Dahon rejuvenation
 

New project, upgrade my 2012 Dahon Mu P8 w/ new Conti’s rubber & a few LitePro components.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d2a9078af.jpeg
32mm replacing 42mm
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d6b6b548c.jpeg
Leaving rear drivetrain & brakes original. Litepro for weight reduction & bling

Looks like a nice upgrade. The best upgrade I made for my Dahon 20" folder was a 2X crank and derailleur to get additional lower gearing.

I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.

Thanks for the heads up on the friction paste, I ordered some along w/ tire liners for the project. Took a measurement of the front fork & discovered that the spacing is only 85mm. The new front wheel is 100mm so, will be upgrading the front fork with a carbon fiber disc brake version. This frankenbike project will have front disc brakes & rear V brakes! New front fork means new headset too, along with new brake levers & changing from SRAM grip shift to trigger shifter. The OEM is reduced to frame, rear derailleur, 8spd cassette & rear V brakes.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d83890329.jpeg
8spd shifter & disc brake caliper/rotor fm Amazon

I recently looked at that exact fork. But I don't want carbon for reasons stated, bad failure modes. I want a disc in front for long downhills to keep from heating up the rim, and no sidewall wear, my rims are getting critically concaved after 10 years in an area with steeps. My current fork is 74mm, would need 100mm for disc, plus disc wheel, caliper, etc. May be better to just buy a disc folder, like an Origami. I like my old chrome-moly frame and fork, it's outfit with front and rear panniers as a townie, 2X gearing, aero bars, it's tricked out nice. Only thing it's missing is discs.

Carbon: Get a micro-torque wrench (lb-inches and metric equiv) if you don't have one. And any adaptors and/or bits so you can use it on the bike.

Why do you need a new headset? Those brake levers are known for cracking, breaking if fastened too tight. Caveat emptor.

I'm with Grouch on the carbon bit.

I'm curious what makes those levers "folding bike levers"?

From past experience, headset race on fork side , usually pressed fit or are very tight & difficult to remove and easily damaged. Bearings on my original headset are 12 years old. New headset for this project. Brake levers to be mounted on carbon fiber handlebars so that grip paste & TLC will used. Thanks for the heads up on the levers.

They look pretty ... skinny. Maybe they're (folding)(bike levers), not (folding bike)(levers). :innocent:

LitePro specializes in components for folding bikes. These levers appear to be a little longer than the original Avid levers in that they’re straighter but arm girth appears the same.

:) That would be a great trick. Usually, you twist the handlebars up or down before fold, so the brake levers are more flush to the fold. But I can't because of bar-ends, aero bars, plus I have L levers to reach on the bar-ends. I currently remove the forearm pads and arms, for a bit better fold. It's a great cockpit setup, but poor for folding.

Best of luck with those high pressure 406/32 tyres.

I swapped mine out; on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac my fillings would be shaken out of my teeth.

The minor increase in speed was offset by much higher rider fatigue as my poor body absorbed the bumps and chatter rather than the tyres.

I went back to 406/42 and my molars are grateful.

Finally invested in a torque wrench kit!

I currently roll w/ 42’s on the current setup. It’s a nice ride. I also have a single speed folder w/ 28’s and I know what you’re talking about on rough asphalt. Hoping the 32’s will be a fair compromise.

I think it was the combination of the short wheelbase, smaller wheels and rough tarmac in the north of England that made the 406/32 tyres so extraordinarily unpleasant. The vertical deflection and chatter was just appalling.

I hope you have better luck!

406/32 is going to ride rough on bad pavement.

Not as short a wheelbase as you might think. The KHS shown is a bit different from my Dahon, but similar proportions:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c2f7c1a40e.jpg

What model KHS is this? Inquiring old people (ME!) would like to know...

I don't know, sorry. The picture is from the wiki page on "folding bicycle". Looks like a good one, fast, notice 2X gearing, bullhorns and brifters, rear suspension. Frame is a bit less compact than a Dahon because it's taller, probably to get away with a more normal diameter seat post.

In defense of carbon fiber, I have a previous bike project that I built over 10 years ago that is composed of a EPX TT carbon frame, Easton EC90 Aero fork and Zipp 440 rims. These carbon components are vintage, the Zipp rims are from the 90’s and the frame & fork from the mid 2000’s. I’ve used this bike for commuting and training, on urban bike lanes and in century rides. From my experience, the durability, lighter weight and shock absorption (700x22 Conti tubulars) is excellent.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c8be7748d.jpeg

Refocus to the build, along with the plethora of Litepro components & partial changeover to disc brakes, decided to change from 8spd to 11spd w/ SRAM parts.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...90a86e338.jpeg

Snap! I also used a BP Stealth Martec for triathlon.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d7f6c77e.jpeg

No folder needs 2x gearing. 1X 9 to 11 does it all.

Nice to have though in certain situations.

That will depend on the bike you have. I have the KING of folding bikes. The mighty Tern Verge X11. It has 24 to 102 gear inches. There isnt a hill that's ever defeated me. If you have a bike with gear inched in the 30s. That's another story. I owned an X20 before the X11. That had 2X gearing. But it kept going off. And even with the two rings it didn't match the X11. it was 27 to 95.

I was defeated multiple times this January when I was staying in a very hilly part of Kent, UK, hence the move from 52 to 47 teeth on my 1x9 Tern 406 tyred folder.

I did have quite a bit of weight on board though (mostly the rider LOL)

Well yes that will make a difference. When I was 100kg. Hills were a challenge. At 83kg. Life is alot easier on hills. I too experimented alot on my budget folder. With 45 to 56 tooth rings. But the X11 answered all my questions. 10--42. is a beautiful range.