The scratches on the right side of the fork were not caused by carelessly folding the handlebar, because it folds on the left side... moreover, it is known that a 20-year-old folding bike will show traces of use - because the life of such a bike is hard. I recently bought an even older Dahon Speed 3 (with internal 3 gear hub and torpedo brake) for $150, I disassembled it, painted it, installed a TSDZ2 central engine with coaster brake and I'm very satisfied :)
By the way also look for cracks in the the frame where the seatpost is inserted. Since the seatpost is quite long there is a lot more force used on this particular spot because of the increased torque force by the long seatpost. I myself wasted 2 frames in this way which I will weld myself, but usually the frame will be useless just like worn out and dangerous hinges.
Thanks Brian for a Ton of useful information. I bought a Craigslist bike (Dahon C7A) a few months ago. Never having ridden a folder before. It needed brake pads and Delrin cam block in the handlebar stem. I guess I lucked out; it's been a solid, fun bike ever since I repaired it. For anyone who's not mechanically inclined though, buying used could be risky . Thanks for all your other content too!
This was entertaining and educational.. however it seems that some people are looking at a bicycle as a collectors item rather then a mode of transportation... it's a very strange duality.. if everything works and nothing is broken its a good bike.. even if the paint is chipped up, because it's a bike not a painting lol
15:30 isn't that magnet supposed to be loose like that? It needs to move about a bit to make it easier to clasp the magnet on the front if you don't align it perfectly when folding.
Good points on what to check on a folder. Just another suggestion for adding to the list: Sometimes people tend to land the folding bike on front sprocket or keep the bike folded in such a tight space (imagine tightly packed holiday trunk) that the gear is bent out of shape. It may not obvious during a brief trial ride under light load if damage isn't excessive. I would recommend visually checking lateral run out against a stationary part of the bike.
Got lucky with a Dahon Mariner I bought on OfferUp and was ignorant at the time when it came to folding bikes. Paid $400 for the bike and it was in nearly new condition. Great bike, have it for two year now.
I've been riding this bike for about a month th-cam.com/users/postUgkxwC0IIeIomGQVeBWg-kKJaToZkLEFIA2W and a half now and I think it's fantastic. It helps me get to work on time every day since I'm able to fit it inside of public transportation rush hour. The price is great too, people are always shocked when they ask me how much I paid for the fold up and I tell them "200". It's easy to fold and installation when it ships is insanely easy. All you have to install when the bike arrives is one foot pedal, everything else is done for you. I do recommend you carry some sort of wrench to tighten any loose screws on the handle bar and seat whenever they get a little bit loose. Other than that I think it's a fantastic bike. Easily fits in the home, can fit inside a car trunk and can even fit in subway rush hour.
I walked out on a Zizzo Urbano today. I am glad I did. But I wish I had watched your video first. It would have made my inspection more systematic. The guy said the bike is less than a year old, in "Like New" condition. In fact, the bike had scratches all over the place. It had regular non-folding pedals. It looked well-used and tired, like a 10 yrs old bike. Looking back, I am glad he did not take my reduced offer. It could potentially cost me a lot of money.
Great video and very informative. Love your content. Have you tried taking off the front stem off your ZiZZO bike to see if it would fit . Seems like it would work.
I see a lot of them on fb marketplace .. and i mean theres plenty that are NEW for 200$ or less with a sale .. if you're only willing to go way low you MIGHT AS WELL just get the 200$ one lol .. I just bought a new cheap of the line one for under 200$.. when theres USED ones for like 175 lol so I rather just get the new ..
if its got good straight wheels and schwalbe tires those are good parts. for me the handlebar is a deal breaker. here in NZ folding bikes are hard to come by but 100USD is still a lot of money for me. buckled rear wheels is common on second hand folders but mostly good handlebars and safe folding latches are the biggest thing to worry about 100% agree with that. zizzo handlbar folding mechanism looks a lot like that tern mechanism on the inside. the dahon handlebar fold mechanism looks a lot like some of the other copycat handlebars that can be bought on ali express. ive seen seat posts for good prices out of china too. folding bikes are much more common in asia. ive recently bought 2 bikes with this style frame (no bottom stays) i like the frame too they look simple and are lightweight. nice video very informative!
Another concern I've been wondering, what are these guys doing on these bikes to create so much wear lol .. i'd be pissed about a low end bike being in this condition .... so imagine the anger I'd have for a northern rent priced bike (1500+) lol .. mines came from camp world .. its a pain already brand new but its my first one and I dont understand how to fold it properly however Im not careless like that guy ... lol .. I hate im probably going to experience play ! so I'd like to purchase accessories to cover the joints where they fold .. is that a thing ?
