Folding Bikes - 26" folding bikes

I've been thinking about picking up a folding bike, because of the San Francisco BART's stupid rule that you can bring your bike on any train on any time of the day except during rush hour. BUT, you can bring a folding bike onto the train with you.

They probably mean those little 16' wheel things, like bromptons or bike fridays or whatever. Personally, I don't really want to mess with those, I want to comply with the stupid BART rule without having to make any concessions on ride quality. I couldn't care less how small the bike folds up, so long as when the bart staff tries to prevent me from bringing my bike on the train, i can tell them with a straight face that it's a folding bike, therefore allowed.

I've seen a couple of people riding the trains with 26" folders, which piqued my interest. From doing a little googling, the Dahon Matrix or Montague Paratrooper look like good commuter options for me -- basic mtn bike / city bike type set ups. I haven't found much in the way of user reviews, though.

Anyone got any experience with these? Or know of any other brands I should look at?

I think there are few more companies that make 26" folders. However, I think many of the better 20" folders feel and behave just like a big bike. Here's a good general review of the most common folders out there:

http://www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html

How about http://www.folding-bike.com

They have some 26" bikes on there, and they seem reasonably light and inexpensive. I've never seen one in person; be interested to see one. They also have the aforementioned Dahon Matrix on there.

They probably mean those little 16' wheel things, like bromptons or bike fridays or whatever. Personally, I don't really want to mess with those, I want to comply with the stupid BART rule without having to make any concessions on ride quality. I couldn't care less how small the bike folds up, so long as when the bart staff tries to prevent me from bringing my bike on the train, i can tell them with a straight face that it's a folding bike, therefore allowed.

I've seen a couple of people riding the trains with 26" folders, which piqued my interest. From doing a little googling, the Dahon Matrix or Montague Paratrooper look like good commuter options for me -- basic mtn bike / city bike type set ups. I haven't found much in the way of user reviews, though.

Anyone got any experience with these? Or know of any other brands I should look at?

The Montague is not a folding bike but a bike that will collapse for easy storage. You might have problems with the Montague as the conductor may think your're trying to being a regular bike on the train. I would NOT get that bike.

The Dahon 26 inch Matrix really folds well and you can tell that its a REAL folding bike. I test rode the the Dahon Espresso and didn't really choose it at the time but they improved the bike over the past 3 years. The Matrix is awsome and I wish I had the money to buy one.

Don't get a 16 inch wheel unless you intend to being the bike aboad a bus or have an airplane or boat. I would not shy away from a 20 inch wheel bike like the Speed 8 or Speed pro. Give it a shot and ALWAYS test ride before you buy.

I have two Dahon bikes and regret buying the Piccolo (16 inch model) I don't regret buying the Speed 8 but it worked for me. What I worry about is trying to get the Matrix aboard a bus which may not work! (Matrix is too big a package) If Bart is a LightRail, I don't see you getting into trouble. Bring a cover or a garbage bag with you in case the driver makes trouble. You may have to stand along side of the bike all the time. I think you'll be alright but see if you can borrow one and try to board the train with it. If there are no problems, you'll be fine. We have a lightrail in New Jersey and I've seen people bring the Boardwalk 6 (20 inch Dahon) with no problems

Good luck.

I was recently given a 20" wheel Columbia trike that folds up for storeage, think that would pass the straight face test on BART? Don

The Montague is not a folding bike but a bike that will collapse for easy storage. You might have problems with the Montague as the conductor may think your're trying to being a regular bike on the train. I would NOT get that bike.
interesting. from looking at their site, it looked like the folding mechanism isn't that dissimilar from like the matrix.


Give it a shot and ALWAYS test ride before you buy.
Always good advice, of course.

Part of the thing i was hoping to hear, though, was about people's experience specifically with these types of bikes on the BART (which, as you guessed, is basically a light rail type system -- much more like the commuter lines in the NYC area than like the subway system. Better, actually, than like the LIRR and such for bringing on bikes, the BART has more open space. In face, enough open space that you can bring your regular bike on the bart anytime except for rush hour.

