I think it is mostly aesthetics: design and color. The frame materials are different but opinions vary over which is best. The Mu P8 does not come with fenders, it does come with a derailleur hanger which is occupied by a Neos II derailleur. Equipment wise the two are similar but the Speed has big Apple tires while the Mu comes with Marathon Racers.

I started out looking at the Speed D7, then I convinced myself I could afford the Speed P8, then I fell in love with the look of the Mu P8, then I really fell in love with the transmission of the Mu P24. Finally I decided that the Mu P8 was as much as I could afford and went with that. Of course while I preferred the white color of the P8 I really missed the Dual Drive. A few weeks after I got the bike Dahon offered the Dual Drive rear wheel as an accessory (but alas, no longer) and eventually desire got the better of my wallet and I added that which brought the total cost to more than a P24 would have been. Oh well, it is a bike/train commuter and it replaces a pay per ride shuttle bus service between my destination station and work so it will pay for itself some time this year and I do now have in effect a white P24!

In reality the Speed and Mu P8 models are both ideal for my commuting. There are no hills to speak of on my route so even for out-of-shape-me a Mu Uno would have worked fine too, the 8 speed gearbox was more than enough for that task. I got the Mu and then upgraded the transmission thinking that it would be my bike for everything. I had not ridden for a decade or so and at age 58 it took from July of last year until the end of the riding season before I started getting into any semblance of shape. Once that happened though the Mu just ignited the desire for a more traditional bike and so I picked up a Fuji Absolute a couple of weeks ago to compliment it. If I had any inkling that I would end up feeling that way I would definitely have stuck with the stock transmission on the Mu and probably would have gone with the Speed. Life does not always work out the way we think it will though and I really like my Mu which, as I say, will pay for itself!

Ken