Folding Bikes - Dahon IOS

Hi the Dahon IOS is now listed on Dahon website, anyone bought? Is it the ultimate bike?

Is it the ultimate bike?

Due to the tires, it's got a humongous folded girth, and the IOS XL is almost 34 pounds!

The gizmos seem meh. The front light is cute but can't be replaced or upgraded and eliminates handlebar options. The rear light (IIRC) isn't tied into the system. I still am totally not-enamored with the Zorin pump design, which seems awkward to use to say the least. Disc brakes were reasonable. The USB charger is cute. But those tacked-on gizmos, few of which are useful to me, bring the price to $1500 for a 34-pound bike.

The bike has a normal reach, unlike Dahon's 20" folders.

I was surprised by the weights of all the 24" wheeled bikes in the new Dahon range, they're heavier than the 26" bikes. Lifting up stairs would not be a pleasant experience.

I don't see quite why they're so heavy, the forks are aluminium and there's no extending handlepost. Perhaps the hydroformed frame is a clunker?

The Glide P7 is 2kg lighter than the IOS P7 despite having a suspension seat post and a chunky saddle. ?

Why do people refer to a dynao hub as a 'clean energy'? Riders emit more CO2 when they charge their ipods. Not to mention the ecological cost of producing and delivering their food. ;-)

BTW, I like the new site design.

Kam

not if they only charge the Ipod when they go downhill , in fact there might be a very minute effort in braking saved

The weight is pretty easily explained. The IOS has a bunch of heavier than average features installed, which all simply add up to a heavier bike.

Disk brakes, dynamo hub, internal gear hub, the charging system, built in pump, even things like the included lights and having a double legged kickstand instead of a single legged one can add extra grams, all building up.

If you stripped the IOS of all of those gadgets, it would come out much lighter. Its more of a package deal that's bringing the weight up.

I think that the point of the bike is that someone looking for a simple ride isn't going to want this thing, nor is someone wanting a tiny little thing that'll fit in the overhead. Its for those people that want a bike that's decked out with all of the accessories well integrated and complete. All the IOS really needs is a rack, and its a fully decked out all weather commuter plus more, really.

I don't see how that accounts for the stated weight difference between the IOS P7 and Glide P7. 2 kg despite having the same hubs, rims, tyres etc.

Edit: The same handlepost, rear rack, stem. They're almost identical. At a glance I'd have imagined the IOS frame would be slightly lighter as the lines are straighter.

The weight is pretty easily explained. The IOS has a bunch of heavier than average features installed, which all simply add up to a heavier bike.

Disk brakes, dynamo hub, internal gear hub, the charging system, built in pump, even things like the included lights and having a double legged kickstand instead of a single legged one can add extra grams, all building up.

If you stripped the IOS of all of those gadgets, it would come out much lighter. Its more of a package deal that's bringing the weight up.

I think that the point of the bike is that someone looking for a simple ride isn't going to want this thing, nor is someone wanting a tiny little thing that'll fit in the overhead. Its for those people that want a bike that's decked out with all of the accessories well integrated and complete. All the IOS really needs is a rack, and its a fully decked out all weather commuter plus more, really.

I think that is pretty much the logic behind it.....
I just rode it around the showfloor at the dealer show, which is hardly representative, but I didnt "feel" the weight. I do know that the bikes look absolutely stunning, very nicely integrated , nicely adjusatble ( Andros Stem ) and they just looked right. Hard to explain.

While on the short ride the bike felt nimble and responsive but not nervous and twitchy ... I am a 20 inch kinda guy, but I like this bike. The few integrated things like the headlamp could be easily replaced with something else. The reecharge will work with other bikes as well of course and could be switched back and forth. Or replaced with an E werk by that matter. The few extra grams for the disc brakes are not at all significant but the disc brakes are indeed very welcome ....
No I dont have any at this moment .... I am waiting patiently ... lol


Although I do agree that I would absolutely feel ecstatic if the weight would be less ... alwasy some room for improvement I guess.
But again all those worries are gone when you see one of them in front of you... stunning bikes

Food for thought: The Ciao P7 with extremely similar design to the Glide is listed as being heavier than the Glide P7 despite having considerably smaller wheels and Marathon Racers instead of Big Apples. The tires alone?

660g for the Marathon Racers of the Ciao,
1410g on the Glide for the Big Apples.