Of course, rush hour is exactly when i want to be able to bring my bike on the bart...

interesting. from looking at their site, it looked like the folding mechanism isn't that dissimilar from like the matrix.

Of course, rush hour is exactly when i want to be able to bring my bike on the bart...

The folding mechanism is different from the Matrix. The Matrix actually folds in the middle making a smaller package while the Montague keeps the frame solid.

These are some of the differences:

1 When folded, the Montague looks like all you did was remove the front and rear wheels of a regular bike. The driver of the lightrail might think you're trying to bring a regular bike on board while trying to pass it as a folder. It's possible, they might not allow you to boad during rush hour because it's a large package and he might think you're trying to pull one over on him/her. Anthing to avoid problems during rush hour will work to your advantage.

2. The Montague does not stick together in one piece like the Matrix. You're going to have problems carrying the wheels in one hand and the frame in another plus your personal luggage. The Matrix does not require you to take the wheels off so the bike remains in one piece even when folded which is much better in my opinion.

3. When it rains, the last thing you want to do is put your hands on the wheels. With the Montague, you're always going to get your hands dirty and things can really get messy when those wheels are full of mud and road grit.

I own a Matrix and live in the Bay Area. The Matrix is a very durable,dependable bike. I highly recommend it over other 26" folders. Actually, a coworker went and bought the 2004 model (white) and he likes it also. One great thing about the Matrix is you can roll it when it is folded. My old commute from Livermore to Pleasanton Bart was great using the Matrix since it was a "full sized" bike. Also, being a "full-sized" bike, accessories were easy to find (bike racks, panniers, seatposts).

I recommend Gaerlan.com for your purchase and tell them Walt sent you. :)

Have you asked anyone on the Dahon site ? The members who contribute to the forums do not work for Dahon and will give you an honest opinion . One or two do work for Dahon but most of us do not.

Have you asked anyone on the Dahon site ? The members who contribute to the forums do not work for Dahon and will give you an honest opinion . One or two do work for Dahon but most of us do not.

The one thing I didn't like about the Matrix after reviewing it at a LBS were the front suspension forks. Other than those, the quality of the rest of the bike was fine.

I have a Fuij folding bike with 26" wheels. There is a quick release on the stem and seatpost that allows fast folding. The pedals even fold up.

Bike Friday makes a compact folding bike that is so small you can fold it up and slip it under the seat on the bus. I just got the flyer, and it doesn't look so bad. The price... whoooooo.... I hope it does come down in price, though!

Koffee

Is the Dahon Matrix, folded, cumbersome on the train (subway)? I know the 20" foldies are great on the train, but are they adequate and comfortable and speedy enough to ride 12 miles through city streets (darting, dodging) and on multi-use trails (consistent speed)? I'm trying to make up my mind between a 20" or a 26" (Matrix).

Thanks for your help.

I bicycle commute in Dallas, and the DART rules are exactly the same as BART. I purchased a Dahon Matrix 2004 model. I have no complaints about the bike, I have owned it for 5 months and ride it every day. When folded it can easily be rolled. It is not the smallest package folded-- it can be made smaller by loosening the handlerbar bolts and swinging the bars 90 degrees--this won't save much room and is in my opinion more trouble than it is worth.

After much comparison, I finally went with a 26 because I felt more confident over less than perfect roads, and in general felt more comfortable on a full sized bike. If you are planning to only use the bike for short commuting, I would lean towards a 20 inch folder because of the easy portability. The Matrix is easy to roll around folded, but it is pretty heavy and cumbersome to lift. I can usually throw it in a friends' trunk if the situation arises, but it is never an easy job. I can't imagine being comfortable on the Dallas roads (not always the best quality and full of very aggressive drivers) without a full-size bike, but these worries may not be a consideration for you. Others may have more to add, but the main drawbacks I find to the 20 inch wheels are the decresed effeciency over long distance (though the smaller wheel will acclerate more quickly) and the diminished handling over less than smooth terrain.

