furbowski - 11-8-2008 at 05:52 PM
Hiya all...
Not sure I'll be able to pull together the coin for this thing, but in the meantime I'm wondering what folks think of this buggy.
I divide my time between HK, china and BC, canada, and also get to thailand (big beaches!) on a regular basis, so it looks like I could get away with
transporting this thing back and forth (with a few extra bucks for overweight charges, sure, never mind)
I guess my first choice would be the PL Comp XR+, but it doesn't fold down into airline transportable size.
I realize MTB / Blades would be good, but never skated as a kid and think I would get further more comfy-like with a buggy.
So I guess two main questions I'm asking...
1) Is the folding buggy a good piece of kit?
2) Would it be that much more trouble to get going on skates / MTB, or in other words is it worth giving up the buggy to be much more portable with
the board / blades, even though the learning curve seems steeper and more consequential?
I'm about 160 lbs and 5' 9", scud lots, jump a bit, and I'm pretty much OK flying kites static.
easy to find on google, btw, "peter lynn folding buggy"
WELDNGOD - 11-8-2008 at 05:57 PM
DANG! Furbs ,you get around! your a freakin' globetrotter dude. Must be nice.
awindofchange - 11-8-2008 at 06:02 PM
Well.... tough question really.
The Peter Lynn Comp XR+ can be broken down to a very small package. The actual shipping box that the Comp XR+ frame comes in is appx. 39" long, 6"
tall and about 12" wide. The tires will fit in a box appx. 16" square fully inflated. To break the buggy down to this size just remove the front
axle, remove the rear tires, remove the headstock bolt and the two bolts holding the frame rails together. Takes about oh....5 minutes tops.
Assembly takes about twice that much to put it all together. You should be able to check these two packages onto the airplane as luggage, just tell
them that it is sporting equipment. You may have to pay a slight bit of handling charge but you would have to do the same thing with the folding
buggy as well.
The folding buggy is nice if you are wanting to fit the buggy all assembled into a trunk or small car but that is about the end of the positives. The
frame (esp. downtube and rear axle) is not nearly as strong as the Comp XR+ and the buggy rattles and isn't nearly as stable as the more-solid XR+.
The seat is also nicer in the XR+. The XR+ is much stronger all around and less prone to bending/weld failure. Tires are basically the same on both
except the XR+ uses 20mm bearings/axle on the rear, the folding uses 12mm all around.
My preference would be the XR+ as they both fold down to about the same size for airplane travel. The XR+ just takes a little bit more time to get
that way.
Hope this helps.
furbowski - 11-8-2008 at 06:24 PM
That tells me a lot, thanks Kent...
BeamerBob - 11-8-2008 at 06:34 PM
I bet that PL Comp XR+ would fit in a golf size bag no problem. You would have to take the side rails off, the foot pegs, and the back wheels. Then
it might fit. I don't have experience with the folding buggy but that XR+ is pretty solid.
EDIT: I started this earlier and finished it after you already had a reply. I agree with awindofchange completely and he has reasons to avoid the
folder.
macboy - 11-8-2008 at 06:56 PM
As far as the blades / ATB goes I'm quickly discovering that they are all entirely different animals. I'd bet that the best call for the potential of
sand is gonna be the bug. ATB maybe - blades...not really ideal.
lunchbox - 11-8-2008 at 07:04 PM
Hey Furbs,
I have both the PL folding buggy and MBS Comp 90. I use both for different conditions. The buggy is a lot better in lighter winds and when the sand
isn't quite that hard.
For me, learning to ride the mountain board was a bigger learning curve. Learning to ride heel goofy and regular and then eventually toeside however
is a blast.
I haven't ever ridden the Comp +XR but I can tell you that I've ridden that PL folding buggy pretty hard and it hasn't let me down yet.
You really can't go wrong with the buggy or board, just find out what kind of conditions you'll be riding in and that should determine which one you
choose.
Have fun!
furbowski - 11-8-2008 at 07:24 PM
Hey MB, LB, thanks for your input on the blades / ATB...
yeah, it sounds like it's the conditions that will force my choice as I will have smallish areas (low tide only) and a minimum of flat hard-pack sand!
The ATB / Blades learning curve will have to wait for later, good input on the heelside / toeside / goofy / regular aspects of the learning curve...
One step at a time!
Sounds like if I can get the coin together I'll be after the PL Comp, if I can swing it Kent will be getting a U2U from me! The folding buggy does
look flimsy in the pictures, and the takedown size is not much different.
@ WG, well, I do get around, but it's a pretty edgy lifestyle financially! Add in the kitelust factor and it's super edgy! So far so good, though...
WELDNGOD - 11-8-2008 at 07:46 PM
You go boy!
ripsessionkites - 11-8-2008 at 11:08 PM
i personally go with the XR+, i've managed to get the complete buggy into a Paraglider Bag, the 90cm did stick out a bit, but bubble wrap works good.
it does fit perfectly into a small travel (airline buggage approved) golf bag.
another opinion would also be the Comp ST (on the budget minded), however i like the kinked downtube option for the XR+. you could also get a 120cm
rear axle and leave it on this side of earth too, for all your speed beach runs.
have you gone through the PL website: www.peterlynnproducts.com
Folding Buggy, extra $$$ for 30 second assembly or less $$$ for 5 mins on the XR+
COM: your sig says you're leaving on Sept 5, it takes us about 5-7 days to get you a buggy into vancouver from the distributor in ONT. if you're
buying it back in HK, Taiwan has a dealer as well.
SCREWYFITS - 12-8-2008 at 01:50 AM
My 2 cents...
I own the PL folding and it's a great bug but not the best by far, I love it because it fits in the back of my Matrix and I can go everywhere with
it... it stays in my car till its time to ride it... I don't travel with a buggy ever but it would travel well... it isn't stable compared to most
fixed frame buggies but works well... like AWC mentioned if it's just for traveling from country to country, I think I'd suggest the XR+... I'm in the
middle of a race bug project because I'm moving on but keeping the PL folding for friends...
Good luck in your choice, you'll love it... it's a kick in the pants...