Papaformigas

Ok Iam more relaxed now...

Anyway here in the Azores Island there are plane roads mainly near the seaside in cities and villages. As soon as we start going to the island center all kind of hills come up... It's normal as it's too is the mouth of Vulcans... Apart from that there are lots of terrain roads that have not road pavement and are with clays, mud and gravel.

When I need to go to the other side of the island I need to cross it and the bus go though these steep hills and mud roads.

So I was thinking about the curve D3 because it fold small and Incan take it anwhere but in the other hand I can't bike properly through these roads and pathways... So what can I choose that is the middle from a big bike and a small wheell bike?

I have done some more searchings a d found out these bikes:

- Dahon Jerystream P8
- Dahon D7
- eLion eletric bike (read eBay listing number: 282836321229)

It seems the first isnmade for all terrains because it has double suspension and 20" wheells and fold like any other Dahon. Could be a choice...

CliffordK

It took a little hunting for your E-Bay link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282836321229

That is a big bike. Likely pretty heavy. Not high quality components, but it may work for your needs.

Do you ride a bike now?

A 30 to 40km (20 to 25 mile?) each way ride including cobbles and hills is a daunting ride.

Hopefully most of your commutes are much shorter, and you'll have an opportunity to work up to the longer rides.

Personally, my choice for the ride would be a drop bar cyclocross bike. And, just figure out how to secure it on both ends. Or, perhaps a drop bar conversion of a quality "hybrid".

Second choice (if folding was a priority) would be something like a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket outfitted with 20/406 wheels and reasonably wide tires, although Bike Friday does list a 37/451 tire that would be worth considering.

https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-b...pocket-rocket/

Getting a quality folding bike isn't cheap, but may make the difference if you'll be able to ride the distance or not.

If many of your commutes are closer to 10 miles (16 km), then you may not need the electric option, but you could also get a quality base bike electrified.

BruceMetras

Is a license required for motorbikes under 125cc? If not, there are many that would work.. From your descriptions of road conditions and distances, pedaling a 20" or 16" bike could be problematic.. and, electric bikes will come with their own issues including charging stations, reliability, and range anxiety .. I would think 50cc or less wouldn't require an A1 (moto) license, but a more typical B license or none at all.. I used a 49cc scooter for a year a couple of years ago and it was great with a top speed of around 40mph and gas mileage over 115mpg achieved easily..

Papaformigas

I don't have bike at the moment.

I don't want to have scooters or motorbikes. I want to have a bike with pedals to ride normally to work. If it's 30km I'm thinking I will have to go with the bus and then the last Kms by bike commuting. I can't do 60km a day with a bike!!!

Schwinnsta

For a pure bicycle Brompton best for multi- modal. For assisted, VeloMini https://electricbikereview.com/velomini/plus/

You are going to have to make compromises.

Papaformigas

Okay I have a model in mind the Dahon Speed P8.

Now it appears to me that there are two versions of this model... One with the a black handpost and other with silver handpost.

So what's the difference?

Also is it possible to recognise the 2008-2009 Speed P8 bikes? I want to know this because during those years Dahon made a recall of all those bikes because of a Handpost failure that could cause fatal accident s.

L Arnold

Just saw a note about 15 lb Hummingbird. That would be round about 7kg. No hinge that I can see in the frame.

Papaformigas

The price for one of those is £3400!!!!!!!!!

Anyone know the differences between Dahon Speed P8 Handpost ? Some.have the Handpost black and othersthe colour is silver like alluminum silver colour...

Abu Mahendra

...i came across this beauty while out riding the Altena.






Papa Formigas, ¿você está certo que não quer uma dessas?

dezzie

Their is a new Honda Cub out this year with a 125 motor from the Honda Grom/msx!

Papaformigas

Hi all!

I am looking for a folding BIKE and not a motorbike or scooter or something similar.

Please write your views and share your experiences with lightweight folding bikes as I want a bike with pedals.

Thanks.

berlinonaut

To me at least this thread is done: You seem to be focussed on buying a cheap folder that in no way is ready for the purpose that you told us you intend to fulfill (and apart from that is not light at all). A cheap Dahon will be ridden to pieces after a very short while with the distances that you want to cover, let alone that the bikes that you went for are totally unsuitable for hilly terrain or the distances in question. You do not want to hear any better alternatives that may be fit for purpose but either cost more or do not fold or are not a bike but a moped. There is simply no good advice left anyone could give you. You are a teacher - you should know how this learning-thing works...

Regarding Dahon D3 with black or silver stem riser: Nobody know the difference. Probably there is none but maybe there is. Dahon's policy regarding models is totally intransparent and not stringent through different model years or different regions, not even within a single model year and the specifications on the different Dahon- and Dealer webpages differ, are useless and often wrong. The one person who possibly could know - Thor - has recently been kicked out of the forum.
Probably it does not make a difference at all. Plus it does not matter because - as you have been told numerous times - these bikes fit in no way to what you want to do. And within the EU you do not want to buy a Dahon bike anyway as there are no spare parts, no service and no support. Your confusion now is just the beginning of the frustration that you will suffer from in the following years if you buy a Dahon within the EU.

ttakata73

I agree. This forum presented logical ideas, but it is up to the OP to decide how to spend money. Go buy whatever bike and learn for yourself if you are right or not. You can always sell it, so no big problem.

