Looking for a 26" commuter in the $500-$600 range. Dahon Jack?
 

I was wondering if people here could share their experiences with certain bikes I'm looking at getting. I am basically looking to get a folding bicycle for convenience on vacations. I want to be able to go relatively long distances if need be (lets say, 20 miles max) in a reasonable amount of time and comfort. I don't care for off-roading, this is just for getting around.

I decided I want a 26" wheel, since I imagine the performance is better, plus I'm a tall guy. Though I want to get from A to B in reasonable comfort and speed, I'm not looking for really high efficiency, so I'm hoping I can get away with paying no more than $600.

I like the look of the Dahon Jack. However, there are a couple other 26" Dahon bikes in this price range, and maybe someone here would recommend one of those instead. There are a couple concerns I have, and this is mainly why I'm asking here:

* Durability: I was told at my bike shop that the $1000 range Bike Fridays have "better parts". Does this mean I'll be more likely to break down in the middle of nowhere with the Jack, or is it just worse performance?

* Performance: How much performance would I be losing by being cheap? Of particular concern, I read one review of the Jack that says that going uphill is difficult. I feel that I've attained a decent amount of stamina commuting daily in Chicago (read: no hills). Would I be able to survive a trip to San Francisco or Seattle with this thing?

* Also, while I'm at it, what about winter riding?

* Any other reason I'll be sorry for being cheap?

For reference I'm currently using (and therefore used to) a Marin Larkspur (hybrid) to commute in Chicago.

Thanks a lot!

In your adventures beyond the ultraworld on bicycles and tricycles ;) a 26" folder like the Jack is a good steed. The performance you get riding it will be more like what you are used to ('better' is a moot point on this forum as small wheels have advantages in terms of lower weight, manouevrability, acceleration. Speed is not necessarily an issue either if geared right but this is a huge topic you can dig for elsewhere!)

Bottom line is - bigger wheels will get you a more conventional bike but this comes at the cost of a bigger bulkier fold and heavier package. This might be fine if you don't ever intend of carrying the bike up several flights of stairs or keeping it under your desk but if your need for a folder is all about it's compactness, ability to be taken on Public transport then going for 26" wheels might not be the best route.

Re your other questions:
Durability: The 'Better parts' refer to high end shimano groupsets mostly. Just like on a high end road bike, Bike Fridays are specced with light and efficent parts. This doesn't mean what you get on a Jack is likely to fail - more that it's just consumer-level componentry - maybe some of the bolts aren't stainless, maybe it's not the lightest materials, or not a 'branded' name like campagnolo, sram or shimano. This isn't a bad thing at all - Dahon bikes are very reliable so I don't think you need to concern yourself unless you are hoping for an über-light or superfast bike. Also - you can always upgrade these sort of things later on if you find you love your bike but feel it needs higher gearing, a bit of a diet or whatever.

Performance: See above really. The parts on a Jack will be just fine. Not high end but certainly not no-name crap you get on the cheap bikes you can buy in department stores.

Winter riding: The Jack is a folding bike with 26" wheels. With that you can easily get any sort of upgrade that you might fit to a non-folding 26" commuter bike in exactly the same way - mudguards (fenders) nobley-er tyres or even ones with studs, pannier racks - all should be easily fitted to the Jack.

Will you be sorry for being cheap? I don't think your budget is cheap - that's a perfectly reasonable amount to pay for a decent folding bike. You can upgrade it at a later date if you like - nicer saddle, lighter seatpost etc etc the list is endless. I think this is the best way to do it - get the bike - get used to it and enjoy it, then if there's anything you end up not liking you can always upgrade.

Wow, catching the reference in my name in the first response, that's pretty awesome :)

Well, my main concern for size is fitting it on a Bus, frankly (as in, Greyhound or Megabus, not public transit) or eventually a plane. If I could fit my Marin on there I would just do that. I know that the 26" will be bigger folded, but at the bike store I was shown a picture of a bag that, if the bike's wheels were removed, would fit a 26" bike small enough to take onto an airplane. Does that jive with your experience?

Also, any comments about steep hills specifically? Should I not worry about this too much?

Thanks again, I will probably go with Jack.

What LP said. I have a 26" Matrix. + If you're tall - inseam above 33" you may need the large size frame.
There are a couple of Jack users on here and they seem pleased with them, and their versatility.

See this thread about Owlmeister's quest for a bike which may have some relevance.

I almost went for the Jack, but figured I'd get more offroad use from the Matrix, so that was the beast for me. It's working out very well.

If you think you'll need more gears though, it's easier to get them at this stage..

A good bike nothing to fear with the Jack really.

Orblivion, I too was doing some research on this. I have a few hills in my commute and have decided to go with the Espresso. It has the same frame as the Jack. I think the differance is that the Jack is more for off road. The Espresso has 21 gears and you sit a little more upright.

Hope that helps,
-Bob

I picked up a Dahon Espresso for my wife at a LL Bean outlet center for about $315, and she has been very pleased with it. Her commute and daily rides are typically 5 miles or less, but it works well for that. I added a rack, fenders, and a set of panniers that stay on the bike all the time, and it often carries 2 bags of groceries, laptop, etc. The fold is not that compact, but it works for putting the bike in the trunk of a car, and it would likely work for bus travel. I think the aluminum frame and components would hold up to winter commuting and the salt/sand mixture that covers the bike.

Doug

Hmm, I just got my bike. They didn't have Jack in Large, so I got an Espresso. The wheels look thick enough for minor off-roading, and it has gears, so I'm not as worried about hills and such. Problem is, it's bigger than I would expect. The bag that Dahon has for folding bikes that supposedly fits my bike, doesn't really fit my bike. It's mostly covered, but parts still stick out. Is this going to be a problem? My intention is to take this onto the Greyhound or Megabus.