It’s Official! Dahon has released an impressive line up of folding bike models for 2009.

Good news first or bad news?

Bad…? Alright, lets get it over with quick and get to the good stuff! Many people will be sad to hear that the Speed Pro, Speed TR and CADENZA 8 will be discontinued in the UK.

Now how about the good stuff, Dahon has announced that for 2009 that they’ll have a range of 38 folding bikes total with 4 new models, the affordable Mμ Uno, the stylish Mμ EX, a new Vitesse P18 and a slick looking Cadenza Solo with disk brakes.

Those with plenty of cash to spend can roll in the new year with Dahon’s lightest folding bike to date the Mμ XXV but if you’re a little strapped for cash then check out the more affordable Mμ Uno.

It’s a simple single speed folding bike with no visable cables and a hidden Zorin PostPump, Did I mention that it will only set you back €449 Euros or about $657 US Dollars and still looks great.

Targeting the high end rider the stylish Mμ EX should roll in and outa stores quicker than you can say “Twenty speeds!” Yup that’s right the Mμ EX harnesses the shifting power of the SRAM Red drive train coupled to one of Dahon’s lightest frames. Light and fast this folder is a total dream to ride and would make the perfect Christmas present for some lucky bastard. Expect to pay about €1,999 Euros or $2,924 US Dollars.
Click to view a larger image of the Mμ EX

And of course Dahon hasn’t let us down as they have also added a few nice extras to all the bikes such as cleaner cable routing, better stem height and adjustment for folding, grease ports on hinges, better handle bar catches and some sweet looking glow in the dark graphics.

“With some of the highest prices ever for gasoline, people are flocking to public transportation and seeking alternate forms of transportation in greater numbers than ever,” stated Joshua Hon, Dahon vice president.

This is part of the reason why Dahon’s sales are growing by an average of 20-30 percent, per year.

What’s your dream Christmas present…?

Please Comment Below, Thanks

While this is undoubtedly an improved option for people buying new Bromptons and improvements are always welcome, it is hardly earthshaking enough to tempt most existing Brompton owners to want to go out and upgrade to the new wide-range system. Many Brompton owners including myself love their bike but there is a strong consensus that the dual gear shifters are cumbersome and ugly. Apart from that the question has been raised time and time again as to why Brompton refuse to consider 8 speed hub systems such as the Shimano Nexus and Sturmey Archer as an ‘al la carte’ option when choosing customised features. These hub systems offer an even wider range in many cases and a much better single shifter.

Brompton bikes have improved through incremental product innovation over the last few years. Another example is the the Titanium option to make the Brompton lighter. However this offers a hefty £440 premium on the core price and very marginal weight savings as it is still mainly a steel frame combined with some titanium parts.

Offering a sub 9kg Brompton with gearing and also an 8 speed hub option would not only appeal to a certain sector of customers but there are plenty of existing owners who would be quite willing to upgrade their bikes.  The question we would like to raise is; Brompton you make great folding bikes but why are you always so ultra-conservative when it comes to product development and adding new features?

What are your thoughts… Please leave a comment.

Click to Browse Brompton Folding Bikes

I’d decided go for the Downtube as one of my introductions to the world of folding bikes. The FS is a full suspension bike that comes in 8 and 9 speed variants. The FS9 seemed the better option with the extra higher gear and appeared to be a relatively good looking bike. I was encouraged by favourable reviews on various blogs, and the £199 pricing point plus £25 delivery seemed to be competitive enough. The Downtube business model uses online channels such as its own website and eBay to sell the bikes direct to the consumer. The bike arrives boxed and either needs adjustment if you are bike savvy or a quick tuning from your local bike shop. This was always very clear in the sales information. Even though I’m far from being a bike mechanic, it was not difficult to adjust to unfold the bike, adjust the gearing and make the bike fairly usable out of the box.

The Downtube FS has a tall frame and can actually take people over 6 feet quite comfortably. Even though I’m exactly 6 feet (183cm) tall, I even use the longer non-telescopic seat-post on my Brompton at full stretch which is designed for people up to 6′ 2″. There is no doubt the Downtube could handle people up to 6′ 4″. The bike looked OK in the website and eBay listing photos but much nicer in reality. If anything the photos on the website or eBay do not actually do the bike justice. It’s actually way undersold from a visual and graphical perspective; it’s a cool looking bike in the flesh!

