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Hi I've bought a foldable bike and am thinking of changing the derailleurs to Shimano, but I could not figure out what type it is.

The link the to the bike is: https://www.forever-bicycle.com/html/show-22-29-1.html

It says MICROSHIFT FD-42F could not find it on Microshift's website .. and googling seemed to only give results to the product pages of the bike itself. Any chance that this might be a customized item?

To further this question:

If this FD is a customized item .. what are the other alternatives I have? Or is advisable to just switch to internal rear hub?

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    As the owner of a folder, an IGH would be wonderful. The 20" wheel means the derailleur hangs very low, and the whole drivetrain gets a lot dirtier than a larger bike. If you can afford an Alfine or Nexus, then go for it. The 11 speed would be great, 8 speed okay, but I'd avoid the 3 speeds for lack of range.
    – Criggie ♦
    Mar 2 '19 at 3:45
  • Microshift started out almost exclusively producing for the OEM rather than retail markets, so its not surprising a part is not listed on their website.
    – mattnz
    Mar 2 '19 at 3:45
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    Based on part number its probably a variation on mail.microshift.com.tw/FD-R42h_city_fd.html but with braze-on rather than band-on fitting. If its working okay, you don't need to change it.
    – Criggie ♦
    Mar 2 '19 at 3:47
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    Why do you want to change the FD?
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Mar 2 '19 at 4:01
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Its called a "braze-on" front derailleur.

The matching opposite format is a "band-on" or "band clamp" and goes around the seat tube.

https://cdnmos-bikeradar.global.ssl.fastly.net/images/news/2015/05/28/1432779227484-1uv5qnvs7opm2-630-354.jpg

Be careful when torquing the single bolt in your braze-on fitting. Too loose and it will move while shifting. Too tight and it will strip the thread and move while shifting.

Separately - the cable is disappearing downward, so it can be described as "Bottom Pull" or "Bottom Normal"

I can only see one other chainring, so this seems to be on a bike with a double chainring.

Answer Its a braze-on bottom-pull front double mech.

If your question is about groupset - look closely for engraved or embossed model numbers. I can't recognise it.

The front derailleur is not a critical part and given its more about brute force than finesse you can get away with a very low groupset front mech perfectly well. Sora and Tiagra will work fine with a 105 or ultegra rest-of-system, with some minor variance based on chainring separation distance.

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  • Thanks a lot. Now I know where to start searching!! :)
    – Edmund Fong
    Mar 2 '19 at 7:04

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