And i'm certainly willing to bet that the 20" wheels are not going to come out heavier than the 24" ones, given that they are of the same spec.

Unless there's a huge difference in the weight of the different Dahon frames, it isn't logical for the nearly identially equipped 20" Ciao P7 with the much lighter tires and wheels to be heavier than the Glide P7 either. Either the Glide P7 has one exceptionally light frame relative to the other Dahon bikes,

Or the Dahon website has the weight listings of the bikes horribly wrong. I'm more willing to bet on the latter than the former.

> Riders emit more CO2 when they charge their ipods.

I think you meant "methane". :lol:

Due to the tires, it's got a humongous folded girth, and the IOS XL is almost 34 pounds!

The gizmos seem meh. The front light is cute but can't be replaced or upgraded and eliminates handlebar options. The rear light (IIRC) isn't tied into the system. I still am totally not-enamored with the Zorin pump design, which seems awkward to use to say the least. Disc brakes were reasonable. The USB charger is cute. But those tacked-on gizmos, few of which are useful to me, bring the price to $1500 for a 34-pound bike.

The bike has a normal reach, unlike Dahon's 20" folders.

I think it's a very nice looking bike, but it's definitely a boat; You know everything but the kitchen sink. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not what I look for in a folder (now if it were a recumbent that'd be another story).

Also, I think the charger is a little more than cute. IMO powering yourself off the grid is akin to transporting yourself off the grid. So by that measure the charger is just as important as the wheels.


The reecharge will work with other bikes as well of course and could be switched back and forth. Or replaced with an E werk by that matter.

Apart from the integrated battery, do you have any idea how the Reecharge compares to the E-werk? Just this week I ordered an E-werk from germany and now I'm wondering if I acted too rashly because this is the first I've heard of the Reecharge.

I like how the E-werk can have it's electrical output set to specification and given the reputation of B&M I trust their circuitry lives up to the excellent efficiency claims. I also have no interest in an integrated battery because given the environmental problems batteries cause it seems rather silly to worry about how they're charged (as in human power vs coal or nuclear or whatever).

However, at nearly twice the price for the E-werk compared to the Reecharge I wonder if it's worth it.

P.S. Damn I didn't know you sold the E-werk thor. If I had know I would have ordered from you instead of direct from germany.

yup I have ewerks in stock .... they are tech marvels , very very nice..... They do NOT have a battery ( there will be one available later in spring as an accessory to the E werk ) which you need for the latest I Phones to receive constant 5 volt charge. Yes its expensive but totally adjustable and very high tech ( nothing else expected from B&M ) it sells for 200 dlr
The Dahon Reecharge is not yet available and I dont have a lot of technical details at this moment, just that it must have a battery inside as otherwise it wouldnt charge the 3gs( ?) I phone. Most likely its less technical advanced and more for dummies like me. lol I dont know about the price either but expect it to be less than the E Werk . I keep you posted when more details become available
Thanks Thor

here is the rundown for the most adavnced system :
Handbuilt 20 inch wheel with SON genrator 375 dlr
BM Lumotec fron led light 99 dlr
EWerk 199 dlr
Bionix I phone case 55
I phone 400 ???
BM rear light 40 dlr
total : over 1100 bucks .......ouch
but that would be the top of the line though , and there is money spent somewhere which is totally worthless compared to something like this after all ...

back to the Ios

What's with the sudden interest in having your bicycle charge your phone/iPod? Folding bikes are generally used for day-to-day commuting/recreational rides. I'm going to go out on a limb here and conclude that most of these rides begin and end at a home with electricity, and that most people remember to start their journeys with fully charged phone/music devices. Seems like an unneeded complication to add to the simple bicycle.

What's with the sudden interest in having your bicycle charge your phone/iPod?
It would be a very handy feature on tour. I wouldn't have to worry about my GPS or phone. Plus these days it's often about accessories and features. The humble phone is the best example. Who would want a phone that could take pictures, surf the web, play games, play music, show you where you are, act as GPS, be ebook reader, etc etc? You just wanna phone someone, right? ;)

It would be a very handy feature on tour. I wouldn't have to worry about my GPS or phone. Plus these days it's often about accessories and features. The humble phone is the best example. Who would want a phone that could take pictures, surf the web, play games, play music, show you where you are, act as GPS, be ebook reader, etc etc? You just wanna phone someone, right? ;)

Exactly. I have a BlackBerry...without a data plan. I like the full Qwerty keyboard for texting. Calls and text...that's all I do.