Fantastic video, both fun and informative! Maybe you should've told the guy, "YOU give me $50 and I will take it off your hands." Ha! Actually looks like a good 'project bike'.
Great information & advice Brian. Reminds me of a recumbent trike I went to see advertised as excellent condition for $900. Turns out the trike had been left out in the rain, the frame, spokes nipples, nuts & bolts were all covered in rust. I told the Owner the most he would get for it is $300. & that only a collector or restorer would be interested in buying it. A year later it was still for sale but now down to $600.
Heh, yeah... my forte eats drivetrain bits. 3 chains and cassettes so far... and i think winter wrecked the rear wheel hub. At least the shop said It had about two months left :/
A dude who is rude and dumb like that, i would've left on the spot, even if the bike was ok inside the bag, man if you dont wanna do business im not gonna waste more time. Simple as that, but you man you had the patience, somehow lol, or you just like to buy cheap no matter what IDK X_D. And the guy lied about the conditions OMG i cant believe you bought that bike. However, if it works for your project, good for you. IF it works, hehehe.
Great content as always! Your project plan sounds very interesting. It does sound like a perfect winter bike. Hopefully this beater will meet the needs of what you are designing. Do you know of any other Gates compatible folders?
Does this bike have a nylon block in the stem that has split ? If so you can buy parts to repair it quite cheaply. Dahon has a repair vid on youtube on how to repair and adjust these stems, I think they are called radius stems. As you intend to use as bad weather bike keeping the cost down maybe a good option, I do like your idea of spraying it black. The seat shim is easy to find, you just need to measure the seatpost. Sorry I'm a bit of a bike pervert and spend my free time either riding or repairing bikes.....my mates call me biketart 🤣
Brian where were you when I bought my folding bike? I bought my in excellent condition. Three days later the folding post broke and I had to buy a new one. Also a new rear rack since the bike came without one. Plus the tunning at the bike shop...by the time I finish with it and start to commute with this monster I'll end up spending the double of the price I payed for the bike, but it is still half of the price of a new one... At least I am learning and doing things myself.
Hey Brian, I had a very similar situation with a Zizzo folder from Denver Craigs List about 2-3 years ago pre covid. I met the dude and the "excellent" Zizzo had a wobbly, loose center frame hinge! I told the guy that this bike is not safe and how I wasn't sure if it was able to be adjusted and fixed, or if it was going to the land fill. I told him I'd take a shot and offered him 50 bucks. He jumped on it to my surprise. I was able to fix it, and I loved it so much I bought my new Brompton. Great video!
Does that Dahon have a non-standard folding stem? I've seen two different types of fitting those that go into a quill stem at the bottom and those set up for threadless and from a distance that looks fairly standard. Dahon do have their own assembly plant in China now and they do have some of their own IP but generally they buy their bikes from lots of different factories in Asia. The dual suspension model was a rebadged fuji-ta bike. $100 considering the dynamo hub, high end suspension seat post, Nexus 8 and general spec seems a real bargain. Here in the UK Dahon's are very overpriced and some models are downgraded like the Mariner which was just a standard folding bike over here but I think originally was meant to be a folding bike that resisted rust for use on boats etc but ours was nothing of the sort. I mean that Nexus 8 bike would be seriously expensive over here if sold here. It would probably be £1000 or more at retail and still fetch £200-300 s/hand possibly in that state to a motivated buyer. I can't see any new Dahon's with that spec over here but similar Tern models are about £1000 with slightly worse specification. More competitively priced folding bike brands would probably start at around £600 for that spec but there is always a premium for Dahon which personally I would never pay.
Not sure about Dahon steering stems-standard or otherwise. All I know is unlike my other folding bikes this one has a different style that I personally don’t like. I’m getting a better designed stem for the bike. I wanted this Dahon because it has a frame design that makes belt drive conversions easy since they make a belt drive version. I checked out the nexus 8 and it’s in superb condition so overall I think I got a deal.👍😃
@@ibikeunfolded If you can favour gear 5 as you ride it the Nexus 8 will last longer. Gear 5 is the direct drive gear and as well as being the most efficient gear also reduces the wear rate to the mechanism. Obviously you have to change gears all the time but if you accept a less ideal cadence for some riding by sticking to the fifth gear it could be benefiical.
lower grade dahon has quill style stem, whereas threadless is for higher grade. bike parts are rather cheap on alibaba. that nexus hub may be usd100 new.
Geat informative video Brian. I'll reference this video in the event I am in the market for a used folder. Converting it to a Gates system is brilliant!! I wish I had to bike know-how. Happy Riding!!
