AL-Q

Hello my name is AL.
I am a Registered Nurse and I do visiting home service.In New York City Manhattan.I treat about 15 patients /Day.Riding a bike would help alot.I also would use it for getting around and for exercise doing 2-3 laps around Central Park 5 days a week.
I want to purchase a fold up.The 3 models I am considering are.
1) speed 8 2) Mu P8 3) Mu SL
The mu line are all aluminum frames so they are very stiff and don't absorb the road.I was thinking to put big apple tires since I found an article explaining wider tires absorb the road better.
besides a wt difference of 6 lbs and both having aluminum frames.What can somebody tell me about the difference in components? I found a review on the Mu SL and nothing on the Mu P8.
Speed 8 is heavy and I read an article where a owner of a Speed 8 handle stem broke off completely right above the folding joint.Luckly he stated he wasn't going fast.Question can I have that weld point reinforced by a welder?I don't know much about welding and aluminum.What could I do to make this model lighter.?
I look forward to hearing from my new Pals here in the bike forum

mulleady

The Mu SL is a beeautiful bike to ride and so easy to carry.

Welcome to a very friendly forum. I wouldn't advise advertising your email address in the public thread as it may get targeted by spammers. it's best to supply that in PM or use the PM facility itself.

Tommy C

I got my Mu P8 this week and couldn't be happier, it is ridiculously nice, feels like a bike and folds in seconds.
my wife got one as well and she likes is a lot. It rides nicely, stiff but smooth, very fast and durable.
I got the 2007 model and l love to the color, it's sky blue and the folding mechanism is superb - i like it better than this years mechanism, it folds easier and quicker both for my wife and I. Components are great as well.

AL-Q

I took my email of the post.Thank you.
Seems like you lov your Mu SL.I know it's light and carrying it must be a breeze.
Do you use kojak tires and saddle seat or have you done any modifications.
do you ride on smooth streets or do you ride like where I will be riding in new your street where there is a lot of rough streets.Thats why I was thinking big apple tires.
Thank you for responding and look forward to hearing from you
AL-Q

snafu21

Hello Nurse.

Don't worry about breaking bicycles, or having them welded as a preventative measure. I've ridden two of mine into trees and they survive much better than I.

Aluminium frames are said to be less forgiving to the rider - a generalisation that may be true.

The cure is either to ignore it and get on with having fun, or fit gel saddles, a suspension seatpost, or Big Apple tyres - or all three.

All of these add weight to the bike, and the muP8 has been designed to be light. Light is better:

It's easier to add weight than to remove it.

The muP8 comes with ritzy Marathon Racer tyres, these are lightweight sprinty things, with the rather splendid lightweight and sprinty Kinetix wheels. Max pressure is 85 psi which you may find hard to achieve with a hand pump, and hard on your gluteus maximus.

There is little to moan about on the muP8, and a lot to admire. But it is a stiff lightweight sports bike, and something of a thoroughbred. You will certainly love it.

AL-Q

Hello, Thank you for your responce.Congratulations on your Mu p8 purchases two you and your wife.
I am still considering the Mu P8. I think it might stand up better than the MuSL in New York city.
Do you commute with your bikes? Is carrying it between rides on buses or trains manageable at 24 lbs.
I also saw a limited edition of the M P8 in black I want to check about that.
Do you have any other accessories on your bikes.

I thank you for responding my post and I look forward to hearing from you if you have the time.

Best wishes
AL-Q

mulleady

I don't own a Mu SL myself but a friend does and I've ridden it. It's a robust bike but it's better fitting Schwalbe Marathon racer tyres to it which aren't quite as slick as the Kojaks whcih are designed for slightly more speed.

Have you thought outside these 2 bikes in the Dahon range? If you ride some rough streets it's good to have some inbuilt suspension. One of the people we meet at the regular Hyde Park folding bike rides has a Dahon Jetstream P8 (Principe_azul). I recommended this to another new forum member back a few weeks ago and he purchased one and absolutely loves it. Perfect balance between commuting on normal roads and handling rougher ones. I highly recommend dealing with a leading Dahon dealer who participates in these forums; Brakemeister. He has an excellent reputation and goes out of his way for customers. See:
https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2008/jetstream.htm
And of course the other models you have on the shortlist! Good luck with your quest. They are all nice bikes.

In this case you just need to add fenders.

AL-Q

Thank you for your suggestion on the MU P8.
I have decided to buy the MU SL 08 MODEL.
Thudbuster will be my first solution for the stiff frame.

Thank you for your input

AL-Q

AL-Q

Thank you for your reply.I have decided to purchase a MU SL 08. Just waiting for a answer about the 2009 Dehon models. When do they show up?

Best Wishes

AL-Q

mulleady

Hi Al-Q again!

Have you considered hunting around for a 2007. I agree the SL is a gorgeous bike but if you need slightly mroe versatility take a look at this on thor's site:
https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/2007/jetstreamp8.htm

This bike is still reasonably light with excellent suspension. I've ridden one of these at a folding bike meet and it's a real beauty. It is the perfect balance of being fast, good fold and capability for rougher roads and even off-road trails. I'd take a serious look at this. $750 is nothing for this and i beleive Thor preprepares the bikes very well.

BB49

Do not weld on the aluminum bike unless you can properly heattreat it afterwards.

mulleady

Thanks for that BB49 as I have a hairline crack just below the seatpost on my Downtube 8H after using it beyond the minimum insertion point. So need to consider both the weld and heat treatment then cheers!

BB49

Is the crack on the seatpost? If so, toss it and get a new seatpost.

mulleady

No, I wish! It's just below it on the frame otherwise I would.

BB49

I do not know if you can weld on AL where you are not next to an existing weld and do minimal field heat treatment.
You should contact Yan at Downtube.

No more making fun of Sammyboy and his Butt Buddy for you.

AL-Q

Thank you for that information.I would assume if I was considering to have some sort of aluminum welding
A professional welder would handle the heattreat process. If not is is there a facility or company that handles this process?
Thank you for this info much appreciated BB49

Best Wishes

AL-Q

mulleady

Actually with all the but buddy jokes it's a great mod to have, that or the thudbuster.

timo888 

Here are some resources on aluminum welding:

"The reduction in tensile strength of the HAZ in the heat treatable alloys is more susceptible to welding conditions and can be reduced below the required minimum requirement [sic] if excessive heating occurs during the welding operation."

https://www.key-to-nonferrous.com/def...Article&NM=154
https://www.esab.ca/ca/en/Education/K...f-the-weld.cfm
https://www.afsa.org.za/welding-corne...ruary-2006.pdf

Regards
T