New to this bike and beginning my learning curve. I know I might get answers like "to mount something" ha! But seriously, I have seen these bikes with and without this bracket and curious what was this bracket was intended for, or what others have used this for.

Thanks in advance.

fold the bike and see where it goes :-)

I got an owner's manual with my Classic I, and it doesn't have anything about that particular bracket - and it's on mine too. It would make a good lower anchor for a pannier bag mount. I mainly replied to say how jealous I am of your stainless frame.

thanks...will check it out, I would never of thought of it!

Thanks for the compliment I was very fortunate to happen on this bike. I was thinking some accessory too, like a light... You did bring up another question I had... What model lines came out back in the day... I am assuming I have a classic III but other photos I have referenced appear to be varying versions of early Dahons?? And then you referred to a Classic I... So far I have not found any real reference models... I know my sturmey archer is has an 86-5 stamp, whatever that puts the version I have... Part of the fun for me is learning about it.

If it is a stainless bike it is probably a Mariner. Maybe the first gemeration of them. Roger

Your 'mystery' bracket clips with this bracket:

clip.jpg

like this:

clipped.jpg

and holds the folded bike together.

(Yeah, the bike is dirty - hey, it works for a living!)

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.

Thanks for the reference... It is stainless.

I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge... Also thanks for solving my mystery with your pictures!

locking to frame when folded