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My 1st Folder: Dahon Mu Uno ('14) - Watching it evolve

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My 1st Folder: Dahon Mu Uno ('14) - Watching it evolve

Old 05-20-14, 05:57 PM
  #26  
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Visited store today. Checked out GP5, GP4 & GP3. Went with the GP4 (small) ecause:

- GP5 too bulky for my needs. Also affects folding. I don't want to carry around an Allen key.
- GP3 bar ends too small to be of any real use to me. Didn't even bother trying them on.
- GP4 perfect re: size, shape & aesthetics.

The grips all fitted very tightly. When installing you have to push them on very tightly so the handlebars actually go all the way fully inside them. Without doing this when you tighten the Allen bolt you can't fully clamp them. When clamped these things aren't budging. Very sturdy.

Black and grey colour-scheme suits the Mu Uno perfectly - they may as well be stock as they look very much in keeping. They make the Mu Uno look proper aggressive! The build quality is also very good. These are pricey but I'm already happy with my purchase. They really do make the bike feel very different. They also absorb a lot of road buzz. There's no way I could go back to the stock grips. Just as well..as I had to cut them off with a blade to remove them!

I do have to rotate handlebar position via QR when folding, so that bar-ends are in a 7'o'clock position, as otherwise they interfere with spokes when bike is folded. However having to adjust bars was already the case anyway due to my previously installed cycle computer & iPhone Quadlock mount. This doesn't bother me at all because even with just the front brake lever you get a neater fold by rotating the handlebars.

When riding I now position the handlebars so the ends droop down away from me - this means the grips are sitting lower than the centre of the bar. The bar-ends are set ever so slightly above horizontal position which allows me to fully lean forwards and fully grab the bar-ends without feeling like I will slip forwards off them if my hands get sweaty. This gives me the effect that I wanted to achieve by buying these - a gentle aero position when riding and grabbing the bar-ends:

Wiggle | Profile Airwing OS Handlebar | Aero Handlebars

Needless to say I won't be buying those handlebars anymore. The bar-ends, adjusted 'drooping' handlebar position and the fact I have positioned my stock seat as far back as possible means that I feel really nicely positioned now when riding. Grab the grips when in 'relaxed mode', and the bar-ends when in 'road-racing' mode. I'm around 5'11" so my seat is also positioned high. Was cornering at some really decent speeds today when leaning forward and fully grabbing those bar-ends. Amazing fun! The bike feels very different - much more racy & compact, much less upright.

One thing I may do is hacksaw a little off the handlebars (1-2 inches max each side) as when holding the grips and especially the bar-ends my hands are pointing outwards away from me and not in line with my shoulders. I'm slightly nervy about doing this though as there's no turning back! Lol. Will prob chop just an inch off each side first and see what that's like. Any thoughts?

Anyway here are some pics :-)

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Last edited by MrSingh; 05-20-14 at 06:12 PM.
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Old 05-23-14, 04:13 PM
  #27  
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Well I went and chopped-off 2 inches off each end of my handlebars today - pretty drastic!

Feel much cosier than before with less inward bend on the wrists. Didn't get to ride though with the new setup. Will report back tomorrow hopefully having done so & post comparison before and after pics. That's if this flipping rain stops!

Ps - found this excellent PDF re: bike ergonomics. Lots of advertising at the end but ignoring that it's very informative:

https://www.humpert.com/en_media/bike...glish_2013.pdf

Last edited by MrSingh; 05-24-14 at 04:14 AM.
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Old 05-27-14, 03:13 AM
  #28  
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Good work! I really do love the look of the Mu Uno with the GP4! I've been considering it for quite some time but not taken the plunge yet!
Out of interest, what cycle computer have you used and how does it take the reading? i.e. GPS or cables/sensors attached to the wheels?

Cheers
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Old 05-27-14, 04:28 AM
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Originally Posted by SamMuUno
Good work! I really do love the look of the Mu Uno with the GP4! I've been considering it for quite some time but not taken the plunge yet!
Out of interest, what cycle computer have you used and how does it take the reading? i.e. GPS or cables/sensors attached to the wheels?

Cheers
GP4's are lovely. Wouldn't be without them now. Chopping handlebars down has helped too re: making this bike more fun and comfortable.

Using CatEye Velo Wireless: Wiggle | Cateye Velo Wireless Cycling Computer | Cycle Computers

Wireless sensor attached to fork with magnet on spoke.

It meets my needs perfectly:

- wireless; I hate wires/cables on bikes
- displays time; nice for dudes like me who don't like wearing watches :-)
- gives basic info w/ nice sized screen
- doesn't give me stuff I don't need e.g. Carbon, fuel efficiency blah blah
- simple one button operation
- not too expensive
- pretty compact
- good reviews
- good brand = decent build quality

hope that helps,

atma
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Old 05-27-14, 05:29 AM
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Just a note on removing grips.
Uinsert a skewer under grip and spray gap created with lubricant.
move skewer (or flat screw driver), under grips ro spread lub , respray if necessary. The grips will slide off with out damage or stretching.
Clean bars with alcohol before refitting. Else clean with dry rag.
Grips can be sprayed securely by spraying hairspray inside to refit. Slippery when when dries tacky.let dry for an hour or longer
. Can be removed in the same way.

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Old 05-29-14, 12:19 AM
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Next mod will be Power Grips on MKS Ezy Esprit Superior Pedals. Both yet to arrive.

Aim being re: Power Grips, to get some more umph when pedalling but more casually than clip/clipless (don't want to wear any kind of cycling shoes). Re: pedals - stock folding pedals are a bit too small, slippery & won't accept Power Grips. Although not really too important to me will also allow a more compact fold & make bike less 'thievable' (although I don't plan on leaving Muno outdoors any time soon!).

Will post pics once both have arrived & are installed.
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Old 06-03-14, 11:57 AM
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My first folder was also a Mu Uno, and it too has evolved. I couldn't get high enough gear inches so I went with a 2 speed to get me over 100 GI's in high gear on 451's. My commute is mostly flat. Installed a Jetstream post to get me a little lower. Got both from Bruce Metras, great guy, so knowledable and what a collection of bikes he has!

Still evolving, found an alternate route to work, not as flat and part of the ride takes me through a gravel/dirt trail. Got a set of Aerospokes (actually 2 front sets), carbon front fork and front disk brakes.

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Old 06-07-14, 02:39 AM
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Originally Posted by awakiju
My first folder was also a Mu Uno, and it too has evolved. I couldn't get high enough gear inches so I went with a 2 speed to get me over 100 GI's in high gear on 451's. My commute is mostly flat. Installed a Jetstream post to get me a little lower. Got both from Bruce Metras, great guy, so knowledable and what a collection of bikes he has!

Still evolving, found an alternate route to work, not as flat and part of the ride takes me through a gravel/dirt trail. Got a set of Aerospokes (actually 2 front sets), carbon front fork and front disk brakes.

wow sounds lovely :-)
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