Dahon 2009 bikes
 

I'm perusing the new Dahon 2009 bikes.

The Eco 3 looks interesting. I wonder why it's called the Eco 3 when it has 7 speeds? http://dahon.com/us/eco3.htm

The Mu Ex looks amazing http://dahon.com/us/muex.htm Price?

Also I notice they're highlighting the various components of the bikes. They advertise two different seatpost collars http://dahon.com/components/deluxe/covert.htm http://dahon.com/components/premium/turtleneck.htm

My 2008 Vitesse has problems with seatpost slippage and the seatpost collar is hard to tighten effectively. Do you think it's possible to get one of these redesigned collars for use on my Vitesse?

Mu EX should look amazing, it is $2499....

The syntace vro handlepost now is angled further forward for a stretched out position on the speed series. I wish Dahon would offer a choice of angles on all their handlepost designs.

http://files.dahon.com/images/bikes/...09/mup8-us.jpg

I've got a 2009 Mu P8 siting in an unopened box in my living room. My LBS gave to me as a test bike for a few weeks so I can write a review for the blog I have on their website.

From their website it looks like a refined version of the D7 I keep at my mother's place out east. I'll be interested to see how it compares.

fixed it for you.

Ummm....sorry...fixed what?....I'm not sure what you mean....:o

I'm looking at the pic of the Eco 3 and it seems to have a standard headtube rather than Dahon's proprietary set up...does anyone know for sure?

It looks like the 2008 and 2009 Dahon Speed P8s are identical...does anyone know if some changes were made?

They're identical but the 2009 version is 15% better.

Hmm, no Brompton-challenging Curl this year, eh?

Hope they're still pursuing that one, just taking time to work out the kinks.

Though I doubt it would fit me anyway, at 6'1" - neither the Brompton or Curve did.

Maybe the price increase counts toward the improvement?
The handlepost clamp is changed this year to something more like on a Brompton or a Tikit or the frame clamp on the Mu's.

Ah yes, hopefully it'll be a little easier to maintain, though I can't really see from the diagram how it works.

Jokes aside, I'm liking Dahon more as time goes by. I had a bit of a bad experience with a Vitesse a year and a half ago and it took me a long time to iron out the problems, but many of the aspects of the design that initially irked me I now see the logic in. The 2009 range looks very nice indeed.