IBB

Hello all,

I have a Dahon D7. It has a quick release on the handlebars for some adjustment. What I want to do is remove the pin on the bars and flop the bar over. This would give me a little more room in area between the handlebars and seat, and also drop me down more. Both are things I want to do as I hate the upright position and prefer the more aero dynamic position. Sadly just flipping the bars over is not going to do the trick, but it's a start.

So my question is, has anyone taken the pin out of the handlebars before? How was it done? FYI the pin looks like it's a press fit. I can take pics and post if needed.

Thanks for any and all help regarding this issue.

brakemeister

you should be able to hacksaw it off

thor

4cmd3

I think some pictures might help clarify...

Here's an example of what I have done
(following in the footsteps of those who have gone before!)



Maybe you can indicate if this is somewhat in line with what you want to do.
(don't get put off by the drop bars I'm using, you can do this with flat bars also...)

Basically I took the upper section of the handlepost on my Dahon Helios and cut off the top of the post, just under the welding. To this top-section (now tube), I then mounted a standard road stem (the horizontal piece at the top with all the bolts and the "O"val Concepts logo. The top-section/tube has a 1 inch diameter, so unless you have a stem that fits a 1 inch steerer tube, then you need to use a 1 1/8 shim in order to mount the stem securely These are common and sometimes will come with your stem, but if not they are pretty cheap.

Depending on what you want to do, you need to choose your stem appropriately. If you want to ride with typical mountain-bike/flat-bars (which come by default on nearly every Dahon), then you need a stem with a 25.4mm handlebar clamp. Road handlebars are typically 26.0mm, and the new over-sized road/mountain sizing is 31.8. In my image, I am using a stem with a 26.0 clamp (70mm length btw) that holds my Specialized 26.0mm drop-bar. You can often use shims to make one stem fit another size, but it is best to just get the right size in the first place.

In case you are curious, until I move to brifters/ergo-levers, that is my original grip-shift mounted below the stem using a Minoura SpareBar accessory mounting bracket.

Anyway, maybe that helps a little?

Another option is to use a quill-stem adapter in place of the hacksawed top-section handlepost. You would probably want a 1" to 1 1/8" model, the 1" would go in your bottom section handlepost and the 1 1/8" part is where you would clamp a stem to. I would just be concerned about the insertion depth, and also about twisting. Some newer Dahons have a groove in the top-section handlepost that mates with a "lump" inside the bottom section of the handlepost. This keeps the handles from twisting - if you want to fit something else in there and you have this setup, you'd need to file down the lump I think.

The other option is that you should be able to fit a quill-stem in place of the top-section of the handlepost. This is basically a combo of a stem and usually 1" or 1 1/8" tube that mounts in your frame and normally secures itself with a wedge bolt thing. Again I would be concerned about minimum insertion depth, ride height, twisting, etc.

PS. you can always buy an extra top-section handlepost from say ThorUSA if taking a hacksaw to the only you have concerns you. They're cheap - just specify if you need one with a groove or not.

IBB

Cutting it off will not work. I'll post some pics tomorrow in the day. My Handlepost is not a two piece one with the quick release. I wish it did have this so there's an adjustment up and down. On the link to ThorUSA I really couldn't tell if these were the two piece handlepost that gives you a height adjustment? Or is it a one piece handlepost? Is there different lengths on the Dahon Syntace Stubby? That looks like a possibility if they have them longer.

Thanks 4cmd3 for showing nice details on what you did. Eventually I'm going to do something to get more length between the seat and handlebars and get the handlebars dropped down more. I'm 6'3" and have a long upper torso, so I've got a ways to go.

Till tomorrow.

4cmd3

You said "Dahon D7" but there are 3-5 Dahon's with "D7" in their designation (Vitesse/Speed/Impulse/Mariner/...). If you could clarify model & year that helps.

AFAIK, Syntace clamps are only available in one length for each model. In terms of length (measured center to center) the VRO X-Ray lists 33mm and and the VRO Eco lists 39mm lengths. Maybe not enough for you?
https://www.syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=3

You can buy the adjustable handlepost (top & bottom) at ThorUSA and other vendors, sorry I wasn't clear on a few of your questions. It should be possible in most cases to swap, but definitely confirm with the specifics of your model/year. My bike came with the adjustable handlepost, you can see the one quick-release lever.

If you are not getting the proper ride height with the standard seatpost, check out the telescoping seatpost - Thor sells them too, I recently ordered one from him. Assuming your ride height and saddle position are setup properly, then a handlepost swap and stem/quill might be a decent choice. You might be able to get a little forward extension in other ways, but I don't know how you'd drop the bars to any significant degree otherwise. Not sure if you would be interested in alternative shaped handlebars... for example some of the ones from On-One (maybe the Fleegle?)
https://www.on-one.co.uk

Some of the different handlebar options might muck with your folding a little, but a good overview of shapes:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/h...ars/index.html


A Vitesse D7 conversion
https://bikespace.jworks.org/node/21 (spanish)
https://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4218

willzz

i did'nt have to cut the pin on my D7
took off the grips/brake levers/shifter..
wiggle the bar off the stem..
flipped it over..so that the angle faces forward..to give more room..
and slide it back on the stem..
no cutting the pin..at all..

IBB

What model D7?
I wasn't aware there were different versions of a model. I've included two pics, maybe that would be of help? All it states on the bike is that it's a Boardwalk. I'm not sure on the year either.

The pic shows a pin there. Looks like I can also widen the clamp and get the handlebars off that way too. Doesn't seem that elegant of a solution, but looks doable.

For now I want to just flip the handlebars over. I would be extremely lucky if that feels good. More than likely I'll do one of three things. One, cut the handlepost down and get proper length stem. Two, get AFAIK Syntace clamps and hopefully I can get the position I want. Three, replace the handlepost with a telescoping one and work getting the length I want from that point.

I couldn't find any references to what others have done. If there's references, can you point them out? Also I live in Southern California, sorry for any mix up.

Now let's see if I can post these pics.......




If the above links don't work, try the ones below. Sorry, your dealing with a newbie here!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8168607@N02/1492452636/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8168607@N02/1491599485/

willzz

take the quikrelease off the handlebar.
then the grips/brakelevers/shifer.
twist the handlebar till the pin. .lines up-can slip out of the gap on the stem..
there's a gap..if you took off the QR you'll see it..
the pin can slide out when you pull out the handlebar..
then flip it and put it all back together..