Dahon MU SL Light 20" folder. (NICE)
#1
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Dahon MU SL Light 20" folder. (NICE)

Finally got the SL. It's the lightest bike I've ever owned.

Got to get used to the double tap Sram trigger shifter though..its the first time ive ever used one.

Got those wonderful American classic hubs that spin forever. On Kinetix pro X wheels.
Last edited by Sentinel1; 04-07-24 at 08:41 AM.
#2
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Nice looking bike. Can't remember the last time I've seen a large-flange rear hub. Did those hubs come standard? I like the one-piece (non-telescoping) handlebar riser, T-topped (I think, hard to see), and the bars swinging fore/aft, looks like held with bolted double-clamps (again, hard to see). Tern makes a hand-cammed double clamp to easily adjust on the go, but it's pretty heavy.
#3
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Bikes: customized Dahon Helios 1x10, customized Dahon Smooth Hound 1x11, customized Dahon Hammerhead 8.0 d7, Kinesis GX Race 50(mullet setup 1x11), Forme Calver 37 (1x11), Planet X Giovanissimi 20 (1x9), Orange Zest 20 (1x9)
https://www.syntace.com/en_GB/produc....4-clamps?c=79
the handle post exist in black from speed TT or silver from the Mu SL
wheelset used to be Kinetix comp pro available on speed TT and MuSL which Dahon is not allowed to use anymore as trademark went to tern as part of the divorce settlement.
I rode gravel, dry offroad with these parts and it was much stabler than the original telescopic setup.
#4
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Nice looking bike. Can't remember the last time I've seen a large-flange rear hub. Did those hubs come standard? I like the one-piece (non-telescoping) handlebar riser, T-topped (I think, hard to see), and the bars swinging fore/aft, looks like held with bolted double-clamps (again, hard to see). Tern makes a hand-cammed double clamp to easily adjust on the go, but it's pretty heavy.
It's my new favourite folder. So light. Only 19.4lbs w/o pedals. Fully loaded with a stand bike computer. Cellphone holder. Lights. Drink bracket. And wider VEE speedster tires. It's still under 23lbs.
Last edited by Sentinel1; 04-27-24 at 04:18 AM.
#5
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#7
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#8
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#9
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I will see how it goes. 38mm isn't too over 35mm. I would never go bigger than that. And if they don't sit well after a few weeks. I will change them out for Continental urban 32mm
#10
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#11
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Interesting. My instinct would be that if wider tires allow lower pressure, that would put less stress on the rims (and I assume you mean the tube pressure between the rim sidewalls pushing the sidewalls apart and cracking due to that), but I could be wrong. Maybe larger tire sidewall area means for same pressure, more force to push outward on rims.
#12
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Bikes: customized Dahon Helios 1x10, customized Dahon Smooth Hound 1x11, customized Dahon Hammerhead 8.0 d7, Kinesis GX Race 50(mullet setup 1x11), Forme Calver 37 (1x11), Planet X Giovanissimi 20 (1x9), Orange Zest 20 (1x9)
Interesting. My instinct would be that if wider tires allow lower pressure, that would put less stress on the rims (and I assume you mean the tube pressure between the rim sidewalls pushing the sidewalls apart and cracking due to that), but I could be wrong. Maybe larger tire sidewall area means for same pressure, more force to push outward on rims.
from discussion with dealer, the cracks tend to happen by the spoke nipples at the rim apex (stress raiser).
i also understand that these wheels were supplied in 2007 with (edit) stelvio
however, some users pumped these up over 90psi as people did with road bike back in the day or/and fitted marathon 35-406 which are super rigid and created a fair load on the rim and when going through bumps and pot holes, stressed the rim leading to cracking…
just like suspension mount on cars when fitted with strong springs and big rims with low profile tyres….
basically, lack of compliance
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/speedpro.htm
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/09_musl.htm
Last edited by Fentuz; 04-28-24 at 05:47 AM.
#13
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from discussion with dealer, the cracks tend to happen by the spoke nipples at the rim apex (stress raiser).
i also understand that these wheels were supplied in 2007 with (edit) stelvioand durano soft supple tyres in 28-406 [MENTION=175934]120[/MENTION]psi max and from 2008, “allowed” kojak 35-406 @90psi max which are supple too.
however, some users pumped these up over 90psi as people did with road bike back in the day or/and fitted marathon 35-406 which are super rigid and created a fair load on the rim and when going through bumps and pot holes, stressed the rim leading to cracking…
just like suspension mount on cars when fitted with strong springs and big rims with low profile tyres….
basically, lack of compliance
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/speedpro.htm
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/09_musl.htm
i also understand that these wheels were supplied in 2007 with (edit) stelvio
however, some users pumped these up over 90psi as people did with road bike back in the day or/and fitted marathon 35-406 which are super rigid and created a fair load on the rim and when going through bumps and pot holes, stressed the rim leading to cracking…
just like suspension mount on cars when fitted with strong springs and big rims with low profile tyres….
basically, lack of compliance
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/speedpro.htm
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/09_musl.htm
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#14
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#15
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Often, race rims like the one on these race oriented wheels with very few spokes are narrow and do not allow wide tires (I do not see any reason to put so few spokes on a folding bike wheel, the weight saving is small and it reduces the wheel strength, it may look great but its stupid, it only causes problems).
What is the internal width of these rims?
What is the internal width of these rims?
#16
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Often, race rims like the one on these race oriented wheels with very few spokes are narrow and do not allow wide tires (I do not see any reason to put so few spokes on a folding bike wheel, the weight saving is small and it reduces the wheel strength, it may look great but its stupid, it only causes problems).
What is the internal width of these rims?
What is the internal width of these rims?
I agree, on a frnt wheel, it is just ok. On rear, it is playing with fire. The tern kinetix seem stronger but expensive.
the litepro are not bad but @ £70 per wheelset, you get what you pay for…
Last edited by Fentuz; 04-28-24 at 11:54 AM.
#17
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Schwalbe has a table with the recommended tire width in function of the inner rim width, its an extension of the ETRTO table but it starts at 15mm inner rim width, 14 is not in the table!
Ultra narrow rims as ultra narrow tires are obsolete, based on multiple experiments, wide tires and wide rims have much better performances than narrower.
Ultra narrow rims as ultra narrow tires are obsolete, based on multiple experiments, wide tires and wide rims have much better performances than narrower.
Last edited by Jipe; 04-28-24 at 03:45 PM.
#18
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from discussion with dealer, the cracks tend to happen by the spoke nipples at the rim apex (stress raiser).
i also understand that these wheels were supplied in 2007 with (edit) stelvioand durano soft supple tyres in 28-406 [MENTION=175934]120[/MENTION]psi max and from 2008, “allowed” kojak 35-406 @90psi max which are supple too.
however, some users pumped these up over 90psi as people did with road bike back in the day or/and fitted marathon 35-406 which are super rigid and created a fair load on the rim and when going through bumps and pot holes, stressed the rim leading to cracking…
just like suspension mount on cars when fitted with strong springs and big rims with low profile tyres….
basically, lack of compliance
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/speedpro.htm
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/09_musl.htm
i also understand that these wheels were supplied in 2007 with (edit) stelvio
however, some users pumped these up over 90psi as people did with road bike back in the day or/and fitted marathon 35-406 which are super rigid and created a fair load on the rim and when going through bumps and pot holes, stressed the rim leading to cracking…
just like suspension mount on cars when fitted with strong springs and big rims with low profile tyres….
basically, lack of compliance
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/speedpro.htm
https://www.world-wheels.co.uk/09_musl.htm
Automobile suspension compliance: Tell me about it. I don't like very low profile tires. Heck, when the Opel Manta (GM Germany) got imported to the USA in the early 1970s, the roads here were a lot less smooth, and the carmakers had just upped tire pressures to 35 psi for lower rolling resistance for better fuel economy, and I heard from someone in the industry older than me, that they were breaking suspension parts and where they attached. Now, you see cars that are "slammed", lowered onto the bump stops, and, the wheels spaced way outward ("stanced"), those idiots have no idea the stresses they are putting into the suspension. They don't care. Same for very lifted trucks.
#19
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Schwalbe has a table with the recommended tire width in function of the inner rim width, its an extension of the ETRTO table but it starts at 15mm inner rim width, 14 is not in the table!
Ultra narrow rims as ultra narrow tires are obsolete, based on multiple experiments, wide tires and wide rims have much better performances than narrower.

