Seriously, unmodified Swifts and P8's have a narrower gear range, so for steep hills, or really cranking they would be at a disadvantage. The Bike Friday question is too open ended. How much do you want to spend?

Where I'll be riding, it's pretty flat.

Have you browsed through the Swift thread? If you are now thinking P8, you might think about a Swift. It's more than a P8, cheaper than a Speed Pro. Getting very good reviews generally.

Speedo

No thanks. Dahon or nothing.

Ha! :D I was there once - Dahon Jetstream or bust. Now it's Swift or bust.

I tried a buds Speed Pro out in Virginia. Definitely a fast bike. My guess is that the engine matters much more than the three choices--keeping the BikeFriday cost reasonable--you gave on most roads.

You are really limiting your options. At one point I was drinking the Kool-Aid too. :)

There isn't a Dahon made that I'd trade my Swift for. No offense to Dahon, but the Swift is the first folder I can actually get out of the saddle and push hard and not feel it flex all over the place and I am over 200lbs and have some pretty strong legs. I can leg press a lot of weight for sure.

My Swift is the most troublefree folder I've ever owned and the first one I didnt' grow bored with in short order. I'd REALLY suggest taking a ride on a Swift. Just on a lark I tried one and it totally changed my perception. After 5 minutes in the saddle I came back thinking I HAVE to get one of these.

I must say there is one Dahon I would like to have but it isn't in the US anymore; the Roo EL.

Then you haven't seen these, have you? ;)

Cadenza
Tournado

The Swift would be a better/faster option than a 20" Dahon on the flat, if folded size is not that important. Is this an issue though?

Folded size is not important.

I have a question, if I may ask...:::

If the front hub is such a nuisance, why can't we just rebuild the wheel with a solid hub? I am on the upper range of the Speed Pro specs and I'm worried about the suspension hub just from reading stuff here.

Also, where would one find those elastomers for the front hub?

I will check the rear spokes judiciously based on the input here.

Dahon has assured me that the hub would not be an issue. I just wouldn't want to get a brand new bike and then have to rebuild the front wheel.

I second the Gaerlan suggestion. And he will rebuild the wheels for you. He has a special program since Dahon is better known for its tacos than wheels.

Also, given how flexy people say the Speed frames are, you might consider a Mu frame.

If I was going to purchase one, it would have been directly from Dahon, so the Gaerlan suggestion would not have been an option. As it stands, I'm not sure I have the room or the time for another bike. At least, not one that I don't feel 100% warm and fuzzy about. So I remain indecisive.

Brian, you must have Dahon Frequent Rider Miles or some similar credit that can only be used with Dahon. I've ridden all versions of the Speed. IMO, the ISO 406 Dahons don't hold a candle to a Swift except the Mu SL for pure speed on a glass-smooth road. Glass-smooth roads are hard to find, and usually short. Reality is an unforgiving teacher.

Ok, I'm bumping this, as someone asked about the TT, and they're quite similar.

I've ridden the Swift and the model I had was as slow as a hybrid. Then again, it did have big apple tires and a Nexus 7 hub. Yuk! If the OP wants to go fast and has the money, he should look at Bike Friday.

Steve, I bumped this for another member. I am the OP of this thread. I was offered a very special price on a Dahon, so another brand was not an option. In the end, I settled on a Honda Goldwing GL1800. It doesn't fold, and it doesn't have 20" wheels, but it certainly gets me around ok. ;)

Man, I don't care how SLOW my Dahon is, I care how DAMN CREAKY and flexy it is. What a piece of crap.