A folding bike for touring?

[RussSeaton]

I would classify folding bikes into two categories.

The small wheel folding bikes such as the Bike Friday and Dahon.  These have 20 inch or smaller wheels, long seatposts and stems, and fold in half into a fairly small package.  Assume they are very quick to fold and transport.  Seem ideal for trips using several methods of transportation such as buses, planes, cars.  These are sort of easy to transport.  Might make good commuting bikes in large cities where part of the commute is bus and bike.  Bike to the bus stop, ride the bus with the bike folded inside, then ride bike to work.  Do it twice a day.

The other category of folding bikes are the ones that come apart such as the Ritchey BreakAway and Co-Motion Americano with couplers.  These are 700C wheels and the frame divides into two pieces.  They do not pack as small as the above folding bikes.  And the packing takes longer.  Not something you would do once or twice a day.  Or even once or twice a week.  But you have a normal looking bike when assembled.  Seem ideal for someone who flies to a 1-2 month tour couple times a year.  Should be cheaper to fly your bike.

[tomenator]

The Bike Friday company will be the first to admit that their standard frame bike is not really a 'folder' but rather a travel bike - one that breaks down and fits in standard suitcase (aside from their traditional bike they now have a real folder for commuting now called the Tiket").  You can do the same with a standard road or cross bike if you get the frame builder to add those aluminum connectors and related hardware for the cables.  (See the Ritchy Breakaway for a retail example).  I loved my Bike Friday Pocket Rocket (drop bars, 8sp x2) until some jerk stole it.  Was my daily commuter ~7 years and I rode a 500 mile loaded tour on it up the Sierra Mountains here in CA.  The bike handles like any other road bike with the exception of feeling a bit quicker (but not twitchy).  And due to 20-inch wheels I do agree with a previous post that the tires seem to wear out a bit faster than expected.  I would buy another one in a heartbeat but I already had an old and unused cross bike.  Oh another nice thing about BF: they are not only designed but actually made in the USA.