Simple Dahon question(s)
 

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When I got my Giant Halfway I read all reviews available online (not a lot, mabe 3 or 4) and one of he MAJOR complaints was the chain coming out frequently.

When I went to the local bike dealer and mentioned that, more than one bike tech mentioned that 99% of the chain problems they deal with on a regular basis has to do with poorly assembled bikes. Rear wheel assembly is a deep, intense mix or art, science and experience that almost no difference between perfection and far-from-good-enough.

in other words, most likely you problem may not be the lack of an "inner guard", unless you are the 1% with a defective product. Just take your bike to a good bike store, give them 10 bucks or so and ask for a rear wheel check-up.

It worked for me. Halfways have a history of chain problems, I NEVER had mine out (not even once).

Rafael

It depends on which Dahon model. My Boardwalk came with only an outer guard while my Speed 8 came equipped with both inner and outer guards

Hi CE,

1.) On my Jet XP the chain guard is only on the outside of the chainring.

2.) It is because of the shorter chainstay that chain jump is common on bikes with 20 inch wheels. The chainline angle is more obtuse in the highest and lowest gears, and I find that chain jump is the most likely when I skip gears up to the highest gear, when the chain is moving to the smallest sprocket on the cassette and the chain tensioning spring on the derailleur is under the least tension. It definitely helps if I don't skip gears above 6th, and shift up slowly and deliberately, one gear at a time.

Aside from the roller, here are a couple of other ideas:

Get another chainguard from Dahon and sandwich the chain on the chainring.
Convert to hub gears, which has other benefits aside from solving the chain jump issue.

I speak from experience. My formerly owned road bikes sometimes had a chain jump problem when I was too fast when changing gears or did not take the time to adjust them when needed. When I started to use internal hub gears on both of my present bicycles (British 3 speed and a Dahon Boardwalk 3 speed) this problem was eliminated. And I gained far more in converting to hub gears now than I ever in those derailleur roadies.

Do a search on this forum (much has been said on these questions by me and others).

Both my bikes reflect a 40 or so year span of technological development even though they are the the same model (Sturmey-Archer AW freewheel 3 speed hub-one 1968 and the other 2000 last English made one). As for answers to your questions: 1. While I have read reports of loss of power though the inherent mechanics of using a hub, I personally never felt this. The range of gears are more limited than a derailleur. I find the simplicity of just 3 speeds are quite ample for all the suddenly steep hills surrounding my house. I use the high (3) for fast level sprints, (2) medium gear is perfect for slight grades, and (1) low gear is fine for most 99% of all the hills I encounter. A careful selection of chainring and rear cog is called for each rider's strenght and endurance. (Mine is 44 chainring, 16 cog, 20 inch wheels.)
As for Question 2, I don't know since my Boardwalk a is rather old fashiioned with non quick released rear hub.
Question 3 seem to me that you will prefer a 5 speed. I chose the AW model since it's well documented reliability and maintenance is so quick and easy over the 5 speed. A few drops of oil and you are done! And folding without a derailleur is more sure since you don't have to worry about getting out of alignment or even bent or other damage. The hub is far more protective.