kpfeif

I just bought a Dahon Tournado frame from Bikewagon.com. Since they didn't post my review, I decided I'd put one up over here instead.

The Tournado uses the Ritchey Breakaway lugs that allow the frame to be broken down into an airline-legal size. Bikewagon is selling the frame and fork alone, no case. Ironically, it ships in its non-broken-away state in a full sized frame box. I haven't built it up yet, but here are my initial impressions.

The good:
- Cheap: at $600 for the frame and fork, it's less expensive than either the real thing Ritchey or any S&S coupled option.
- Finished and packed up nicely. The paint job looks nice and the frame doesn't have any dings or scrapes.
- Reasonably light, the frame and fork weigh in at around 6.5lb. Tange Prestige double butted tubing. The fork looks just like a crosscheck fork and has a massive uncut steerer tube.
- There's a brazed on attachment point for a kickstand, if you're into that.
- I like the semi-compact geometry in theory; I haven't ridden it yet.

Things I'd change:
- The sizing is really wide: basically it's available in 51, 55, and 59, that they call 52, 56, and 60. I'm 6'0" and got the largest size. The TT is 58cm, with a 190mm head tube. I think it'll work for me.
- For some reason, the frame only got one set of water bottle bosses. When I look at the bikewagon picture, indeed only one set is visible. When I look at Dahon's material from before the frame was discontinued, it has at least 2 sets like a normal bike. I think there must have been a manufacturing error that resulted in this batch of them going to Bikewagon. I haven't decided whether I'm going to get some more bosses brazed on before I build it, add rivbolts, or use some hose clamps <shudder>
- The midfork eyelets don't go all the way through the fork.
- There are just one set of eyelets front and rear.
- The derailleur hanger is a part of the frame. I'd prefer a detachable hanger, especially for a travel bike. Here's hoping it doesn't get bashed around too much.

It seems like they have a bunch of these frames, so check them out if you're in the market for a travel touring bike and none of the things that bug me about it are dealbreakers for you. If there's interest I'll post some more thoughts when I finish building it up.

Hexametilen

Hello, I just bought the same one from bikewagon, opened a box yesterday. Size 56 cm.

Would like to know your experience, and share mine.

So far it weights 3080 g with uncut fork.




Did not find any "Tange Prestige" labels (Dahon states this sort of steel is used).
There is a decalc "Tange Cr-Mo" on the fork, without exact sort, but there are too many Tange Cr-Mo, from cheapest to rare ones.

I encountered a problem with bottom bracket gear cable guide, that was included in package.


It simply does not fit, and you will need something wider.

Thats all for the moment, will proceed to headset installation this week.

Hexametilen

So far, I built it, some minor adjustments yet to be done, but already rideable.

mtnbud

Cool! Looking forward to hearing about your impression of how it rides! I like the color.

fietsbob

just use a low rider rack with a Hoop over the wheel ..

and those low spoke count wheels is not something I would tour with a Load aboard on ..

tarwheel 

I won an eBay auction for a Ritchey Breakaway Cross for $500, which included the travel case and headset but no front fork. I was able to buy a nice Soma cross fork for less than $100, and swapped parts from another bike for the build. I absolutely love the Ritchey Breakaway, although I have not broken it down for traveling yet (and may never do so). It's nice to have that option if I need it, and the bike would make a good tourer if not loaded too heavily. It has double mounts front and rear for fenders and racks. Since I have another touring bike, I use the Ritchey mainly for trail riding. I have always wanted one of the old Ritchey Swiss Cross bikes, and the Breakaway Cross is essentially the same thing but with mounts for fenders/racks and the breakaway lugs.

Hexametilen

Speaking of load... I am ultralight touring fan =) something like this

Ultralight bicycle touring

Hexametilen

Btw Dahon frame is neither Ritchey Breakaway Road, nor Ritchey Breakaway Cross clone.

I measured 440 mm chainstay, while Road has 415 and Cross 425. Its stretched, and bottom bracket looks lower than Ritchey's frames.

fietsbob

I understand [NFI] David Hon paid Tom Richey & Company, the Licence fee , so its a Legitimate Breakaway coupler copy ..

kpfeif

Well I finished building mine up this week too. I hadn't noticed the cable clash at the BB, so thanks for pointing that out Hexametilan. Mine did come with a Tange Prestige DB Cromo sticker on the seat tube, just above the Ritchey sticker that I see on your frame. I had an extra set of bottle bosses installed on the seat tube since it only came with room for one bottle.

