ThorUSA

I am almost outta here for the trip to China to visit Dahon
Pretty exited about it.


Probably will post pictures on the facebook page as it seems to be the easiest way on the road to do that.


There will be things I cant take pics off, obviously. Other pics I will take will have to wait until product spec is finalized. Etc etc etc


What would you like to see ? Or ask the peeps in charge ?


Thor

tds101 

Wonderful!!! Have a fantastic trip,...

If you can, could you please provide a few pictures of some internal geared hub bikes. I'd really love to see them.

Thanks!!!

invisiblehand

Have a great time!

Let's see the prototype front bag mount on the Curl!

bargainguy

I'm curious if Dahon has any drop-bar folders with 16-20" wheels in the pipeline. I know they had the Allegro based on the Ritchey BreakAway, with the concentric seat tube design and 700c wheels, but I don't think that's being sold anymore.

Seems like a 16-20" wheel drop-bar folder is an untapped market for them. It might be just the thing to boost market share and visibility. Just don't have them make umpteen models, one or two would be just fine.

edelay

Hi Thor.

Would it be possible to ask the Dahon leadership if they could make Dahon models that aren't available in North America through dealers, to make them available to order online directly by consumers? For example in the past I would have liked to order a Dahon Dove, but they are not available in North America through the dealer network and only available in Asia. Or perhaps make the request even more generic.... any models that one region's dealer network doesn't sell, have those available to the consumer directly via the web. This could be used to gauge interest in models that Dahon or the dealers didn't think would be desired in one region. If the online orders were popular then the dealer network could start offering them.

Looking forward to any info and photos from HQ that you can share.

MJBikes99

Wish you a wonderful trip in China. Thor. I will check out your Facebook and see the pics you will post.

downtube

Have a great trip!

Thanks
Yan

tcs

There have been repeated claims on this board that Dahon doesn't manufacture anything, they only assemble commercial parts onto frames that re brought in from outside suppliers. You might document this one way or the other.

I know you're visiting the factory, but if you could swing by one of the hundreds of Dahon exclusive stores and give your impressions, that would be cool.

zebede

please post some pics here for those of us who refuse to join the facebook borg.

Bonzo Banana

I've commented that the Dahon videos have been limited to assembly and steel frame welding, wheel assembly etc so it would be good to see some evidence of more sophisticated manufacturing of aluminium frames, hydroforming of tubes and aluminium frame welding, painting etc. The impression of their current factory videos on youtube looks fairly low tech. Fairly sure some frames are bought in. Those ford branded frames are sourced externally. Anyway it would be good to see some more sophisticated manufacturing at Dahon than their current videos.

ThorUSA

I will try
staying in the workers quarters for the first days. Same like the boss actually. Don't know if I am allowed to make sensible pics of course. But will sleep in the factory and eat in the factory etc which should be fun.
I am sure Bonzo that not all frames are made there, I do know that all frames are tested there. Which would make sense


as for workers compensation.... well that tricky as I don't have anything to compare. I do know that the workers turnover (peeps don't come back from holiday week , and new peeps need to be hired ) is way below the Chinese standard. Lets me to believe that they are happy


Best Thor

tcs

The bicycle manufacturing workers' paradise was surely Burley Cooperative - well, you know, until the company went bankrupt and all the worker/members laid each other off.

fietsbob

landscape around there and the people who do the work?

tcs

Made at another Dahon location or subsidiary? Okay. Produced by another company...


...awkward.

2_i 

Pictures of engineers in process of designing? How prototyping is being done? Market testing?

dahoneezz

Woohoo!!! Don't forget to take pictures of the communal showers and toilets.

2_i 

P.S. I lived under similar conditions and can assure that bad conditions and having a job is far better than no job and bad conditions. At least you can pay for food and clothes.

badmother

So after 7 months and 71 posts you are taking charge and telling us what we can do and nwhat we can not do?? Interesting...

BikeLite

Leave the politics out please. Have a good time Thor.

Siu Blue Wind

BooksandBikes, Please leave the politics out of this thread. This has nothing to do about seeing new things at the factory.

If you want to discuss about human labor conditions, I challenge you in P and R.

This is up my alley.

Other than that, stop talking about it here. Thank you.

Political comments have been removed. Lets continue answering OP's question.

cb400bill

Lets keep the political commentary out of this forum. Political content is only allowed in the P+R forum.

Thank you.

avole

There is a huge difference between politics and observations regarding working conditions, which are essentially apolitical.

Siu Blue Wind

Thank you. The posts were about American labor vs other countries and such. It is more than welcome in the P and R forum.

L Arnold

Visits to Dahon in Shenzhen I have found to be very interesting, both inside and outside. When you are out on the street at 7:30 AM the traffic jams, mostly of bicycles, are quite remarkable. A few large electronics factories in the neigborhood have about 5000 workers come on (and off) shift every 8 hours.

Dahon's campus has both workers quarters, head quarters, factory, warehouse, recreation centers and dining halls. I do not know all of the details, but in general many of the workers and managers live on campus. Many have come from places afar and may have other homes, but many also have their whole family on hand.

The facility in Shenzhen (Guangdong Province China) has what had been the full Dahon factory (several floors) in one building as well as a regimented testing lab in the building. The office having several floors for different departments, and engineering. Dining and Apartments are in 2 additional buildings. A fleet of bikes is on site and bikes are available for most employees upon request.

These are some various pictures, including one of Dr. David Hon. I can only upload 5 pictures to a post so I will leave this here for now. I wish I had pictures of the Ping Pong hall. It is really fun to see the company CEO, in his 70's, engaged in rigorous game play with different workers.

The Shenzhen factory is near the edge of the large metropolis and there is nice riding is in the region around.

Rick Imby

On my trip to China several years ago I took a case of 50 powerbars (none left when I got home). I hated the food in China... Have fun. The people there are awesome.