There is a prototype of a new Flexi bug heading for production. It is made of mild steel and is galvanized and powder coated white. It looks like the geometry is the same as the SS version we are familiar with, so it should feel the same while rolling. It does have a new seat, but can't tell much from the picture. Apparently the footpegs are welded in place too. I've never taken mine off so that doesn't bother me. The word is that the stainless buggy will still be available but this new buggy will be offered at a lower price. I like the look of the white but I have concern about regular steel at the beach. Maybe if the coatings are good enough there won't be a problem.

Hmm. new and lower price is good. I wish you had a better pic. Thanks for sharing.Some of us will get new bugs this year.

That one was scavenged off the web. It looks exactly like the stainless version to me. Just white instead of stainless.

No higher quality but different angles.

Thats a pretty good looking bug:embarrased:

Hey Bob, a couple questions about your buggy, if you dont mind. I will be upgrading buggies this year, I think, and am curious. Does the rear axle come off your Flexi extended? What about the seat rails and fork?

I have a smaller car, the older model Flexi bug fits, barely... I am sure the extended new one wouldnt, unless I could break it down...

Is the Flexi you have capable of breaking down into small quarters?

I regularly roll it into the back of my yukon with only the back wheels removed. My next level of breakdown if necessary is to remove the side rails from the downtube. This isn't that hard to put back together either. To go further, I have to remove my backrest, and remove each side rail from the wide axle individually, which is much more involved and laborious. The flexi bug that Angus had could have the rear axle removed in 2-3 minutes by comparison. Mine was rushed on the hole drilling and there are burrs inside the axle tubes 7-8 inches inside the tube. Hard to correct but I mostly have it filed smooth enough to not be a workout to install or remove one tube at a time. I'm considering a bigfoot conversion for mine now and I think I also want a roof rack option. No matter where I'm going, who's with us, or what I'm towing, the roof is available unless I have kayaks up top, then the buggy gets second priority somewhere.

I would think with it being galvanized AND powder coated it should hold up just fine, even at the beach. Powder coating, if done right, is pretty tough stuff.

I spoke with one of the managers at Flexifoil last week and he described the finishing process as something beyond conventional powder coating that was similar to an electroplating process- he just couldn't put his finger on the name of the process at the moment. He was quite enthusiastic with the results

FWIW, Dylan my old Flexi was not quite a snap to disassemble either. The short slip joints of the standard axle slide right of the frames with a gentle tug, but the 8" + slip joints on the wide axle make it tricky in any event. A car-top adaptation of a roof rack is a real good way to go.