Folding Bikes

Cool, sounds like a good idea to fill a need. I wonder why there aren't more bikes like these being produced. What does it look like folded? That's not a bad weight for a folding bike!

It looks pretty short for big wheels though, are you getting toe overlap?

Here's the pics folded. I've also taken off the detachable pedals...

So now it's easy to drop into the boot of a car or sit near the exit door of a train.

I wonder why there aren't more bikes like these being produced.
Hmm, good question, it does look different for a road bike... and also Dahon already has a folding road bike with their Tournado (it's not an instant fold, more an Allen Key + 25 mins to make it happen, but the frame looks like a regular road bike...).

That's not a bad weight for a folding bike!
The weight is helped by the alu frame and picking known components with published weights. Also, I've done simple things like swapping out the heavy R500 wheelset skewers for titanium ones that I sourced from the web.

It looks pretty short for big wheels though, are you getting toe overlap?
I was worried about that as well, but testing out has shown no overlap.

DREDGE!
So - have things moved on since 2009? Are any of the cheaper folders worth looking at (Tern, Dahon etc) now or is it a false economy and it's off to Brompton for me?

Dahon bikes are poorly constructed.

This still.

Most notably the quick release for the stem - still poorly designed.

Hi all,

Have started commuting full-time and as much as it pains me I need to look into a folding bike...

All experiences and suggestions welcomed.

Ta

Brompton.

This is all.

Small wheels, cost... I do like the look of them though!

No, really. Brompton.

is that the thread ended then?

Pretty much.

Unless you wanted those proper round-the-world touring/racing/dutch folder, then look at Bike Friday.

I haz Dahon Mu Uno. It's fun. You can bunny hop and wheelie it

Good, nice to see some other options :) Ta

Jim recommended avoiding Dahons due to the proprietary sizes they used- they had to strip down a complete bike for parts to use on others due to not being able to get spares in a timely fashion.

This was a couple of years ago and times may have changed now, but worth checking what happens if spokes break etc.

Kansi are good if you're after a 20''. Or Giant Halfway. Good luck with your Dahon when your headtube has decided to part with the rest of the bike. When you pull out at the lights.

The frame has a lifetime warranty. As long as I live, I'll get another one.

Dahon looks good. Good price, does it hold up well SB?

The fold is a bit shit but it doesn't bother me. Plus, all the bits (except folding mech and front hub) are standard sized so easy to replace. Everything on a Brompton is proprietry

I'll be folding it on and off the train so as long as it's not too massive then that's not a deal breaker...

Brompton no question - reliability, serviceability, acess to spare parts, and no1 customer service, warranty @ technical help of any manufacturer I've dealt with.

Dahon - parts can be a mare to get hold of, warranty pretty much non-existent. Not brompton.

Tern - members from Dahon splintered away, improvement in access to spare parts and warranty, improved design over Dahon. Not brompton.

The frame has a lifetime warranty. As long as I live, I'll get another one.

Until Raleigh drop them, like Zyro did and Fishers before that.

Tern - members from Dahon splintered away, improvement in access to spare parts and warranty, improved design over Dahon. Not brompton.

How come Dahon website go straight to Tern? what happen to Dahon itself?

I believe there was some sort of (family?!) dispute within Dahon which caused the split, I'll try to confirm circumstances with colleagues tomorrow (if anyone really cares). Tern was born from the split.

Replacement (proprietary) parts are still hard to get hold of for Dahon, though Evans stocks some (forks etc) and there is some crossover with these parts and Tern. Dahonspares.co.uk is a source we usually recommend and we have a contact within Tern(& dahon) who we can go to for more problematic issues.

I know warranty frames within Dahon took AGES as they used to have to build them from scratch because they didn't stock surplus, and the build process itself was pretty intensive.

Terns do certainly seem to be an improvement upon the Dahon brand.

I've had a Dahon Espresso (2005 before company got moved/sold) which was awesome, rode london to Paris, then coast to coast then a few Rat Races, it did everything that a commute hike shouldn't have been able to do and very comfortably. 26" wheels, technically soeaking it TFL won't let you on even when it's folded because of large wheel size, but handy if u need to park it in small flat.

My partner has a Dahon mu UNO, which is SS, coaster brake, folds small, but a faff to carry, Brampton defo has a better design. Mind you, it's a lot cheaper tho.

My favourite tho, is the Giant Halfway, had one when I was at uni. 24" wheels, so you don't look ridiculous, its a mono fork, folds thin and small, well made, and options of gears etc. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/halfway.2/9324/49846/

technically speaking it TFL won't let you on even when it's folded because of large wheel size, but handy if u need to park it in small flat.

Technically speaking, folding bicycle are allowed, the Dahon Espresso fit in that description, they're talking shite AFAIK there's no restriction on wheel size.

While back I looked at this but it's not really a folding bike :P

some may say it's overpriced at £950, personally I don't think so .. there is one in stock at Evans if you want to give it a test ride, again it's not a folding bike