Thanks for the information, Anthony. We have agressive drivers here in DC as well (seems like alot are from Texas for some reason...) I am leaning towards the Matrix because riding in traffic takes alot of concentration and I don't have to think about the bike when I'm on a full size one--it just comes naturally after all these years. I'm glad to know that the Matrix rolls, folded, and that you are able to bring it on the DART. I checked the DC Metro rules, and they have no regulations about the size of folding bikes, so it looks like a Matrix will do the trick. I'll be sure to let you know when I actually get one (the bike shop is supposed to receive a shipment before Thanksgiving).

I don't know if you plan on throwing it into any car trunks, or if you just need to get it on and off the train, but fold one up at your LBS and see if it is managable for you. I love my bike, but it isn't light.
Here's a shot of my Matrix. I want to switch out the suspension fork for a rigid one since I don't off-road. The Matrix comes with slick tires, so I'm not really sure what the point is of having a suspension fork. If you plan to put on fenders, beware that the disc brakes can make mounting difficult. I had to bend the support around the brake. It wasn't an easy job. On the back fender I just used 3 of the 4 supports and forgot about the one that would have need to be altered because of the disc brake. Three supports work fine. If you go with the Dahon make sure to check your frame latch tension every couple of weeks or you'll get a very clicking noise from the latch. My bike is stock with Freddy Fenders, PlanetBike front and rear lights, and, of course the bag and rack. The adjustable front stem allows everything from a pretty much straight up to a low, aggressive riding position.

Cool. Thanks for the info about the fenders. I'm not sure I'll put them on because I have a shower at work and I don't really care if I get dirty. I took fenders off of my Jamis Coda Comp because they wouldn't stay put. I'll definitely put a rack on, since I use panniers. I have a good set of lights, too. I agree with the suspension fork--I'm not a fan of them (my mountain bike racing days predate suspension forks, back in the Jacquie Phelan era).

I'm looking forward to trying out the Matrix at the local shop in the next week or so. I'll give it a good testing to make sure it will work for me. I know it'll be heavier than my Jamis, but probably about the same as my Stumpjumper. Besides, I'm still a pretty strong chica!

Happy riding.

The one thing I didn't like about the Matrix after reviewing it at a LBS were the front suspension forks. Other than those, the quality of the rest of the bike was fine.


Has anyone replaced the fork on their Matrix with a non-suspension fork? I'm getting my Matrix today and I eventually want to replace the fork. Will any straight, mountain bike-type fork work?

Want to really confuse the BART and their rulebook on 'folders'?
Montague used to sell a 26" wheeled folding tandem. Folded into 3 sections, fit into a suitcase and was flyable on airlines without an oversize luggage charge.
Foldable in less than 3 minutes (that's was a record setting time!) but by myself could fold it in under 15 minutes.

The folding mechanism is different from the Matrix. The Matrix actually folds in the middle making a smaller package while the Montague keeps the frame solid.

These are some of the differences:

1 When folded, the Montague looks like all you did was remove the front and rear wheels of a regular bike. The driver of the lightrail might think you're trying to bring a regular bike on board while trying to pass it as a folder. It's possible, they might not allow you to boad during rush hour because it's a large package and he might think you're trying to pull one over on him/her. Anthing to avoid problems during rush hour will work to your advantage.

2. The Montague does not stick together in one piece like the Matrix. You're going to have problems carrying the wheels in one hand and the frame in another plus your personal luggage. The Matrix does not require you to take the wheels off so the bike remains in one piece even when folded which is much better in my opinion.

3. When it rains, the last thing you want to do is put your hands on the wheels. With the Montague, you're always going to get your hands dirty and things can really get messy when those wheels are full of mud and road grit.

The Montague folds with the triangle pivotting at the seat tube.
It further collapses beyond there to save space. You don't have to take the wheels off.

