oncenterstage

Hello

I think I'm finally buying a folding bike and I'm very excited! After much research and overthinking, I decided on a Dahon Curve. I love its style, look, red color, compactness, and the fun factor when I test rode it. Should I go for the 08 or 07 model? What are the differences between them? I'm 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, and will use the bike at most twice a month for casual, fun, leasure rides around town. And a big reason I'm thinking on buying now is because Performance Bicycles has a 15% everything anniversary sale. I'm from San Diego......are they a good store to buy from? I must have gotten unlucky this time because the sales associate didn't seem to care much, but when I went there the first time several months back, the guy was much nicer and a whole lot more knowledgeable. What do you think? I was quoted a price of $379.99 which I'm pretty sure is the 07 model. Right now I'm waiting for him to find out the price of the 08 model, which I expect to be $529.99 from the Dahon website. All advice and opinions are appreciated......thanks in advance

sotto

Bikecology on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, CA had a 2008 Curve D3 last time I was in there for $529 I believe. I think it was within the last week. If you don't mind the drive, they may still have it for a test drive. My '07 Curve D3 is perfect for my needs and I'm extremely pleased with it. It looks like the '08 model may have a slightly different transmission arrangement, supposedly an enhanced main frame lock (looks nicer, too IMHO), and the cables were gray I think rather than black.

makeinu

07 model,

At a 40% markup I'd expect the 08 model to be 40% better, but it seems like the differences are marginal.

folder fanatic

Agree. There is a far bigger difference in the Curve SL model for these 2 years. The 2007 is only a five speed. The 2008 jumped into a 8 speed internal hub gear. The Curve D3 is the same number of gears for both years. You are paying more for hype for the 2008 Curve D3-and very little minimal improvements here and there.

brakemeister

slow down
the 07 Curve D3 has a Sturmey Archer hub, The 08 has a Sram 3 speed hub ( which doesnt have the wide plastic cover of the SA)
Plus the newer latch frame which is nice

Of course one has to figure in a price increase from the Far East and voila we do have a higher price.

It is a nicer bike ...

Thor

neilfein

I'm not sure about the 3-speed AS hub, but the 3-speed SRAM in my Curve is smooooooth. Part of me wishes I'd waited for the 8-speed SL model, but who knows when those will even be available?

brakemeister

Curve SL's will be at my warehouse by end of this month
thor

oncenterstage

Hmm I'm still waiting to hear back from the sales associate. Now what is the difference between a SA hub and a S Ram 3 speed hub? Arghhhh if I still even have a choice, I'm not sure which one to buy......the SL is out of my budget, plus I like the red color of the Curve. I wonder what other changes there are to the 07 and 08 models?

Loch

Everything has pretty much been mentioned. The 08 dahons have a larger diameter handlepost and stem, which makes things stiffer up front. I believe the SRAM 3 speed has slightly wider gear spacing and as mentioned previously a nicer shifting attachment system.

old_school_dave

I'm looking at the '07/'08 Curves also. Is the '07 a grip shifter?

brakemeister

are you guys still finding 07 ones ???? I have trouble keeping enough 08 in stock ..lol

thor

old_school_dave

I can't tell if it's really available, but I was looking here. It looks like a $100 difference between the '08 and '07.

If I'm leaning towards the '08, does that mean I can't go through you, Thor? Or is out-of-stock a temporary condition?

mulleady

Dahon Curve 08 is a more compact bike than the D7 better for commuting. The hub gears are nice too whether it is the D3 or SL.

Tommy C

I have not seen the 2007 but from the pics online the black plastic tube attached to the frame looks so ugly and out of the blue... the 2008 looks much nicer, i have test ridden the Curve D3 and the Mu 2008 - they are both very nice.... I think the Curve is a great commuter and more fun but the Mu is much more versatile and you can always swap tires, get the Big Apple and you will be good to go.... the Curve is small but when you put it side by side to the Mu it isn't much smaller .... ooops i am a little off topic

BB49

I have a 2008 Dahon Curve SL that I like a lot.

The handle post is the same as the 2007, the main difference is the 8sp hubgear.

The price difference is HUGE. The 2008 SL will cost $900, because of the lower value of the dollar.

The 2008 Curve D3 is maybe a tiny bit better than the 2007, go for the 2007 D3.

For a much better and lighter bike, get a 2007 SL for maybe less cost than the 2008 D3.

Tommy C

I don't think it's available from Shopatron... you can get the 2007 Curve D3 from a few dealers online though. As far as i know the 2007 Curve SL isn't available but if you found it somewhere please let me know.....

old_school_dave

SL is out of my range (for now), but I did see some '07 D3's at about $350 and some nice comparison pics between 2007 and 2008 Curve D3.

Is this the Curve SL you're looking for?

BB49

Try Thorusa.com for 2007 Dahons of all types.

Tommy C

Thanks but both websites say Out of Stock.....

imeself

https://commutebikes.com

brakemeister

I have stock for the 08 .........Curve D3 and Curve SL as well
thor

Tommy C

I Called commutebikes.com 2 weeks ago, talked to the nice guy who was very helpful and he said he doesn't stock them and he will have to order it from Dahon if they have any.... I am pretty sure Dahon doesn't have any but I might be wrong.

old_school_dave

Hi Thor, judging from your posts here, would it be safe to assume that your stock of 2007 16" + 20" models are gone and not to be replenished? I've heard really good things about your shop, so I'd like to throw some business your way, but as someone posted above, it's hard for me to swallow 40% year-over-year price increase (I know that's just the value of dollar etc. & not your doing).

Cars, clothes, etc., I always buy last year's model... just a cheapskate I guess.

mtb29

But a smart cheapskate!

brakemeister

I have in 2007 :

Cadenza
Espresso
Jack
Matrix
and one Large Smoothhound ( with suspension ,but not foldable)
various size but not all

no more 20 or 16 inch in the 2007

2008 most bikes in stiock
Thor