JimBeans83

Exactly - it's a [much] lighter weight Brompton giving 90% of the performance. Most in folding community with several recognize that there are folders for different jobs. If it's just getting around the city, then something with proper seatpost height, small folding size, and lightweight is #1 priority. Gears, etc. come later on list.

pibach

The Dove has a rather small wheelbase.
I would prefer longer wheelbase.
A Dahon Curve Sl , Mu, or Vitesse frame.
Unfortunately you can't get those in singlespeed/light weight configuration.
You could easily configure one on your own with that LitePro components and get it as light as the Dove.
But none of those has thin rear OLD (dove has 110mm I guess, only other is the Mu Uno which has 120mm OLD). Plus you wont get an under-the-axle-fold with the fixed length handlepost stem. Which both together gets the Dahon Dove so compact.

smallwheeler

post #13 -
"... it seems that dahon already has a bike for every price point between 299 and 2500. why not expand the range of small wheel bikes and have a "curve uno" following the same logic as the mu or speed uno? as far as the dove goes, it would seem to be good corporate logic to have an entry level product that can be marketed for kids (get them hooked on folders early) that can also be tricked out as a nimble and small folding bike that appeals to multimodal commuters."

pibach

Curve Uno with long wheelbase, thin rear OLD (110mm), Novatec BMX hub singlespeed wheelset, and single-piece handlepost with inside-under-the-axle-fold would be great, yes! Although I prefer the tratditional triangle rear, e.g., at the Vitesse. It also allows for bigger chain rings!

I generally prefer 20" folders for the ride and 16" folders aren't much smaller when folded. Also you run into problems to fit a small cog plus huge chainring to get the right transmission ratio. But I see the particular benefit of such smallwheelers in the neat inside-under-the-axle-fold! With 20" Dahon's that requires telescoping stem which has been a hassle for folding since years.

BTW, if you are considering a conversion, as far as I know, only Curve SL has the long wheelbase (102cm). The other Curve frames are slightly shorter at 99cm wheelbase.

For my taste, it needs light components. And no geared hub, which adds just to much weight. With those LitePro components and singlespeed it might come out at 7,5kg probably. That would be a perfect urban bike for multimodal use. It has to be small an light to be used in crowded subways with lots of carrying/rolling allong the stations and stairs.
I think demand for such bikes is more in Asia and Europe, e.g., in Tokio, London, Paris, or Berlin.
For US, that public transportation infrastructure is rare and people mostly use their folder in combination with their car I guess, and then 20" folders are small enough.

Also the choice of components isn't that simple for those 16" folders. I have scanned all the market options for singlespeed conversion for Mu Uno frame, for example. There isn't much. MTB or road bike hubs are to wide. Track hubs do not allow for small freewheel cogs. So BMX hubs are the only option (unless you go fixed gear), but those are mostly to heavy, built for heavy duty stuff. As far as I know there are only 3 hubs that are under 350g, one of which is that Novatec hub (347g with 10T cog!), the others are Kris King and Halo BMX race hubs which are above $200,-

The 10T rear cog isn't great at efficiency but otherwise you would need a bigger chain ring, which probably conflicts with the Curve frame (don't know exactly the max size that works at the Curve frame, probably 48T?).

Then the regular seatpost won't fit taller riders. Those seatpost are 58cm long. You can't get longer ones. So if you are over approx 182cm tall, it won't fit you.

Finally, taller people would need a handle post with slightly more forward angle to make it fit. The Andros stem solution Dahon came up with compromises the fold simplicity (and also adds 325g of weight).

brakemeister

https://www.thorusa.com/accessories/seatpost.htm
our very own loooong seatpost is 640 mm long .... I have a few lwft before I get more later in the year...
The Aber Hallo would give some relief in the cockpit for taller riders
https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/aberhallo.htm


I do by the way have a Curve red frame ( no fork ) OLD 115 ish horizontal dropouts New ... 125 bucks if somebody is interested to start a project ....I could ( maybe I should ) get a fork for around 75 dlr...... I planned to make a project bike out of it and I still might do that eventually , but just dont have the time right now....

thor

pibach

They also offer another 16" model (I guess it is an "Archer") with triangle rear, which I prefer:

https://www.77bike.com/bbs/simple/?t45904.html

or also the Sweet Pea which has an asymmetric rear.

I think both have longe wheelbase than the Dove (but, unfortunately, have the wide rear OLD).

pibach

Thor, are you sure about the 115mm OLD for the Curve frame? And is it 99cm wheelbase, correct? So Curve Sl is slightly longer and has 130mm OLD. Weired.

For that 64cm seatpost: 695 grams? Ouuch. Far to heavy. What is max sattle to BB distance you get on the Curve with 58cm post?

Finally: does it fold unter the axle with a Mu Uno handlepost? I think it does not, just by some milLimeters, unfortunately.

Suprisingly those Chinese have 3 different lengths of handleposts, all fold to the inside!

pibach

I think you can order the LitePro Doves via https://www.thecyclopedia.com (Singapor)
just by emaling.
That is what they say on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cyclo...20607234702147

smallwheeler

this is madness:

keke

^^^
Are all those currently in production?
If they are, Dahon deserves a medal for experimentation with frame geometry, LOL!
There seem to be subtle differences though and, I would expect, differences in ride.

smallwheeler

i'm not sure. but, its amazing nonetheless...

JimBeans83

I think they are in production - this is what you might see in one of the better chinese dahon stores, a bit confusing in comparing feautre:feature but very cool. Pricing incredible, too, by western standards.

Laiko

Has anyone heard of 12got.com?

https://www.12got.com/Product/1595721...g_bike_BYA661/

owenfinn

The Presto SL is a very sweet looking 1 speed!

https://www.dahon.jp/2013/product/Presto_SL/

smallwheeler

of course there is no way that would possibly be available in the usa. its too cool.

hmm. i love that. these were some of the best bikes they ever made. i have had both a prestolite and helios xl. i loved that presto..
it would seem that dahon is having to revive the old catalogue since really, they dont actually own ANY of the new tech stuff - mother and son took it all.. think about it.. 10 years of development becomes Tern.. Biologic™ et al.

but, i am glad to see the presto back and updated. it was a damn good design.. VASTLY superior to the Curve..

smallwheeler

be advised, when we see "china domestic" on a dahon frame, it pretty much means z-grade components:



but, with that in mind, and if you can get one (or 3) shipped for 250 each.. then you can speed another 250 to really trick 'em out:

smallwheeler

ugh.

https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/a...hon-presto-po/

smallwheeler

Laiko

Gah, seriously? would that mean rakuten has better components? You know I had high hopes when rakuten bought out buy.com and would have hoped that they complete a door to door kind of thing to the US :'<

Diode100

Presto Lite Ultra ?

Beautiful !

(Made In Poland ?)

Diode100

A Dahon Sweet Pea on UK ebay:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dahon-swee...item35c3d3cd82

And a new old stock Curve SL:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dahon-Curv...item3cce84d711

And something even rarer :-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Riese-Mull...item1e76d03ef7

dynaryder

https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/a...ommend_item_en

A tire: Dahon Special Edition KENDA Ksmart 20"x1.35, (Buddhist ceremony valve)

Wat?

smallwheeler

those prices are OFF. THE. HOOK.

smallwheeler

this goes in the "new band names" notebook:
Buddhist ceremony valve

Laiko

That darn Presto, like cupid puncturing my tyre heart and love at first sight.