If not expressly barred-you could get two birds with one stone- add a folding tandem or a folding recumbent to you collection.

Here’s a pictoral showing the folding process:
http://www.gaerlan.com/bikes/monta/montafold.htm

Gaerlan has the suitcase in case you want to pack so the train operator would never even know what’s inside.


Not a 26, but here’s the lowest priced recumbent folder:
http://www.bikeroute.com/Backsafer/
Meets the folding requirement.
FWIW, unfolded it would meet our subway 80” max limit for bikes outside rush hour here in the Metro DC area.


Worksman made a folding tandem, not sure if they still do.

Oops-doublepost deleted.

Has anyone replaced the fork on their Matrix with a non-suspension fork? I'm getting my Matrix today and I eventually want to replace the fork. Will any straight, mountain bike-type fork work?

Check with your LBS, not every fork will do. The rake needs to be the same or it will affect your handling. Make sure you get brake disc mounts if you that's what you have. I am going to replace my suspension fork as well. I think Dahon must assume that buyers demand a suspendion fork on any mountain bike frame. It doesn't make any sense to me to have a suspension fork on a bike that has tires that are only suitable for street riding.

Just acquired a 2004 Matrix. Based on my experience with the Dahon Vitesse, folding can take a minute, stuffing the folder into a Dahon bag (for airline travel) can take 20 minutes. As they say in Dhún na nGall, it's like stuffing 10 pounds of cac, into a 5 pound bag ;-) By way of explanation, I used Tempurpedic (1-inch viscoelastic mattress) to protect the bike from the gorillas. The Dahon Vitesse has so far survived rounds trips to Ireland and California.

The Dahon bag for the 26" Matrix is larger but may not be large enough to stuff the Matrix and the Tempurpedic. The Matrix will need the Tempurpedic cushioning more than the Vitesse since it is more vulnerable (e.g. derailleur vs. Sturmey-Archer hub).

Now the fun part. I'm upgrading the Matrix- Brooks Champion Flyer saddle with Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost (27.2 mm- so it can be borrowed from my mountain bikes), Power Grip pedals, longer bar (28") with riser, shifters to replace the twisters, Hutchison Gold Elite (cyclocross) tyres to replace the stock baldies, and of course a better suspension fork. (I'll leave the fork challenge to Harris Cyclery ;-)

:roflmao: :roflmao:

Just looked at the specs for Dahon's Zero G ($1K folder). It has a Manitou Skarab Fork. Since the Matrix looks like a cheaper-component clone of the Zero G, the Skarab is probably the missing suspension fork on the Matrix. You can check out the Manitou Skarab specs at http://www.orangebikes.com/technical/ANSWERTECH/04Skareb_eng.pdf.

:roflmao: :roflmao:

The frame is exactly the same as the Zero-G's, fyi. We should send in pictures to Dahon with my Matrix modified for road-only commuting and yours decked out to hit the trails.

Set up my new Matrix last night. It took a while to get my SPD pedals just right, but that's probably because my shoes are 10 years old. I repaced one of the cleats, and I should probably go ahead and replace the other one, too. Everything else was easy. I think I will get fenders, and hold off on the rack and use a messenger bag. It's a really cool bike. It was raining pretty hard this morning, so I decided not to take my first ride to work in the rain on a new and unfamiliar bike. It should clear up by tomorrow, though.

Anthony--have you had any problems with the water bottle location on the underside of the frame (other than having a dirty water bottle)?

Leo, post a picture of your Matrix!

No problem with the bottle there, the bottle is very secure and not hard to reach because of the odd frame design. I use fenders so dirt isn't a problem. I do have to take the cage off to put my bike on my "repair stand" (I rig my car rack to my washing machine for repairs/cleaning.)