My size large comes in at about 23# with front rack, pretty light I'd say. I haven't ridden it more than a mile or two but so far I'm happy with it. It definitely rides smaller than at 60cm bike, I'm 6'0" and it feels good.

Hexametilen

Nice build, and your cat likes it =)

I have single pair of bottle bosses on my frame, too. I thought of welding extra pair, but have no clue of how easy or hard it can be done with this sort of steel, and how much damage to frame finish it could cause. From your experience, it was smooth.

About geometry - I am 174 cm high, and this 56 cm size feels somewhere like 54 cm for me, but its ok, trekking bar can fix it.

As for riding mine, I did something over 10 km around city roads and parks. The bike rolls very well, and feels very comfortable on my 700x28.

pedro2aeiou

@kpfeif

What brakes are you using? Just got the same frame off bikewagon and am using STI drops...

kpfeif

I'm using XT V-brakes with long pull levers from Cane Creek. I love the extra stopping power that linear pull brakes give you. I've never tried the travel agents to use them with STIs but I'd like to try it since the bar end shifters arent' my favorite.

Hexametilen

Same here, I am using Avid SD-5 V-brakes and handles on trekking handlebar.

Unlike kpfeif, I love Dura-Ace 7700 bar-end shifters =)
They are not in bar ends though...

tarwheel 

Pretty cool. I like the color, and it seems reasonably well designed for touring. I wonder if it would fit in a Ritchey Breakaway travel case?

I haven't actually used my Ritchey for its intended purpose yet -- that is, traveling in its case. The instructions that I've watched on YouTube make it seem a little involved, but I understand that you can pack or unpack the bike in about 30 minutes with practice. Supposedly the airlines treat it as just another piece of baggage, but you can still encounter problems if TSA decides to inspect your bag and pulls it all apart.

I would definitely have to add some more bottle holders if using the Dahon for touring or even recreational riding. One water bottle is not enough for me.

Hexametilen

Id rather buy and install this

Newest Bike Bicycle Road Double Drink Water Bottle Holder Cage Back Seat B | eBay

than drill the frame

kpfeif

I took mine to my parents' place in Wyoming this past weekend. I have the 60 cm frame, and it did, with some protest, fit into a 26x26x10 cardboard wheel box. I also hadn't gotten around to cutting the head tube, which made it harder still. I removed one crank arm, the rear derailleur, the bottle cages, and the front v brake. I also had to deflate the tires. But do take some pictures once you get it in the box, or you'll struggle to replicate the process on the way home. It was unscathed upon arrival, wheels perfectly true, although the box looked a little rough. I took it up the mountain and rode some fire roads, it was great.

pedro2aeiou

Nice. Did you have to dismantle the cables when packing it up too?

kpfeif

Yes - I used the Ritchey quick disconnects on both derailleurs and the rear brake, which makes that really easy. I don't know if it's mandatory, but it definitely makes it easier.

If you do install the disconnects, I recommend that you place them close to the cable stops, rather than in the middle of the exposed cable. That will make them less likely to rattle against the frame.

tarwheel 

My bike shop built up my Ritchey Breakaway with the cable disconnect in the middle of the top tube, and it rattled quite a bit at first. So I put some plastic tubing around the connector and that solved the problem.

AlanKHG

Bikewagon lists the TT as 56.5cm C-C:
Dahon Tournado Break-Away 700c Road Frameset Caramel Brown
Is your 58cm figure ETT?

kpfeif

Mine is with a friend right now, but I am pretty sure I measured it at 58 cm C-C. I'll try to measure it again shortly.

Hexametilen

Just made a "wide" cable guide of 2 common ones:

kpfeif

56.5 cm C-C measuring along the sloping TT. 58.5 C-C effective top tube.

redstarcap

I'm very interested on buying this frame
One thing I notice that this is not the same frame as Dahon used to sell
The 'Dahon' version uses caliper brakes, the one road bikes usually use
The 'bike wagon' version uses cantilever brakes, which usually used for cyclocross



I am very sure that this frame is original Dahon made by their Taiwan factory

And also I can't find any good source of geometry chart for this bike. I'd like to know the headtube angle, seat tube angle, to know which size fit me best
I'm 174cm with 77cm inseam, kinda short legs long body
currently I'm using 54.5cm effective top tube bike, so I'm in between size 52 or 56
my gut telling me to get 52cm 'cos I can always buy longer stem but Hexametilen is about the same size with me and he's using 56cm