Obviously, I see the point for touring, I'm just not convinced that a lot of touring is done on folders. But who am I to talk about needless features? I bought a Speed TR with racks and a dynohub...for daytime recreational rides. Because I like the way it looks. :thumb:

I think I saw a lower spec ios.
(the original is ios xL)

I might want that. only if it is not heavier than dahon speed...)

I think I saw a lower spec ios.
(the original is ios xL)

I might want that. only if it is not heavier than dahon speed...)

The IOS P7 is two pounds *heavier* than the IOS XL.

I think I saw a lower spec ios.
(the original is ios xL)

I might want that. only if it is not heavier than dahon speed...)

It is heavier than the Speed P 8
and here is why :
Larger SUper stiff hydroformed frame
LArger fork
Larger wheels, tires etc
it has fenders, a kickstand, the Andros adjustable STem,
It has internal gears
It has a front generator hub
It has a rear carrier and luggage Strap

it must be heavier ...

could it be, that one day later, waaay later, this ios comes up as a very basic outfit, say, like mu uno?
and when it does, will I still have the urge to own it?

At more than 10kg it would be a hassle to carry the bike, can the IOS be rolled like the brompton?

It is heavier than the Speed P 8
and here is why :
Larger SUper stiff hydroformed frame
...
Thor,
The frame actually gets smaller the bigger the wheels are, and it needs to be less stiff as the levers are shorter and forces are reduced. I think it should be possible to configure a 24" Dahon IOS at the weight of a Mu P8.

Thor,
The frame actually gets smaller the bigger the wheels are, and it needs to be less stiff as the levers are shorter and forces are reduced. I think it should be possible to configure a 24" Dahon IOS at the weight of a Mu P8.

dunno , if you apply that logic than 29 incher must be lighter than 26 inch bikes, which they are not . just compare tire weights, spokes weights, rim weights, and the frame is larger as it doesnt have a seatpost and handlebar which sticks out like a flagpole.

The "extra" weight also is in the hydroforming process I believe, Dahon has quite understandable and much apreciated oversized the frame in certain areas, thats why it feels rock solid and will last.

I dont think it was ever desogned to be an ultralight folder which you have to cary 3 flights of stairs or wrestle around on 3 different bus/train/sub every day they offer a mu sl or Curve SL. Much more like a bike ( or two of them) you can throw in the back of your car, your boat, and use it at times and places you normaly dont get with your regular bike ( because its at home hanging in the garage )

Thor

p.s. it doesnt fold as small and obviously doesnt roll like a brompton ... I prefer to ride my bike than to roll it ..lol I dont have an Ios here, when I do I will fold it and check if it does roll easily like the Curve or most 20 incher ( check on Youtube and see what I mean)

The Ios XL's weight is quite understandable given all the add-ons it has.

It's a nice all around city bike. Just missing the rack for XL. Perhaps Dahon skipped that to save some weight, evident by the heavier P7 version.

Too bad it only comes in black, and the price isn't exactly friendly, right up there with a well-equipped Brompton.

I think some people tend to obsess on weight and are cycle anorexics. Good point by Thor and some oithers that the IOS is not designed as lightweight bike and if you want that then go for an XL. This is a nice all-inclusive folder that can be used for commuting, trails and touring if necessary. Whether is worth the price tag can only be determined by seeing one in person and trying it out. Would I give up my larger Candenza 08 which has some similar features? I don't know yet...

Why do people refer to a dynao hub as a 'clean energy'? Riders emit more CO2 when they charge their ipods. Not to mention the ecological cost of producing and delivering their food. ;-)

Because unlike the waste produced by other energy sources biological waste is recyclable, sustainable, and nontoxic.

Personally I don't understand why people talk about greenhouse gases when it comes to environmental responsibility. Who ever said that the environment should be at equilibrium, especially when greenhouse gases are a natural by product of many life forms? IMO global warming is the least of our environmental problems.

Anyone test rode or bought this beauty yet? In stock in Fudge Cycles UK. Thor have you got one and tried it more extensively yet?

Well, chucky, I think the answer is "everything in moderation." There are many naturally occurring substances in the world but when you suddenly and dramatically increase their concentration, that's when trouble begins. But, yes, we have many other environmental problems besides global warming--pollution and habitat destruction loom fairly large on my list.