Folding Bikes - Dahon Speed P8 for touring?

Hi all,
Newbie on this forum, sorry if it's the wrong place.

I've done multi-day trips a couple times on a 700c road bike. Usually backpack everything I need, maybe some light panniers to take some of the weight off my back, and travel very, very light. I usually do credit card touring (usually in Asia where it's cheap ;), not camping, so I carry very little (clothes + camera + spare parts, basically nothing else), and cover long distances and hills every day.

However, nowadays I'm finding it harder and harder to transport a full size bicycle on an airplane or some train systems, let alone price out a flight on an airline that has a favourable policy, and I'm thinking of switching over to a folder. Thinking about a Dahon Speed P8 ... any thoughts on using it for multi-day long-distance touring? Any experience with Speed P8 and hills? Or am I going to regret it? No stores carry it where I live, so I can't test ride, I only have an option to order online.

My budget's roughly $500-800 range, not prepared to shell out for Bike Fridays or Birdys or any of that. :-/

how about Dahon Speed TR. this bike is designed for touring. http://us.dahon.com/bikes/1649/speed-tr

i have done long distance touring on my MuP8 I modified it to a 16 by adding a frint chain ring. The lower gears really came in handy on the hills. You might want to add some clip on bars of some type to give you more hand positions. For credit card touring a seat post rack can work. For camping tour you might consider a trailer. Dahon's line up has quite a few new options for folders with more gearing options. You might find something in your price range on Ebay, Maybe even a Bike Friday. My MuP8 (16) fits in an airline OK suitcase.

+1 on the Speed TR.

Both the Speed P8 and TR are suitable for touring. It also depends on whether you need the 3x8 SRAM Dual-drive on the TR -- which is a sweet bike to ride. I've been riding my 2009 Speed P8 for two years and purchased a 2011 Speed TR for my wife which she truly enjoys riding..

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5928609259_5e74a401f0_b.jpg

The Samos and their Dahon Speed P8 & TR

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5929142241_dee476d1f6_b.jpg

Ye olde faithful - Samo's 2009 Dahon Speed P8

Sam :D

Sure, I think it'd work quite well. But IMO if you think you'll be in hilly area at all, it may be worth considering the MuP24. I have one, it works very well.

Oh, and as far as airlines are concerned, have you checked in with EVA Air for any of your trips to Asia? I believe it to be a bicycle friendly airline. Worth a call anyway.

Crazy idea: buy the bike in Asia. Deals to be had....

Hi all,
Newbie on this forum, sorry if it's the wrong place.

I've done multi-day trips a couple times on a 700c road bike. Usually backpack everything I need, maybe some light panniers to take some of the weight off my back, and travel very, very light. I usually do credit card touring (usually in Asia where it's cheap ;), not camping, so I carry very little (clothes + camera + spare parts, basically nothing else), and cover long distances and hills every day.

However, nowadays I'm finding it harder and harder to transport a full size bicycle on an airplane or some train systems, let alone price out a flight on an airline that has a favourable policy, and I'm thinking of switching over to a folder. Thinking about a Dahon Speed P8 ... any thoughts on using it for multi-day long-distance touring? Any experience with Speed P8 and hills? Or am I going to regret it? No stores carry it where I live, so I can't test ride, I only have an option to order online.

My budget's roughly $500-800 range, not prepared to shell out for Bike Fridays or Birdys or any of that. :-/

You can certainly tour with the Speed 8 as the frame is capable and strong. But watch when you start adding racks and accessories to spec your bike up for touring. Go for the front rack first and then perhaps a rear rack later on. On hilly terrain, you can swap the front chain ring to something smaller like a 46T or a 42T. On my Dahon Mu SL, I run 2 chain rings (46T/39T). With a 39T, I can climb any steep hill up to 18% fully loaded. Having a front rack and 2 front panniers help keep the front wheel down when climbing steep hills like that.

Hope this helps.

The TR is definitely better equipped to tour with 24 speeds. Where are you? PM Me if you are on the east coast of the US. I've got a couple of TRs myself.