Folding Bikes - Dahon Eco 2 vs. Benotto Utopia

Hello everybody.

I live in Mexico City and been searching around for a folding bike. It seems that the ONLY two models available here are these ones:

Benotto Utopia
20" x 1 1/8 - 7 Speed (Shimano)
Price: $255 USD
(Alluminnium frame. No fenders, no bell, no rack)

Dahon Eco 2
20" x 1.5 - 6 Speed (shimano)
Price: $290 USD
(It has Fenders, bell, sttel rack and reflectants. I don't know what the frame is made of)

Fenders and all the rest are not important for me. I intend to use the bike for riding in parks, and ocassionally want to be able to carry it with me on public transportation and drive a little bit in the city. One of my main concerns is durability (the other is not having too much trouble with spare parts).

Benotto is a mexican brand (founded by Italian immigrants) that makes very good bikes. Although I think this is their first folding model, it looks quite though, and resistant. The Dahon looks slimmer, but I don't know much about the brand and would gladly appreciate some opinions and recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

The Benotto looks like a typical Chinese folder with Benotto name applied to it. It also suffers from the same problem most folders suffer from: too short distance between handlebars and seat. People in China ride slow and sit upright, but there is no scope for going a bit faster.

The Dahon also looks like a Chinese import but was made by the Chinese Dahon factory, judging by the parts on it. Those parts have a very long design history and should be more reliable. Also, the handlepost is angled forward a little bit, an extremely important comfort detail overlooked by many manufacturers. Plus it is height adjustable.

My bet is go with the Dahon.

Amigo (a) I'm from Venezuela, and before coming to Canada I was living in Mexico City for 14 months, so I know the city a little bit, the Dahon is very known on folders, very portable also, very easy to carry, and should be lighter than the Benotto model.

When raining is good idea to have fenders!, some times the parks have wet spots, also if you intend to go to parks the Dahon has a rear rack to carry your luch.

So is almost the same price, but Dahon has much more reputation on folders and you get the most for your money.

Remember that you can't lock a folder when you go somewhere, because all the parts can be easily taken apart, you need to carry always your bike, also don't put the bike inside your car in the same place where you are going to park!

Saludos

Tovar

Thank you guys.

Yes, geometry was something I was overlooking! Anyways, I intend to try both at the store a see wich one "feels" better. But since these are the only models at hand here I wanted some expert advice. Great advice Jur (actually I think I checked and the Dahon model says it was made in Taiwan). Thanks.

Tovar: Yes, fenders and all the other stuff come in handy, great comments too. Espero que no te hayas ido a Canadá huyendo de esta caótica ciudad, tiene su encanto a pesar de todo. Muchas gracias. Saludotes.