Handlebar reach concern on Eco 3
 

I'm thinking of getting the Eco 3. On their website it states that the distance from the seat post to the handlebars is about 23.2 inches.

I went to another website that showed me how to measure my arm reach. I measured about 19 inches and this is when it's ramrod straight, holding a pencil in my hand. I assume the pencil roughly represents the handlebars.

With a comfortable bent at my elbow though my arm reach measures 17 inches.

if the distance on the Dahon Eco 3 is 23.2 inches (from the saddle post to the handlebars) does that mean I won't be able to reach the handlebars?

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No because your body bends also. There is a stem that angles more towards the rider.

Here is the other stem and there is also the Aber Hallo that you could use to bring the handlebars closer to you.
http://www.thorusa.com/dahon/accessories/handlebar.htm

Lean forwards.

ahhh those comfort stems were wrong shipped and are currently not available .... but you should be quite alright on the eco ... your whole body sits on an arc and your upper arms are not going straight down either .... as long as you are not super small or rather large you should be just fine ....
thor

Dynocoastr, snafu21, brakemeister - Thanks for the quick response on this.

Dynocoaster - Thanks not only for the feedback but the helpful site. When I'm ready to order I think I'll be ordering through Thor. They seem to be 30 dollars cheaper than the site I was going to order from. I'm glad there is something that could help me adjust the reach, if need be (via the Aber Halo).

snafu21 - It may be that this is all I have to do. I lean a little forward now even though I'm on an upright right now.

brakemeister - Drat! Bad news about the stem. Oh well, maybe I won't need it.

Maybe you won't need anything. But many people have to fiddle with the bike to make it fit. Top tube length, and thus the reach to the bars, which is your main area of concern, can only be compensated for to a limited extent. But Dahon size the bikes for 'most' people. Outside of that, if you don't fit it, spare parts can help, but only to a limited degree. In addition to a new stem, mountain bike 'riser' bars can be fitted cheaply to add back-sweep, bringing the bars closer. In the US I think there's a trend for older 'cruiser' or 'sit up and beg' style bars to be available, less so in the UK these days. If your legs fit the bike, getting the reach to fit is usually just a case of spending a little more cash.