I had been considering something like the Matrix or Zero-G as a "travel-tourer", to take by plane to exotic locations for a few days. After reading the review of the Matrix on the folding society site I have reservations about using the bike for any kind of touring, since the guy made it sound like the frame flexed way too much with a load and was "downright scary" (or some such wording) with the extra weight on the frame. Do you guys have any comments on this from your experiences?

The frame will click when the main latch gets loose, tightening it isn't too hard. The twist lock on the top tube will work its way loose at first, but it is simply to tighten even at full speed and I found that after the first month of riding it stopped working its way loose as easily. Like I said when the main latch is loose, the frame will click, but I don't feel the frame flexing. The Dahon manual emphasizes that the main latch must be adjusted periodically. Basically, when bike folds way too easily, you need to tighten the latch mechanism.

I wish I had been on longer rides with heavier loads on the bike to give you more info. I mainly commute on mine mainly, but sometimes on the weekend I'll take rides that are 20-30 miles roundtrip. One thing to keep in mind is that, as it says on the frame, the bike is only designed for 230 pounds of rider and luggage. My rack is attached to my seatpost, so I never really load the bike down, but sometimes I haul 20-40 pounds in my trailer. Obviously, the physics are different with the weight in the trailer.

If you tell me a little more about how you will use the bike I can give you more info on the Matrix's appopriateness.
On, off road, or both?
How many miles would you cover on an average day of "travel-touring"?
What kind of weight would you carry on the bike? I can weigh my bike down and go for a spin to report the performance.

I finally rode my new Matrix today to work (12 miles) in the rain and fog. I got tired of waiting for the rain to stop. I'm quite impressed with the bike so far. I did not feel like I was riding a folding bike. It felt like a mountain bike, except that it is lighter than my 1985 Stumpjumper! I used a messenger bag instead of my usual panniers that I use on my Jamis Coda. Fenders would have been really nice to have on a day like today, so I think I'll go ahead and get some Freddies. I plan to ride to work as much as possible this winter.

After work, I'll ride the 1 mile to the Metro and fold up the bike and go home on the Metro, which is really why I bought the bike, since I don't ride in the dark.

What about bags to cover the bike with in the Metro while folded? Are they worth it? I might just make one (yes, I can sew).

I'm just getting back into cycling but I've been doing trips with my folding kayak a couple of times a year and love to be able to fly somewhere new with all of my gear and get away for a weekend or for longer trips, especially in the wintertime (since I live in Minnesota). I have visions of doing both on and offroad trips, and maybe even an extended trip to Baja next winter if I can swing it. I would need to be able to carry camping gear, etc., so maybe 30 or 40 lbs I would guess. I was also thinking of building up a steel-framed MTB with couplers, but that would end up costing more than the Zero-G even. I'm enjoying this thread so far...

Hmmm. 30 to 40 pounds of gear and, if you don't mind me asking, how much do you weigh? Will you need front and rear panniers for your gear? If so, you'll need another fork on the Matrix. And the tires that come on the bike are street tires, but I guess tires aren't too expensive. Have you thought about using a trailer. My Burely Nomad breaks down and fits into a bag that is the size of an artist's portfolio. It is good for up to 100 pounds of cargo, just an idea. I will try to load down my Matrix as much as I can over the weekend and give you a report on the ride.

I've never really weighed all of my camping stuff but I do have pretty lightweight gear so I may not need to carry that much weight, although in desert areas I'm sure you might need to carry 15lbs of water. I'm about 180 lbs. so it's adding up already. I have a Yakima Big Tow trailer but there's no way to carry that thing on a plane. The Nomad might work but likely wouldn't work well off-road. I'll probably try to set myself up with just rear panniers and a handlebar bag so I don't have to worry about front racks (although there are some that would work). As I have learned from my kayak trips, hauling your crap through the airport is a bigger challenge than actually toting it on the assembled vehicle. I'm glad your enjoying your Matrix so far!

