Dahon Clinch, anyone? Clinch D10 (ODA-004)
 

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7fb0e8a09d.jpg
Dahon Clinch D10

My family have been riding Dahons for almost 14 yrs, mostly for fun. This one was built back in 2018, straight up from frame. SLOW to fold and pricy for a Dahon, the clinch series were not very popular. But IMO it was one of the brand’s best designs. Clean and strong lines, beautifully made and extremely sturdy. Even a bit over engineered, the over sized non-standard fork and head tube as an example.

To fold it requires 6mm allen wrench tool to disengage two LockJaw hinges on the frame, and another on the head post. With some practice can cut it down to a few minutes. In return there’s strength and fold compactness (for 451-wheeler). Ideal for those who value a sporty ride position and steadiness under speed, while short of storage space, or just need to put in the trunk occasionally.

There were a few complaints. First the weight. Frame, fork and head post together weigh 4kg. It’s not for weight weenies. My build in the picture is close to 9kg, even with some expensive carbon and groupset parts. Second is the calliper mounting location. The hole was further away from the wheel, meant to accommodate big fat tires. It requires 57-73mm reach long arm callipers. Not many after market choices, let alone fancy ones. On this build I was using sram red callipers with shoe extenders. A compromise on weight and feel on the levers. Last one is prone to have creaking noise, guess quite common for most folders, especially among Dahon diamond-frame ones. When this was new, over the smallest bump it generates this annoying random clicking noise. Couldn’t locate the source. After a month or so it was gone, not knowing why and how, anyway.

I’m currently in the process to build another one for my wife to replace her old 406 folder. The new one will be based on the silver clinch pro frame with PF30 BB. In general, I just hate wires, and always fancy wireless electronic group sets on folders. With etap axs, there’s finally chance to mix match flat bar MTB triggers with 1x road derailleur and cassets. Lots of excitement and frustration, all over again!

Welcome to whom also rides the clinch to share a picture, experiences or ideas. Or anyone interested in the model, happy to help!

really nice

Apparently you're under the impression that we don't know about the Dahon Clinch? Quite a few of us are Dahon riders, myself included. Now, if you want to see an amazing custom Clinch, here's the thread for you: https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...on-clinch.html

Thank's for the comment, great to know more fellow dahon riders. It's interesting that you bring up that post, which is what bring me here in first place. see my post at the bottom say hi a few days ago?

I "know" that guy from the same Chinese cycling forum we visit for years. He is also from Beijing, not too far from where I live. And I know his clinch projects right from the start. he posted on the build up process, the pain with PF30 BB, Link. He even tried to get around the non-standard fork by reverse engineering it Link. It didn't work out and troubled him a while. Here's mine shared on the same forum Link, a year earlier.
Great guy, sadly not active here any more. I tried to source his very frame when I started the 2nd clinch project, only to know he had sold it a while ago.

All over China's internet space you could find 3 person actively customized this model and discussed it online. I searched on Google, for some ideas on the damn brake, only to bump into the same guy and bike. Quite telling, right?

I had originally planned on purchasing the Clinch when it had first been released a few years ago, but I realized it didn't fit into my lifestyle. I require a bike to fold quickly, since I ride trains in NY. The Clinch is still an excellent folder.

Slow folding is the biggest turn away, even smaller niche after the non-fold small wheelers.
My Clinch MKII is well underway. Sourcing the frame took awhile through Dahon dealership. will share more on it as the parts arrive piece by piece.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...192298410.jpeg
Clinch Pro Frame

Out of interest, why do you refer the clinch over the dash?

I wanted to build a dash with the same transmission as the tern x18T... but the cost was too high for what I want to do and decided to fit the transmission on the helios.

Is the cost referring to the dash frame? Don’t know if it is in still in production, but dash frame are much easier to find at a fraction of the cost, less than 150$.

Some Dash riders around us complain about creaking noise won’t go away, grease or damping the LockJaw doesn’t help. Also Clinch folds much more compact and takes less space in the trunk. We travel with 3 folders at times.

They are not easy in the Uk, have to come from germany as a full bike... swapping cassette, handlebar, shifter would have cosy £900-1000 ($1200-1300)

Original make country is always easier and cheaper. Brompton prices in China ...
Even with that first offer from local dealer is $2000 full bike new, then scrap to the frame and costs for aftermarket parts. Until they found this brand new frame only, in a shop somewhere in South China. The previous owner wanted a custom build paired with campy group-sets bf changed mind.

Sourcing frame could be tricky as there were a lot counterfeits. However for relative higher price / export oriented / low demand models, nobody bothers making them.