Folding Bikes - Dahon Mariner Review Request

Hello All,

I have seen the same reviews (some stock) for the Dahon Mariner D7 on the internet. Anyone have any experiences with Mariner? Any wisdom in comparing with the Dahon Speed D7? Speed on either bike?

Thanks!

Loren

Top D7 speed on the flat, with my knees: 22 mph. After that, I'm out of gears. Lowest gear good for moderate hills, but not mountains.

This thread for an essay (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?648955-NARROWED-TO-3-Choices-3-Speed-or-7-Speed....Need-Advice-Please%21)on the D7.

Gear range on both the Mariner and Speed is the same, Mariner gets an alloy frame and is about a kilo lighter, with a slight upgrade with improved grips & tyres etc. The other comparison depending which country you are in is the alloy Vitesse D7 which is very similar to the Mariner. All the D7 bikes are fun, nimble, pleasant to own, in my experience of the Speed and Vitesse D7.

My average road speed on the Vitesse D7 is about 16 mph.

Saddles can become painful after an hour. :-)

I have a D6 Mariner I got from Thor's garage sale, big plus to Thor, highly recommend. Mine is the steel frame version. Bottom line is I am quite satisfied. Enough gears for me, plently for the flat land I am in.

Eventually I may put on wider tires to better handle pot holed streets of New Orleans or perhaps get suspension seat post.

real old Mariners were basically the same as Boardwalks .....( 4 years old)

than for a couple years were blue medium aged steel Mariners which are quite similar to todays Speed D7

The newer 2 last years alloy Mariner are nicer ( albeit more expensive) I like them even more than the old ones.....due to the lighter weight and better components ....( I am out of stock at this time ..lol )

The comparison to the Vitesse with derailleurs ( not available in the USA ) is quite close ... both light nimble bikes

Thor

Top D7 speed on the flat, with my knees: 22 mph. After that, I'm out of gears. Lowest gear good for moderate hills, but not mountains.

This thread for an essay (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?648955-NARROWED-TO-3-Choices-3-Speed-or-7-Speed....Need-Advice-Please%21)on the D7.

Gear range on both the Mariner and Speed is the same, Mariner gets an alloy frame and is about a kilo lighter, with a slight upgrade with improved grips & tyres etc. The other comparison depending which country you are in is the alloy Vitesse D7 which is very similar to the Mariner. All the D7 bikes are fun, nimble, pleasant to own, in my experience of the Speed and Vitesse D7.

My average road speed on the Vitesse D7 is about 16 mph.

Saddles can become painful after an hour. :-)

2007 range was reverse.
Vitesse had the sonus aluminum tubing and mariner had the older 4130 cromo steel tubing.

Thanks!!