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Dxisocos
06-30-10, 11:58 PM
I got my friend an Mu p8, but for her, the bike is on the heavy side. She can lift it fine, but i think making it lighter would be easier for her to lug it up stairs and onto to the bus. Any Dahon owners out there know of any good mods/swaps/ideas to make the bike lighter?
She has mud guards and the rack on it... pretty much stock.
Thanks in advance.
snafu21
07-01-10, 12:51 AM
The Mu is one of Dahon's lighter bikes at 11.2 Kg. shaving real weight can only be achieved by adding money. Rack and guards can be removed, the next weight shaver is tyres, but Marathon Racers - if that's what you have - are only 275 g. each. You'll struggle to go much lighter.
The seat-post pump can be replaced by a standard alloy seat post though, and a lighter saddle added at the possible expense of comfort. If carrying is the issue, clipping a wide shoulder strap to the folded bike can ease the strain of lugging this behemoth upstairs. Plastic pedals may be a few grams lighter, but won't fold and will chew shins and furniture.
Replacing drive-chain parts is next, paring down the rear cassette to a single speed and removing the dérailleur and shifter, and replacing the chain wheel for an alloy one, the final big expense. The result is a bike that won't do hills, downhill or headwinds, but is fashionably skinny.
But, folded bikes can be cumbersome. Try the shoulder strap first.