Brompton vs. Helios fold
#1
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Brompton vs. Helios fold
I recently sold my Chevy HHR SS for a small Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio (ragtop eliminates the hatchback feature), so now I'm looking for a folder compact enough to toss into the back seat. Dahon doesn't make the 16-inch-wheel Helios anymore, but I've seen a few around for sale and they're pretty cool. Can anyone compare the folded size to Brompton?
#2
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Brompton will fit in, roughly a 4 cubic foot space, 24 x 24 x 12. And have a bag to put over it.
IDK Helios .. I cannot compare 2 only having one..
IDK Helios .. I cannot compare 2 only having one..
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You might find a thinner non fold over bike might fit the space beTter.
Ie a zoot swift, Diblasi , strida, jango flick,
Ie a zoot swift, Diblasi , strida, jango flick,
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Do you know if the Dahon Helios has similar dimensions to the Dahon Curve?
If so, Thor did some comparison pics of a Brompton next to a Dahon Curve..... see below....
Pics from ThorUSA page >>> https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/brommy.htm
If so, Thor did some comparison pics of a Brompton next to a Dahon Curve..... see below....
Pics from ThorUSA page >>> https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/brommy.htm
#5
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+ NB: the chain is mostly covered by the front wheel folded back on the right side, on one,
where it's there, exposed, to transfer black stuff to your upholstery , on the other.
where it's there, exposed, to transfer black stuff to your upholstery , on the other.
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Do you know if the Dahon Helios has similar dimensions to the Dahon Curve?
If so, Thor did some comparison pics of a Brompton next to a Dahon Curve..... see below....
Pics from ThorUSA page >>> https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/brommy.htm
If so, Thor did some comparison pics of a Brompton next to a Dahon Curve..... see below....
Pics from ThorUSA page >>> https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technical/brommy.htm
Last edited by smallwheeler; 12-19-13 at 04:51 PM.
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ok... that chain business.... one could lay the bike on the non drive side right ? and therefore eliminate that perceived problem....
To the original poster... The 16 inch presto lite is a good cool 16 inch bike, with very similar folding size than the Curve, if the Presto ia one of the lite versions its also very very light ....
10 lbs less than a Brommy ? or is that just a little to subjective ? Our Brommy friends will chime in that weight doesnt matter ... same as I say that the chain on one side doesnt matter ...
right ?
if you can find a Presto lite .. and are not 6.3 tall... or dont want to spend thousands ... go for it
Best Thor
To the original poster... The 16 inch presto lite is a good cool 16 inch bike, with very similar folding size than the Curve, if the Presto ia one of the lite versions its also very very light ....
10 lbs less than a Brommy ? or is that just a little to subjective ? Our Brommy friends will chime in that weight doesnt matter ... same as I say that the chain on one side doesnt matter ...
right ?
if you can find a Presto lite .. and are not 6.3 tall... or dont want to spend thousands ... go for it
Best Thor
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ok... that chain business.... one could lay the bike on the non drive side right ? and therefore eliminate that perceived problem....
To the original poster... The 16 inch presto lite is a good cool 16 inch bike, with very similar folding size than the Curve, if the Presto ia one of the lite versions its also very very light ....
10 lbs less than a Brommy ? or is that just a little to subjective ? Our Brommy friends will chime in that weight doesnt matter ... same as I say that the chain on one side doesnt matter ...
right ?
if you can find a Presto lite .. and are not 6.3 tall... or dont want to spend thousands ... go for it
Best Thor
To the original poster... The 16 inch presto lite is a good cool 16 inch bike, with very similar folding size than the Curve, if the Presto ia one of the lite versions its also very very light ....
10 lbs less than a Brommy ? or is that just a little to subjective ? Our Brommy friends will chime in that weight doesnt matter ... same as I say that the chain on one side doesnt matter ...
right ?
if you can find a Presto lite .. and are not 6.3 tall... or dont want to spend thousands ... go for it
Best Thor
also, the presto was a cool bike. not produced for 10 years = past tense. anniversary edition doesn't count.
#10
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Thanks for the feedback, folks. I didn't realize the non-Presto Helios was a 20-incher, so that's good information. Other points: Yes, I do think weight matters when carrying a bike downstairs, then loading it through a small opening in a car (harder to control passing the bike through when you're trying to keep from dropping it). No, I don't think chain grease is a major issue. I don't over-grease mine, plus - as Thor said - I wouldn't rest the bike on the drive side.
So I need the gears of a Brompton, and the weight of a Presto Lite. Great!
So I need the gears of a Brompton, and the weight of a Presto Lite. Great!
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If you lay the Dahon on the rear seat with the non-drive side to the seatback or pointing up,then the chain won't touch anything.
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#12
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Is this the anniversary edition? It's been on Ebay forever, and the Japanese-to-English language attempt is a bit lacking.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAHON-Presto...item4acc4f44d3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAHON-Presto...item4acc4f44d3
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Is this the anniversary edition? It's been on Ebay forever, and the Japanese-to-English language attempt is a bit lacking.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAHON-Presto...item4acc4f44d3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAHON-Presto...item4acc4f44d3
1500 usd...
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first of all, the dahon helios was a 20" folding bike. the bike you're thinking of was called "presto lite" and had 16" wheels. both are no longer made. (dahon produced an anniversary edition of the presto lite that cost over 1k and is a single speed bike available only in asia as far as i know, unless special ordered) also, the above image shows a dahon curve xl. that bike is also no longer made. the only 16" wheel option made by dahon that would be available in the US is the Curve- a smaller wheel-base version of the curve XL(sl)and also has 305 wheels. the folded size is bigger than the brompton and the nifty magnet latches dahon uses to hold their bikes in the folded position only works if you pick them up in a specific way. would probably be ok for someone 5'5" and less than 150lbs. also, as fietsbob indicated, the chain is on the outside of the folded package on the curve.
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Is this the anniversary edition? It's been on Ebay forever, and the Japanese-to-English language attempt is a bit lacking.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAHON-Presto...item4acc4f44d3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAHON-Presto...item4acc4f44d3
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i don't see these as particularly good suggestions. strida is barely a decent bike and folds longitudinally, taking up at least 4' of space. jango flick is virtually unobtainable in the states and is huge when folded; same with the swift. the diblasi is the neatest (and coolest) folded package of the bikes you suggest, but is also difficult to obtain and i believe it also weighs nearly 40lbs..
I just wounder if neither bike will fit. I knew I guy with a sports car and the non folding bike was the only option to fit his car.
#20
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The deed is done! It's a 20-incher, but I bought Thor's Helios XX anyway. Just too much carbon and aluminum all wrapped up in one ridiculously light and rare model. I had to have it!
#21
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Congrats,super nice, I think saw pictures of it on his site.....but you can still post some here for us to look at!
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Congradulations. The Helios is a bigger fold than the Brompton but it makes me wonder why Dahon stopped making them? It wasn't a bad looking bike. I don't think the fold should bother the OP unless he wants to enter the inside of a packed bus.
#23
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If I had to hazard a guess as to why the Helios was discontinued, I would assume the complexity of getting both frame-hinges to line up sufficiently in manufacturing was an issue for Dahon. I've read some stories of the joints having noise issues, which is probably from one not quite closing as tightly as the other. Thor has also mentioned these frames being "lively" feeling, which novice riders may have reacted to as overly skittish. I'll let you know soon enough!