fyrebug
Junior Member
Don't ever tell me what I can't do !!!
Thought I'd share an interesting little setup. I realize lots of people tour or camp with their bikes which involves hauling stuff on the back, but I think kayaks are still somewhat rare, and probably a surprise.
When I first got a bike all my friends got on me about how they're only useful 2 months of the year, can't ride in rain, can't carry anything.
So perhaps this is all just a bit of backlash. I ride through rain, through winter (snowflakes but not heavy) with heated gear, carry camping gear for 2 people + passenger, and on other occasions a compound hunting bow or the kayak.
Sure a car would be easier, but I don't want a second vehicle nor do I need one and it's fun to do what people say you can't. Of course 'can't' just turns into 'stupid' when nay-sayers can't admit they were wrong.
What is it? How much?
I got this Kayak last summer and it's called a Folbot (kiawah model). I'm not affiliated in any way other than being a happy and impressed customer (great product + service). They've been doing this since 1933 so it's by no means a fly by night operation, nor are you beta testing anything, and the kayaks are hand made in the USA and I'm a fan of keeping things local. There's a Canadian company that makes folding kayaks and they're a higher quality but also 2-3x the cost so that was a no-go, even though I'm Canadian.
This one after tax, and UPS (! HORRIBLE FEES $600) + paddle/accessories was verging on $3k (since last year they dropped $500 from the price) which is pretty normal for any decent kayak but the Canadian ones were in the 6k range. I couldn't justify that for my usage levels. inflating ones sound like bad news to me so I won't go near them. I prefer having a rigid metal frame holding things together. if this springs a leak I have a pump. if an air bladder springs a leak on an inflation one I'd be afraid of the entire boat buckling and folding. no way.
The kayak fits inside a backpack and it's similar to a tent in how you assemble it. The difference of course is the poles are much thicker, stronger, and the skin is really thick as well. You can pick the metal frame up and it doesn't flex or anything once assembled.
The kayaks aren't just weekend kayaks for lakes, people take these things to multi day/week expeditions through iceburgs in Alaska. I think that's beyond my skill level for now so this ones just goes to the humber river, lake Ontario, Toronto island..
Review
I won't get into a lengthy review. the quick: takes me about 15min-20min to assemble, 10min to disassemble. Not quite as fast in the water as a fiberglass kayak due to the skin not being as straight but maybe 80%..? no issues going over rocks, but it's not going to whitewater unless you want a broken frame (people have tried). 32lbs but with paddle, life jacket, water shoes, etc it's closer to 40.
I just wear the backpack and get on the bike. the backpack is BIG though. the FZ6 isn't petite so the bag is larger than the photo makes it seem. still trying to find a way to strap it down but the pack is 126L and they don't really make motorcycle bags of that volume.
If you live in an apartment/condo and don't have room to store a kayak, don't have a car, don't want something ontop of your car, or you're not keen on renting and you're into kayaking, this is an option. renting for me doesn't work because they always set you up in a tiny boundary area so you're just paddling around in little circles for $50 a pop and have set times... that gets old real fast.
Overall I'm really happy and thought I'd share. Cheers!
Thought I'd share an interesting little setup. I realize lots of people tour or camp with their bikes which involves hauling stuff on the back, but I think kayaks are still somewhat rare, and probably a surprise.
When I first got a bike all my friends got on me about how they're only useful 2 months of the year, can't ride in rain, can't carry anything.
So perhaps this is all just a bit of backlash. I ride through rain, through winter (snowflakes but not heavy) with heated gear, carry camping gear for 2 people + passenger, and on other occasions a compound hunting bow or the kayak.
Sure a car would be easier, but I don't want a second vehicle nor do I need one and it's fun to do what people say you can't. Of course 'can't' just turns into 'stupid' when nay-sayers can't admit they were wrong.
What is it? How much?
I got this Kayak last summer and it's called a Folbot (kiawah model). I'm not affiliated in any way other than being a happy and impressed customer (great product + service). They've been doing this since 1933 so it's by no means a fly by night operation, nor are you beta testing anything, and the kayaks are hand made in the USA and I'm a fan of keeping things local. There's a Canadian company that makes folding kayaks and they're a higher quality but also 2-3x the cost so that was a no-go, even though I'm Canadian.
This one after tax, and UPS (! HORRIBLE FEES $600) + paddle/accessories was verging on $3k (since last year they dropped $500 from the price) which is pretty normal for any decent kayak but the Canadian ones were in the 6k range. I couldn't justify that for my usage levels. inflating ones sound like bad news to me so I won't go near them. I prefer having a rigid metal frame holding things together. if this springs a leak I have a pump. if an air bladder springs a leak on an inflation one I'd be afraid of the entire boat buckling and folding. no way.
The kayak fits inside a backpack and it's similar to a tent in how you assemble it. The difference of course is the poles are much thicker, stronger, and the skin is really thick as well. You can pick the metal frame up and it doesn't flex or anything once assembled.
The kayaks aren't just weekend kayaks for lakes, people take these things to multi day/week expeditions through iceburgs in Alaska. I think that's beyond my skill level for now so this ones just goes to the humber river, lake Ontario, Toronto island..
Review
I won't get into a lengthy review. the quick: takes me about 15min-20min to assemble, 10min to disassemble. Not quite as fast in the water as a fiberglass kayak due to the skin not being as straight but maybe 80%..? no issues going over rocks, but it's not going to whitewater unless you want a broken frame (people have tried). 32lbs but with paddle, life jacket, water shoes, etc it's closer to 40.
I just wear the backpack and get on the bike. the backpack is BIG though. the FZ6 isn't petite so the bag is larger than the photo makes it seem. still trying to find a way to strap it down but the pack is 126L and they don't really make motorcycle bags of that volume.
If you live in an apartment/condo and don't have room to store a kayak, don't have a car, don't want something ontop of your car, or you're not keen on renting and you're into kayaking, this is an option. renting for me doesn't work because they always set you up in a tiny boundary area so you're just paddling around in little circles for $50 a pop and have set times... that gets old real fast.
Overall I'm really happy and thought I'd share. Cheers!
