If you like to ride a bicycle, then you probably know the situation when you need to overcome part of the route on your own, and partly using public transport. But the transportation of a two-wheeled "friend" in a train and train is somewhat difficult, and in a bus or subway it is completely impossible. Or maybe you wanted to throw it in the trunk of a car, but the dimensions did not allow you to do this?
There is good news: Dahon bikes will save you from these inconveniences. Why are they so remarkable?
Dahon folding bicycles came with a special purpose: to convince more people to use an environmentally friendly mode of transport in everyday life. Indeed, in an age of global warming, concern for the conservation of the environment affects everyone. In addition, the creators wanted to help people keep fit and move more. To realize these challenging goals, manufacturers focused their efforts and created innovative, but affordable Dahon folding bikes.
The inventor and his brainchild
The company was founded in 1982. Prior to this, Dr. David Hon, a Hong Kong native and one of the leading experts at Hughes Aircraft (a large American aircraft manufacturer), worked in his garage for seven years to create his perfect bike. He had to meet these requirements: just fold, quickly return to its original state and provide a comfortable ride on it. It is noteworthy that the inventor began work after he was tired of removing the wheels from his two-wheeled friend every time he wanted to fit it into the trunk of a car.
Bold step
After several large campaigns ignored offers to launch production, Dr. Hon and his brother Henry decided to create their own company from scratch.
They raised venture capital, set up headquarters in Southern California, and David quit his job and went to Taiwan to build a plant. Two years later, in 1984, Dahon bikes literally snapped off the assembly line, becoming the best-selling compact folding bikes on the market at that time. Under the continued leadership of Dr. Hon, factories and his team of 70 engineers continue to amaze the world with their technology and innovation.
Where do Dahon bikes are made today and what models are there?
The company is headquartered in the United States, in Los Angeles. Parts are manufactured at the company's main plant in Macau (China). Another factory, near Beijing, produces Dahon bikes for the Chinese market, which is very promising for the company. Since 2012, all products destined for Europe have been assembled at a factory in Bulgaria. But in general, bicycles are sold in more than 30 countries.
The brand line consists of 34 models. There are options with different types of gear shifting or without them at all. The most popular are bicycles with wheels with a diameter of 16 or 20 inches, but there are also instances where this figure is 12 to 29 inches. The frames are aluminum or steel.
There are bicycles with an electric motor that fits compactly on the trunk.
Transport that fits in a bag
Most Dahon bikes use a hydroformed, single-hinged, patented frame. She, as well as many other cunning engineering tricks, make it possible to do an almost magical trick for turning a set of spare parts into a rather convenient, reliable transport.
The folding sequence of the bike is as follows:
- First pull the seatpost to the desired height, hold the eccentric to secure it.
- Then open the lock that holds the frame folded, fold it out and close the lock connecting the two halves.
- Turn the pedals to the working position.
- Bend the footboard so that it is more convenient to assemble the bicycle further.
- Pull out the steering wheel and clamp the cam.
- Turn the handles so that it is comfortable to apply the brakes.
Putting the bike in a folded state is carried out in the same way, but in the reverse order.
Customer opinion
Alas, today not all manufacturers' promises can be trusted. What do customers like and why do they like Dahon folding bikes?
Reviews note the high build quality. Having received the bike from the transport company, you can check in less than half an hour whether everything is securely tightened, make sure that the brakes are working, pump up the wheels - and the transport will be completely ready for operation. There is no creaking or rattling while riding.
Small diameter wheels give the bike greater maneuverability compared to tools that have the standard, large parts mentioned. At first it seems that the ride is uncomfortable, the steering wheel twitches, and, of course, there are speed limits. But it’s easy to adapt to new sensations, and then the process becomes pleasant and comfortable.
Models with speed switches allow you to drive even on steep slides.
Convenient and compact
Another significant plus is that if you need to go into a building where there is no bicycle parking, or if the situation in the area is unsuccessful, you can take your bike with you. Given the number of thefts of two-wheeled vehicles, this advantage cannot be underestimated. On the bus, you can hide it under the seat. Owners of the bike claim that if the first time it was folding and unfolding took several minutes, then, having caught it, this can easily be done in 15-20 seconds.
Buyers also note that the vehicle can be easily adjusted to fit your height.
Despite the apparent fragility, the bike can ride not only on paved paths, but also on less comfortable surfaces. However, in sand and gravel you need to be careful: there, small wheels may not cope with the coating.
Minuses
As you know, there are no ideal things. What flaws can a Dahon bike hide? Reviews say that consumers most often complain that this representative of two-wheeled vehicles is not so light. The smallest weight is 9.1 kg (Dahon Jifo Uno), most popular models weigh from 11 to 16 kg, and the specimens with an electric motor do 22 kg (Dahon Ikon ED8 and Dahon Ciao EI7). Therefore, carrying them with you is sometimes difficult.
But the most important drawback is that finding Dahon parts for sale is difficult. There are many specific components that cannot be repaired or replaced. For example, if the fastening of the steering pin is broken, then the whole bike becomes unusable.
Also upsets the fragility of some models. When buying a problem, it is impossible to notice, but the bike will require major repairs earlier than expected.
Occasionally, there are complaints from customers about the quality control service, because the goods come with scratches that could not appear due to transportation, but already occurred during packaging.
Popular models
Dahon Vybe C7A is a folding bike that provides ride comfort. 20-inch wheels, brakes, an accurate and compact speed switch, of which there are only 7 - this model will become a reliable companion of the city dweller. The price for it varies from 19 to 24 thousand rubles.
Dahon Mariner D7 is one of the brand’s bestseller, the best-selling bike in the United States. This is a folding bike with increased resistance to corrosion, suitable for use in high humidity conditions, which makes it an excellent choice to take with you to a boat or just ride in wet weather. 20-inch wheels, 7 speeds, a luggage carrier, a lightweight aluminum frame - the saying “from ship to ball” with “Mariner” takes on a new meaning. It will cost 30-35 thousand rubles.
If you need a simple and inexpensive option without gear shifting, for short walks, then the Dahon Pop Uno bike is ideal for you. A steel frame, 16-inch wheels, 2 colors (white and black) are a good choice for those who do not want to go the extra 2 km from the bus stop to their home.
Representatives of this model - perhaps the cheapest Dahon bikes. The price for them ranges from 9 to 15 thousand rubles.
As you can see, the brand line has models for every taste and budget.