Folding Bikes - Best 20" Dahon for a tall person?

I'm not especially tall--6 feet with a 33" inseam--but I've been reading that some 20" Dahon models have a more ideal "cockpit" for someone my height than do others. The Speed TR, for example, is supposedly more accommodating of a tall person than is the Speed D7 (which is the bike I most like the idea of buying at the moment, as this will be my first folder and I hesitate to make a major cash commitment--also, I like its looks).

I have a feeling this is the sort of thing that must have been covered in some past thread, but I can't find anything when searching.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Dahon 20"er frames have all exactly the same geometry. Only they differ in the stem. Speed TR has the VRO stem, 3cm more reach than the standard telescoping stem on D7.

Strangely my Mu Ex has the same Vro stem as the TR but seemingly with more forward angle, resulting in 6,5 cm more reach than the standard telescoping stem.

Also the seatposts are all of same length, but saddles can differ within some relevant centimeters. I am borderline tall at 186cm for the Kore Ibeam, that's its limit.

Dahon 20"er frames have all exactly the same geometry.

Oh well then!

Looking at the pictures, I would never have guessed that. I clearly can't do trigonometry by sight.

http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/aberhallo.htm
you can get an Aber Hallo Stem which gives you a little more room.. fits on all bikes ( except the ones which are already coming with the shorter syntace stem ...)
Dahon has changed the geometry a couple years back to make more room in the cockpit. Thats one reason they will offer a handlepost which has LESS room and gives you a little more upright position in the near future,its already somewhere on the Dahon pages.
Best is if you try out any bike. Not by any chance close to Southern Illinois ?
Thor

Yes, I'm a few hours from your store. I plan on coming by as soon as I can with the next few weeks. I'm just reading up on Dahons online right now.

For what it's worth, I am rolling a Dahon Boardwalk single speed and I am 6'0 tall. Don't know my inseam, but the seat height is perfect raised to the limits marked on the seat tube.

I have a Dahon single-speed and previously owned a Boardwalk D7. I am 6'3" with a 36" inseam (in bike terms) and very long arms. That said, my seat to pedal distance is 39" which is not possible on either Dahon with a standard or even Thud-Buster seat post. The reach on the D7 was OK, but it's a bit short (I do like riding the S1, though).

Likely, you'll be OK on the Dahons, but at my height and inseam I am far more comfortable on either my custom, Bike Friday NWT or my large sized Pocket 8.

Bottom line: Dahons are great first folders, and excellent folders, period, for many riders.

Lou

I crammed my 6'4" frame (I buy 36/37" shirts) onto a 16" curve for half a year of 10 mile r/t commuting.

Then I found a 26" Espresso on CL, picked it up, and tested the train policy. No problem, and what a difference!

I can't offer any 20" advice, but I'd recommend fully exploring the 26" option before going for a 20".

If apartment/house storage space or car trunk capacity is your limiting factor, then nevermind-- the size quotes on the Dahon site assume that you'll unbolt the handlebars on the espresso, which you probably won't.

If you opt for a 26" check this out at Thors when you drop in there http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2008/cadenza8.htm what a deal for a Alfine hub.