Dahon folding bikes

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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www.keepturningleft.co.uk
I am going to try to get hold of a couple of folders for the forthcoming trip around the top

On the journey up to Scotland there will be three big blokes

Me 6 foot and 14 stone, John six foot 1 and 12 stone, Roger - a bit shorter than both of us -


once we get to scotland there will be me - again

my son 12 stone and 6 foot three

Jill - 8 stone - 5 foot five

Ell - nine stone 5 foot five

Dannie - 8 stone - 5 foot three


I am going to start looking for a couple of Dahons (new or second hand) which are neither too expensive - nor too cheap and they seem to hold their value on ebay/gumtree

but there is a bewlidering array of them

http://dahon.com/mainnav/foldingbikes/urban.html

I am after strong bikes, smallness of fold is not that crucial, lightness is not that crucial, 20 inch wheels, enclosed gears rather than derailer and I am after racks to carry fuel cans and groceries.

first hand experiences of Dahons - especially from big blokes would be most welcome

this one says that it can accommodate riders up to 6 foot 4

http://s442721994.e-shop.info/shop/...c68nfrRMx&shop_param=cid=96&aid=DAHVITD7HG14&
 
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We had Dahon Sidewalks for 12 yrs until i sold them on, frames still good just the spokes rusty. make sure you get the 20" wheels for an easier ride.
i now have S/S DiBlasi, they ride better but are heavier & dont fold as small as the Dahon but do have more gears & the saddle is more comfy for the larger bottom
 
I think Dahons have improved since ours of 25+ yrs ago. If you get offered a blue one and a red one which were stolen in Amsterdam, don't bother to let me know because they were clapped out.

We also have had DiBlasis and for 14yrs, but newer bikes have larger wheels, which is an advantage. DiBlasis have quite a short wheelbase, but ride reasonably. I find that the five derailleur gears help a lot to overcome the deficiencies of living with small wheels.
 
If small fold isn't that important, look out for a Montague Bi-frame (also made by Rudge & more recently by Halfords apparently). It is a full size MTB with 26" wheels that folds neatly in half. I fitted mine (kindly donated by Haydn) with folding pedals to get it flatter & it stacks quite flat. More to the point, it is a full size MTB so big blokes don't bother it & it is a doddle to ride, even over rougher ground.
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Folded5.jpg
 
I have exactly the Dahon you are looking for. It is a Vitesse, D3 I think ( will get out of my sofa and check if important). 20 inch wheels, aluminium frame, 3 speed strurmey archer type gears, so chain is enclosed. I use it to get around London after training it in. Very easy to ride and I'm 6'6" and 15.5 stone. My wife also uses it and finds it a nice bike to ride.
 
rb_stretch said:
I have exactly the Dahon you are looking for. It is a Vitesse, D3 I think ( will get out of my sofa and check if important). 20 inch wheels, aluminium frame, 3 speed strurmey archer type gears, so chain is enclosed. I use it to get around London after training it in. Very easy to ride and I'm 6'6" and 15.5 stone. My wife also uses it and finds it a nice bike to ride.
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brilliant stuff

I think they have now fitted a 7 speed enclosed gear

I will start punting around to see if I can find some bikes

I could buy a good second hand one - or buy new and re-sell next summer

D
 
dylanwinter said:
brilliant stuff

I think they have now fitted a 7 speed enclosed gear

I will start punting around to see if I can find some bikes

I could buy a good second hand one - or buy new and re-sell next summer

D
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Hi Dylan

I bought a Dahon Vitesse D7HG off fleabay for the boat just over a year ago. I would go for the seven speed if you can, especially as Scotland can be quite hilly. I looked at cheaper alternatives (new) but can't see how you could go wrong with a second hand one of these as they seem to hold their value well.


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Dylan..

Sorry we didn't get to meet recently... Work tasks got in the way..

I have a couple of Dahon D7HG bicycles and one gets used every day (except for laziness the past few weeks) to and from work.

