Originally Posted by
dersan
today i searched all the lbs around the city.And i have found a mu p8 only 1 left and isaw the speed tr.Dealer told me you can upgrade mu p8 with better gearing for touring and you can put racks frot and back.So you will have a speed tr like touringbike with less money.Should i buy p8 instead of speed tr.IS the handling same when fully loaded?Dealer did not let me drive it.I am soo confused
And sorry for my poor english
The Speed TR is setup for touring and is the only Dahon that I've tried that actually fits me. I'd careful buying something else and hoping to upgrade it...it might work, but if you are buying from a dealer make sure they stand behind what they are saying in case it doesn't.
I'm not up on the Mu P8, but just looking at the spec online I can't see how you'll get a Speed TR out of it without a lot of upgrades....the Speed TR has the following parts that the Mu P8 doesn't:
- dual drive [24 speeds] ideal for touring on a folder
- Schwalbe Big Apple tires [comfy and decent rolling resistance]
- upgraded bars and grips for bigger cockpit [may or may not matter depending on your height....for me these are essential]
- front and rear racks
- dynamo front hub and dynamo headlight for 24hrs a day light without fuss
I can't see how you add all this to a MU P8 and save any $$$.
I'm not 100% sure the frames are the same between the Speed TR and Mu P8...they may be, but it's worth at least comparing the bikes side by side. I have to say the fact the dealer won't let you test drive makes me suspicious.
Personally if you want a touring bike I'd get the Speed TR and ride it the way it is for a season before you upgrade anything major. It seems like a good choice.