Folding Bikes - dahon curve xl vs sl

i noticed on dahon website on the global section listed curve xl which is 8 speed with shimano nexus 8 hub (similar to sturmey archer 8). the curve sl is also 8 speed with shimano capreo aka derailluers. so i have a couple of question...

1. did a search on the web and no where are they selling curve xl. any1 know where they are selling this model and how much it cost?

2. what are pros and cons of between a shimano nexu hub vs capreo?

3. if u a choice between these 2 bikes, which one would u get and why?

thx in advance.

There is a ton of threads on internal hubs versus derailers. A search would find them. I'll write about my choice later.

EDIT: My choice of hub or derailer would primarily depend on the bike's purpose. Multimode commuting ... internal hub. If instead you are picking up the curve because of a little storage space then I would be more inclined to go with a derailer. Although as others will point out, riding in certain environments risks damage to the derailer since it hangs so low ... caveat --> I have never seen a Capreo derailer in person. According to its description, it is supposed to be a very short derailer such that this might be a non-issue for the vast majority of riding.

Isn’t this a Q (at least partly) about the advantages/disadvantages of a internal vs external gears?

IMHO I dislike the clearance of the derailer on a my Dahon 16" (not a Curve SL).

in my opinion, small wheeler (read: 16" and smaller) are better suited to an internal gear, because there won't be any dangling rear derailers.
but, considering the weight of internal gears, (and price?) I would prefer the capreo-equipped one.

(even so, downtube mini is switching back to sturmey archer hubs....)

in my opinion, small wheeler (read: 16" and smaller) are better suited to an internal gear, because there won't be any dangling rear derailers.
but, considering the weight of internal gears, (and price?) I would prefer the capreo-equipped one.

(even so, downtube mini is switching back to sturmey archer hubs....)


According to Dr. Yan this had more do with the fact that the capreo hub bikes didn't sell nearly as well as the IGH bikes.

--sam

1. did a search on the web and no where are they selling curve xl. any1 know where they are selling this model and how much it cost?


Try searching Dahon Mu XL Sport (not Curve).

http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2008/curvesl.htm
http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/current/curvesl.htm

I dont have any current SL with Capreo but I do have the Nexus equipped bikes in stock ....
for the price difference this is a no brainer to me ...
the capreo is a little lighter obviously but the nexus redband is probably the nicest internal hub one can find

thor

Curve XL seems to be the same as the 2008 Curve SL. However, the XL model is heavier as it has the seatpost pump. The 2009 Curve SL has a Capreo Hub with vertical dropouts, so it is a bit more complicated to go single speed if you ever want to go that way. Like thor said, the nexus redband is one of the nicest internal hub you can find. Both models are nice bikes, but I will rather go for an internal hub for its durability and simplicity.

I also think both are nice bikes and well worth the price. I would definitely scoop up the 2008 Curve SL on Thor's site, however, as it is a steal at that price. I recently test rode a few Dutch bikes with the Nexus 8 hub and they shifted great. As a mostly fixed gear rider I also appreciate the simplicity and durability of the Nexus 8.

Another difference worth considering is the seat post/saddle used. The SL specifies the Kore system while the XL seems to use the traditional system. I have the Kore system on my 2008 SL and am not happy with it. While the Kore seat post is the same length as the traditional seat post, the maximum height is actually lower because a larger portion of the post must stay in the down tube. In addition, the saddle is lower because of the way the seat is attached to the post. The leg extension is 3 inches less for the Kore seat post than the traditional seat post which came with my 2004 Presto. Not good for us folks at the upper end of the recommended height range.

yeah but I will take the kore post and saddle out and replace it with something else for a nominal upcharge .....if i get regulrar posts back in there will be no upcharge even ..thor