Papaformigas

Hi guys .. made up my mind and bought an used like new Orbita Flex bike 16" with fat tyres with 8 gears.

The brand is Orbita a famous Portuguese brand, not so known in the US but sells on Amazon that is in the bike business since 1971.

Orbita prouds themselfs to be the amoungst the few bike companies in Europe that decided not to switch to Asia to manufacture bikes.

The bike folds as little as the Curve D3 and weights only 11,5kg.

Its a great pretty lightweight bike and its speed is great!

Some pics attached.

avole

Their carbon frames would be Taiwanese, and their derailleurs look like Shimano to me, so at least some of their bikes use asian components - and, anyway, what is wrong with that? That's a rhetorical question, by the way

Papaformigas

This bike is cool but it misses the magnets that stick both wheeel together when folded.

I was thinking if i can adapt the Dahon magnets in the frame like the Dahons, or some other kind of method..

fietsbob

Minivelos get lighter because they don't have to be reinforced for the hinges,
but by still using smaller wheels don't take up as much room , parked, as a big wheel bike..



(Nashbar has one 50% off , now)





...

Bonzo Banana

That's only a 6 speed bike as you can see it has a fairly basic Shimano freewheel on the back. Also assembled in Portugal would be more accurate as every component including the frame appears to be from the far east.

Also it claims to be 12.5kg here. It seems to have been available in the UK for a short time.

Orbita Flex-16 6 Speed Lightweight...

I would class it as a one step up bike. It's not entry level as has a aluminium frame but has many of the components you would find on entry level bikes like a low end freewheel and derailleur. It has an improved stem with height adjustment over basic folding bikes. It does not include a rack or mudguards so weight wise seems quite high maybe the seat post and handlebars are steel.

A similar bike here only 0.5kg extra and includes kick stand, rack and mudguards, you could remove those probably to go under 11.5kg. It has a steel frame which I think I would prefer on a small folding bike like this and also a slightly better derailleur. Sometimes on these small frames you don't seem to get much weight advantage going from steel to aluminium its almost like they have to reinforce more and lose the weight advantage. Also can't help noticing the very high spoke count on the Orbita wheels maybe the bike has a higher rider weight capacity.


https://bicycles4u.com/products/dubl...nt=12249200198

So personally I would say for the UK price at least the Orbita was very poor value. The one review on the halfords site gives the Orbita 5/5 but the reviewer is based in Portugal and Halfords don't even sell to Portugal as far as I know.

In the UK you can get a high quality freehub/claris equipped folding bike for £215 of a similar weight from a direct seller.

GREENWAY Alloy Folding bike,Hi Spec,20 Inch wheel - Greenwaycycles

I'd personally see the Orbita as having a value of about £160 retail however I totally understand assembly in Portgual probably adds some costs which have to be passed onto the customer and their assembly of the bike from parts may be excellent. Some of the bikes assembled in China and the far east you have to check yourself and add grease etc.

Joe Remi

A shock cord or Velcro strap through the wheels will do the trick. You don't have mounts for Dahon magnets.

Papaformigas

Do you think I can drill two holes in the front and the end of the frame near the rear and front wheels in order to adapt and screw the two dahon magnets into the two wheels?

Do you think the fact of drilling the holes in the frame will make the frame more fragile to break?

Abu Mahendra

A simple 20-gram velcro strap will do. Plus those magnets are not light-weight, demanetize over time, and cheap ones are not usually strong enough to keep the wheels together.

Joe Remi

I have so many thoughts.

ttakata73

Looking at the bike shows 2 holes on each dropout so why not just try using those? The holes probably take an M5 bolt if they follow standard bike practice.

Papaformigas

Ok now I have my bike and have tested it.

The first impression is that it get a lot of attention and questions from people I don't even know. They want to know about the bike, etc.

Then riding the bike... I am 1.85m and the seat post length is not that high so I feel a bit down in the bike... The seat tube is about 40cm usable and I would need a longer one.. don't know if I can buy one longer or not.

In straight line plane road the bike is great and the gears go well but on hills and steep hills forget even with the gears I need to carry the bike walking to the top then ride again. No way one can ride the steep hill.. I just see myself riding here in fact t I don't see any bike riding.. that make me think why I got so much attention

When riding the soft hills in lower gear I get a lot tired from pedaling because obviously the wheels are small.. but it's hard to get to the top.

In all I think Orbita Flex 16 it is a good bike. Perhaps a 20" wheel version would be better for me but I like the look of the 16" inch model and I can travel with it in a small cartoon box as a standard flight pack as part of my airplane ticket.

Now I need to find a good helmet and something to stick both wheels together when bike is folded.

Papaformigas

I need help finding a good Mips helmet.

Any recommendations and links?

Also I will need to buy usb lamps so would also need some advice here.

And finally I will need to buy a.new seat post as the one of the bike has just 400 mm and I feel a bit low in the bike. So I will need a bigger seat post. The seatpost tube measures 31.8mm.

Also how could I switch from derrail to an internal 8 gear hub? Would the bike become heavier?