lvmickey

I am looking to price/buy some 1980s dahon parts. Specifically the 5 speed bike. It looks like I might need a rear wheel and cassette, chain, etc. Does anyone have recommendations of where to look for parts?

AccuNeal

Rebuilding an older bike is a lot of fun. Looking for the right parts to suit your needs is fun, too. My usual tactic for most hard parts is look on eBay for NOS (new old stock) parts. Chains, tires, tubes, brake pads should be new, of course. You can find lots of 20" freewheel hubs to which you add your cassette. 16" wheels are not so easy to find. I end up building my own with internal geared hubs and toss the cassettes and derailleurs in the scrap metal box. There are no hills here in southwest Florida so no need for low gearing on the cassettes.

lvmickey

I wondered if it was easier to rebuild wheels and go for an IGH. I know I need to replace at least one wheel. I am letting my LBS do an estimate but I expect to visit the Co-op in VA about 45 minutes away.

AccuNeal

Rebuilding wheels can be an issue with IGH and spoke count. Most 16" wheels have 28 spokes and all new IGHs have 36 holes. So you'll need to purchase a 36 hole rim and spokes to match. It's challenging, fun and rewarding to build your first wheel, and not cheap. You'll have over $120 invested in the rim, hub, spokes, shifter and cable. If you build one wheel, you will likely build the front, too. When taking on a project like that an evaluation of bike worth is needed. Resale for cost recovery is unlikely, but riding pleasure is immeasurable.

lvmickey

At this point resale value is my issue although I will likely never resell the bicycle. It is a spare folder for when friends and family come into town and if I want something different to ride than my Brompton. In general I would also like to learn about repairing bicycles as I tend to be a do it yourself kind of person. Bicycle Coop here I come.

tcs

I bought these, laid the new aluminum rims over the top of my old Dahon Classic steel rimmed wheels and moved the spokes up one by one. I tensioned and trued the wheels. I put some fresh oil in the AW and repacked the front hub. Bob was my uncle.

No connection to retailer beyond being a customer.

tcs

The most cost effective source of proprietary parts for a bike of this age might be to buy a complete/semi-complete bike. A rusty or bent bike with still good components or a partial bike that at least has the components you need can often be purchased quite inexpensively.

Some parts, like the freewheel, chain, cable, derailleur, IGH, cables, brakes and others, are generic.

Diode100

Watch out if you are converting to IHG without a horizontal drop out, you will almost certainly need a chain tensioner of some sort.

lvmickey

Basically the only things that seem to need replacing at this point are wheels (might be able to re-true them), chain, either a cassette or swap it for a IGH, brakes and tires. The frame seems good but could use a good cleaning. The bike was "rideable" enough that I tested changing gears and such and it was by no means smooth but worked. Basically items that should be worn out after 30+ years are worn out on it. My bike in college was sold before a major overhaul was needed. I just got my Brompton 4 months ago so I have literally never done anything like this before. I also don't know what is proprietary and what isn't due to it being so old and a folding bike.

lvmickey

Thanks for the advice.

ThorUSA

whats your estimated budget for the rebuilt ?

lvmickey

I am attempting to determine what that. I don't want to start until I have decided. It won't be more than $500 unless there is a compelling reason to increase it.

2wheeldeal

You might try China - aliexpress and litepro brand parts for folding bikes, mainly Dahon. Litepro is based in Taiwan.

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...tepro+wheelset

HighValleyRanch

You are going to sink 500.00 into rebuilding an old 1980's Dahon?

smallwheeler

clearly, a waste of time and money.



https://www.bikeforums.net/18028034-post773.html

HighValleyRanch

nice, kinda Moultonesque!

2wheeldeal

+1 Why Bother?