SoccerChef

I'm new (whoo!), and have been lurking for awhile. I'm 6', 170lbs, and very active. I'm looking for a good bike to commute to school (~3 miles), as well ride around town for various chores (food, Post Office, etc). My budget is quite flexible, but honestly I'd like to keep it under $1k, but will be open to something more if it's honestly that much more worthwhile.

I'm digging the Vitesse because of the internal hub, decent ride for a folding bike (or so I've been told/read), and the stock fender and rear rack options.

I know Tern is getting ready to come out with their line, but I'm also looking for other options as well.

Is the Vitesse D7HG still the best option for all my needs? I'm open to any suggestions, so please respond!

HGR3inOK

You might consider the Raleigh Folding i8. See:

https://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/hybrid/folding-i8-11/

It does not fold as easily as the Vitesse D7HG. And you would need to add fenders. But it's a pretty nice bike and has an 8-speed Nexus hub.

[DISCLOSURE: My wife & I have a company that owns a bicylce shop. The shop is an authorized Raleigh dealer and an authorized Dahon dealer.]

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

chagzuki

The Vitesse is a good bike. I've had the older D5HG model for nearly 4 years now and it's served me well. There are arguments for spending slightly more on a Dahon that has better wheels and perhaps an alloy rack rather than the steel one that's on the cheaper ranges. . . depends if you want to use the rack. Hang on, does it even come with rack now? I see the tyres are 1.75 now rather than the 1.5s that cam with mine. . . an improvement IMO.
A good solid bike if it's well-maintained.

chagzuki

I'll never understand the weight specs on the Dahon website. The Mu P7 is a Kilo heavier apparently despite having lighter rims & front hub, aluminium fork, Marathon Racer tyres, sealed bottom bracket etc.. What the hell?

brakemeister

good bike
might be hard to find ...I am sold out....right now.
I actually have ONE all ready and pretty here in my office.
But that is promised to the St Louis chapter of the Leukemia Society and will be auctioned off by end of July at one of the big events, courtesy of ThorUSA.

chagzuki

I'd consider a 2nd hand Mu P7 if you don't mind doing a load of maintenance yourself.

vmaniqui

or a dahon speed TR...

HGR3inOK

SoccerChef - Where are you located? Test rides are usually pretty helpful.

If you can find a new or lightly-used Mu XL Sport you should strongly consider it. And if you aren't limiting your options to hub gears (which I like a lot), then the Mu P8 is a great bike. I believe Thor can add fenders and a rack (and, maybe, a joule front wheel and some lights <g>) and still be under $1K.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

chagzuki

I'm not so keen on Dahon bikes where the handlebar folds to the outside like the Mu XL, it's not quite so tidy. Something to consider perhaps.

SoccerChef

Wow! Thanks for all the replies so far! I'm located in KY, but moving to Northern Colorado soon.

SoccerChef

I love the look of the Speed TR, but a little worried about the external hub. I'm not much into bike repairs, so the internal hub was calling my name and much less maintenance.

chagzuki

Probably best to buy new then through a good, helpful local bike shop.

vmaniqui

here's a picture of my updated Speed TR. it is a 24 speed bike and i just love the SRAM DD.

HGR3inOK

FWIW, the U.S. model Mu XL Sport folds to the inside like the Mu P8. One of the reasons for knowing the OP's location is that Dahon models are not the same in every market.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

HGR3inOK

If your move is soon, go through Olney, Illinois on your way, and test ride some bikes at ThorUSA. You can buy a bike there or wait until you see if there's a convenient Dahon dealer in Northern Colorado. I'm pretty sure Thor can ship to Colorado. If you swing south through Norman, Oklahoma, you can test ride several models at Al's Bicycles. But Al's Bicycles can only do in-store sales/deliveries --- no mail order or shipping.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma

Dynocoaster 

For the low miles you are commuting I would get a Speed Uno and add a 2 speed kickback hub or a 3 speed hub.

SoccerChef

Anyone ever heard of a Dynamic Sidekick 8? Looks like a decent competitor to the Dahon Vitesse. 8-speed internal hub, fenders, etc: https://www.dynamicbicycles.com/bicycles/sidekick8.php

brakemeister

its something alright .... but certainly not a competitor to a vitesse

SoccerChef

Ouch! that's the kinda response I was looking for though! Are they really lacking in quality that much?

Dynocoaster 

Never heard of them.

Dynocoaster 

This is a great deal for the money and an 8 speed https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2009/curvesl.htm

tcs

Interesting that with all the carping about Dahons on this board, when presented with a reasonable set of requirements (USA market, >$1000 budget, urban riding, IGH, ability to carry stuff), the best suggestion anyone can come up with is...Dahon.

If you can find an REI store with a Novara FlyBy in stock, that would be a good alternate. Uh, the FlyBy is built by Dahon for REI.

Breezer offers the Ziggy, which is also built by Dahon for Breezer.

The Raleigh Folding I8 mentioned in post #2 at the very least uses Dahon-licensed hinges and latches, and is quite possibly built by Dahon for Raleigh.

Other Dahon models you might consider (if you can find one in stock somewhere) are the Ciao! D5 and P7 or the Ios P7.

HGR3inOK

That's what I thought from looking at the pictures. However, after inspecting one closely, the main and handlepost hinges and latches are not like any Dahon (current or previous model) that I have seen.
-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

kamtsa

Very thoughtful!

Considering that is a charity auction it may end up being the most expensive Dahon ever. ;-)

SoccerChef

Thinking about just getting a Citizen Bike Alhambra or Gotham2. Are they good quality? I know they're not going to be Dahon quality, but the price seems like a great price for what you get, IMHO.