Updated: A Folding Bicycle for your MINI’s Boot

With city traffic more congested than ever, MINI is offering up a solution to urban parking overcrowding: the MINI Folding Bike. Rather than cram a whole roll of quarters into that parking meter for 15 minutes, park further out and finish your trip on a bicycle. Not just any bicycle, but a rather clever little number that folds up small enough to fit in the boot of your MINI. More after the break.
The bike folds along the crossbar and handlebars. The saddle retracts and the pedals fold up close to the aluminum frame. This makes the bike extremely easy to handle and saves space. Fitted in a sleeve under the saddle is a fitted transport bag for portaging odds and ends. The MINI Folding Bike claims to match the riding characteristics of a “normal†bike. Weighing less than 24 lbs, the bike is equipped with 8 gears and 20-inch wheels, keeping it quick and versatile. The teflon-coated chain keeps your pants clean and reduces the wear and tear on the components, and the gel saddle keeps things comfortable. The bike also features the customary visibility features and fenders to keep the road off you and your clothes.
Even on two wheels, the MINI design details show through. The bike comes in matte black, and features silver highlights in the MINI lettering on the crossbar. The MINI logo is featured on the handlebars and a monocrhomatic Union Jack motif on the rear forks. The bike chain and bell are the set apart in bold neon yellow.
Components | Description |
Frame | AAA Series, aluminium 7005 patented Fusion Technology |
Fork | Dahon Slipstream, aluminium U7 double-butt. Matt black |
Handlebar | Kinetix Comp double-butt. Aluminium, matt black |
Stem | Aluminium, matt black, height-adjustable, 2 x quick release |
Bar grips | Biologic ARX, screwed, black with grey lines |
Brakes | Kinetix V-brakes, front and rear |
Shifter / brake lever | Avid FR5 aluminium, matt black |
Crank set | Kinetix Supra forged aluminium l=170 mm black, aluminium chain guard |
Bottom bracket | BSA cartridge bearings, sealed, 3-set. |
Chain | Taya Chain OCTO,Teflon-coated, neon yellow |
Pedals | Folding pedals, aluminium body, black, non-slip |
Shift system | NEOS.2 for 8-speed, black |
Gear lever | Sram Twist 8-speed grip shift incl. cable control |
Cassette | Sram 8-gear, silver, 11-32 teeth |
Front wheel hub | Kinetix Neutron 74 mm, aluminium, black with hollow axle and SSP |
Rear wheel hub | Kinetix Comp. 8x cassette, black with hollow axle und SSP |
Rims | Kinetix Comp, hollow chamber, black with CNC brake track |
Tyres | Schwalbe KOJAK 35-406 Dahon special edition |
Inner tubes | Schwalbe Unitube 20” AV6 (with car valve) |
Spokes | Niro Black, d=2mm, brass nipple, silver |
Saddle | Selle Royal Gel, black without logo |
Seat post | Super-Oversize 580 mm, patented head, aluminium, matt black with scale |
Saddle clamp | Dahon “Turtleneck” with quick release, black |
Passive lighting | Spokes, front and rear reflector (as accessory pack) and pedal reflectors according to DIN and STVZO (German Road Traffic Licensing Regulation) |
Bicycle bell | Thumb-lever bike bell, “Billy” model, same colour as chain |
Accessories | Transport bag in sleeve (fitted beneath saddle), MINI Folding Bike- specific operating instructions (various languages), component manufacturers’ operating instructions |
Chain case | Does not apply, see chain guard cover on crank set |
Others | Supplied assembled and ready to ride (non-inflated tyres in folded state), in special box with MINI Logo |
The MINI Folding Bike will be available in August of this year in select MINI dealers, and at www.MINI.de/shop, at an MSRP of about $730. No word yet on US availability. US availability has been confirmed.
15 Comments
<p>Looks like a MINI branded Dahon bike. I was thinking about a Mu Uno, but I’m such a fanboy, I might consider this one instead. Still wish the Cooper Bikes would make it to my local dealerships.</p>
<p>Seattl Mini will have them soon!!!</p>
<p>I liked the BMW Design Bikes better, they have been doing them for years. I figured MINI would have had one years ago. Other then the MINI design skateboard.</p>
<p>MINI no, but Cooper yes: <a href="http://www.cooperbikes.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.cooperbikes.com/</a></p>
<p>Yea, knew about those nice Cooper bikes.</p>
<p>I like the mountain bike BMW’s and the folding type.</p>
<p>The New MINI bike is more of a BMX’er , which I guess is more brand servant with MINI.
Now If I can get some pegs for the front and rear we can live in the 90’s. ;)</p>
<p>This is cool! (and I’m testing comments again)</p>
<p>Let’s skip this and get right to the MINI E Scooter!</p>
<p>I have had a Dahon Vitesse D7HG for several years now. It look to be nearly identical to the Mini save for the rear hub and frame triangle. I love having a bike with me wherever I go and it is surprisingly comfortable and capable (even on very light single-track). The one thing I prefer about the Vitesse is having the gearing in the rear hub rather than a derailleur which can get mangled rattling around in the boot. It seems strange that they used a frame with no chain-stay but didn’t go with belt drive. If my Vitesse didn’t have a chain-stay I would switch to a belt in a heartbeat. The bottom line is that having a bike with me at all times and not having to have it on the roof or a rack on the back is uber sweet.</p>
<p>The Brompton folding bike also fits with the parcel shelf in place. Also the Boots pram push car fits.</p>
<p>This is SO COOL!! I don’t like the MSRP, but I would love to own it. I would bike 100x more if I could easily fit it in the boot :D</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hah_SZZU2oA" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hah_SZZU2oA</a></p>
<p>Saw this a while back, looking closely they look like MINI brand knockoffs, but still cool and much cheaper.</p>
<p>Alex Moulton bicycles would work too. Not a true folder, they split in two and are quite fast and cool. Moulton designed suspension elements of the original MINIs -thus in the sprit of the brand, though he was not fond of the new generation of cars. Not cheap, but wonderful.</p>
<p>where can i buy one</p>
<p>I have an REI-branded Dahon folding bicycle that sports an 8-speed rear internal gear hub (no outside derailleur to shift the gears) and it’s great! For quick trips and <em>especially</em> for bike-in-your-car hops, the folder is super. (I also have a Yakima roof rack for my non-folding bicycles but it’s a chore to install and then there’s the “Don’t forget that your bike’s on the roof!” thing).</p>
<p>However, I only paid $350 for the folder. That is part of why I like it so much. This MSRP for this MINI-branded Dahon is crazy too much.</p>
<p>Where do I find one for sale?</p>