Good underlining about buying 20 inches wheels - in Poland, it's hard to find or oder in bike stores. So finding technical details and ordering Kinetix wheels in EU is a huge challenge for me. Maybe you can share with detailed information about kinetix wheels or other brands of 20 wheels for folding bike in your next videos? Thanks
Really liked this video. Have bought several used folders over the years. Best lucky ones just ride/enjoy. More recently a Novara Flyby purchased I did not check the hinges...Ended up JB Weld the frame hinge it was so worn out. Solid frame afterwards. Had the nexus serviced and the lbs had the thing almost 2 months trying to get it right..it still clicked once in a while. The drag was rediculous also. Finally the steering hinge started to wobble...Put in a washer after filing forever to keep it stable and bent the safety spring in the process. Once I realized this was a bad design and current sellers are giving the flybys away I just parked it at a shopping mall with free taped on it. Did get a couple years on my rollers on it as I only ride indoors for exercise. More recent zizzo liberte refurb rode 1 time supposedly had to shim the inner seat tube/loosen the head set/ true up the rear wheel that had a bent (stretched) spoke from what looks like a drop or crash. Now it works great on my rollers. thank you again for sharing your experience.
you could fit another clamp just on the seat post so it rests on top of the seat tube, a few Brompton owners like myself have done this, it means you have two clamps but its cheaper.
That's the most annoying thing when sellers tell you how much they paid for something. Like that's relevant. I got lucky when I bought a second hand Dahon Jetstream which gave me the folding bike bug. Fortunately it's a good little bike.
I am lucky enough now to afford a new Brompton, it is being delivered to the shop next week. Because not many people around here buy such expensive bikes I have a concern that the shop owner might delay telling me it is in, takes it out of its box and lets prospective customers try it out in the hope of new sales. Can you suggest what things I can look for to see if this new bike has been used? Thank you
On a Brompton the rims are the tell tell sign. When you ride a bike with rim brakes the wheels will get scuffed when they brake and the pad hits the rim. On my Brompton I knew it was new because the braking surface of the rim looked untouched. Hope this helps.
I just bought the used dohan mu before found your video. The handlebars loosen up you can twist it and but the most annoying is the left pedal make a click noise every time i pedal it, do you know how to fix it? Thanks in advance for your help 🙏🏽😃
I own a Dahon Boardwalk and recently bought a Raleigh i8, planning to use the internally geared hub on my Dahon. Then I got to like the Raleigh because it is lighter and more responsive. But the Raleigh has a wonky headset and you are right, it is dangerous. So if I can't fix the Raleigh I am back to plan A. Thanks for talking sense to me. Waiting for the rebuild vid.
Good video. I bought a folder in the UK a few years ago. Because it was a third of the price it costs new. And the handlebars creaked like granny Smiths rocking chair. The tires were worn out. Brakes too. Saddle frayed. Front wheel wobbled. Etc. I spent over £250 to get it back to decent condition.
I saw this a year ago. Then a friend just offered me a bike that sat in his basement for ten years. It's the exact same bike, in "excellent condition" I've been looking for a long time and it just showed up. What's happening to yours now? Yes to the gates belt! I have other mods coming.
Very informative! Thank you. Came across your channel because I wanted to see the Bike Friday folding mech. But I'm getting much more out of it. I have a Dahon Baltic D7 that I've beaten up (fair if not poor condition). The handlebar has play, though I've tightened it a few times. I would like to do some multi-modal touring on a folding bike and don't trust Dahon because of the handlebar post issue. It's just shoddy design and I cannot understand why they seem to keep using it, especially when they have a different system on the frame itself. Is the Zizzo post compatible with Dahon? Or is there a non-Dahon post likely to be compatible with Dahon?
@@ibikeunfolded That'd be great! Dahon is proving a pain in the ass to deal with. They want $75 for the shaft (I paid $100 for the bike) and don't have the "Radius Handlepost Cam Block" in stock. Cannot believe they do not have this tiny linchpin in stock.
good gooder goodest best bestest better excellent Excellent EXCELLENTA...please buy my bike as soon as u do im changing my nu and moving house...dont call me i will call u ...when wheel fall off please dont blame me as bike was in excellent condition when i sold it to u
I've both bought and sold bikes on craigslist. Some of the bikes I've picked up have been other people's project bikes they gave up on, or otherwise it was seriously thrashed, and I was buying it for the frame. Whenever I sell bikes, I'll post dozens of hi-res photos, including macros of paint damage. The way I figure it, people are going to discover these things anyways, so you may as well disclose all potential issues up front. That being said, I also work as a pro bike mechanic. Every bike I've sold has been mechanically sound condition, even if the paint looked terrible. You do need special care with folding bikes. I've seen a few show at my last shop where the welds for the frame hinge busted clean off. I'm excited for what planning for your project bike! I love seeing belt drive bikes,
Hey Brian, any update on this bike? Did you do with on it/paint? Didn't see any on the channel. Anyways was watching about your accident and it's true, we all sometimes take things forgranted and not realize how truly blessed we are. Glad you're posting again and got out of that depressive state, God bless! Stay well and safe 🙏
looks like a great project bike for turing into a blet drive. I'm thinking along the same lines. Can you tell me what Gates part number fits a Nexus 8 hub?
