Originally Posted by
cliff_cliff
i really appreciate your help here. i'll start tackling the handlestem this weekend and order the part for the seat and do that if it arrives in time. i'll be very gentle with the clamp bolt as you say. just a bit at a time and see where i am. regarding the plastic ring it does seem like a spacer. it sits upon the headset and on other videos it just pops off, so for now it should be ok with the crack, although i'll mention it to the shop i buy the seatpost shim from and see if they have anything.
I wonder the the usa consumer product safety commision would have been back in touch with dahon after you did that? im surprised they fobbed you off. when i searched cracked seat post frame after you mentioned it i found a few examples on the internet of that.
looking forward to get it going. i had a quick test ride when i first bought it and i really like it. the guy i bought it off was nice enough to put new tyres on, but theyre plain black and a bit wider than standard i think he said. fancy at some point ill but some tan walls on and also i want to change the black rusty rear rack with maybe a nice stainless or silver one. any advice of a little front rack?
i have another folder its a peugeot nouveau style 1970s in white. i recently re rusted some areas and got the wheels serviced and new white walls on. its a beautiful bike. i'll post a photo and ask for the mod to show it. cheers
CPSC never contacted me. Many agencies tend to follow the mood of government leadership, and it was during the Trump era, who didn't support consumer protections, they were a tool of big business. Agencies like our Environmental Protection Agency got killed during the Trump era, especially after him stacking the supreme court to conservatives.
Rear rack: Yes, the steel Speeds came with a steel rack, the aluminum ones like the Mariner came with an aluminum rack. But both racks are low over the tire, OK for strapping loads on top, but are fairly useless if you want to fit side panniers, because a) normal size panniers will be close to ground, definitely scraping on curbs you come close to, and b) won't hold the panniers far enough back for heel clearance. Take a close look at my posted bike picture next to the ocean; The rack is a typical large bike height rack, so top is 6"/15cm above the rear tire, that is common, but also, holds the panniers aft of the rear axle, the front of the pannier even with the rear axle, and that is harder to find, and is essential for pedaling heel clearance. Also what I love, the panniers are not hung from the top platform, there is another rack level 2-3" below the top to hang the panniers (and still tall enough for easy pannier clearance to ground and curbs), which makes it much easier to put on and remove, both panniers, and the trunk bag. They no longer make that rack, but others are made, some with lower sections that are interchangeable to vary the fore/aft position of rack. Many newer rear racks are narrow on top, for more streamlined, holding panniers further in, but I hate that, I want it wide enough for a trunk bag on top. Also, the far aft position of the rack and low rack seatstay braze-ons, required super-extra-long rack stays, much longer than came with the rack. Jandd sells those, as well as another brand of racks, I forget. A good bike shop that outfits touring bikes and is rack-knowledgeable should be able to set you up. Of late, I've seen less assortment of rear racks at the local bike shop, as they are out of fashion with bikepackers. I think this one meets all above criteria, but you'll still need much longer stays:
https://www.amazon.com/Axiom-Journey...dp/B009VU3RAU/
Front rack: The rack is generically called a "sixer", just big enough for a 6-pack of beverage, connects at the bottom to the V-brake pivots, like this rack:
https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Gold-...dp/B002MKHR6G/
It's actually designed for large wheel mountain bikes, but the distance from the fork crown to the brake pivots is the same on a 20" fork, so fits perfect, and perfect scale for the bike. Not designed for panniers but I hung'em (being careful to not overload with weight), old small rear panniers from the 1990s that used to be on my long wheelbase recumbent. I cut wood sticks to go between the front dropout and the forward rack top, zip-tied in place, not as bracing, but to just keep the panniers out of the spokes. The rack was $10 new. A proper front rack, attaches to the dropouts, proper size for 20" wheels, is about $50. Get one with a platform that is above the tires, it's handy for parcels; Dahon's front rack for the Speed TR held panniers lower and with no top platform. The rack weight, panniers or a small bag on top, will slightly "calm" the twitchy steering of this small wheel bike, give it some mass damping effect, and weight forward of the steering axis helps stability a bit, makes it want to steer in the direction the bike is falling.
The enormous space between the handlebar and the front rack, you can strap large parcels, or hang a small backpack from the handlebars by the shoulder straps, or hang a shopping bag from the aero bars as in my photo.
Note: Front rack may prevent you putting bike on some bus bike racks, that clamp around front tire. Clamping to frame would be better, if compatible with the Dahon monobeam thickness and height.
Pic that shows front and rear racks, bike folded on train:
