Dahon Folding Bicycle Forum: New Rider Questions http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:05:20 -0700 30 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7827
I've just completed my warranty registration for my Mu P8 and noted the requirement for a pre ride check to be done and a receipt to be obtained.

I bought my bike over the internet and the company who supplied it say that they have carried out a pre sales inspection including brakes gears etc. Would a copy of this e-mail be enough to cover the warranty or will I have to take the bike to a dealer for a service?

Thanks again for any replies

Paul]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:02:02 -0700 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7827 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7783
I would like to purchase a NOS (new old stock) Speed Pro TT model but I'm 6-3, 230-lbs and I'm really wondering if I'm just too damn large for this Dahon. Maybe the wheels won't be strong enough, the frame, etc. Even though I'm tall, my inseam is not super long, I'm more long in the chest. I take a 34 inch pant, not 36 like most 6-3 and up fellas. My normal frame size in fact, is 60cm....sometimes even a 58 so I'm wondering if the seat stem will be ok if all other factors are ok as well.

I know I'm right at the cusp of what the company recommends but I'm curious if there are any others my size on Dahons and their impressions?

Thanks everyone!]]> Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:55:38 -0700 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7783 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7745 I just bought a new Dahon ECO 3. It is my 3rd Dahon. It is very stiff and hard to fold compared to my boardwalk models. Any one have this experience with this model? Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:20:49 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7745 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7726
Terry ]]> Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:49:51 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7726 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7683 I'm a new owner of a 2008 Mu P24, and new to the forum. Only a few miles on the bike so far, but enough to know that I am loving the dual drive. Finding the fold awkward and tricky to get those magnets to meet up. Usually have to unfold it three or four times to see what's holding the fold up.

Here is the main reason for the post. The bike has developed a loud click at the top of the revolution of the right crank. It took me some time but I finally narrowed it down to the folding pedal. I removed the pedals and mounted some older clip in pedals I had lying around and the clicking is gone. I'm wondering if this is a warranty issue. Should I try to get new pedals from the seller, or from Dahon? The seller, Brands Cycles, may not want to hear from me as they sell cheaply. I don't know how much money they have left to devote to service or support. Any opinions here?

Also, how do I know if the stem thing recall has been fixed? I don't see any indication of it.]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:26:44 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7683 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7664 I have a Jetstream P8 and love it. But I want to upgrade to lighter, stronger wheels. Can I fit Kinetix Pro wheels to the bike and would it be worth it? Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:01:24 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7664 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7642 I currently own a 2003 Dahon Matrix, I love the bike rides and handles well. Any way I am planing on going to Italy some time in 2011 or late 2010 and I would like to take a bike with me. I have the air-porter case for my Matrix and I have taken it to Aruba a couple of times San Fran etc.

I was looking at purchasing another Dahon like Speed 7 or 8, I figure the bike would be lighter and would fit in my air-porter case with out dis-assembly. After I have been looking at the fold size of the 20" bikes It not much smaller than my Matrix. I do have to take the wheels of my Matrix and I would not have with a 20" I realize that. My Matrix weighs about 28 pounds Speed 7 and 8 are about the same.

It just seems like I am missing something, what I mean is going to a smaller size bike I thought I could gain room in my suit case for other items and the bike would be much lighter but it does not seem to be the case. Or does a couple of inches really make that big of a difference.

Does any one out their own a 26" and 20" Dahon I would love to hear you opinion or any ones opinion for that matter

Thanks
]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:50:37 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7642 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7637
This is my first post to your forums. I have recently returned to cycling after more than twenty years and as such, my knowledge of bicycles (much less folders) is very limited, so I was wondering if someone would be able to answer my question. I hope I can get my question across clearly and please forgive my ignorance in advance

I have a Speed D7 (2009) and I am really enjoying riding it. However, there are times when the ability to push it along folded would be advantageous. I have read that this is possible and in fact, many of you do so. The problem I am having is when the handlebar post is folded down, the brakes are applied which prevents the wheels from moving freely (obviously). The bike was set up by my LBS (Evans Cycles - not my first choice but I was bound by my workplace's Ride2Work Scheme) and the cables, which run alongside the post (as opposed to the illustration provided by Dahon):

are held together with a corkscrew type cable tie.

