Dahon
10-08-17 | 09:11 AM
#1
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 432
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: Trek 510, Dahon Classic III, Specialized Tricross, Raleigh Technium 460
Dahon
Not sure what I'm getting myself into but I just added a mini-me to my collection. It's a bit rough around the edges but it is mechanically sound. Tires need to be replaced but otherwise it looks like all of the original parts are there. Half of the chain guard is gone but who needs chain guards. It'll need a full teardown.
Will it be useful? Maybe. It's probably going to be more of a conversation piece. I'll need to dig for info to find its build date and any other tidbit of interesting info about Dahon.
Will it be useful? Maybe. It's probably going to be more of a conversation piece. I'll need to dig for info to find its build date and any other tidbit of interesting info about Dahon.
10-08-17 | 09:50 AM
#2
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Joined: Nov 2004
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I see Dahon all the time. They're very popular with boat tourists, as they stow compactly and provide cost effective local transportation when moored. They appear to be the dominant brand of folding bicycle. I'm looking forward to seeing the serial number format. TIA.
10-08-17 | 11:57 AM
#3
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I do remember picking it up when it was delivered to his house in a special bag and it was quite heavy. So low weight is not the priority with these folders. mostly space saving and with the SS versions, corrosion resistance....
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
10-09-17 | 08:56 AM
#7
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 432
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: Trek 510, Dahon Classic III, Specialized Tricross, Raleigh Technium 460
It is quite heavy for its size - I think the entire bike is made of steel. No aluminum parts. If I can find my digital scale I'll see exactly how heavy it is.
Interesting to see the serial number hand etched inside the main tubes folding hinge in this format HXXX-XXXX. I didn't have my camera to snap a pic but you can see an example here. Help me identify this 1980's Dahon.
I'd like to find out at least what year this was built but haven't had luck finding a serial number database anywhere on the internet. I may reach out to that member to see if he was able to locate one.
[MENTION=64748]devinfan[/MENTION] yours looks great! Really digging the leather bits.
Interesting to see the serial number hand etched inside the main tubes folding hinge in this format HXXX-XXXX. I didn't have my camera to snap a pic but you can see an example here. Help me identify this 1980's Dahon.
I'd like to find out at least what year this was built but haven't had luck finding a serial number database anywhere on the internet. I may reach out to that member to see if he was able to locate one.
[MENTION=64748]devinfan[/MENTION] yours looks great! Really digging the leather bits.
10-09-17 | 01:47 PM
#8
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 432
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: Trek 510, Dahon Classic III, Specialized Tricross, Raleigh Technium 460
I may have found the build date I was looking for. A bit of digging in the Folding Bikes forum and found another member posted this.
Mine is also a SA 3-speed with "85-9" stamped. So I'm going to say the bike is a Classic III and probably built in late 1985.
As you probably know, that's a Sturmey-Archer factory date code, May 1986. Back in the day, the hub would have been shipped from GB to Taiwan and subsequently built into a bike some months later.
The venerable Sturmey AW hub has three speeds, and that gave this model Dahon its name, Classic III. The Classic V had a five speed derailleur drivetrain, the Classic I was a single speed.
The venerable Sturmey AW hub has three speeds, and that gave this model Dahon its name, Classic III. The Classic V had a five speed derailleur drivetrain, the Classic I was a single speed.
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