Thanks for pointing out danger of faulty handlebar stem. Have had one come loose on me after buying a cheapie brand and lucky not to have been badly injured.
Since you showed the bike I was like "paint it matte black, paint it matte black" and then YES matte black!! Can't wait to see your project finished, I recently bought an old Dahon used myself and refurbished it, still waiting for the new tires to arrive tho.... Greetings from Italy! :)
One more thing, it is worth mentioning that having no chainstays is often better to fit a larger chainring on, with fewer things in the way of a good chainline.
You cannot expect heaven and earth for that price esp in America. You got a steal so you have to stop complaining. You sound like you have been scammed but apparently you were not.
Hi! Thanks Brian, I bought a used Dahon Eco C7, everything seemed ok, but recently the seatpost it is going down gradually during riding, it doesnt matter how tight the clamp is. How could I fix that problem? Thanks :)
greetings from Singapore ! Hello Brian ,thanks for sharing the bike tips i am interested in your Dahon let me know if you are selling the bicycle cheers!
Great video! I hope you do more as there are many good used folding bikes out there to choose from and folks can benefit from being informed as they can be going into a sale. Some crazy people like myself, prefer to buy almost everything used for some good reasons. I was surprised that you said $1,100 was too much for an older used Brompton. I've been looking for one for a while now and it's rare I find anything under $1300. If it is, it's usually only for a 2 or 3 speed. Cheers!
@@ibikeunfolded I really wish I could try one out for a week as well as a Dahon, Tern & Birdy and then decide which one I want. I really loved my Bike Friday NWT for commuting / light touring, but I rarely folded it. Have you tried a Mantague MTB? That's really what I think I want as I don't own a car nor have a driver's license but I can take public transit to gravel roads / dirt trails to ride and explore. The Birdy also seems like a a very good option w. it's dual suspension and easy to upgrade, modify, customize to suit one's needs.
The scratches on the right side of the fork were not caused by carelessly folding the handlebar, because it folds on the left side... moreover, it is known that a 20-year-old folding bike will show traces of use - because the life of such a bike is hard. I recently bought an even older Dahon Speed 3 (with internal 3 gear hub and torpedo brake) for $150, I disassembled it, painted it, installed a TSDZ2 central engine with coaster brake and I'm very satisfied :)
$100 is a bit of a bargain despite the identified issues.
I think so. The parts are worth that. 😃
By the way also look for cracks in the the frame where the seatpost is inserted. Since the seatpost is quite long there is a lot more force used on this particular spot because of the increased torque force by the long seatpost. I myself wasted 2 frames in this way which I will weld myself, but usually the frame will be useless just like worn out and dangerous hinges.
Well said!
This is exactly why I shy away from folders with a short frame and extra long seatpost.
Thanks Brian for a Ton of useful information. I bought a Craigslist bike (Dahon C7A) a few months ago. Never having ridden a folder before. It needed brake pads and Delrin cam block in the handlebar stem. I guess I lucked out; it's been a solid, fun bike ever since I repaired it. For anyone who's not mechanically inclined though, buying used could be risky . Thanks for all your other content too!
This was a really thought provoking vid Brian. All my best wis to you…
This was entertaining and educational.. however it seems that some people are looking at a bicycle as a collectors item rather then a mode of transportation... it's a very strange duality.. if everything works and nothing is broken its a good bike.. even if the paint is chipped up, because it's a bike not a painting lol
15:30 isn't that magnet supposed to be loose like that? It needs to move about a bit to make it easier to clasp the magnet on the front if you don't align it perfectly when folding.
Good points on what to check on a folder. Just another suggestion for adding to the list: Sometimes people tend to land the folding bike on front sprocket or keep the bike folded in such a tight space (imagine tightly packed holiday trunk) that the gear is bent out of shape. It may not obvious during a brief trial ride under light load if damage isn't excessive. I would recommend visually checking lateral run out against a stationary part of the bike.
im looking at buying a cheap second hand dahon mu right now, im used to buying regular bikes i probably wouldnt have thought to look at the hinges
Got lucky with a Dahon Mariner I bought on OfferUp and was ignorant at the time when it came to folding bikes. Paid $400 for the bike and it was in nearly new condition. Great bike, have it for two year now.
Very interesting (and helpful) post Brian. Looking forward to following you getting this bike in shape. Hope you fix the cosmetic stuff too😁.
Thanks, that’s the plan. As soon as I get the parts I will start filming the tear down.
