chagzuki

Just crossed my mind that with the lightweight suspension system of the Jetstream you could have a nifty 16" wheeled folder. . . perhaps it wouldn't shave enough off the folded size to be worthwhile. . . but then again it would be smaller and the suspension would compensate for the harsher ride of smaller wheels. Sounds like a good formula.

Lalato

The Jetstream is my favorite Dahon. Don't know why my folderitis hasn't forced me to get one yet, but if it came in a 16" flavor, I think I would faint.

rhm

Fat tires compensate for the harshness of 16" wheels very nicely, so I don't see the need for suspension. Still... I would like to see more 16" folding bike models.

ShinyBiker

Dahon would probably tell you that they already sell a 16 "suspension" model: The Dahon curve with Big apples.

brakemeister

I kinda like them as clean and unobstructed as possible .... especially if you want a smaller fold like the Curve.... yes the tires are a big help smoothen out the ride.... but the smaller tires will be less great the second you go offroad .. which would be a tease for a full suspension bike ... lol

thor

chagzuki

I've never been sold on Big Apples, the kind of small ripple/vibration damping they provide isn't really comparable with what people normally think of as 'suspension'. having said that I've not ridden a Jetstream, it does look as though amount of travel of the fork is very small so perhaps there's not so much in it.

ShinyBiker

You are right. I rode an old jetstream (07 or 08) and the front suspension was more of a road dampener. Just to smooth out ripples in the asphalt. It certainly didn't give like a cheap zoom front suspension fork, which you would need if you were going off road and downhill or jumping curbs and the like. I was also less than impressed with the rear "air" suspension, But, in fairness, I didn't adjust it in any way.

kingfish254

I own both a Jetstream and a Curve. Maybe I should try putting the Curve wheels on the Jetstream. I may just try that on the front wheel for ****s and giggles.

chagzuki

Kingfish, how much active travel is there on the jetstream fork?

kingfish254

I wasn't sure, but after a quick google it looks like 70mm.

chagzuki

That's way more than I expected. I'm going to have to ride one. . . should have got my hands on the older 2007/2008 model a while back when there were plenty going second-hand, before Dahon's prices rose considerably.

kingfish254

I picked up my 2005 model as part of a set of four that I bought from a family on craigslist. I paid $1400 total, then turned around and sold 3 on ebay for a total of $1600. Basically, I got mine for free plus $200 (which almost paid for my Curve ($250)). I was hooked after that and have been flipping bikes to pay for my hobby ever since.