I was looking around a bit on the net and discovered this new Dahon slated for release this year: http://www.fortune.com/fortune/photoessay/0,18467,785792-4,00.html

It has a steel frame, good looking components but a hefty price tag. Here's a Japanese link that shows a little more detail:
http://www.akibo.co.jp/dahon_contents/products/26inch_01.html

I suppose the $1999 price would be comparable to a similarly equipped steel hardtail with S&S couplers, but I don't know what real advantage the Dahon would have, other than being available with less hassle than a custom bike. Buying a $500 Matrix and upgrading little by little would be easier on the wallet.

The Dahons say they will take up to 230 pounds, so as long as you keep your cargo weight under 50, you should be good.

And you are right, the two-wheel Nomad won't work for serious off-roading, though I will vouch for it on a decent unpaved trail.

It will probably be at least a month away at the soonest, but I am thinking about replacing my Matrix with two bikes. I bought my Matrix along with a motorcycle when I decided not to drive a car, but I've that a) I don't really need the motorcycle, and b) I am much more into bicycling than I ever thought I would be, so I'm thinking of selling the motorcycle and Matrix and replacing them with a 700c tourer and a very nice Dahon 20" folder.

Why not keep the Matrix and build it up for riding on trails, like Leo? That way, you'll have a tourer, a small folder, and one you can take on trails. You can't really have too many bikes.

The locking ring on my Matrix seems to be stuck. The bike is unfolded, and I can't get the locking ring loose. Is this common? Should I just keep trying? Should I spray anything on it to try to loosen it? Maybe I'll just ride it and it will loosen up that way. Another good excuse to ride to work tomorrow!

I'm just getting back into cycling but I've been doing trips with my folding kayak a couple of times a year and love to be able to fly somewhere new with all of my gear and get away for a weekend or for longer trips, especially in the wintertime (since I live in Minnesota).

You might be interested in some of the pictures in Dahon's Photo Galleries (http://www.dahon.com/gallery.htm). Check out the gallery titled "Germany", by M. Hoffman. The guy (or gal) tows a folding kayak behind their folding bike, then assembles the kayak, and puts the bike in it! Very cool.

Velogiril--

Try a whack with a rubber mallet or anything that won't bend the part. The lockring can be tricky, you must never force it if you don't have it on the threads, if you feel any resistance, it probably isn't on the threads. Spray some lube on the lockring and see if it helps you get it unstuck. It wouldn't seem that the lube will make it loosen up more easily while you are riding, but I haven't found this to be the case.

I finally got it by twisting like crazy. I thought of the mallet, but it seemed a bit severe. I didn't want to break it. You have to be very careful with the locking ring. It does not go very far in either direction. It's okay now. Thanks for the advice.

You might be interested in some of the pictures in Dahon's Photo Galleries (http://www.dahon.com/gallery.htm). Check out the gallery titled "Germany", by M. Hoffman. The guy (or gal) tows a folding kayak behind their folding bike, then assembles the kayak, and puts the bike in it! Very cool.

I've seen those pictures and they're way cool! There's a similar picture of my folding sailboat in tow at: http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/ but I only use it to get a few blocks down to the public beach, although it tows fairly easily on the flats.

I've seen those pictures and they're way cool! There's a similar picture of my folding sailboat in tow at: http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/ but I only use it to get a few blocks down to the public beach, although it tows fairly easily on the flats.

Hey, cool boat. What kind is it?

Hey, cool boat. What kind is it?

It's a Klepper "Master" foldable sailboat (same German company that makes the popular kayaks). They stopped making them in the 1980's, I think, but there are still a lot around. Just part of my "fleet" of folders, which I need to thin out a bit to finance my growing two-wheeled obsession.

Hi Velogirl! Let's you, Tony, and I post pix together. I'd like to see what your Matrix looks like with fenders.

I gave some thought to fenders. Maybe get the fancy fenders on Rambouillet's Rivendell-maybe not ;-)
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/rambouillet.asp

Now a folding Rivendell (with MTB bars) and cyclocross tires would really be a thing of beauty and a joy for all of us!

