Questions from a new Dahon owner
I received my Speed P8 a few weeks ago, but was working on other projects, so just took it out of the box today. I went for a (very) short test ride and generally like it, but have a few questions - if someone can answer one or more.
Clamping closed - after hearing so much about the magnets, I found mine has a new system consisting of a prong to be attached to the non-chainside rear dropout, and a socket (already installed) on the fork. I don't know why they switched - installing the prong is a royal pain, and I've given up for the moment.
They say you need two 10mm hex wrenches, but what you discover when you try to do it is that they both need to be open-end flat wrenches. Neither nut is particularly easy to get at, and it's almost impossible to keep one locked down while turning the other - without one or both wrenches slipping off. I'm now thinking that I'll need to put a lock-wrench on the outer nut while trying to keep a flat wrench on the inner one.
Are there any tricks to accomplishing this that anyone has successfully used?
Alternately, can / should I buy and install the magnets instead?
Are they any easier to deal with?
Do they require anything for mounting that is not on my bike?
How do you align the fork and handlebars? I was never able to get them quite squared off. When you loosen the quick release,the bars naturally want to drop straight down, and it's quite difficult to secure the quick release while simultaneously keeping everything aligned. I'm wondering if it's possible to half lock down the quick release, do an alignment, and then complete the lock down?
I miss not having toe clips, in terms of positioning my feet on the pedals, being able to draw a pedal upwards, and being able to get a power start away from a light, etc. I know some folks will use toe clips without the straps.What do people use - are there solutions that still allow the pedals to fold?
I really hate grip shift and wonder if there is a relatively inexpensive option?
It's been decades since I've done any serious bike work, so would go through a shop.
I've read of guys swapping out the shifters, but didn't pay attention to what was used instead.
I found another thread where some say brifters won't work, while others successfully use them.
Does adding a front rack and bag (with contents) help dampen the steering? I didn't have any real trouble with it, but it does seem really quick and I'd like to slow it downsome.
I think that's all for now - thanks.
==>> A non-Dahon, forum-techie question - I use Word to compose long posts, but when I paste them in here many of my spaces get deleted - anyone know what causes that?
Last edited by velotrain; 08-05-16 at 07:55 PM.