northernlights

Anyone have experience with this bike? Very cool looking bike with a unique fold I've never seen before.
Also cool is the little third wheel that allows it to stand up by itself and rolled in the folded position.



Dahon Qix D8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfndTzdeyLU

northernlights

pics

SkunkWerX

Yes, very interesting, just saw the vid last night. It certainly looks quick & easy.

It's nice to see the industry leader continue to develop new product. Keep moving things forward.

jur

Interestingly, the Helix bike developer makes the claim that he developed this type of fold more than 10 years ago and embarked on a program with a Taiwanese producer to bring it to a product. After 2 years, deep into the project he abandoned the design due to not really liking the concept any longer, and after a hiatus went on to develop the Helix.

mconlonx

Neat. Reminds me of the Birdy/Brompton fold, but with the hinge in front of the seatpost, rather than behind it. Also seems an inherently more safe, lasting, and stable hinge than a vertical one, with the bike swinging sideways.

ThorUSA

now if it only be available, that would be a good start :-)

pibach

Size wise it is the same, vertical or horizontal fold. So just a change, not an improvement.

ttakata73

Seems a smart design putting the hinge like that since the weight of the rider compresses the frame together.
It should be quute strong.
Maybe all the side folding frame breaks Tern has had bad luck with prompted this alternate design direction.

Schwinnsta

Picky

Azreal911

That is actually a nice fold and it doesn't look like it requires any welding at all for the joints and it is machined into the individual parts leaving a very smooth finish on the main frame without a bulky joint. That alone saves easily a pound or so not needing those giant folding plates to weld onto the ends of the frames also less room for welding errors too. This is a different fold from the birdy or brompton I wouldn't even call it similar just because the wheel folds in vertically instead of sideways (bromptons still have a sideways fold at the front while the birdy mainframe doesn't fold at all). There's only soo many ways to fold a bike. The beauty of this fold is if you forget to put the safety latch the bike would still be very stable because your weight alone is actually keeping it together. But yeah good to see the big manufacturers moving forwards with new designs.

wesgreen

Since it looks like it has to be both a downward and a somewhat sideway fold, how can the hinge be as strong as with a really straight fold? "26 pds." - according to Dahon (!) - doesn't seem to save much weight.

northernlights

Thats a pretty good weight for a 20-inch folding bike. Twenty-inch folding bikes seem to average somewhere in the high twenties to low thirties, so 26 lbs is a little less than the average weight. Also consider most folding bikes don't come with any fenders or rear racks.

Dahon and others have high-end folding bikes that weigh in the low twenties or less but those cost two to three times the price.

tmesis

Seems to be available for sale:

Dahon Bikes USA - Qix D8 Smoke

Dahon.Steve

I like the way this bike rolls. However, I suspect once the folding plates between the welds gets dirty or expanded though use, expect the frame to begin developing a flex. At $1000 dollars, I would hold off until next years' model.

The Helix is a dream bike. I believe his design was spot on!

wesgreen

Dahon's weight specs don't tend to pan out in the real world. The weight they give might not include rack and fenders, for example. And I'm a Dahon fan.

tds101 

The Helix may be a dream bike, but the wait seems to be more of a nightmare. At least this is (finally) coming to the market for purchase.

northernlights

I just called Nycewheels of New York about that and they should have it in two or three weeks. But kind of odd they would post a video about the bike well before they had it in stock. As if now it seems to be available only in Europe and Asia.


Its probably closer to 30 lbs like you said, which is what I would expect for the price.

wesgreen

They also used to supply super light, but unusable saddles to get the listed weight down. The newer saddles are better.
Other bike manufacturers sometimes list total weight without saddle and pedals. I think the only way to know for sure might be if someone went to a store with a luggage scale and told us.

I like the design idea, and can't wait for close-up pics of that hinge.

tds101 

I usually swap the pedals & saddle anyways. But, for me, weight isn't really an issue. As long as the bike is strong, stable, and rides well, I'll gladly take a few extra lbs.

Blackstrida_A_

Sorry, but no.
That is unfortunately not correct for all riding situations, applying actually while normal riding and braking rear only!
BUT, at the moment of activating the front brake will stability be – gone!

To be more exact; I’m referring here to the locking mechanism (safety latch) of the Qix main hinge,
as far I’ve heard are Qix and Eezz hinge systems technically identical and therefore will the following apply – most likely – for the Eezz, too.

For our meaning here in Austria/Europe has this mechanism to be called: Potentially dangerous!
Please note that the safety latch does not include any second, passive safety retainer - so
the hinge remains fully opened!
You’re right with the weight, but this effect does not apply any longer once you engage the front brake, in a flash will the bike react like that:



And that’s again what I’ve meant above, with a moving wheelbase – while struggling not to fall off backwards because the bike starts/executes self-folding beneath your butt – there is no more stability to expect.
Also I have to say that I did not experience above mentioned myself as a rider – but being an eyewitness of tests in that matter on one hand and on the other the surprise that nobody before mentioned/noticed let me write this.

Btw – my local dealer refused to sell either Qix or Eezz – as long as the
(Small or big? – What’s your opinion?)
security deficiency of this particular hinge (version?) remains unsolved.

Wished that somebody could explain this "front brake - frame flip up" behaviour in bike physics related terms...I'm afraid it'd take me another hours to figure out and translate that correctly...

Finally a friendly advice -
- for all Qix/Eezz owners:

Please do not forget to close the safety latch – never!

- for sporty, adventurous and brave Qix/Eezz owners:

If you attempt to experience this behaviour yourself, PLEASE:
- Ride as slow as possible for such tests.
- (Try to) Be prepared to leave pedals and seat quickly; the bikes reaction comes unexpected and fast.


Thanks and have a safe ride,

BSA

ThorUSA

so with one hand you pull the front brake
with the other hand you open the lever beneath the frame
and push backwards on the saddle ....


just wondering :-)

bhkyte

If yor are riding clippless you could place use one foot to lock the hinge, brake with one hand, and write a legal claim with the free hand whilst front brakes are applied........

chesky

This seems to be a great folding bike. Most reviews are complimenting it.

leoho5

I think the issue is that if the vertically-folding EEZZ/Qix frame hinge is accidentally left opened, the bike is still still rideable whereas a Brompton, Dahon/Tern will be nearly impossible to ride because the the frame would buckle out to the side providing a visual reminder to close the hinge. So theoretically, the EEZZ/Qix hinge design could be more dangerous for those who forget to close their hinges. One could imagine that the EEZZ/Qix could suddenly fold while riding if the bike were to be ridden with the hinge still open and the front brake applied.

Bottom line, don't forget to close your hinges.

Blackstrida_A_

Just figured out that you're a Dahon dealer,
now I can imagine why you obviously did not want to read my post (completely).

Not wondering any longer

But especially you should take serious safety concerns at least into consideration, in your very own interest - the more if you've been told about in friendship and anonymity.
Once one of your official customers was injured it's on you to stand up straight.