Originally Posted by
Dahon.Steve
There's nothing wrong with getting a 20' inch wheel Dahon folder. Don't marry into the concept that you need a 16' inch folder unless you intend to bring the bike inside the cabin of a bus. Otherwise, get an affordable 20' inch folder and be happy.
By the way, there are Brompton look alikes and act alikes but there is only the real thing. If you can't afford a new Bromton, no harm at all. There's no feeling like the day you walk out of the store with a brand new Brompton.
There is a real size difference between a 16" bike and a 20" bike. I own both, and if I was the wife of the original poster, in reasonably decent condition, working out of a small cubicle, and doing a 5 mile commute that wasn't overly hilly, I'd get a 16" bike. A Curve D3, which is not an expensive bike (some have it online for $599, new, and one dealer also has a further coupon that can be applied making it cheaper still) would be a good choice in this situation.