Photo of Downtube FS from their website.

The bike has a nice geometry and rode very nicely on its initial outing. The suspension definitely makes a difference off-road when I used it on canal towpaths but remained firm enough on normal roads. In fact when hitting drain recesses or rougher road patches it smoothed the ride out very nicely. The FS uses a non-standard Ju-Ju gearing system. The shift on these gears was perfectly OK and I’d probably equate it to a lower-end Shimano system.

The FS has very good brakes and good frame stiffness. The overall ride quality was quite close to that of a larger bike and equates with the ride of many high-end and more expensive folders. It would be better to see a mid-range gearing s and slightly better quality pedals and crank set to do the excellent frame more justice. I had to replace the pedals after a few weeks as they started developing loud clicking noises. I personally recommend the MKS-FD6 or MKS clip off pedals as they are very high quality and add to the ride quality when you are pedalling.

The fold is pretty standard with the frame folding in half, saddle coming down and handlebars dropping to the side. Operating the quick release hinges is responsive and easy and they appear to be durable and quite good quality. The fold is adequate rather than great as the bike does not lock together in any way and the folded footprint is not as small as some other 20″ rivals. It is more than ample for normal stowing away, putting most car sor being allowed as a folding bike on peak hour commuting trains. I’d never recommend bringing many 20″ wheel bikes on peak hour commuting buses or trains in major cities anyway.

The best thing about the Downtube FS long-term is its upgradeability. I added components which made a significant difference. Because the Downtube uses non-proprietary components, it is very easy to source and modify the bike to your needs. The addition of an improved saddle, MKS folding pedals, better grips and a new 9 speed Shimano Deore gearing system was relatively inexpensive. If you need the bike for normal riding on a budget its fine but if you become more demanding the upgrading takes the FS into the territory of some far more expensive folders without a huge outlay.

An upgraded Shimano Deore system with trigger shifters is very inexpensive and provides a very smooth shift.

Below the upgraded Downtube FS in its entirety with Bontrager seatpost rack, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres (Almost bombproof!), and upgraded gear system.

The final picture below shows the new Bontrager grips and Deore trigger shifter.

Overall the Downtube FS 2007 is a very good bike at £199 Sterling. Unfortunately only the clearance bikes are now available in the UK and have limited stock. Downtube is a US company and for US buyers their range represent excellent ‘bang for buck’ in terms of value. A new agent reseller has been appointed in the UK (http://www.velochocolate.co.uk/) who not only sells the clearance bikes but can import any of the 2009 range from the US if so required. This does mean an increase on US prices because of high EU import duties and 17.5% VAT. However Downtube bikes still remain competitive especially the 8 Speed hub version of the Downtube FS, the Downtube Mini (which folds much smaller having 16″ wheels) and the front suspension 8 speed hub bicycle in silver. See www.downtube.com for more details.

Downtubes are very good bikes. For US buyers they represent a high quality budget proposition. Clearance 2007 models if still available in the UK are an absolute bargain. It’s a shame Downtube had to scale down sales operations in the UK market but entirely understandable given the exorbitant costs and taxes for importing into the EU for a smaller company. I still believe it’s worth getting the UK reseller to import any new 2009 models in the hub speed version as they are especially still good value for money even after import duties. Hub geared bikes are very durable and have an extrmely smooth shift and the Downtube versions represent excellent value with 8 speed Sturmey Archer systems across the range as well as an option on the FS model. The Downtube FS itself is a very versatile bike with a great frame and only minor criticisms. The new hub-geared version represents a  For the US market the Downtube FS and other bikes in the range represent an excellent proposition for the money.

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Weighing in at only 8.05 kg (17.71 lbs) w/o pedals puts the Dahon MU XXV in the number one spot for the “lightest folding bike” award. Dahon launched this limited edition beauty at Eurobike and says that only 250 will be handmade to celebrate Dahon’s 25th Anniversary.

So what’s this lightweight made of?

Puro M7 magnesium is used for the frame which Dahon says is 30% lighter than aluminum and has a similar resistance to corrosion. The rest of the frame is kitted out with stylish custom parts from Shimano, Syntace, FSA, Kinetix, Kore and will roll out on Schwalbe whitewalls.