I like this bike dahon xl. Tell us!!! You managed to make it 100% operational.
I've been riding this bike for about a month th-cam.com/users/postUgkxwC0IIeIomGQVeBWg-kKJaToZkLEFIA2W and a half now and I think it's fantastic. It helps me get to work on time every day since I'm able to fit it inside of public transportation rush hour. The price is great too, people are always shocked when they ask me how much I paid for the fold up and I tell them "200". It's easy to fold and installation when it ships is insanely easy. All you have to install when the bike arrives is one foot pedal, everything else is done for you. I do recommend you carry some sort of wrench to tighten any loose screws on the handle bar and seat whenever they get a little bit loose. Other than that I think it's a fantastic bike. Easily fits in the home, can fit inside a car trunk and can even fit in subway rush hour.
Good to hear, the one in this video was so abused l almost couldn’t bear to look at it. Upsetting. 😢
works great in my shop and on road trips in my RV
I walked out on a Zizzo Urbano today. I am glad I did. But I wish I had watched your video first. It would have made my inspection more systematic. The guy said the bike is less than a year old, in "Like New" condition. In fact, the bike had scratches all over the place. It had regular non-folding pedals. It looked well-used and tired, like a 10 yrs old bike. Looking back, I am glad he did not take my reduced offer. It could potentially cost me a lot of money.
Great video and very informative. Love your content. Have you tried taking off the front stem off your ZiZZO bike to see if it would fit . Seems like it would work.
No, but I have a spare stem that I ordered from zizzo so when it comes in I'm might just see if it works.
Thank you for watching, I appreciate it.😀👍
I see a lot of them on fb marketplace .. and i mean theres plenty that are NEW for 200$ or less with a sale .. if you're only willing to go way low you MIGHT AS WELL just get the 200$ one lol .. I just bought a new cheap of the line one for under 200$.. when theres USED ones for like 175 lol so I rather just get the new ..
if its got good straight wheels and schwalbe tires those are good parts. for me the handlebar is a deal breaker. here in NZ folding bikes are hard to come by but 100USD is still a lot of money for me. buckled rear wheels is common on second hand folders but mostly good handlebars and safe folding latches are the biggest thing to worry about 100% agree with that. zizzo handlbar folding mechanism looks a lot like that tern mechanism on the inside. the dahon handlebar fold mechanism looks a lot like some of the other copycat handlebars that can be bought on ali express. ive seen seat posts for good prices out of china too. folding bikes are much more common in asia. ive recently bought 2 bikes with this style frame (no bottom stays) i like the frame too they look simple and are lightweight. nice video very informative!
Another concern I've been wondering, what are these guys doing on these bikes to create so much wear lol .. i'd be pissed about a low end bike being in this condition .... so imagine the anger I'd have for a northern rent priced bike (1500+) lol .. mines came from camp world .. its a pain already brand new but its my first one and I dont understand how to fold it properly however Im not careless like that guy ... lol ..
I hate im probably going to experience play ! so I'd like to purchase accessories to cover the joints where they fold .. is that a thing ?
Crazy to think this bike was sold in the Netherlands and then made its way to you. You have a bike from the land of bikes haha
Fantastic video, both fun and informative! Maybe you should've told the guy, "YOU give me $50 and I will take it off your hands." Ha! Actually looks like a good 'project bike'.
Believe me I thought about it😃👍. I’m just glad I got it before some unsuspecting soul purchased it and was disappointed.
Great information & advice Brian. Reminds me of a recumbent trike I went to see advertised as excellent condition for $900. Turns out the trike had been left out in the rain, the frame, spokes nipples, nuts & bolts were all covered in rust. I told the Owner the most he would get for it is $300. & that only a collector or restorer would be interested in buying it. A year later it was still for sale but now down to $600.
Heh, yeah... my forte eats drivetrain bits. 3 chains and cassettes so far... and i think winter wrecked the rear wheel hub. At least the shop said It had about two months left :/
Sound familiar😁. That’s why I’m going to fix this Dahon and convert it to belt drive. Just for the wetter weather😃👍
100$ is a great, easy to replace the handle bar neck 75$ ish
Excellent video.
Very thorough and informative. Thanks.
I have 5 folding bikes ( min a 1000€ per Bike ) from Dahon & Tern
Just for the fun
😬✌🏼
Hi Brian. Good luck with that new an ambitious project. I wish to see the result as soon as possible.
A dude who is rude and dumb like that, i would've left on the spot, even if the bike was ok inside the bag, man if you dont wanna do business im not gonna waste more time. Simple as that, but you man you had the patience, somehow lol, or you just like to buy cheap no matter what IDK X_D.
And the guy lied about the conditions OMG i cant believe you bought that bike. However, if it works for your project, good for you. IF it works, hehehe.
