Folding Bikes - Am I gonna die tragically young?

Or will I ripe and ripe then rot and rot?

Considering options for the top end of a brand-spankin'-new MuXl Sport '08:

Option 1. $32 Aber Hallo! + $55 Ergon GC3

http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/aberhallo.htm

http://www.amazon.com/ERGON-GRIPS-FULL-LARGE-BLACK/dp/B002EZ6ZPI/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1273869143&sr=1-15


Option 2. $32 Aber Hallo! + stock Ergon grips + $40 Ergon GC3 bar ends

http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/shop/category/spare-parts


Option 3. stock bar + stock Ergon grips + $15 Titec L-bends + $6 Lizard skins

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14052-015_LIZBC5-3-Parts-61-Grips/Bar-Tape/Lizard-Skins-Bar-End-Grips.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Titec-L-bends/dp/B001BYOOCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1273869926&sr=1-1


Option 4. $32 Aber Hallo! + stock Ergon grips + $20 Origin-8 Bullhorn bar sawed in half + $6 Lizard skins

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-8-Bullhorn-Pursuit-Handle-Silver/dp/B002I7K51W/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1273870478&sr=1-6

Yes, bullhorn cut in two at the midpoint. Each half locked in place by the Aber Hallo!.

Pros:
- Could leave a space for the Aber Hallo! QR lever between the halves allowing tight quick fold
- Could easily mount stock grips, grips shift and brake levers
- Could separate bar halves for easier suitcase packing
- It's rad

Cons:
- Potential early death

Maybe to strengthen the cut I could put grip lockrings and/or barend plugs on either side of it.

Anybody done this (and lived to tell a tale)?

Side question: Should I pay to have a documented preride mechanic check and active the Dahon "lifetime frame warranty"? I can tighten my own spokes.

I think it's OK to cut the bar in half, but use a "sleeve" in addition to the Aber Hallo to join the mid section. Good idea!

My only 3 euros worth is that space down by the hub with the bike folded might be very tight. (Although I don't have a Mu to check.) Swapping out the stock flat bars on my D7 for riser bars hampers the fold. Even having the bike computer in the wrong place stops the magnets locking.

I don't think that you can keep the split bars level with a single brace. You need an inner sleeve to make it work. This is what Bike FRiday does. Mind you, there is an additional problem regarding the inner diameter of the bar at the mounting point. If you really want to go with the split bars, I would just pick up one from Bike Friday. They will also split a bar if you send them one. Although they probably cannot guarantee that the inner diameter will match their sleeves.

Alternatively, if you can find an outer sleeve with the correct inner diameter -- 26.0 or 25.4 mm -- then it might work too.

In any event, keep riding - you'll live longer. That's my opinion. :>)