I'm wondering if the cables have been set up incorrectly which is causing the brakes to apply, and if so, can someone offer a solution? I've had the bike for two weeks now and I have to take it back to the shop in a fortnight for its first checkup. As a relative novice, is this something I could do, or should I get the shop's mechanics to correct it if needed?

The wheels spin fine when the handlebar post is up, but to be honest, I have a hard job keeping the wheels aligned pushing it that way, even with the magnets.

Hope you can help and many thanks in advance.]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:56:16 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7637 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7586
I have just bought my Speed Pro TT the other day to replace my 18 years old MTB. I am totally new to the Dual Drive & road bike.

My question is when you shift the internal hub, are we supposed to noticably feel the difference between the 3 levels?

With my old MTB, when I change the front derailleur, I can feel the difference in the pedal. But, with my Speed Pro TT, I just don't feel anything.

Is it common or is there anything wrong with my bike?


]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:37:20 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7586 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7573
I recently bought a Dahon Jack as a pretty much one-purpose bike, I strap it on a backpack frame, hike up a local mountain and ride down paved roads with the Jack. For that it is perfect. It is a smooth riding bike and I would use it more but I would like the handlebar height higher for regular use. I see the Dahon Espresso has a more upright/higher handlebar stem (the part from the headset post to the handlebar) and I was wondering if it would fit on the Jack NVO post (or whatever it is called) and the Jack handlebar. I asked at the bike shop I bought it from, they didn't know and also didn't know if a Espresso stem could be purchased so I thought I might get info here. Is the Espresso stem proprietary, can it be purchased from Dahon or another source and will it fit on the Dahon post and handlebar?

Thanks for any input.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:05:40 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7573 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7566

I have a larger 26" (non-Dahon) folding bike, which is great. It rides very nicely - better my old non-folding bike - and is convenient for the car and train.

My wife is thinking about getting a bike too, and thought why not a folding one too. She has not ridden for almost 20 years and has an interest in a very old school setup, like when she was a kid. That is - backpedal brakes (aka coaster brakes) and a single gear is fine!

I have a very short commute (2.5 km - 1.5 miles - each way) I currently take by tram, but could (and would like to) do by bike if I had a folder that was relatively light. The folding size is not so important as there's plenty of space, but it should be easy to carry and/or roll.

So, we were thinking about sharing a bike. She will probably only ride with me and/or the kids, so it'd work out time-wise. But she is concerned about the size of the bike. She wants a small one! Not just the wheels, everything.

But I am a 187cm tall (6'2") and find some 24" bikes (e.g. Airnimal Joey) a bit small handlebar to seatpost. She is 166cm (5'5").

We were interested in the Mu Uno because of the simplicity, fun factor, brakes, good reviews, weight and folding. It says its suitable for people below 5 foot to above 6 foot. Is this realistic?

Then... what adjustments would we make to the bike to switch between riders? The stem is fixed right? And the distance between seat and handlebars? Is it just the seat going up and down? I would ride with the seat above the handlebars and her below? Can the handlebars be adjusted - or replaced with something that would help us?

Any experience from bike-sharers of different sizes would be much appreciated!]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:02:51 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7566 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7556
First I am curious about sizing - your height in inches has little to do with your leg length, which is what is going to affect your ride the most, correct? I am 5'5" and have a 32" inseam (and usually wear boots with at least a 1 or 2" sole) - 16" or 18" frame?

