mingonn

Hi all,

Looking to replace my current dahon and have been looking at the Speed P8 and Helios P8.

Just after some opinions of the different frames as the running gear looks the same.

As far as I can tell the Speed P8 has a steel frame and is 1kg heavier than the Helios with the aluminum frame. I am guessing the Helios is a stiffer frame due to the short top bar.

I also noticed that the Helios is no longer on the Dahon website and the only thing close is the Impulse P24 although some bike shops in OZ still have the Helios listed. Any reason for pulling the Helios?

Cheers
Derek

Bacciagalupe

The Helios is now gone.... has been for about a year.

The ways of Dahon's product line-up decisions are mysterious... It's like interpreting the Oracle of Delphi. My guess is that the Helios has been superseded by the Mu.

brakemeister

The Mu is a MUCH stiffer ( better ) ride than the helios.
I like my Helios but I am well aware that progress is not slowing down and that the Mu can be ridden much faster.
The helios got a lot of flack from people who disliked the flexible feel of the handlepost.

Thor

ponderz

I have the Helios of 2006. It's bit jarring to the hands riding on bumpy pavement. Makes me consider a front suspension if I get a next 20". I wonder if it's better with steel frame? I wanted a more aggressive riding style so I cut the telescope stem 3cm and shorten the cables. Do some cable management makes the bike look much better. The telescope stem makes the stem a little flexing. Over all, I like the bike, look and performance.

Ponderz

mingonn

Mu P8 look the goods but can't find anyone in OZ selling them, just looked on the importers website and the Mu P8 is no where to be found.

I am after a stiffer faster more road bike like ride than my current setup and the Mu looks like it will deliver. Thanks for the heads up though, will hold out for the Mu P8 now or start saving for the SL....

4cmd3

We have both the Speed & Helios P8 from 2006.

One key difference is that the Speed comes with Big Apple tires, whereas the Helios comes with something like a Marathon Slick (your market may vary, but the Speed tire will be fatter and more plush ride). While you are certainly change the tires on either bike, this may be something to consider. ponderz sounds like he would benefit from a more pliant tire for example.

Otherwise the specs were identical, although I swear on our bikes the Speed P8 came with a wider range cassette. I believe my Helios is 11-28 and my girlfriend's Speed is 11-32

The Helios is considerably lighter and has a nice bar that happens to make carrying easy (the top "re-bar")

I don't think there is any difference in "handlepost flex" between these models. They use the exact same handlepost. Some other models use a single piece handlepost which may be stiffer but obviously provides less adjustment.

If you can get a good price on either bike, particularly if they are "old stock" then it might be worth jumping at one. You can certainly upgrade either bike to your heart's content. Maybe I'll post a pic of my Helios in its latest incarnation later.

OldiesONfoldies

I have own both the Speed 8 (still do) and the Helios. These bikes feel very different and are made for diff purposes.

Helios is a very fast and nimble bike esp with Stelvio 120psi tires. It is almost a cheaper version of the Mu SL and with the Stelvios, it can really move. I could once draft a racer at about 35km/h for about 3km. He was most impressed. I sold it as I found the ride to be too harsh. Someone mentioned about this too.

As I do quite a lot of touring, I changed to the Speed 8 and its a much more comfortable bike. Yes, its heavier and Chrome Moly frame but it set up esp with the Big Apple suspension tires makes it a pretty decent tourer so long as you aren't interested in speed records. Many people have toured quite successfully with the Speed 8.

Here is my account (been posted before) if you are keen to read about how it performed in IndoChina a year ago -

https://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/22956



You can't go wrong with either bike

mingonn

Thanks for the comparisons guys. I am currently on a little known Dahon "Courser" which from all I can gather is a cheap version of the Jet Stream made for the Chinese market. This model is on ebay in the UK at the moment

https://cgi.ebay.com.au/Dahon-Courser...sid=p1638.m122

Pretty crappy bits but the frame is the same I think, got it off ebay for a bargain price, and have tweaked mine quite a bit.

Have clocked up 4000km on it so far running 120 psi Stelvios, but riding mainly on the road or bike paths. 11-28 rear cluster with a 52 toothed chain ring lets me hold 40 km/h comfortably if I need to.

Moving away from the rear suspension is one reason for the upgrade, I think I am loosing a bit of efficiency there and would prefer to loose the extra weight.

Amazing ride through Laos there, I imagine the heat would have been testing.

Cheers
Derek

jur

Yeah, I got a virtually brand new Helios for almost nothing and was quite excited about owning one until I felt it squirm under me. I got rid of it immediately. The proceeds got me a Downtube Mini.

My wife's Yeah which is very similar to the Helios is much stiffer. But I thought it's not all in the handlepost. I wonder if the frame tubing was thinner as well.

The Mu with it's curved main tube indeed ought to be stiffer.

mingonn

Squirmy doesn't do it for me at all. Looks like its the Mu if I can find one or the Speed P8.

Rick@OCRR

There are a few activities in life where "Squirmy" isn't so bad, but riding a bike is not one of them!

Rick / OCRR

dwood

Don't know if you are in the USA . . . but Brands Cycle still shows the Speed p8 2007 for $520 with free shipping. Bought mine there, love the bike.

Link below:

https://brandscycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=7891

DON

daveF

I bought a Speed P8 from Thor a few months ago. I absolutly love it. It is very possible to ride this bike with a racing pack. I've even bridged up to breakaways with it. It is harder than my 700c bikes to ride at high speed but I've ridden it at over 30mph. Partly due to it's low center of gravity, it handles extremely well. Because of the long stem, there is flex in the bars. The trick to climbing fast & sprinting is to keep a light grip on the bars. Again, the low center of gravity aids with this.

Thor, your service was great & I love this P8. Thanks.

brakemeister

thanks for the Kudos
and very happy that you like your bike

Thanks Thor

daveF

Thor,

I like it so much, that if I had just one bike, it would be a Speed P8. I was riding with a group a few Sundays ago & one of the guys said to a friend that he couldn't believe that I was riding that little bike with this group, that he was struggling. My friend informed him that this was my recovery ride.

I ride it with casual groups, racers, commute to work, to the grocery, & tow my dog. My fiance & I bought a Mu XL from you as well with the intention of traveling to Poland with them. But, my P8 has performed way beyond my expectations.

Dave

OldiesONfoldies

So glad to hear all the raves about the Speed 8. No doubt it will tour quite well. Only mod I will do is to reduce the the gearing a bit for uphills. Its one of the rare bikes that delivers more than its very reasonable asking price.

Just got back from a little adventure in the Riau Islands, Indonesia with a Speed 8, Curve D3 & KHS Capuccino.



Can read about it here:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p..._id=68496&v=6I

Al

makeinu

Do you ever stop buying folders?

OldiesONfoldies

Speak for yourself, and the many others here Ha ha! It's addictive - HELP!

mingonn

Thanks for the rave about the Speed P8, my sister actually has one which I drool over regularly. I am in Australia which seems to have been overlooked for the MU P8.

We also get to pay a premium for Dahons here. The best I could find for a Speed P8 is A$800 or around US $680 with the current exchange rate.

OldiesONfoldies

That's about the same price we pay here in Spore...