bhkyte

Re i4
Hi I have not owned an i4. I do have a i4 wheel spare for a project which has not yer been precieved yet!!
Afaik their us potential in the i4.
Fitting a twin chainring? Seems possible if you forgo the chainguard. And as you mention the i4 has more overdrive potention
You just need a front mech mounting bracket. Which will be either a dahon brommie or custom.

washuai

Thanks BruceMetras and bhkyte for the feedback. Definitely, encourages me to make the minimal investment to at least go check it out, soon. Worst case, I'll be more informed and out small travel time\$. If it passes inspection\negotiation, then that'll bring its own rewards, then upgrade &/or second future prospects don't sound bad, either way.
They do offer a year of free tune-ups, though their distance from me, and the rep for "slow", "lazy" and "shady" makes me think I won't take as much advantage of it to weigh it very heavily in their favor, but I'll still consider in the value of the purchase.

washuai

I rode my first 2.9 miles, split by bus and rail, yesterday on my new 2010 Mezzo I-4 yesterday.
Took some horrible pictures while waiting for a bus:

Larger handlebar side. Larger back wheel side.

I think I paid $50-90 more than I should have, but most of my other options would have cost me more anyways. In many ways it all felt like one of those meant to be things, so I went with it. It in some ways looks like someone had it for a week or two and changed their mind, than new out of box, with the scrapes and scuffs, though it mostly looks new.
I definitely need a cover of some sort.
Steering by seat on the tiny rack wheels, looks a bit like drunk driving, especially if I'm not on the handlebar side. I laughed, rather than being frustrated, at any rate and didn't smack anyone or anything. They also suck for going over even tiny bumps and gaps where I have to lift. I figure I'll take my Mezzo down to nearby skate shop, which I think has inline, as well as board wheels.
I'll make a separte post about folding, since I'm bad at it and this is long enough. Although I will comment I wish I'd noticed in shop the cable sheaths were already chewed.
The saddle has to go, although I can actually see and feel that for a stock saddle, it is actually better than my limited past experience and others I've seen on bikes I never owned. I need to play with seat height more, and mark the spot on the post, where things work best. For now, I use the side of my body for quick reference.
The grip texture is grippy, but a bit rough on my hands. So I will want to switch those out, maybe break out my leather fingerless, until I get a hold of cycling fingerless.


It's my first IGH bike, so I'm enjoying that difference even if it is a discontinued 4 speeds. Quieter and smoother, indeed. I like the stock fenders, though I'm not ready to actually take advantage of its purpose right away.
I really should have picked up a light, any light.
I want to learn to attach things to the rack. Actually, until I get a different bag, I might need to attach it to the rack, because it's trying to swing forward instead of staying on my back, where weight can be kept centered.
I've no idea how to get a hold of Ori bags in the US, but I'd definitely like to get a 3 way bag. And the picture of a person wearing the handlebar bag as a bum bag, cracks me up. I would have called it a you know what pack, but I know there's Brits and Aussies about this forum.
The difference between good surfaces and bad was keenly felt. At least the stock tires have kevlar protection. They pumped them up very firm. I don't know the pressure range and forgot to ask. Also enjoying the acceleration of smaller wheels.

dexterdobe

I did it guys. I slashed £340 out for a

cpg

Nice one, and just in time for spring. Did you get a D9?

dexterdobe

I did it. I bought a D9 Curve in as new condition for £340. The bike is brilliant. It feels so much more modern and high tech than a certain other popular brand. It is definitely under geared though.
I'm told that the 56T chain ring from the D10 fits the D9. Questions please. Where can I buy a D10 ring or another make that fits the D9 and do I need a longer chain if I fit the 56T ring?

