Originally Posted by
Datatraveler
Hello
I've decided after 25 years to get back into riding. After looking around some I decided on a folder but I wanted to keep it on the cheap till I knew folders were for me I found myself a craigslist special a Dahon from the early 90s with a 3 speed. It's pretty decent but it's been sitting for years so the shifter is frozen and the brakes are useless. Anyway my question is, can this old folder be upgraded with newer generation stuff? Like brakes ( these seem to be pretty low quality), seat post, peddles etc.? Any advise or suggestions would be most appreciated. I fix things for a living so I'm open to anything..Thanks for reading
Before I started buying only new bikes, I used to buy & fixed up decent used older bikes from the 1960s & 1970s for a hobby. I recommend to clean up the bike first to see if grime is the main culprit here. Then buy as as many off-the-shelf parts that will work with your bike
providing nothing major is wrong with it. Many folding bikes-especially Dahons-have their own proprietary parts and may prove to be very hard or impossible to find as they age and the corporation introduces newer models. If these special parts are fine, this bike should give you many additional years of enjoyment. And when you are ready to do so, help steer you in the direction of the right folding (or even non folding) bike that will suit you the best.
Originally Posted by
Datatraveler
Yes exactly the same bike, except I didn't get a radio..Darn..lol.. It seems to be a nice little bike and I don't mind putting a bit of elbow grease and a few bucks into it to bring it up to snuff. Something tells me folders could get addictive. I could be wrong?
No you are not. As you use your new bike and discover for yourself the best feature of these bike-the ability to fold down into a smaller neat package-you will be finally liberated from the fear of bike theft (my number one reason why I use these bikes only at present). Don't miss out my previous photos & information about using any folding bikes I offer (see below):