As you say - 7 speed gear built into the hubs so no derailleur to snag on things.

Are you or your family able to buy through the government 'Cycle to work' scheme. Tax savings and you pay over 12 months..

Not as light as some folders.. and the fold is not as small as some Bromptons.. But the Dahon padded bag is good!
 
PS.. They need a good lock. Speaking from experience, a cheap cable lock isn't good enough!

If you're around the area this weekend and the rain holds off I can cycle past and you can try one out for size, weight and foldability..
 
good offer

Martin_J said:
PS.. They need a good lock. Speaking from experience, a cheap cable lock isn't good enough!

If you're around the area this weekend and the rain holds off I can cycle past and you can try one out for size, weight and foldability..
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it would be good to try one

marooned at home due to four bums and two cars

University re-starts monday so equilibrium will be restored

I will aquire a decent lock or two via ebay once I have sourced the bikes

I myself think that the sturmey archer was designed in heaven angels whereas a derailer is the spawn of satan

if a hill is so steep that you need anything lower than the lowest of the three gears designed by Gabriel himself then you should get off and walk

if you need anything faster than the top gear configured by Jesus then you are going way too fast for a man your age and you should stop peddling for a while

so do I want those seven gears?

D

Vitesse_D3D_7HG_gross.png


PS - oo look at me mithering about bikes when the echo-sounder is still not working
 
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Echo-sounder? I thought you were a pea-stick man?

Anyway, echo sounders are a waste of space in Scotland where it is either too deep to stand up or rocks rising straight off the sea bed. And if you happen to be over a beach at high water you will be able to see the bottom by simply looking over the side.

May be a bit different heading up the East of England in the N Sea mind, even if you stay a bit offshore. But even if you hit the Dogger, you'll be OK in a Centaur & just float of when the tide comes back.
 
I recently bought a "Tern" folding bike - if you don't know the brand they are the result of a split in the Dahon company and so are very similar.

It is a very nice piece of kit - I chose the version with the internal gears (the link P7i) and I am very impressed by it. Very easy and comfortable to ride - I would have no concerns about doing reasonably long trips on it. it comes with a luggage rack and the ability to mount another on the front of the frame. It has plenty of height adjustment in the seat post, and some adjustability in the handlebars (a pivot motion that combines some up down and stretch) - it suits me fine but if there is going to be an issue of fitting it will be in that area - depends how fussy you are.

I believe that the experience on a Dahon would be identical - I chose the Tern because that is what the local shop stocks.
 
I would add to the above ( having carried ful size mountain, Raleigh Racer type and latterly folders on boats ) over the years , I have downsized to no backrack ( feet catch) and three gears from six on the folders). And natty luggage that clips over the FRONT wheel..

Don't forget the Kevlar puncture proof tyres though and a inexpensive 12v inflator , and D lock!
 
Blueboatman said:
Don't forget the Kevlar puncture proof tyres though and a inexpensive 12v inflator , and D lock!
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Come off it - you don't need a 12V inflator for a 20" wheel :)

My tern in fact comes with a very clever pump built into the seat post - not entirely sure why :)
 
Dylan
I have 2 folding bikes I bought from mailspeed. They are OK but a couple of points to note

1) On cheaper bikes lots of gears tend not to work properly & you end up only getting access to half that many as the gear change is rarely precise enough. So 7 gears is not much of an advantage over 3 as it would be on a better quality bike

2) For taller persons the seats are rarely high enough - regardless of manufacturers claims- so the cyclist ends up struggling to ride properly as he cannot get his/hers legs straight enough. My solution was to buy a longer stem. The standard diameter of which is normally 25mm. I had a devil of a job getting one & even now it is not enough. In addition the frames are not so stiff as a full sized cycle so they flex & this is worse on a folding cycle especially with a longer stem.
So if for taller persons check the stem diameter & availability of longer ones. Some have 30mm stems & this may be an advantage
 
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