Originally Posted by
CrimsonEclipse
Let me take a wack at it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibLo7sYruow
I've got mixed feelings.
Dahon finally has disk brakes, FINALLY upgraded the hinge (which I'll wait until the second iteration).
But that cable....
ugh!
Nothing says "we have no faith in our own frames" than an after thought structural cable.
(possible lawsuit induced?)
I'll likely on my last Dahon, and when it goes.... [not sure yet]
Edit:
Looked at the hinge. Clamp on the bottom and a bolt neat the top. hmmmm... I'd have to see it up close.
At lease the frame is finally strengthened around the hinge.
Edit edit:
Better bottom bracket, more contact surface area for the hinge.
When it folds the cable makes it ugly. (yikes)
The underneath locking mechanism is a welcome change.
This is their second version of the hinge design. But I think the main difference is only the engagement of the teeth on the "jaws". I think the teeth are now hidden behind a flange to reduce chance of damaging them. I would imagine banging the teeth against something while folded and then they no longer mate.
I would assume most of the bending load still goes to the pin on the left side.
But the jaws reduce the load on the pin by making the connection more stiff.
The problem with the other hinge designs is that the right side was just a single point connection in tension, and flexed like a see-saw.