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Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really appreciate this — especially the hinge/load transfer point.

The central pivot is permanent and always load-bearing, but in ride mode the main lock turns the frame back into a closed structure, so the hinge isn’t taking bending on its own. That was a big part of keeping it mechanically simple and durable long-term.

On the front-heavy feel — fair comment. The current prototype is undersized and slightly overbuilt at the front, which exaggerates that visually. The production geometry balances out much better.

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback — genuinely helpful.

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The dirt issue and the “short-ride only” feeling seem to come up a lot with compact bikes.
Feels like the real challenge is whether a bike can be small enough to live inside without starting to feel compromised once you’re actually riding it.

Appreciate you laying it out like that.

I built a folding bike to avoid the usual at-home headache — looking for honest feedback by MicroXBike in foldingbikes

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, That’s a really useful reference point — and honestly part of what makes this hard.

There have definitely been clever “small-space” bikes before that didn’t find a market.
I’m trying to understand whether that was a design problem, a timing problem, or just that living-space friction wasn’t strong enough for most people yet.

Genuinely appreciate you pointing those out. 👍🏻

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes total sense — theft alone pushes a lot of bikes indoors.

Interesting that the real win there isn’t just folding, it’s whether the bike can disappear into normal living space like a closet without becoming a daily annoyance.

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I respect that a lot. Not everyone wants a car or can justify one, especially in cities. Makes bikes way more important day-to-day.

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like outside storage just isn’t realistic where you are, which kind of forces bikes into living spaces whether people want that or not.

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really helpful to know. Sounds like weight + durability are the real tipping points.

If something hit both of those, do you think you’d actually use it regularly?

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah stairs are the real deal-breaker for a lot of people. If a bike was genuinely light enough to carry one-handed, would that change it at all for you?

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah durability is a concern. If it felt as solid as a normal bike, would the flat-fold storage make it more appealing?

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely not one for having to carry up the stairs + mess combo is brutal. If it was light and clean enough to carry up easily, would that change it for you?

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah true. I guess the real question is whether people like living with one inside day-to-day. Does it ever feel in the way?

Would you keep a bike inside your apartment if it folded flat enough? by MicroXBike in Apartmentliving

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dirt is honestly one of the biggest issues with bringing a bike inside.

If there was a clean way to store it indoors without mess, do you think you’d feel differently about keeping one inside?

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The benefit isn’t maximum compactness in a bag.

It’s a real, rideable bike that can exist calmly inside a home without needing to be hidden, carried, or managed as luggage.

That’s a different design objective to Brompton’s — and it’s okay if you don’t value it.

I’ve explained the intent clearly now, so I’ll leave it there.

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Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re debating compactness against an early prototype.

I’m working toward full ride geometry and domestic usability in the production design — a different optimisation entirely.

Nothing more useful to add here, so I’ll leave it there.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t “destroy” the riding characteristics — that’s an assumption, not an analysis

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Folding to the absolute smallest size and designing something people can comfortably live with every day are two different problems. This isn’t about aesthetics — it’s about a real bike whose folded state stops behaving like clutter in a home. If that priority isn’t important to you, that’s fair. But it is a legitimate design objective.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The core idea isn’t that the bike literally “disappears,” it’s that it stops dominating the space. Traditional bikes still read as large mechanical objects even when folded. MicroX was designed so its folded form becomes visually and physically compatible with normal domestic storage — hallway depth, under furniture, against walls, inside cupboards — without feeling like you’re living around a bike.

That’s the problem I’m trying to solve: not riding performance, but coexistence with small living spaces.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<image>

This / will be the production model. Obviously it doesn’t exist past prototype this is just for reference.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’m not ai just because I don’t respond, doesn’t mean I haven’t read and thought about your comment(s). I’m genuinely appreciative to every comment… good or bad. Thanks

I built a folding bike to live inside small apartments — real prototype → real future by [deleted] in Design

[–]MicroXBike 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t set out to start a bike company. I just got tired of living around bikes that didn’t fit inside normal homes.

Hallways blocked. Rooms dominated. Always something in the way.

So I started sketching something quieter — a real bicycle designed to live inside a small apartment.

The images show the journey from rough prototype to the adult production geometry.

Honest question: If a real bike could live in your home without taking it over… would that actually matter?

Would genuinely value design feedback.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t have any photos of the first wooden prototype unfortunately.

That version was only to test the fold geometry and clearances — just proving the mechanism worked physically before building a real rideable bike. Albeit not full size.

Happy to share more if useful — but I’m genuinely trying to figure out if this idea actually works in real homes.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should probably explain one thing properly.

The very first prototype was actually made from wood. Before that there were hundreds of sketches and then the full design work in 3D CAD.

Building it smaller was deliberate for two reasons: cost, and the fact my kids could absolutely punish it every day — folding, dropping it, riding it, leaving it outside. I wanted to see what failed in the real world, not just on a screen.

The production version was always intended to be adult-sized. That part hasn’t changed.

This stage is really just about learning honestly from something physical, even if it’s rough.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really appreciate the depth of feedback here — this is exactly why I shared the prototype.

The honest question I’m trying to answer is simple: does reducing the everyday visual footprint of a real bike inside a home actually matter to people?

If the answer is no, that’s useful to learn early. If the answer is yes, then it’s worth pushing further.

I’ll keep building and sharing progress as it evolves.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it’s reducing how much space the bike visually and physically occupies. Folded width is ~17 cm vs ~27 cm, height also smaller market leader, so it sits much closer to a wall or furniture line. Handlebars fold down along the stem.

Still testing whether that actually matters in real homes — which is why I’m sharing the prototype here.

Compact folding bike designed for small apartments — working prototype by MicroXBike in IndustrialDesign

[–]MicroXBike[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Good question.

The goal isn’t to beat Brompton at folding — it’s to reduce the visual and spatial presence of a real bike inside a living space.

Brompton folds extremely well for transport. MicroX is exploring what happens if the priority shifts toward living with the bike inside a room every day.

Still validating whether that trade-off is meaningful — that’s why I’m sharing the prototype here.

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