Great content as always! Your project plan sounds very interesting. It does sound like a perfect winter bike. Hopefully this beater will meet the needs of what you are designing. Do you know of any other Gates compatible folders?
Does this bike have a nylon block in the stem that has split ? If so you can buy parts to repair it quite cheaply.
Dahon has a repair vid on youtube on how to repair and adjust these stems, I think they are called radius stems.
As you intend to use as bad weather bike keeping the cost down maybe a good option, I do like your idea of spraying it black.
The seat shim is easy to find, you just need to measure the seatpost.
Sorry I'm a bit of a bike pervert and spend my free time either riding or repairing bikes.....my mates call me biketart 🤣
Thank you!
You’re welcome.😃
Brian where were you when I bought my folding bike? I bought my in excellent condition. Three days later the folding post broke and I had to buy a new one. Also a new rear rack since the bike came without one. Plus the tunning at the bike shop...by the time I finish with it and start to commute with this monster I'll end up spending the double of the price I payed for the bike, but it is still half of the price of a new one... At least I am learning and doing things myself.
Yes, it's a gamble when buying used folding bikes...glad your situation worked out.😀👍
Hey Brian,
I had a very similar situation with a Zizzo folder from Denver Craigs List about 2-3 years ago pre covid. I met the dude and the "excellent" Zizzo had a wobbly, loose center frame hinge! I told the guy that this bike is not safe and how I wasn't sure if it was able to be adjusted and fixed, or if it was going to the land fill. I told him I'd take a shot and offered him 50 bucks. He jumped on it to my surprise. I was able to fix it, and I loved it so much I bought my new Brompton.
Great video!
Nice.👍. It’s better to low ball and be safe then to give them their asking price and regret it.
greeting from Singapore . Hello Brian thank you for sharing the Bicycle tips if you are planning to let it go do get back to me.
Cheers!
Does that Dahon have a non-standard folding stem? I've seen two different types of fitting those that go into a quill stem at the bottom and those set up for threadless and from a distance that looks fairly standard. Dahon do have their own assembly plant in China now and they do have some of their own IP but generally they buy their bikes from lots of different factories in Asia. The dual suspension model was a rebadged fuji-ta bike. $100 considering the dynamo hub, high end suspension seat post, Nexus 8 and general spec seems a real bargain. Here in the UK Dahon's are very overpriced and some models are downgraded like the Mariner which was just a standard folding bike over here but I think originally was meant to be a folding bike that resisted rust for use on boats etc but ours was nothing of the sort. I mean that Nexus 8 bike would be seriously expensive over here if sold here. It would probably be £1000 or more at retail and still fetch £200-300 s/hand possibly in that state to a motivated buyer. I can't see any new Dahon's with that spec over here but similar Tern models are about £1000 with slightly worse specification. More competitively priced folding bike brands would probably start at around £600 for that spec but there is always a premium for Dahon which personally I would never pay.
Not sure about Dahon steering stems-standard or otherwise. All I know is unlike my other folding bikes this one has a different style that I personally don’t like. I’m getting a better designed stem for the bike. I wanted this Dahon because it has a frame design that makes belt drive conversions easy since they make a belt drive version. I checked out the nexus 8 and it’s in superb condition so overall I think I got a deal.👍😃
@@ibikeunfolded If you can favour gear 5 as you ride it the Nexus 8 will last longer. Gear 5 is the direct drive gear and as well as being the most efficient gear also reduces the wear rate to the mechanism. Obviously you have to change gears all the time but if you accept a less ideal cadence for some riding by sticking to the fifth gear it could be benefiical.
lower grade dahon has quill style stem, whereas threadless is for higher grade. bike parts are rather cheap on alibaba. that nexus hub may be usd100 new.
If you want an excellent bike then buy it brand new and stay away from the second hand market.
Geat informative video Brian. I'll reference this video in the event I am in the market for a used folder. Converting it to a Gates system is brilliant!! I wish I had to bike know-how. Happy Riding!!
Thank you my friend. Can’t wait to get the parts and to start filming😃
Good underlining about buying 20 inches wheels - in Poland, it's hard to find or oder in bike stores. So finding technical details and ordering Kinetix wheels in EU is a huge challenge for me. Maybe you can share with detailed information about kinetix wheels or other brands of 20 wheels for folding bike in your next videos?
