Folding Bikes - Adding a chainguard/trouser guard to my Dahon Yeah. Could work with other Dahons, too

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ShinyBiker
07-07-08, 08:19 PM
As many here know, Dahon equips most of their bikes with these cheap plastic ring chaincovers/bashguards. I broke my off my ring cover from my Yeah when I rubbed it accidentally with my foot. I also ride in "regular" clothes. See this old pix of my Yeah with an unbroken chaincover:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_EqgpUrE0IEs/RxA6OuUEBXI/AAAAAAAAACU/0aFeg357TDk/s1600-h/yeah3.JPG

The Yeah has 52T front single ring. I set about looking for a aftermarket chainguard that would fit the front ring. I quickly found a good candidate in the Sun chainguard from Velo Orange: http://www.velo-orange.com/sunchaiguard.html. $19 + shipping. I corresponded with Chris from Velo and he assured me that this chainguard is a thin steel that can be bent to fit a lot of bikes. The chainguard came with P clamps that were too little to fit my Dahon's tubes esp. the front ring area.

I improvised a solution by using this plumbers strapping tape to make a clamp. Plumbers use this tape to fasten PVC pipe to walls and joists in a house. This metal tape is highly malleable, has holes and is rust proof. The clamp I made rests on the slots where the rear cables go through. I used a small screw to hold the chainguard between my clamp. I lined the inside of my makeshift clamp with a cut up piece of inner tube. I had to expand the front part of chainguard so that it wouldn't rub against the chain.

For the rear, I bent the chainguard flat and fastened it with a handi-tie. Using the P clamp for the rear would have made it stick out too much, I thought.

I am really pleased with the result. I now have a chainguard that runs all the way back so a flapping trouser leg won't rub against the back part of the chain. Also, the Dahon's fold will not compromise this chainguard. Not that I fold it that much anyway. The strapping tape was a real find, as well. I can see it being useful for other bike projects where I have to fasten stuff to a variety sized tubes. Hope this helps someone.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_EqgpUrE0IEs/SHLFiTYQBhI/AAAAAAAAAHM/sZB5mGYyndU/s1600-h/yeah3.JPG

http://bp1.blogger.com/_EqgpUrE0IEs/SHLE_EeJSZI/AAAAAAAAAG8/eVbGv731MuI/s1600-h/yeah1.JPG

http://bp3.blogger.com/_EqgpUrE0IEs/SHLG_WUSCBI/AAAAAAAAAHU/CWUjFPgfM4o/s1600-h/yeah2.JPG


trueno92
07-07-08, 09:00 PM
looks fab. love velo orange. i drool everytime i read the velo orange blog... just wish i could steal some of their style and apply it to my strida, cuz there isn't anything i can buy to suit it!!

jur
07-07-08, 09:40 PM
Good job! :thumb: Having a folder often means having to improvise as parts too often can't be bought for what you need.