I think the future of folders is off-road (or rough road-like Ireland) but not mountain biking. I would never ride a Montague down the baby heads of Durango! MTB technology is way above current folders. I once rode an Ellsworth Truth- it made even my Jamis Exile (an elegant steel bike with perfect manners) look and feel like a wimp. http://www.ellsworthbikes.com/news/news.cfm?press_id=478&year=2004

My Matrix is a work in progress (more zeroes than 1's). I think I'm replacing everything but the frame ;-) Like new chain and new cables, MTB bar, Ergo Bar ends (in addition to new suspension fork, beautiful, aggressive Hutchison Pythons and Hutchison green tubes that will never (hardly ever) go flat. Actually, the thorns in Durango cause most of the flats.I may try some single track in Durango during spring break. But repairing a flat at 8,000 feet to me is like brain surgery ;-) I'm usually close to AMS- a topic the Colorado Tourist Board apparatcheks shun.

Maybe during the winter break, I'll do a fun test ride on the horse trails in Lincoln and Concord. This will be bittersweet- I'll hear the canter of my favorite hunter, a quarter horse named Cadence, who is still doing the quarter mile in 21 seconds in the Elysian fields.

:roflmao: :roflmao:

If you look under the Commuter section, under the thread "Commuter Bicycle Pics" page 9, post 208 you'll find a pic of my Matrix. Those are Freddy Fenders, fyi.

HI howling.fantods

Re. The Montague Paratrooper vs. ordinary folders - you might want to take in concideration that the Montague bikes are designed in a way - that you get the same strenght as with conventional bike frames. My experince is that a lot of the others folders on the market are lacking the driving comfort and structurel strenght that you get with a Montague. Yes, you need to take of the front wheel when entering a train - but really the bike folds up to a pretty small size - and it takes maximum 30 sek.
Especially compared to the other 26" folders out there - the Paratrooper is a great buy.!
Also Montague are offering a 14 day trial period - visit them at www.montagueco.com

Good luck

Jan / Denmark

Hello! I'm the new person around here.

I want to get my husband a folder for his birthday. He is 6'3" 320lbs. The bike would be a surprise. He needs to fit it into his freightliner which hasn't a passenger seat -so there should be room enough for it.

So far, I have learned that the 20" wheel base is sturdy enough for the weight. However, they may not be sufficient enough for the streets here in Cleveland. He would probably be on the bike for 16Miles per day max.

I am clueless about bikes. I wonder if the 26" Matrix Danon model would hold up to his weight. Are there any complaints about the sturdiness of the frame from larger men?

How much does it weigh? How does it compare to the Bike Friday?

Thanks for your information. I really appreciate the photos.

Anthony King, you gotta really nice looking bike! If only I could trick out a bike like that for my husband.

Hi Be Ready,

the Dahon Matrix is only rated for riders up to 230 lbs. I'm not sure that any of the folding mountain bikes are designed for riders 320 lbs. Kona makes some really burly, non-folding mountain bikes.

Good luck.

Just in time for a misty ride in today, I put Freddy Fenders on my Matrix. As Anthony King described, it was not so easy with the disk brakes. Plus, the dropout on the non-disk side (front) was not threaded. But I took care of it with duct tape. They look cool and they kept me dry. I'll take a picture this weekend, so I hope we can see the trail set-up, too. Later.

Well, finally. here are pix of the upgraded 2004 Dahon Matrix. The actual upgrades are as follows:

Shimano 3x8 index shifters
Salsa Moto Ace riser bar (666 mm)
Cane Creek Ergo Control Bar Ends
Cane Creek Thudbuster suspension seatpost
Brooks Conquest All Terrain saddle
Eco Sport pedals/power grips (HighPerformance kit)
Manitou 2004 Skareb Elite 100 suspension fork (100 mm)
Hutchison Gold Elite Python XC tires (26x2.0)
Hutchison Green Competition innertubes



:roflmao: :roflmao: