What do you think?

[Puffer]

My first post, as at present have no folding bike, however I have a mountain bike, and a tourer.
I want to buy a folder and am interested in the Dahon Impulse 24 2007, seem a better bargain than the other Dahon I am interested in the Dahon Vitesse D7 2008.
I would like some views on this.
Thanks.

[CaptainSpalding]

I'd go for the Vitesse for two reasons. I own two Dahons: a Helios and a Jetstream XP. The Helios has a frame that is similar to the Impulse, and the Jetstream's frame is similar to the Vitesse. There is no comparison between the ride. The Jetstream's frame is much stiffer.

Also, the Vitesse has hub gearing, which is my preference in a folder.

Beyond those differences, both bikes are good all-arounders which will serve you well.

[invisiblehand]

Do you have an opportunity to test ride the bikes? Most major cities have a shop that carries several models/brands.

[Puffer]

Thanks for replies.
Where I live in South Wales UK, there is no chance of getting a test ride, not even a look at one, folding bikes are thin on the ground.
I am just 70 years now, and thought that perhaps I would travel by bus to the location I want to ride.
I want a bike I can take on a bus easy. Speed don't interest me much now.
Here is a ride I done this week, this nice bit is about 12 miles long, however I had to come 35 miles to get to the start, and then about 45 miles to get home.
Here you are going down hill or uphill, and I thought the gearing on the impulse was lower so would suit me better.
Are the gears reliable on this bike?
Again thanks.
http://welshman.smugmug.com/photos/296238751_EjrqY-L.jpg

[CaptainSpalding]

Here you are going down hill or uphill, and I thought the gearing on the impulse was lower so would suit me better. Are the gears reliable on this bike?
I checked the spec pages for both bikes on the Dahon website. The Impulse gear range is 34-92 inches, and the Vitesse is 34-84 inches. So there's no advantage to either one on the uphills.

Having a look at all the other specs now - both bikes are very similar as far as the numbers are concerned. If one were picking nits, the nod would go to the Impulse for being slightly lighter, folding slightly smaller, and being cheaper. As I said, those differences are small, and might be insignificant.

As far as hub gears vs. derailleurs, the hub gears are very low maintenance, take 10 seconds and no tools to adjust, and are very robust. They are a little heavier than derailleurs, and a bit less mechanically efficient though. As I indicated before, the two frames ride differently. I prefer the Vitesse style frame, but that's only personal preference.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Spalding

[Puffer]

Thanks Spalding.
Ah, perhaps I should have stated that the Impulse I have been looking at is last years 2007.
It as a gear range of 21-114 24 speed, it says duel drive. Do that mean 4 hub gears and 7 dérailleur gears.
Have you had experience of this set up and is it reliable?

Puffer

[jur]

Do that mean 4 hub gears and 7 dérailleur gears.4x7=28! :p No, it's 3 hub gears and 8 derailer gears. This setup is very good. If these bikes are roughly equal in price, my personal choice would fall on the Impulse. But I have no personal experience with these, but others have, and we haven't had any bad reports from them.

[CaptainSpalding]

I think that Impulse with the Dual Drive is a good choice. Snap it up!

[Puffer]

Thanks all for the advise I received here.
I have now bought the impulse 2007 model, and have to say it rides very nice.
However the gearing is still a bit high, when I seen it was 21ins I thought that is low enough, not being use to small wheels I now realise 21ins development is different on small wheels than full size ones.
The chain wheel supplied is a Sugino, of at least 52-54 teeth, I need about a 46 tooth.
Anyone know what other brands will fit?
Also what type of bag do people use on this type of bike, that you can get on and off quickly?

Again thanks.

[StuAff]

Gear inches calculation includes wheel size as a (very important) factor- the same crankset and gear system will produce considerably higher gearing on a bike with 26" wheels compared to a 20" wheeler. There's therefore no difference between 21" on your bike and a full size one. I've no need of lower gearing myself (my range goes as low as yours, plus a little higher) but if you decide to lower it the parts are standard ones. I'd suggest you get in touch with a specialist dealer, like Gaerlan Custom Cycles. See http://www.gaerlan.com/dahon/gear.htm for the kind of thing you want. It will probably be cheaper to import the parts and get them fitted locally. Mr Gaerlan built me a wheel around a DualDrive hub- that plus the necessary shifter etc was cheaper, even allowing for shipping, than to buy the hub alone in the UK. Even if you get everything over here, that page should point you in the right direction about what you'll need. Any competent bike shop (or friendly amateur mechanic) should be able to fit the parts.
As for a bag, Dahon's El Bolso gets somewhat mixed reviews, and it is somewhat bulky (it's big enough to take their 26" wheel bikes). The easiest option to just to cover it on the train or bus is the Dahon slip cover. I have both, but haven't used either yet.

[Puffer]

Thanks StuAff for responding.
However, your bit about gearing is not quite right.
My bikes bottom gear is 21in, it so happens I have mountain bike with 21in bottom gear.
To make my mountain bike travel forward 21in, involves me peddling a quarter of a turn.
To make my folder travel the same amount, I have to turn the peddles about a full turn, therefore making it harder to peddle.

Are there any stockists in the UK that sell Dahon spares and accessories? I don't really fancy sending to America.

Thanks.

[StuAff]

Thanks StuAff for responding.
However, your bit about gearing is not quite right.
My bikes bottom gear is 21in, it so happens I have mountain bike with 21in bottom gear.
To make my mountain bike travel forward 21in, involves me peddling a quarter of a turn.
To make my folder travel the same amount, I have to turn the peddles about a full turn, therefore making it harder to peddle.

Are there any stockists in the UK that sell Dahon spares and accessories? I don't really fancy sending to America.

Thanks.
Hmm...I'm pretty sure I was right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_inches. Try Sheldon Brown's gear range calculator: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/ A full turn in a lower gear should be easier...well it is for me usually.
The bits you need aren't Dahon specific, and you can get them from any bike dealer, over here or in the US. I mentioned Gaerlan because I've had great service from him, he's a Dahon dealer & rides them himself, he stocks everything you'd want, and with the strength of the pound against the dollar, much cheaper for many parts too. My local dealer (well, 20 miles away) happily fitted my DualDrive gear, supplied by Gaerlan, for me as part of a service. Definitely no need to send your bike to the States (shipping would be horrendous!!), There are plenty of Dahon stockists over here, should you wish to buy over here. CH White are Dahon UK's official internet stockist- http://foldingbikes.biz/, I've heard good things about Avon Valley Cyclery too: http://foldingbikes.co.uk/

[Puffer]

Your reply appreciated StuAff.
We will agree to disagree about the gearing, When I am going up Bedlinog Hill I will have to tell myself it's not hard, must be my age.

If I change my chainwheel, then it will not have the ring guarding the teeth , and not having had a folder before am afraid the chain might come off when folding it.

[StuAff]

Your reply appreciated StuAff.
We will agree to disagree about the gearing, When I am going up Bedlinog Hill I will have to tell myself it's not hard, must be my age.

If I change my chainwheel, then it will not have the ring guarding the teeth , and not having had a folder before am afraid the chain might come off when folding it.

It's not you- I'm rather younger, and there are plenty of hills where I resort to shanks' pony rather than end up hyperventilating! Chainring shouldn't come off when folding- mine has a guard, and it only comes off when riding (bit of a flaw with my particular model, judging by what I've read). I have to remember to have some disposable gloves with me just in case....Gaerlan do a little 'roller kit' to keep the chain on, that will probably do the trick.

[Puffer]

For two thirds of this very steep hill, it goes through a village.
And if I was to walk it, I would have everybody shouting, "haven't you had your Weetabix to day then"
No I would rather struggle.