Many thanks

Dexterdobe

cpg

That is a good price for a curve. You might need a longer chain, see what the rear derailier looks like when you have the chain ring fitted. There is plenty of info on the net about getting the chain length right and how it affects the rear derailier angles. You will need a chainwheel with the correct number of bolt holes and the correct PCD to fit the crank. Again there is plenty of info on the net about how to work out what PCD your crank is. You shouldn't need to buy a D10 specific chain wheel. Good luck.

dexterdobe

Thanks for this Cpg. The bike came with all sorts of bits and pieces (helmut, tools, lock etc), so it was a good deal. It was simply a matter of being patient and waiting for the right deal on ebay. I missed a lot as the prices were too high, but patience paid off in the end.
I live in Norfolk, England. If anyone can give me a local source for the parts that would be great. I'm new to bike upgrades so I need some help to make sure I get the right chain wheel guys.

Best wishes

Dexterdobe

cpg

To start with take a look at Sheldon Browns web site for information on chain rinds and PCD.

bhkyte

Quote". Don't know where I can get Ori bags in....."

The tactuff range of panniers and racks appear to be the same as mezzo range. Cqp has asked dealer if they fit mezzos, but they could confirm 100 pc that they were identical slots.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/b/AOIQYQ6BLC434

MezzoLew

Hi everyone .. I just acquired my Mezzo D9 and am very happy with it. I have never ridden any other folding bike but as an engineer, I was impressed with the design and the strong frame setup. Also the budget I had was well below the other serious folding bikes and I picked up a second hand electric blue Mezzo D9 with bags and a spare inner tube for just over £300 and it has not been ridden much before I got it. Just a few scrapes on the rack... I will put some rubber covers onto this to protect it.

I am very happy with the folding mechanism which is genius!

I have been out and about a bit on it and enjoy riding the Mezzo - I have a Nigel Dean touring bike as well and the Mezzo is as nice to ride as my full size bike.

Will post some photos once the forum lets me!

MezzoLew

They look right to me...

MezzoLew

Does anyone have the first dates of production for the Mezzo bikes range?

I4 - late 2004?
D9 ...summer 2008?
D9 Curve...?
D10...?

Is there a way to identify my bike's production date?

jefmcg

I bought mine in February of '08.

You might be able to estimate the age by the front fork. Hopefully yours is more recent than mine. They improved the design.

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bi...-mezzo-d9.html

MezzoLew

Hi - I know it is a while since you posted but I wanted to ask about the crack .. did you take any more photos?
Is it still cracked or did you have to do some maintenance? Did you drill a hole? If you have an update, I would be interested to know more .. yes I am a fatigue engineer but also interested to understand how that crack appeared as I am close to the maximum weight for the Mezzo D9. Thanks

bhkyte

Sorry I meant the seat post clamp. Not the seat post. If you look at the clamp you can probably see where a crack might develop. From near the skewer bolt hole around to the cut out section on the body.
If that doesnt make sence. I can post a photo.

MezzoLew

What is the difference between early and late front forks? Mine is stepped and painted black.

MezzoLew

I think I found a photo of a similar broken part on Jefmcg's thread about "I feel like my best friend has punched me in the face (Mezzo D9)"

bhkyte

I don't think so.
That was a fork issue.

MezzoLew

Oh yes - sorry - please can you re-load the image of your cracked clamp?

MezzoLew

I just came across the "Bike Friday New World Tourist" which seems to be a Mezzo copy in many ways, though the folding mechanism is not as compact as the front wheel does not fold back. Has anyone ridden one of these and a Mezzo?

MezzoLew

When you get to 10 posts, it would be nice to see some photos of your curve!

MezzoLew

And this is what came with the bike .. at least £50 of extras.

cpg

MezzoLew, that's a nice bike and very good price. I think that is one of the later models, the seat clamp is the updated version and as far as I can tell from the photo, the fork end clamp design is the later one too but I could be wrong.
I believe the Bike Friday was in existence well before the Mezzo but design concept of a rear swinging triangle and rigid main frame tube is nothing new and appears on other folding bikes, Birdy being one of the most well known.

MezzoLew

Thanks for your comments - nice to know I have a newer version with no "bugs" or "surprises"

I will take some more close up photos when I am back on my bike - I have stored it in my B&B close to where I work so I can get out in the evenings but am holiday for a couple of weeks.

The Ori C8 also seems to be a Mezzo copy.