Backing up the stunning look of the bike is a stylish white K-Force light crankset by FSA which runs smooth and quiet on ceramic bearings and on the other end a 10 speed Shimano Dura Ace completes the drive train. For added protection it also has an extra corrosion resistant coating.

The acclaimed lightest folding bike will fold into a tidy 36×64x81 cm package but will leave a somewhat larger dent in your savings as quality ain’t cheap so expect to pay a retail price of €2500 in Europe and if you’re from the US or the UK then you’ll just have to wait on the prices to be released. Keep an eye out for this slim sexy ride around January.

Check out the specs on this bike here http://www.dahon.com/us/muxxv.htm

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In the UK the more expensive folders such as the Brompton, higher-end Dahons, Bike Friday and Birdy come into range under a special tax-saving government scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage more people to commute to work on a bicycle and to sign up participating employers in the process. Once an employer has registered and allocated dedicated budgets to the scheme it is then possible for employees to apply for special finance.

Under the scheme an employee can apply for up to a £1000 voucher to purchase a bike and accessories and use it at a participating bike shop. A lot of employers use the Cycle Scheme intermediary at www.cyclescheme.co.uk. The voucher sum is them redeemed at the bike shop and normally repaid over 12-18 monthly installments on salary payroll. The employee then receives tax relief up to their highest rate. This can be as high as 40% for a higher rate tax payer. If the employer is also a private sector business the bike purchase is also exempt form 17.5% VAT (sales tax) . At the end of the load period the bike is still theoretically owned by the employer as if it were leased. To avoid a further taxable benefit and transfer ownership, the employee normally pays a nominal buy-out of between 5-10% of the purchase price. Overall this still represents substantial savings of up to around 50% on the purchase price and the equivalent of a on12-18 month interest free loan.

The implications for folding bikes? Higher quality ones do not come cheaply and this type of scheme puts many makes and models within the reach of commuters all over the UK. This is how I purchased my £800 Brompton in raw lacquer and additional accessories such as a front luggage system and Brompton bag. This would have represented a large chunk out of my normal monthly cash-flow otherwise. The advantages of a good quality folding bike are obvious and it has become very affordable as long as the scheme lasts. Long may it continue,

- The new 16″ wheel folder called the Dahon Curl will be unveiled. Apparently the new Curl will come with an 8 speed hub and fold even smaller than the Brompton. The Curl will replace the current 2008 Curve SL model. After almost 2 decades, we may finally see a genuine rival in the super compact folding class for the Brompton. As good as Bromptons ar they have steadfastly refused to adapt any of the current range of 8 speed hubs. If the Dahon Curl can combine a smaller footprint and an 8 speed hub system and remain under 10kg like its predecessor, Dahon may have an all-time bestseller on their hands.

-The Dahon Speed Pro TT will be discontinued and replaced by a new performance bicycle. This is a surprise to many because it has been an excellent seller over the last few years.However its replacement is likely to occupy the same niche in performance road cycling for folding bikes and be more lightweight. Given that the 2008 Speed pro TT model is over 10kg this might actually be a welcome development. It would also be nice to see the equivalent of the Speed Pro in colours other than yellow. While this colour scheme appealed to some consumers, others found the yellow all too flash for their liking. If Dahon do make the Speed Pro’s successor more lightweight, it would be a shame to see the excellent 24 speed SRAM Dual Drive hub and derailleur combination scrapped. This not only provided an excellent gearing range for the Speed Pro, but it allowed commuters to utilise the hub gear shifter in the stop-start nature of the urban commuting environment. It will also be interesting to see if Dahon retain the 2008 feature of dropped racing bars which proved very popular with roadies who like speed. Whatever the case, the current Speed Pro TT will remain a Dahon classic.
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That’s right we are giving away two great prizes this month and a even bigger and better prize next month.

Check out these two cool prizes suitable for any bike, foldable or not.

CATEYE  CC-MC100W MICRO WIRELESS COMPUTER

This brand new 2008 model comes with everything you need including: computer, mounting brackets, hardware, batteries, and instructions. Click on the picture below for more info and specifications.

CATEYE HL-EL450 BIKE HEAD LIGHT

Also brand new this powerful headlight sports an OptiCube™ lens giving you 400 candle power and 3 different modes, Oh it’s even waterproof! Click on the picture below for more info and specifications.

So how can you win one of these great prizes?

Easy!

Guidelines:

There are two ways to win simply subscribe for free to this site then…

leave a (one) comment on this post.