Thanks
Really liked this video. Have bought several used folders over the years. Best lucky ones just ride/enjoy. More recently a Novara Flyby purchased I did not check the hinges...Ended up JB Weld the frame hinge it was so worn out. Solid frame afterwards. Had the nexus serviced and the lbs had the thing almost 2 months trying to get it right..it still clicked once in a while. The drag was rediculous also. Finally the steering hinge started to wobble...Put in a washer after filing forever to keep it stable and bent the safety spring in the process. Once I realized this was a bad design and current sellers are giving the flybys away I just parked it at a shopping mall with free taped on it. Did get a couple years on my rollers on it as I only ride indoors for exercise. More recent zizzo liberte refurb rode 1 time supposedly had to shim the inner seat tube/loosen the head set/ true up the rear wheel that had a bent (stretched) spoke from what looks like a drop or crash. Now it works great on my rollers. thank you again for sharing your experience.
you could fit another clamp just on the seat post so it rests on top of the seat tube, a few Brompton owners like myself have done this, it means you have two clamps but its cheaper.
A good deal if you can do bike maintenance.
Shimano nexus IGH is indestructible. That is a steal for $100
😎👍
I don’t want to quibble but it’s not “squibble”. 😉
That's the most annoying thing when sellers tell you how much they paid for something. Like that's relevant. I got lucky when I bought a second hand Dahon Jetstream which gave me the folding bike bug. Fortunately it's a good little bike.
I am lucky enough now to afford a new Brompton, it is being delivered to the shop next week. Because not many people around here buy such expensive bikes I have a concern that the shop owner might delay telling me it is in, takes it out of its box and lets prospective customers try it out in the hope of new sales. Can you suggest what things I can look for to see if this new bike has been used? Thank you
On a Brompton the rims are the tell tell sign. When you ride a bike with rim brakes the wheels will get scuffed when they brake and the pad hits the rim. On my Brompton I knew it was new because the braking surface of the rim looked untouched. Hope this helps.
i’m a folding bike fan ever since i found the Birdy from Riese&Müller.
Game changer! 🤙 ⚙️
I've been looking for a birdie to try out for the channel... Maybe one day soon😀👍
Just have the bike fixed in a local bikeshop
Thorough details and an interesting future project to watch. Especially with the belt drive
I’m excited to see how it’s going to turn out. I have more bikes coming so there should be some interesting content.
I just bought the used dohan mu before found your video. The handlebars loosen up you can twist it and but the most annoying is the left pedal make a click noise every time i pedal it, do you know how to fix it? Thanks in advance for your help 🙏🏽😃
The petals bearing might be damaged. I’d replace the pedals😃👍
@@ibikeunfolded Thanks for your quick response, I really appreciate it 😊🙏🏽
I own a Dahon Boardwalk and recently bought a Raleigh i8, planning to use the internally geared hub on my Dahon. Then I got to like the Raleigh because it is lighter and more responsive. But the Raleigh has a wonky headset and you are right, it is dangerous. So if I can't fix the Raleigh I am back to plan A. Thanks for talking sense to me. Waiting for the rebuild vid.
Good video. I bought a folder in the UK a few years ago. Because it was a third of the price it costs new. And the handlebars creaked like granny Smiths rocking chair. The tires were worn out. Brakes too. Saddle frayed. Front wheel wobbled. Etc. I spent over £250 to get it back to decent condition.
I saw this a year ago. Then a friend just offered me a bike that sat in his basement for ten years. It's the exact same bike, in "excellent condition" I've been looking for a long time and it just showed up.
What's happening to yours now?
Yes to the gates belt!
I have other mods coming.
Thanks Brian, I look forward to seeing the matt-black version of that dahon.
It’s going to look tough. As soon as I get the parts I’m going to start filming the process.
Very informative! Thank you. Came across your channel because I wanted to see the Bike Friday folding mech. But I'm getting much more out of it.
I have a Dahon Baltic D7 that I've beaten up (fair if not poor condition). The handlebar has play, though I've tightened it a few times.
I would like to do some multi-modal touring on a folding bike and don't trust Dahon because of the handlebar post issue. It's just shoddy design and I cannot understand why they seem to keep using it, especially when they have a different system on the frame itself.
Is the Zizzo post compatible with Dahon? Or is there a non-Dahon post likely to be compatible with Dahon?
I can order a zizzo steering shaft and see if it would fit the Dahon. That’s an interesting idea. I get on that and make a video.😃👍
@@ibikeunfolded That'd be great! Dahon is proving a pain in the ass to deal with. They want $75 for the shaft (I paid $100 for the bike) and don't have the "Radius Handlepost Cam Block" in stock. Cannot believe they do not have this tiny linchpin in stock.
