Thread: Clones?
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Old 08-15-23 | 11:44 AM
  #79  
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tcs
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Parts Unknown

Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl

This is Dahon's version of the Brompton and Dahon somehow managed to give it a "Hunchback of Notre Dame" look to it.
Several have commented on the 'unnatural' frame curve.





I wonder if the Curl has a rear shock.


The Curl does not have a rear spring. It is a hardtail. The way Andrew Ritchie design the Brompton rear suspension, the spring is compressed with each pedal stroke. I've noticed that over the last ~15 years the Brompton factory & Brompton riders have moved to progressively stiffer and stiffer springs to mitigate rear squat.

Apparently the Curl has jettisoned the front luggage block to get a narrower fold.
Many Dahons have a carrier block. The caliper brake Curl would have been problematic to fit a carrier block solely because of the design decisions Dahon made with the front brake.

I've posted several times how I safely and stably carry front loads on my Curl, but the presence of a carrier block is a near-religious item for many riders. Now with the disc brake version of the Curl, there's no discernable reason for the design not to incorporate a carrier block. Customers want what they want; why don't you give it to them, Dahon?


Fun fact: The Dahon Curl broke cover back in 2008 (with, quite frankly, originally a more innovative design) and has been available retail in markets around the globe for six years now.

I like my Curl quite a lot, but presently, with Dahon focusing its distribution, sales and marketing efforts in the Yuxi Circle, it's hard to recommend one to riders in Europe or North America.

Last edited by tcs; 08-15-23 at 11:54 AM.
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