firefly’s titanium mini travel bike unfastens easily to fit in RIMOWA luggage

Oct 18, 2024

Every bike Firefly manufactures is custom-made, including its new titanium mini Velo travel bike. This bike features detachable parts that allow it to fit inside a RIMOWA luggage. Tailored to Ming Thein, founder of Ming Watches, the custom-made travel bike features a titanium frame and fork, and the frame features ‘Z couplers’ which are used to break the bike into two pieces. The magic of taking the bicycle apart like puzzle pieces starts around these titanium parts. Firefly creates a seemingly plug-and-unplug setup, allowing the owner to unfasten the rear from the front part. The other parts then follow suit, detaching until the pieces are sizable enough to fit inside the RIMOWA luggage.

images courtesy of Firefly Bicycles

As the travel bike was commissioned, Kevin Wolfson, Firefly’s Director of Operations and Frame Design, tells designboom ‘because our bikes are all custom, we can design a mini Velo to fit in any case that’s the same size or larger than the RIMOWA, so customers aren’t limited to just that case. Every bike we make is custom made, and we welcome any other customers to order a Minivelo like the one we made for Ming. We would just work with them to customize the exact fit, frame geometry, finish, and components to suit them perfectly.’

Firefly’s custom titanium mini travel Velo bike unfastens to fit inside RIMOWA luggage

Firefly says that the design team adjusted the gearing and geometry of the custom titanium mini Velo travel bike to mimic the typical size and fit of a road bicycle. The long seatpost is internally reinforced with carbon fiber to make it lightweight when the owner carries it inside their RIMOWA luggage. It also complements the robust chassis and wheels, given its comfort and weight. ‘The wheel size does add a bit of nimbleness and boost acceleration and braking. It feels like a fast bike should, but with some interesting dynamics,’ writes Firefly in an Instagram post.

the magic of taking the bicycle apart like puzzle pieces starts around these titanium pump bodies

In another Instagram post, Firefly mentions being commissioned by a frequent world traveler and avid cyclist, and the bike brand took up the challenge to bridge their love for travel and cycling. It led the design team to create parts that can be unfastened for the custom titanium mini Velo travel bike. These detachable sections allow the owner to fit them within their RIMOWA luggage when they travel abroad. For riders who want their own custom mini travel bike with detachable parts or other personalized models, they can reach out to Kevin Wolfson of Firefly.

the owner owns a RIMOWA luggage hence the specific request

Firefly’s custom titanium mini Velo travel bike with unfastened parts inside RIMOWA luggage

closer view