Folding Bikes - chain drop problems with folders?

I am the owner of a 2005 Dahon Speed P8, and I am having some serious chain drop issues. I wonder, do owners of other folders, like Bike Friday or Swift, experience these same issues? I typically experience a chain drop every two rides. And the weird thing is, it is so unpredictable. Sometimes it is while downshifting while going downhill, sometimes downshifting while going uphill, sometimes it is upshifting, sometimes it is going over a speed bump.

I know other Dahon owners are experiencing the same frustrations from the very active threads on the Dahon Forum, but I wonder, do other manufacturer's folders display the same tendencies? And does buying a higher end folder get you more reliability?

JCL

I am the owner of a 2005 Dahon Speed P8, and I am having some serious chain drop issues. I wonder, do owners of other folders, like Bike Friday or Swift, experience these same issues? I typically experience a chain drop every two rides. And the weird thing is, it is so unpredictable. Sometimes it is while downshifting while going downhill, sometimes downshifting while going uphill, sometimes it is upshifting, sometimes it is going over a speed bump.

I know other Dahon owners are experiencing the same frustrations from the very active threads on the Dahon Forum, but I wonder, do other manufacturer's folders display the same tendencies? And does buying a higher end folder get you more reliability?

JCL


Chain drop on the short chainstay folders with wide range derailleurs is common. Knowing that, you can take some measures. If you are following the Dahon forum, then you know that a new Remedy (http://www.thorusa.com/dahondrivetrain.htm) is being offered for the 2006 models which also will be adaptable to earlier models. You can also find other add on alternatives which either guide the chain with an additional roller, or prevent it from derailing. First step is to check alignment of the derailleur, that it's properly adjusted, that the spring tension is optimum and to make sure the chain is lubed and has no binding links. On my Swift, I removed a few chain links to increase derailleur tension and haven't experienced a chain drop in quite awhile. I did the same thing to my Dahon Helios 8 with good results. My Downtube FS has the chainring sandwiched between 2 chainguards and has never dropped a chain. These are all very cheap measures that can be used.

Bruce