Is it stolen?
good gooder goodest best bestest better excellent Excellent EXCELLENTA...please buy my bike as soon as u do im changing my nu and moving house...dont call me i will call u ...when wheel fall off please dont blame me as bike was in excellent condition when i sold it to u
Half an hour input that can be done in less than 6 minutes! Some people like most to hear talking themselves - an imposition🙈🙈🙈- for others‼️
You sound like my ex wife…😐
I've both bought and sold bikes on craigslist. Some of the bikes I've picked up have been other people's project bikes they gave up on, or otherwise it was seriously thrashed, and I was buying it for the frame. Whenever I sell bikes, I'll post dozens of hi-res photos, including macros of paint damage. The way I figure it, people are going to discover these things anyways, so you may as well disclose all potential issues up front. That being said, I also work as a pro bike mechanic. Every bike I've sold has been mechanically sound condition, even if the paint looked terrible. You do need special care with folding bikes. I've seen a few show at my last shop where the welds for the frame hinge busted clean off. I'm excited for what planning for your project bike! I love seeing belt drive bikes,
This was educational! Thank you. I don't know if I'll ever end up getting a folding bike but now I know some things to keep in mind.
Hey Brian, any update on this bike? Did you do with on it/paint? Didn't see any on the channel. Anyways was watching about your accident and it's true, we all sometimes take things forgranted and not realize how truly blessed we are. Glad you're posting again and got out of that depressive state, God bless! Stay well and safe 🙏
looks like a great project bike for turing into a blet drive. I'm thinking along the same lines. Can you tell me what Gates part number fits a Nexus 8 hub?
TH-cam algorithm strikes again, heading out today to go buy a demo model (used) folding bike from a bike shop so this video is definitely helpful.
Thanks for pointing out danger of faulty handlebar stem. Have had one come loose on me after buying a cheapie brand and lucky not to have been badly injured.
Excellent advice, thanks for sharing!
Thank you my friend👍😃
I wouldn't get a dahon just because of the stem issues
Making a video about that very subject right now.
Super educational video,super!!!!
Thank you… I appreciate it. 😃
Great to see you, a very nice video and an interesting project!
Thank you…. I look forward to filming it when I get the parts.
Oh, give us a break a break...you know that bike was a great deal at $100.00.
I assume you are being facetious so I’ll let that comment slide. 😁
@@ibikeunfolded NO....I am serious...and you do know that it was certainly worth what you paid for it.
Thank you for the intel. How do you feel about Retrospec bicycles as an affordable option?
Since you showed the bike I was like "paint it matte black, paint it matte black" and then YES matte black!! Can't wait to see your project finished, I recently bought an old Dahon used myself and refurbished it, still waiting for the new tires to arrive tho.... Greetings from Italy! :)
One more thing, it is worth mentioning that having no chainstays is often better to fit a larger chainring on, with fewer things in the way of a good chainline.
When you buy a second hand bike, you have to have it checked first before riding.
I did...thats why I got the price down😎
You cannot expect heaven and earth for that price esp in America. You got a steal so you have to stop complaining. You sound like you have been scammed but apparently you were not.
Hi! Thanks Brian, I bought a used Dahon Eco C7, everything seemed ok, but recently the seatpost it is going down gradually during riding, it doesnt matter how tight the clamp is. How could I fix that problem? Thanks :)
Try carbon gripper paste
Thanks for the vid, this is super informative and interesting
Cool hat 👍🏼
Thanks👍😃
What a great project to make yourself a new winter beater 😃
Good stuff, great project
Thank you my friend😃👍
Nice bike for a 100 bucks! 👍
Ese fallo se arregla con soldadura y listo
the steering is cheap to replace
greetings from Singapore ! Hello Brian ,thanks for sharing the bike tips i am interested in your Dahon let me know if you are selling the bicycle cheers!
12:00
Is this a RED flag ?
🤔
Good information 👍👍
I would picked an older dahon over that crappy zizzo.
🤷♂️
Good vid !
Great advice there Brian.
ffs man. 30min video with 5min of information is pathetic.
There was more that 5 mins of info in the video…..plus it included my own story about buying a used folding bike.
Great video! I hope you do more as there are many good used folding bikes out there to choose from and folks can benefit from being informed as they can be going into a sale. Some crazy people like myself, prefer to buy almost everything used for some good reasons.
I was surprised that you said $1,100 was too much for an older used Brompton. I've been looking for one for a while now and it's rare I find anything under $1300. If it is, it's usually only for a 2 or 3 speed. Cheers!
Thank you, I appreciate that. Well for 1300 I would just save the rest and buy a new Brompton. But that just me😀
@@ibikeunfolded I really wish I could try one out for a week as well as a Dahon, Tern & Birdy and then decide which one I want. I really loved my Bike Friday NWT for commuting / light touring, but I rarely folded it.
Have you tried a Mantague MTB? That's really what I think I want as I don't own a car nor have a driver's license but I can take public transit to gravel roads / dirt trails to ride and explore.
The Birdy also seems like a a very good option w. it's dual suspension and easy to upgrade, modify, customize to suit one's needs.
tern are a good folding bike
Yes, absolutely. I own 2 myself.