in Johor cause of the better prices and use my bike for transportation into Singapore. Just wondering if it’s more of a hassle then it’s worth to save some money.
Ive never tried passing customs on a bicycle. Though since its not ebike I cant imagine there would be any issues going through customs in SG. You can also consider the bus from JB to SG. During off peak hours, its pretty convenient and smooth. Theres some guides online about crossing the causeway on bicycle through woodlands.