Ultra narrow rims as ultra narrow tires are obsolete, based on multiple experiments, wide tires and wide rims have much better performances than narrower.

#20
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Anyway, the narrow tires were chosen due to lower aerodynamic resistance but bike manufacturers discovered that a wide tire with a matched wide rim provides an as good aerodynamics, so no reason anymore to use ultra narrow tires+ultra narrow rims like on this old Dahon MU SL folding bike.
#23
Well I am just a single source, but I have never seen that violating this table has had consequences. It does change the profile to a more round shape than U shape, but I can't see any problems. Now, if you over pressurize the tire, I could see that effecting the rim. If I run into problems I will post, but so far nothing. By the chart, Zizzo should have supplied rims with at least 17mm for the 40mm tires supplied.
#24
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Indeed, the narrow rim changes the tire profile to a round shape.
If the rim is really narrow, this round shape only rest on the rim on a small part of the round and when cornering, there is big lateral tire shape deformation (the tire is pushed on one side of the rim) which is even bigger if the tire pressure is low.
If the rim is really narrow, this round shape only rest on the rim on a small part of the round and when cornering, there is big lateral tire shape deformation (the tire is pushed on one side of the rim) which is even bigger if the tire pressure is low.
#25
Indeed, the narrow rim changes the tire profile to a round shape.
If the rim is really narrow, this round shape only rest on the rim on a small part of the round and when cornering, there is big lateral tire shape deformation (the tire is pushed on one side of the rim) which is even bigger if the tire pressure is low.
If the rim is really narrow, this round shape only rest on the rim on a small part of the round and when cornering, there is big lateral tire shape deformation (the tire is pushed on one side of the rim) which is even bigger if the tire pressure is low.




