I have a Dahon. Used to be a good deal. Their prices have *skyrocketed* during the pandemic. What used to be $450 is now $1000.
The Zizzos look great, and the Liberte in particular has a better quality crankset than the Dahons, and 1/3-1/2 the price, depending if on sale.
The racks that come with either Dahon or Zizzo are nearly useless, you can bungee a small load on top, they are too low and too far forward to hold full-size panniers. If you want that ability, buy and fit a standard height rear rack, and I recommend one with a "full width" top platform to hold a trunk bag, not a narrower "streamliner', and I also recommend one with a "2nd tier" to hold the panniers a bit below the top, this makes it a lot easier to put both panniers and trunk bag on and off; but you will need: a) A rack that hangs the panniers completely behind the rear axle, the front of the pannier being even with the axle, for sufficient pedaling heel clearance on a bike with chainstays this short, and b) Rack stays to connect the rack to the seatstay braze-ons, that are extra-super-long, much longer than come with racks; Jandd makes them, as well as another rack or accessory maker that I can't recall the name of right now.
Decide if disc brakes are important; Lots of long descents, they may be. 20" wheels heat up quicker and thus pop spokes due to rim diameter expansion, and wear rim sidewalls quicket than bigger wheels. I can't recall if Zizzo makes a disc bike, but the Origami Bull is one example that does, might still be on sale for $500 (down from $700).
If you need mountain low gearing for ascents, having a folder with a front derailleur braze-on is a big plus, to mount a double crankset if you want. It's more difficult with an adaptor, I've done it, but it required a lot of "customizing", beyond the ability of many. I run a 50/34 double with 11-30 cassette that gives me 21-85 gear inches. That's almost as much range as a 52/42/30 triple. Many on here have instead mounted a huge 1X cassette with a huge low sprocket, it can be done, but rear derailleur clearance to ground is reduced a lot, like to marginal, as well as lateral clearance to tire if running wider tires.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 02-12-24 at 12:48 AM.