Secondly, is weight important (a much lower than average weight in my case)? Does it affect how a given model will work for you, or have any bearing on what size frame you should get? I weigh 100 lbs. I am not at all worried about the weight of the bike itself, they are all under 40 lbs which isn't difficult for me to lift/carry.

I want 26" wheels but can't decide what to get. Jack, Matrix, Cadenza 8, Cadenza Solo (I never used the gears on my last bike)? I don't have to commute daily but the bike will be used as my vehicle (in the city and burbs). I live in a hilly area, and it is frequently raining or the roads are covered in salt. Any input on what the heck I should buy would be appreciated!]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:21:43 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7556 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7499 He then raised the seat (my dumb) and I loved it. I would have preferred to buy the super expensive Ciao P8 that is so popular in the Netherlands, but too much $$$ for me.

Can I turn my humble Boardwalk into a more Dutch-looking style bike? In other words, get a tan leather spring seat, tan leather handgrips, black bumpers, tail light and front light, plus dutch basket for the front. I was also tempted by those crazy big apple tires. Can you buy all this stuff for the Boardwalk, will it fit, or will it cost me the price of getting the Ciao in the first place? Thanks!

missbinky]]> Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:37:14 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7499 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7469
I recently bought a Speed P8 (2008) model from a dealer in California. The bike was shipped to me in New York. I never rode a folding bike before, although I have been riding full size bikes all my life. After the first few rides I noticed a problem that is really annoying. Whenever I brake and coast to a stop, there is a bumpy feeling in the ride. It's as if the brakes were hitting on a spot on the rim and each time they do, the bike jolts and the braking is not smooth. I had it checked by a few dealers in NYC and they said it was most likely the rim. So I had a new one sent from California, installed it, only to find that exactly the same problem still exists...

The dealer eventually told me that this is a normal thing to feel with V-Brakes and folding bikes, whenever you are coasting and that it is related to the binding, or point where the wheel is joined together...He also said that if I want to avoid these kinds of issues, I should get disc brakes… I tried my girlfriends Speed D7, to find that there is exactly the same issue, although I can feel it only at slower speeds on hers, than on my P8.

I am really at a loss as what to do. The brakes have been checked, the wheel and rim is new and no dealer seems to know what else could be wrong. I will check out a few more bikes to see if the same problems exist, but if anyone has any feedback, or has experienced the same thing, I would really appreciate some help!

Many thanks!
]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:42:50 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7469 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7448
I have just ordered a Dahon ECO1 (http://www.bicyclestore.com.au/Dahon-Eco-1-pr-23134.html), which is a single gear bike and the only Dahon bike that I can afford at the moment
I got it for quite a good price as the shop were having a special price.

Although I wish i have the cash for the Dahon Mu Uno. It's such a good looking and good performance bike.

Anyway, my question are:

- Is the difference between EcO1 and the mu UNO is very significant in term of handling and performance?
- Why is the ECO1 only distributed in Australia? Looking at the specs it's decent enough and comparable to the ECO3.
- Is it worth it to get the Biologic suspension seat post in order to improve the ECO1 ride quality?

Any comments would be appreciated,

Cheers]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:16:02 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7448 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7411
I just got my brand new Mu P8 and both of its wheels (rims) are slightly off centered (one of them even vertically). Is this normal on 20" wheels? I would expect, that the rims will be perfectly straight when brand new.

What do you think?

Milan]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:23:37 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7411 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7403 I ordered the 2009 Boardwalk, but now I see that the handle-bars are described as "non-adjustable" -- Is the seat height adjustable? I don't want to be hunched over riding this thing! (my arms are short, I am short, so will have to lean forward if the 24-inch span between handlebar and seat is level). On the other hand, it might be just as bad to lower the seat, making pedaling uncomfortable and reducing my viewing range...) Please advise, thanks!]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:26:01 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7403 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7397
The mechanism seems very cheap. I did read that it's not the best shifting mechanism, but not bad either...but no one ever said how tacky it really is! I find the Espresso an ugly bike, too, now that I see it close up instead of on a web page...the welding marks are not smooth at all, and also appear kinda cheap.

