Newbie questions, such as: How do I fold it?

[SylviaW]

Hello, all, thank you in advance for your expertise.

On a whim, I purchased a used, older Dahon folding bike yesterday. (My first folding bike.) Now I need to learn about it. The Dahon.com forums are not accepting new members, so here I am. If you think there is a better forum for me to use, please feel free to recommend it.

I have no paperwork on this bike. How do I identify the model and year? Where could I find an owner's manual?

The previous owner could not fold it properly. I pretzeled it in various ways last night until my back gave out. I think there may be part(s) missing -- a latch, maybe.

Suggestions for starting points?

SylviaW

[Dynocoaster]

Hi and welcome to the fold. Could we get a photo of your new bike? The new Dahon site is www.dahonbikes.com

[Casbah]

Also, there are vids up on youtube showing how to fold dahon bikes you can check out.

[SylviaW]

Could we get a photo of your new bike?

Here's a photo. Thanks for the suggestions re dahonbikes.com and youtube.

Edit: Found a serial number! Hand-scratched inside the hinge. It appears to say: H707 3255. The first 7 could be a 1 but it's probably a 7. So could that mean it was made in July 1987? (I've been prowling the archives at dahon.com forums.) Also, the name badge on the handlebars says "DAHON" over "Carson, California" (no quotes).

[jur]

Yes folding bikes can be a puzzle if you don't know how to fold them.

Here are some instructional videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1z7dkGKyx0

In case that doesn't work, try this:

1. Detach the stempost brace.
2. Undo the stempost latch and fold the stempost next to the front wheel.
3. Pop out the castor wheel and lower the seatpost.
4. Undo the frame latch. Rotate the left pedal to 12o'clock.
5. Fold the frame in half. Check the photos below to get an idea of where the handlebar and the pedals locate.

With the bove procedure, the handlebar sits btween the wheel; there may be interference of brake lever, axles etc which would prevent a nice flat fold. If so, experiment with the stempost height to get the optimum setting for folding.


Half folded, good for wheeling along on the castor wheel.

[SylviaW]

Thank you, Jur, this is very helpful! Can't wait to get home and start folding.

[Boudicca]

Did it work, Silvia?

[SylviaW]

Boudicca, yes, it worked just as Jur explained! Details later. Thanks all!

[SylviaW]

So, my husband did a full tune-up of cables, lubrication, new tires (does anyone want the originals? One has a warp in the sidewall) and gearing (this model has a three speed Sturmey Archer hub). Now it folds beautifully, just as Jur explained. I took to my office yesterday (in back of crossover) and rode on errands, including one that had me carrying a large tubular parcel on the back rack secured with a bungee. It doesn't shift perfectly but I found that if I shift while not pedaling (unlike my bikes with derailleurs), it finds the sweet spot more easily. ... It was hard leaving it in the office for the weekend; it's like a new pet. ... I have been trying to imagine what this bike has been doing for 25 years. The paint, chrome and handgrips are unblemished. The tires were aged but the tread is like new. There is a chip in the front fender. The rear hub has a light speckling of rust. ... I am in California, and I just wonder if it was sold here and has been languishing in a closet all this time. ... The woman I bought it from is younger than the bike, and said only that when she bought it, it was delivered and her neighbor assembled it. As I mentioned, she had no paperwork. ... Mine now! It will see some miles.

[jur]

In my experience this old original Dahon is still one of the most compact bikes when folded. The moderns ones are not quite as good.