KABON Folding Bike - Roadie Build

[Taicho_Cyclist]

For the lack of folding bicycle category, I have decided to post here since the build is steered towards road bike build.

I bought a Kabon T800 carbon fiber folding bicycle for commuter recently to replace my existing BXT Carbon folding commuter. However, my evil mind decided to build an aero folding bicycle that not only can commute but go fast. When I looked around home for existing components, an Ultegra R8100 crankset with Stages G3 left crank vs Xcadey DUB carbon crank, BBs, spare Sensah Empire Pro (12s) and Sunshne SL 12T-32T, carbon road handlebar are available. So it was quickly decided to put a roadster together.

So here are intial pictures of the first build based on what I have being put together. Originally I had installed the Xcadey powermeter but the BB bearing was atrociously unsmooth so I changed it out. Parts and all are entirely from Aliexpress which includes brakes, rotors, cables and housing, steering saddle. The bike came originally with an ally aero seatpost that weighed at a whopping 544 grams. So I had it replaced with the carbon version at a diet weight of 385 grams.

Current build is 8.85 kg with stock Aliexpress carbon 451 wheelset and IRC Jetty Plus 20x1-1/8" tires. I have purchased a carbon steerer column which came with M23 locknut otherwise it would have reduced the weight to 8.55 kg. It is not compatible with the fork nut size with is a M20 so a replacement has been ordered which is en-route. Will update again once all the modifications are complete.

Here are initial pictures:

[maza]

This is beautiful! Last year I was drooling on the Stijn Peg 2.0 minivelo. Do you have any pictures of it folded? Does the drop bar interfere with foldability? How is the handling and does the geometry work? Peg is designed to be road minivelo and allegedly rides very well!

[Taicho_Cyclist]

I am not happy with the alloy steerer as first it is weighty, and as a right fold is not great as the handlebar will impeded by the frame/wheel. Hence I bought the 2-piece carbon steerer which can insert betweem the frames and wheels when folded. I used the stock QR Magnets to hold both wheels together when folded for secure hold in the subway.

[MDZPNMD]

Yesterday I thought about building this thing and today I find your post. What a pleasant coincidence.

Why the switch from the BXT?

Your build is great, do you mind posting some links or search words for the new steerer and maybe the components you've used or a components list?
Where did you get the seatpost? My biggest concern was breaking it and being unable to get a replacement.

How much tire clearance do you have? I assume you'd probably be faster and more efficient changing to 32-50mm continental contact urban tires despite the weight penalty. Especially with smaller wheels wider tires compensate for the smaller contact patch and rolling resistance penalty on uneven terrain.

Please keep this post going, I greatly enjoy it

[Taicho_Cyclist]

The Kabon has been something I have been eyeing for a long time but due to the 1X configuration, I went with the BXT instead which has a round seat column which supports a clamp on front derailleur. In the end, I stayed 1X as the clamping is just not necessary for a folding commuter. So I passed it to a relative in the family and finally bought the KABON

Components list:
Groupset: Sensah Empire Pro (12S) - Rear derailleur, carbon version of the shifters (easily available to search on Aliexpress through Sensah Official Store or LingMai who is a trusted seller)

Wheelset: Non-branded 20x451 carbon clincher disc wheelset (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004341879551.html)

Tire: IRC Jetty Plus 20x1-1/8 (buy what you like)

Carbon head steerer: Sourced is from a Taobao seller; the steerer comes with M23*1.0 lock nut. If your steerer uses a M20*1.0 version, you need to get the M20 version else the mounting column will not fit (https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?_u=l1uad1v69da3&id=821991830494&pisk=gRs_sF_l3fc_Mv-xhF2eFCX6QTxVcJrzDx9AEtnZHhK9lmBNNKo2uPvjcB68ICz0Ss_CM6Yw6I82cK1ytOo4IOybctBJ6n7w_KCFG60N_iRVTo6lNFoNHikG-_W-bGzM0miMmnFzaurPQOxDD3eJSdhgvLJ70mL96hxKaCMayurPIOxDD7Pz4iog71pskmCxW23ptKGvMnCvvkpX9cpxXKhLdBAKMjp9BvppnLm9DmLvvkpwhjn9DIEppBvvDjpAM9eB3Bdx_kcB3P9ACR4cpNsQgFX9OmnAXhY6Gggqcm1JBFgMWB6FLM965Q8H3CZRX6WAbGY3oq-cLa1fks4r-h6AWhpPIliB2OQFcpS43qOOLM6dcUMYeQIGpgxp8ue5pMfNIM6qHopFaBBGX3hLmpjNHGTfcSgDbaWPmUITfbAerK1wT_E-AHLA41iyNzoZlvToDpggdJgmoHCuxA4YUYOMWpvT4JwIOqcoDmuh0Jgx7FpHBNwQdXGA.&spm=a1z09.2.0.0.314c2e8d9iL2cz)

Replacement fork mounting lock nut: M20*1.0 (https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?from=cart&id=754132743093&pisk=ggHjFGGnbZbbwSeOfSxzAVAwCLwal3JFCGZtxcBVX-eY5Risv5Bwi-P_C4Ur3ro4Hico8DBq3I2NCt2gBe8eLpoqmR2T2sDXbZj8xlJaDsUYn8Esn_8pLpommR298eJEQtj4BofOBVCAy7UuvoBY6VFRel4RHlBYXaK7rzETXOUTy0EUx1IxWtB82lrgXZUTk0p8XzUTBSCx23ZgyoeTBjt1PlRbXmtDeWzpxdQROWXOBYZbwWoYk7VWboPXwmalBujuqSsqDz6OBYczpgP3kBjzS-zmxogMKt2Y1Xmafq9fHVinE4Z-Jd6Uk0mETSDvK1VQBPNL2vKNtzk7uVHbwHWQ_8HU9-hyZEPahleYtbxGgPhtAvwquUXTuXi-PWkPz9yirf3Tf4Qf4k6URBWV1gNhBu1DV31Gs83HEiqqJ6LLMuqvL3t5P1bhBO5oQ31OgSEuDjtWVa_O.&skuId=5201071729816&spm=a1z0d.6639537%2F202410.item.d754132743093.3e087484w7V0RX)

From my existing spares lying around: carbon handlebar and stem, saddle, some spare Ti bolts to replace the rear racks mount screws that are made of steel.

Build Note: I set up the build from the comfort of my own home. Cabling was relatively smooth with some minor snag to route the housing correctly to the rear brake and derailleur correctly. Once that sorted it is quite straightforward as the rest of the process is mounting the head steerer, seatpost, rotors on wheelset, tires, and the usual alignment job.

Tire clearance from bare rim without tire is 5cm high and 6cm wide, rear is about 5cm heigh and 5 cm wide.