One commenter will be chosen at random on the 1st of October.

or…

link to this site by writing a post or article about folding bikes on your blog or site.

The link anchor text MUST INCLUDE the words “folding bike” or “folding bicycle” so don’t bother with a link like “win cool stuff” or “check this out”

Link to any page on the blog or in the store, the site that sends the most traffic will have first choice of the two prizes!

NO SPAMMY OR SHADY TATICS!

REMEMBER to subscibe first via the top of this site or by clicking here -> Subscribe

Competition closes 30th of September and winners will be announced when I wake up on the 1st of October, Decisions are final!

Good Luck!

What is unique about Dahon is their dedication to focusing only on the manufacture of folding bikes of all wheel sizes. Whilst nobody can question Dahon’s commitment to developing a wide variety of bikes fit for all budgets and purposes, is the range not too comprehensive? As soon as one model establishes itself on the market it is often replaced by a completely new model name and specification. Take for example the excellent Helios P8 and Helios SL from 2004. The high-end Helios SL weighed only 7.6kg which easily made it the lightest folder in the world a the time. Why would Dahon supersede such a forward thinking model with the Dahon Mu SL weighing in at 8.7kg? The Mu SL is an excellent bike in its own right but the Helios appeared to be an excellent base to build product refinements on year by year.

Another example of this argument is that Dahon are strong on developing variations based on the traditional fold but have been slow on innovating the fold itself. Despite the very capable Dahon Curve range, it has never really threatened Brompton in terms of being the definition 16″ wheel folder. Enter the Bike Friday Tikit with its rapid speed fold that can be wheeled along very easily. Rather than supersede the Tikit, Bike Friday have focused on making incremental improvements to the core model that they developed in 2007. Pacific Cycles have also been at the frontier of new folding mechanisms with the Carryme and the soon to be released larger wheeled IF mode bicycle.

This could be about to change with rumours of a patent application for a Brompton rival called the Dahon Curl. Certainly its a wonderful brand name and the rumoured prototype picture below would represent a significant departure in Dahon’s traditional folding design.

If the rumoured prototype above is a genuine one, it would appear to be a refinement of the current Curve range. Whatever the case, it is time to see something more challenging from Dahon and at the same time consolidating their core range of folding bikes. At times it is mind biggling trying to differentiate between some Dahon models and also mystifying why some really promising models such as the Helios SL were discontinued.

What are your thoughts on this?… Comment below.
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Pre-production Brompton 1981

The Brompton above was the final prototype before its first production run 27 years ago. Note how Andrew Ritchie first planned to introduce a front rack carrying system. This was later refined to a much cleverer and neater front luggage bracket system which is an optional extra.

The M type as of 2008

The Brompton on review is a 2008 production model with the traditional M type handlebars bought from Cavendish Cycles in central London. It was a stock bicycle in the raw lacquer finish that Brompton now offer. Rather than applying a powder coated paint, the Brompton factory apply the a special metal varnish to give the bike a natural finish. Personally I think this is one of the nicest finishes in the Brompton and worth the extra £88 as an option. The finish really makes the bike look quite stunning for its type.

The bike also included a 6 speed option, front luggage carrying bracket, tyre based dynamo, mudguards (fenders) and rear rack carrier. Schwalbe Marathon Racers were the tyres of choice rather than the Brompton option because of their look. The functionality of Kevlar puncture protection and running at high pressure (100 psi) is common to the Marathon and its equivalent Brompton option. Schwalbe tyres have excellent sidewall reflection and are arguably better quality in terms of longevity than the unbranded ones.

The Fold

I found it very easy to master the fold after watching a video from the Brompton site. The newer Bromptons thankfully now come with a latch that prevents the rear swivel joint from swinging back involuntarily if being lifted in its unfolded state. This has an easy press release mechanism to fold back the rear wheel alongside the chainwheel. This is followed by unscrewing the front frame hinge and folding the the front back to sit on a bracket along the rear fork which latches the front wheel almost parallel and slightly above the folded rear wheel. This ensures the chain is covered in its folded state when the bike is carried. The rear wheel is then locked into place by the seatpost being quick release being undone and pushing it down and locked in a low position. Finally, the handlebar stem hinge is unscrewed and swivelled downwards to the right and latches into a sprung clasp. Rather than replicate the whole fold, there’s a great YouTube video that demonstrates how fast an experienced user can fold/unfold the Brompton. Click the link below for the video:

I found I could replicate the fold in under 20 seconds after a day or so and similarly with the unfold. After a few weeks I can pretty much match the guy in the video. Suffice to say, The Brompton’s footprint is incredibly compact and the folding process incredibly easy to master. The bike latches together very well and is a tight compact package that is easily stowed away or carried if necessary. The standard Brompton would be quite heavy for some people in its compact folded state but the bike can be towed along if you choose the eaziwheels and rear carrier options. The standard Brompton wheels produce a poor roll. The handlebar can be left unfolded so the bike can be rolled pulled or pushed along by this if necessary.

The versatility of such a compact folding gives me great freedom in London both in terms of commuting on crowded trains, stowing in my office (theft proof) or even socializing in the pub!

The Ride

The geometry of the Brompton is designed to be slightly longer to compensate for the smaller 16″ wheels and produces a performance closer to that of a larger wheeled 27″ or 700cc bike. Being used to a larger bike, I found my very first test-ride of a Brompton to be slightly twitchy with over-sensitive steering. This is not a design flaw in the bike but simply the same experience as moving from one model of a car to another and adjusting to its different feel and dynamics. After test-riding one for a weekend my perception quickly changed to regarding the Brompton as a very capable ride. The 6 speed has well spaced and efficient gears which are good enough at the low-end for climbing hills and well capable of powering along in the 6th gear when necessary on the open road or downhill. If anything, I find the 16″ wheels of the Brompton much more agile in the urban jungle for weaving in and out of traffic and avoiding wayward pedestrians quickly. The bike accelerates very quickly form a standing start and I find it not only very capable for riding several miles at a time but also fun to ride. The only drawback is it can be a slightly harsh ride on rougher roads and transmits the vibrations through the front.

Overall Verdict

I have developed a great appreciation for all folding bikes and I’m certainly not what one would call a ‘Bomptonite’ who believes the bike is beyond criticism or superior to all other folding bikes. However, it is a superb folder for its purpose and still remains the ultimate commute-and-go bike. Even after 20 odd years and gradual refinements by Brompton, it still remains the definitive bike that can effectively combine very compact folding with a good ride quality that is close enough to larger wheeled bikes. In some situations it can even out-perform larger wheeled bikes in the context of urban commuting for short to medium distances. The Brompton is well capable of longer distances with some refinements but this is where it would begin to lose out.

Pros

• Still the best for folding and footprint size.
• A very capable and agile ride
• The retro look begins to grown on you. Looks great in raw lacquer.
• Capable 6 speed transmission. Strongly recommended over other options with less gears.
• Components are well made for their purpose and durable. The Brompton is built for longevity.
• The front luggage carrying system offers a superb range of bags that do not affect the stability of the ride.
• The brakes are vastly improved over older models and the new high pressure tyre options also contribute to a vastly improved ride.

Cons

• The Brompton is expensive. Fine, its made in England and very good quality but this restricts demand and growth potential long-term for Brompton.
• Accessories are overly expensive in my opinion except for the luggage options.
• The titanium option at £440 is way over-priced for the modest weight saving benefits that are gained. This is why I stuck to higher specs on a standard steel Brompton frame.
• The bike is not suitable to off-road riding on trails. It has a slightly harsh ride on rougher roads which is exposed more on trails. In fairness, it is designed for road riding and commuting.
• The gear shifters are cumbersome and tacky looking on such a nice bike. Even if one likes the retro look, it would be nice to see Brompton offer a stainless steel option in these shifters. The old Sturmey Archer shifters of the 1970’s were not made of plastic.
• Brompton are very resistant to developing a single shifter option such as the Sturmey Archer or Shimano Nexus 8 speeds. Leading modifiers of the Brompton have proved this can be done successfully without compromising frame integrity.

If you have the budget and need a bike that offers a superb fold and ride trade-off, the Brompton remains the folding bike of choice. It is not cheap but it is extremely well-made. I just feel the market needs Brompton to be slightly less conservative in their product development in future models and also become a little more competitive in pricing on some of the model range. With the advent of the Mezzo, Bike Friday Tikit and rumours of the Dahon Curl, there are some worthy contenders out there, even if Brompton still remains the definitive compact folder.
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