qmichelle

I'm wondering if anyone here has or has ridden a Dahon Ciao 5. https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/14327/ If so, what are your impressions of it?

I recognize that people look for different things in bikes. Right now, I'm just looking for something to ride to and from work.

I realize I may be banished from the forum for saying this, but one of the things that made this bike stand out to me is it mentions that it's a good bike for riders in skirts. I've been known to wear skirts to work (2 or 3 days a week) so it's definitely something I'm taking into consideration while looking into whether or not biking to work would be a good idea.

I'm finding it difficult to find a place in town that has any folding bikes in stock. The only place I've found only has an electric folding bike in stock. (I hadn't really been considering one of those.)

I appreciate any input anyone can give me on their impressions of the bike.

BruceMetras

I'd say it is a terrific bike for you.. and it is an Award Winner.

Bruce

spambait11

I'd say watch out for their current stems. Apparently the locking mechanism depends on a small delrin block inside the headset which can become loose or mangled, rendering your handlebar stem unlockable. At first it seemed this problem was isolated, but since then, there are other incidences of this issue discussed on the Dahon forums as well. It still might not be a widespread problem, but I'd inquire about solutions just in case this were to happen.

Other than that, it has a nice design.

qmichelle

Oooooh thanks so much for the tip!!! This is exactly why it's great to ask on these forums!

SoonerLater

Huh? What's a delrin block?

DaFriMon

Delrin is a plastic. The reference was probably to this thread on the Dahon forum ( free membership required): https://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php...2203&hl=delrin

I don't know if this is really a widespread problem, or if it was just one or two people.

spambait11

There's also this thread, while oboeguy posted a similar problem on the Dahon forums not more than a couple months ago (but I don't know what happened to that thread). Again, it may be isolated, but caveat emptor nonetheless.

maunakea

The new Speed P8 that I rode this week had a problem with the delrin block in the handlepost hinge... it would not release. The owner asked me to fold the handlepost after I rode the bike. I couldn't release the handlepost hinge ... it was solidly locked as if the clamp and lock ring were fully engaged. I told him to take the bike back to the shop rather than force the fold. He did, and he said the tech forced it, "fixed it", and he got the bike back with heavy lube on the delrin tab and what looked like some "dremel" adjustments on the lip of the delrin tab.

Ｏｎｅ　ｍｏｒｅ thing to check on a new Dahon.

qmichelle

Great! Thanks!
This makes me rethink purchasing something online, too. Unfortunately, no bike shops around seem to have any folding bikes in stock at all.

Dahon.Steve

It's a beautiful bike and Sunrise is a good bike shop.

However. It usses the Sturmey Archer 5 speed hub and it might be too high geared. The 13T is too high leaving you with a 56 inch direct drive (3rd gear). This can easily be resolved by having the bike shop replace it with a 14T or 15T cog. I changed to a 15T cog and now direct drive is 49 inches and I can ride in that gear all day long. With the 13T cog, I never used 4th and 5th gear and now with the changes, I ride alot in 4th gear! I can't believe how low 1st gear is with a 15T cog! It's almost as low as my Jamis Aurora!

folder fanatic

The folding bikes (especially the Ciao) is great for either skirts or well pressed business attire that I must wear for any business meetings or lunches that I am invited to. I bring my folders with me on these outings and never ran into any problems beyond persperation ones if the weather is a bit warm. Do consider a folder for even just these type of trips.

Welcome and let us know what you buy.

geo8rge

"Unfortunately, no bike shops around seem to have any folding bikes in stock at all."

Tell them what you want, if you are a serious buyer I bet they will order it.

wahoonc

In that part of NC if it don't go fast they don't want to deal with it

qmichelle,
I live a bit south of you in NC, but am working in SC. The closest shops that seem to stock any folders to us are in Greenville, SC and College Park, MD. I will check the shop down here and see what he has in stock. the one in MD is Mt Airy bicycles and the one down here is ttrbikes.com. There is one good commuter store in NC that I am aware of, but I don't recall seeing any folders that is Neighborhood Transportation in Winston-Salem.

Good luck on the search! My wife rides her 1970 Raleigh Colt in a skirt on occasion Glad to see other women doing the same.

Aaron

qmichelle

Thanks for the tip, Steve!

Aaron, I've coresponded with the store in Greenville. They don't have any Ciaos in stock, but have some other Dahons. I also heard back from a store on the coast that has some Dahons and some KHSs. Again, no Ciaos.

The store in Greenville was the first and only store I've spoken with that said they'd look into the availability of it for me. There is a store in Chapel Hill that's listed as a Dahon dealer. When I called them, they said they didn't stock Dahons and "Won't deal with anything Dahon makes for under $600."