Folding Bikes - Cool Dahon Vitesse upgrades from a Taiwan forum

Thought you guys might enjoy seeing how this guy upgraded his Dahon Vitesse D7 to a "D18 XT", as seen in this Taiwan foldies forum (http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=317&t=525565&last=5049329).

His white Vitesse has Ergon GP1-L grips, '08 XT shifters, DriveLine 53/39 cranks (using an adaptor), Shimano 105 FD, XT RD, '07 LX 11-34T Cassette, and Jagwire cables.

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9673/mobile01920ebd91049e884af9.jpg

You can see many more pics at the thread (click on the links to open the images).

Droolworthy.

I love the adaptor they sell there that allows you to hook up a double crank and an FD. Here are some samples:

http://attach1.mobile01.com/attach/200802/mobile01-aaa301bbb2689b21f1052a90015994da.jpg

http://attach1.mobile01.com/attach/200802/mobile01-3a03be98ac0d11f0b7188aa5880ee31e.jpg

Which is how they could do this to the Vitesse:

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/5417/mobile016c957646c0abf15uf9.jpg

Effectively giving them twice as many gears. Coolness. It is a very popular upgrade for Dahons there.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7678/mobile01321c7fa0a9dd1f1pe4.jpg

With the LX cassette and its 9 gears, this Vitesse has 18 speeds to play with.

Wow.

2 things.

1) Can we get that FD adapter? More info please?
2) Very low chain. A bump and the chain drags on the ground.

Not sure where to buy them, I shall have to read the Taiwan forum further.

Ah wait, there is a Taiwan ruten.com page selling them. It is like own Ebay.

http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?11080214868717

They claim to do overseas orders though I am not sure if they require you to email them in Chinese. It is NT$850, or around US$27, before shipping costs.


Here are more pics of the newer adaptors:

http://tw.f14.yahoofs.com/myper/HNh2HJKCHxtCnn.C2zTuCwF7/blog/ap_20071230041735965.jpg?TTEzrvHBLiLph.f.

From this site:

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/polkacycle/article?mid=2302&prev=2457&next=2273&l=f&fid=13

Deployed on an MU P8:

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/polkacycle/article?mid=2777&prev=2822&next=2649&l=f&fid=13


http://tw.f14.yahoofs.com/myper/HNh2HJKCHxtCnn.C2zTuCwF7/blog/ap_20080205044333959.jpg?TTEzrvHBk9UQrVxt

http://tw.f14.yahoofs.com/myper/HNh2HJKCHxtCnn.C2zTuCwF7/blog/ap_20080205044342103.jpg?TTEzrvHBmMNE_iMT


Deployed on a Speed D7:

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/polkacycle/article?mid=1635&prev=-1&next=1625

http://tw.f14.yahoofs.com/myper/HNh2HJKCHxtCnn.C2zTuCwF7/blog/ap_20071112030601331.jpg?TTEzrvHBpXwgqq2y

Wow. Those front derailleur adaptors are very interesting.... Huge application for folders.

Please do let us know if you find a source for US.

+1 sweet! :D

Why is the rear derailleur/chain so low?
Is this because of the 11-34 cassette? - I assume this requires a long-cage derailluer?

Am I wrong in thinking that there is nothing unique to the dual-chainring setup that necessitates this?
i.e. you could have a regular Dahon cassette and RD and it would not be so low down?

Why is the rear derailleur/chain so low?
Is this because of the 11-34 cassette? - I assume this requires a long-cage derailluer?

Am I wrong in thinking that there is nothing unique to the dual-chainring setup that necessitates this?
i.e. you could have a regular Dahon cassette and RD and it would not be so low down?

I used a similar cassette on a P8 with a mid-cage SRAM derailler with no problems. Make sure to check chain length in any case, as I found the chain to be too long on all the Dahons I've had.

Not sure if dual chainrings make a difference or not, but don't think so.

On a side note, does anyone here know where to find the Powertools chainring guard shown in the pics? Also interested in finding an English speaking Asian Birdy dealer.

Thanks

On a side note, does anyone here know where to find the Powertools chainring guard shown in the pics? Also interested in finding an English speaking Asian Birdy dealer.

Clownbike, in Singapore, the Birdy dealer is diginexx. They speak English. This is their url and contact:

231 lavender street
singapore 338779
tel: +65 6396 6280
fax: +65 6396 6281
e-mail: contact@stridasingapore.com
msn: stridasingapore@hotmail.com

http://stridasingapore.com/strida%20-%20Birdy.html

Could maybe make those adaptors.

just bend up some steel

be good if it had a cable stop on it too.

Large pic from one of the links mentioned above:

http://img.ruten.com.tw/s1/e/a2/ed/11080214868717_910.jpg

also I didnt know my computer could display that taiwanese writting.

like the emotes theyve got.

hey Jur, maybe I can return the favor for the info you have helped me with

as far as those fd adaptors would these work???

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=DP6214
Parts & Accessories Catalog - AEBike.com

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=DP6212
Parts & Accessories Catalog - AEBike.com

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=DP6213
Parts & Accessories Catalog - AEBike.com

or maybe??

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=FD9010
Parts & Accessories Catalog - AEBike.com

I know these aren't the same, but can one of these be adapted

Clownbike, in Singapore, the Birdy dealer is diginexx. They speak English. This is their url and contact:

231 lavender street
singapore 338779
tel: +65 6396 6280
fax: +65 6396 6281
e-mail: contact@stridasingapore.com
msn: stridasingapore@hotmail.com

http://stridasingapore.com/strida%20-%20Birdy.html

Thanks for that, will give them a call when I can.

Very nice FD adaptors. Here in SK, FD apaptors for dahon are sold at ~$70. They are silver colored though..
I see the guy have replaced the whole rear wheelset to fit 9spd cassette..

hey Jur, maybe I can return the favor for the info you have helped me with

as far as those fd adaptors would these work???

Hey, thanks! :) I looked at them but their diameters seem too small for the Swift, it needs 40mm, same as Dahon.

I've emailed the 'Dahon' FD mount seller in Singapore through the email address provided on his sales-page, but am still waiting on a reply. If I don't hear back in a few more days, I'm going to find someone that can read/write Chinese so I can order the part

.

I've been commuting with my Mu p8, but with spring/summer heat & humidity approaching, I'll need to upgrade my gearing to 'p16' to keep my commute going.

I'm trying to avoid spending alot for the upgrade, and hope to keep the stock Neos RD & standard cassette on. Also, I'm trying to locate a smaller 39T Sugino chain wheel to just add onto the standard one that's on the Mu p8.

~ Anyone with more insight/experience than me care to comment if these cost-saving measures might be possible. Bike-tinkering is all very new to me!

If I have any progress on the upgrade & parts sourcing, I'll try to post some info here if anyone's interested.

Domo arigato,
K.

http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/accessories/special.htm

bottom of the page

Thanks Thor

I am curious about the little repair stand he uses to raise the rear wheel. Is it available in the US? All I could find are those tall folding stands.

Kam