(about) when did BF switch to the LH rear end fold?

[Peter Stock]

and am I correct that it was to better protect the rear derailleur when packed?

Peter Stock

Toronto, Canada

[John Thurston]

When you asked a similar question in 2022, Walter Lapchynski responded:

The bikes used to swing right. Back when we had the original Samsonite clamshell suitcase, things were really, really tight. The right swing created a tighter fold, so it made sense. It had lots of downfalls, though, including exposing the rear derailleur to damage and often times requiring the drive side crank to be removed to keep the chainrings from gouging the chainstay (or preventing a full fold). You probably never had that latter problem as DualDrives don't need large chainrings but for folks not using internally geared hubs but wanting big gears, it was a big issue.

I can't remember if it was during the next case we had (Carlton) or with the advent of the larger Samsonite suitcases that came after that we opted to go for the left fold to solve all the above problems as we were no longer inhibited by the space requirements.

Which, to answer today's question, can be summarized as "yes".

As for the question embedded in the subject line: in 2020, it was several years more than a decade ago. I'll throw a dart at the calendar on the wall and say . .. 2005

-- 
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska

[Peter Stock]

Awesome.
and I can cancel that MOCA test appointment.
the results are already in

Peter