And what about this "5 second folding time" claim by safetycycle.com (where I purchased my bike via Amazon)? C'mon, it takes a good minute to unscrew the left pedal, unscrew the handlbars, then fold the clunky thing and bind the two halves with a velcro band...it's an unwieldy, awkward maneuver...you can bang your shins easily, and smear chain grease onto your pants! I don't mind if it takes two minutes...but to advertise 5 seconds is intentionally deceptive.

I've read so many good things about Dahon bicycles, I did not expect such low quality. Now, I gotta go through the dumb hassle of sending it back.

I also read that Dahon bikes are made in California, but there's a "made in China" sticker on it! Egads, what a disappointment! Talk about a lemon!

I will never consider purchasing a Dahon bike ever again.]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:17:30 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7397 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7396
Well, the pedal screw just doesn't seem to "catch" whether I use my fingers, or the wrench. I'm very careful to hold the pedal at a perfect 90-degree angle, yet no go! Why is this so difficult? Is there some sort of trick to this?

BTW, the search engine for this forum is useless.]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:57:03 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7396 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7389
I've just purchased a Dahon Speed Pro TT bike. Got it new from an authorised Dahon retailer in the UK. I've got one snag with it.... how do I change gears? I can go one way, large to small, but not back up! What do I do?

Really sorry about the simple nature of this question, but cannot find this info from the supplied manuals.]]> Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:21:17 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7389 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7383
The seller told me it was in 2009 model but we wanted to confirm this information.

How I can check if it is the 2009 model?

How can I check the model year of my bike?

What are the main differences between these two models (2008 vs. 2009)?

Thank you for your attention.

Best regards...
]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:33:22 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7383 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7368
We already took it to a bike shop that works with folding bikes and they said that it's probably just the cables hitting against the frame but I am not sure.

Also, the front brakes are hardly smooth. We took it into the shop and they replaced the front rim as the seam was not flush and might have been the reason the brakes make a thumping sound. The sounds persists.

Any help out there?]]> Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:53:24 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7368 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7351 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:24:01 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7351 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7349 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:26:04 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7349 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7343 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:39:42 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7343 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7328 Im having a tough time deciding which bike to get. I would like to use the bike to commute from work to home but would occasionally like to ride for fun. I am wondering how much faster can the SP TT go compared to the mu sl.

aaron]]> Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:43:57 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7328 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7291 I am looking for a light weight Dahon than could serve both for road and trail with the ability to also have high gearing for hills and speed and give opportuing for pannier bags. Can a seasoned user recommend a model? I ride several non-folding bikes now. Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:03:51 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7291 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7287
i'd like to purchase a dahon that i can ride in madrid, which has its share of hills here and there, and then fold up, put in a bag, and check in at the national library, which is where i'll be biking to most days, as well as take on the subway and into bars and cafés.
this what my city riding will consist up and i'd like a light bike that i can do this comfortably with. mud guards are essential and, although, not necessary, a rear-rack would be great for touring, which brings me to my next bit.

i also spend a lot of time on the beach and riding on paths/dirt roads, so a bike that could do some touring would also be great.

is there a dahon that could suit my needs?

thanks!
]]> Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:42:10 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7287 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7286
I just got my new Speed P8 from its first tune up and I noticed a chromed flat button near the wheels QR (front and rear). Upgrading from a Eco, that does not have QR for the wheels, I am at lost... What are those?

Another question: on the front wheel, the chromed button is on the opposite side to the QR, and on the rear wheel, it is on the same side as the QR. Are they supposed to be like this ?

Finally, they seem to have three possible positions on the rear wheel and room to slide in a groove on the front wheel. why is that?

Thanks a lot for helping me solve this mystery!]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:47:59 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7286 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7271 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:06:07 -0600 http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7271