I am looking for a good folder bike that is fast, sturdy, and reliable. I head the Cadenza was pretty good in a few places but not sure if it really is ?

Does anybody have coments about its speed ? Relialbility /??

Thanks

Jay

Dahons are a good introduction to the world of folding bikes. I purchase my first one (a Boardwalk) from my LBS. This entry level bike was a good teaching tool. The Cadenza is another except that it does not fold so small as mine does. That may or may not be critical to you. See if you can list what you really want and expect from a folding bike (example: are you taking it on a train or bus, or in a private car?) and other uses you expect to do with it. Do you want a high end performance bike? What type of riding you tend to do-commuting, utility, cruising about the neighborhood, long distance touring, racing, etc.

I currenlty own the Jack, I belive it is similar. I enjoy the jack because of the full size frame and wheels. I live in NYC and feel I can really beat it up. Somthing that my dahoon mariner would not be able to handle. The bike is a bit heavier than a model with 20" wheels. If I remember correcty it also has more speeds than the jack, and slightly more weight. I'm not sure where you live but it's convient to lock the bike b/c of the fold. (able to lock both wheels, + frame) with a 3' chain.

Contrary to popular belief, just because you have a folding bike does not mean you have to carry it around with you everywhere. I lock mine up when I take it to a bar or event. When I get home it gets folded and taking into my apt.

I'm going to agree with folder fanatic, what are you going to be using it for, where are you going with it, how many miles, etc.

(my spelling is terrible, disregard any mistakes)

As soon as my 2006 Cadenza is delivered, I will post a review. I already have a SRAM Attack (2:1) 9 speed R shifter and new cassette ready ... all Dahon's models are "value engineered" down to a NTD (New Taiwan Dollar) ... and putting 8 speed cassettes on the Cadenza comes from putting 7 or 8 speeds on all the other D folders. I think the Allegro, a non-folder, is the only outlier datum... Ultegra 10.

Currently I own a Specilized Road bike that eats up the mileage. It is super light and super fast.

Anyway, I want a folding bike to commute to work. I have an 18 mile each way drive which is about 40 miles round trip. So speed is an important issue. I have heard some 8 gear folders will only do about 15 miles an hour if you pedal like crazy.

Also, I need it to be Reliable. Since this bike could get some serious mileage i would like it to be able to put up with some seroius mileages as stated my comute could be 200 miles a week.

The folding part is when the weather gets bad an somebody might give me a ride in a car. I might have my wife pick me up at the trail on different areas. AS of now I have a Bike Rack on 1 car and do not wish to buy another one if i can use a folding bike for the same thing as my regular bike.

So all in all here is the deal of importance. The bike has to be fast, less than 600.00 and and fold into my car.

If it is light all the better but as of now I would like to be able to use this as a back up bike for my regular road bike.

Thanks an any other input on different types of bikes that might help me out would be great.

Thanks

Jay

Anyway, I want a folding bike to commute to work. I have an 18 mile each way drive which is about 40 miles round trip. So speed is an important issue. I have heard some 8 gear folders will only do about 15 miles an hour if you pedal like crazy. -jayhuse

Make sure that you include a set of fenders/mudguards, lighting system, rack(s), and perhaps bags to your list. Dahon has the most range of offerings in that type of bike.

Also, I need it to be Reliable.

My Dahon Boardwalk is now almost 3 years old without anything major going wrong with it. Reliability is one of the top reasons I purchased from them.


The folding part is when the weather gets bad an somebody might give me a ride in a car.

Dahon has the most compact fold for the size except for 16" wheel (Brompton and Merc has it here). Another plus is that in the 20 inch wheel and smaller sizes, the bike would probably fit almost all cars. The 26 inch ones might or might not, depending on room in the trunk, the actual trunk size, and what junk you are willing to move or part with when you do stick the bike in the trunk.

less than 600.00

Dahon has the most mid price models in that price range.

I would like to be able to use this as a back up bike for my regular road bike.

You might find that the back up bike becomes your "first bike" after living with a folder for a while.

I may be keen on Dahons since it was my first folder. It proved to be a perfect "teaching tool" for my introduction into the folding world. There are other perfectly nice bikes out there for you. I am just letting you know my own true experience with my Dahon-I generally like to write or talk about what I know to be true.

I took delivery of a 2005 model last September, and have worked up to putting about 60 miles a week on it. It's a fun bike--quick to accelerate, and fast overall. I go out a couple of days a week with a group of road bike riders, and I've got no problem keepign up with them on a 15-18 mph pace, with faster sprints along theway over the course of 20 miles or so.

I bought the large frame, but at 6'1", I'm probably a little big for the bike. The riding posture isn't uncomfortable for moderate rides, but I don't think I could go for a century on the Cadenza.

Some of the compoents are really nice. The brakes are fine, the Cane Creek bar ends make a big difference when you're riding upright, the shifters well, and the tires and wheels are both quite nice. But Dahon does cut some corners. The suspension seat is a joke--I didn't even realize mine had any suspension action until I saw the ads for the 2006 model where they feature it--and the crank set was pretty crappy. My big crank wheel buckled and collapsed under a very light load one night. Fortunately I was ableto replace it with a sturdier 53/39 double from Nashbar. And the front derailleur is a piece of crap, but one I haven't been able to replace yet. Does anyone reading this happen to know of a clamp-on double front derailleur wide enough to handle a 53 tooth wheel that accepts a top-feed gear cable?

The two best things, other than its quickness, about the Cadenza? The best has to be the looks you get from other, more properly outfitted riders. They're confused. Clearly you're not riding a Walmart special, so they can't just sneer. Eventually they appear to deside that it's just interesting. They wanat to look at it and examine the hinge and see how you fold it.

I fold mine after nearly every ride, and pop it into the relatively roomy trunk of my Volkswagon Passat. (For what it's worth, I've also introduced it into smaller boots, including those of the ford focus, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, and a sad little Dodge Neon.

The Cadenza's willingness to catch a nap in the back of any car, plus its full sized tires and quick get up and go were why I bought it. I live in Austin Texas, an oasis of sanity smack dab in the middle of Texas with a capital T. Buut I work way out in Williamson County where there are miles of flat empty, roads .
Having a bike I can pull out of the trunk and be fully assembled in 1 minute lets me reall enjoy the country air.

Currently I'm putting together a road bike and will soon make use of that bike in my group rides. But I'll be keeping my Dahon Cadenza in the struck all the time anyway, because it's a nice freedom to be able to pull the bike out any I need it.

Have any of you successfully put on a wider tire, say a 1.5" or a 2"? Just wondering. I was under the impression that the Cadenza has the identical frame to the jack.

So go for it. Cadenza is great.

Definitely NOT shillin', but wow! Just read the 2007 Cadenza comes with an eccentric bottom bracket which will accommodate SS, fixed gear, and hub gear drive trains! What a tempting bike, esp. combined with its good looks! I hope they have a cromo version soon...

Edit: ok, they're not playing up the fixed gear aspect, but still, it's doable.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...37#post4526337

new thread with the 07 model

Bike Friday makes a $600 range bike as well. Nice frame, crappy parts, but well engineered. Or you could get a decent used folder.

pm, the stock BF pocket tourist appears to be no more. Now replaced with the NWT starting around $850.