Hello all,
I'm new here so here goas, I'm a doctor commuting to work and back via bus or metro and wish to get a folding bike to complete the commute, I've been eyeballing the Tern P9 for awhile now but then my budget shrinked dramaticlly so I'm into used bikes, I'm looking for the most reliable used bike I can find. I used to be a professional motorcycle mechanic and maintain the bike myself so the occasional tuneup is done in house.

The available dahon models in my country at the moment are the Vitesse D7 or the Eco C3, the occasional Eco C7 and Speed D3 pops up every now and then. So, your thoughts...

From motorbike mechanic to doctor eh? I suppose fix one, fix all. At least it's better than being a barber and also amputating the odd limb or so, as in chop a hair or a limb, all in a day's work.

Right having dispensed with the sick humour (heh heh pun intended), on to the real stuff.

I'm going to call the Speed D3. I don't know what make 3-speed is installed, but generally they are very reliable. Derailers aren't very complex OTOH, but require a lot more babying to keep them running perfectly. Especially cleaning in poor weather. A 3-speed's chain can be run with zero oil, as our in-house dry chain fanatic, ol' Chucky, will testify.

What is your budget?

+1 fo the Speed 3.

Thank you all for the replies,
My budget is about $300, I live in Israel so we have Dahon and Tern, not any of the low price brands (downtube and such) I usually see being recommended on these threads.

The only problem or downside I see with the speed D3 is the cromo chassis and the limited gear ratio, I'm currently riding a 27 speed all mountain bike converted to urban usage, I live in a place with allot of hills, I end up going uphill about 70% of the riding time so a three speed might be a bit limiting despite the added reliability of the rear hub. Anyone know what are the gear ratios of the speed D3 compaired to the other models?

get a used one

thor

Hello Thor, I kinda got that, like I wrote on the first post, this thread is all about used bikes

What is nice about the Speed 3 is that you can always upgrade to a larger geared hub in the future if needed. With the current 3 speed you can change the ring gear on the crank or the hub for the gearing you need. I dont see the problem with the cromo chassis?

Currently on ebay there is a good deal on an 8 speed hub.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sturmey-Arch...item43b19aa6fa

For some reason the Speed D3/7 don't have an internal hub gears, I don't know why, I see them on the Dahon website as having internal hub gears but where ever I see them used they have a plain derailleur gears. Here is a link to a typical store that sells the Speed D7:
https://www.fridman.co.il/49691/dahon-speed-d7

Am I looking wrong at something?

I think it normally has an i after the number to note that it is an internal hub. Vitesse D7i

All the 3 speeds I have seen from Dahon were internal hubs.

Most of the current Dahon models are shown at www.dahonbikes.com. Not all models are available in all countries. I don't recall a Speed model in recent years with just an internal hub gear. There have been a few models with hub gear/rear derailleur combinations. Currently, in the USA, the Vitesse is available with 3-speed and 7-speed hub gears, the Curve is available with a 3-speed hub gear, and the Ciao is available with a 5-speed hub gear.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

what I meant to say is that its better to look around around for a while and get a used one..... AND if you get a used one, than get the best and more deluxe or Premium model rather than a Eco .... The savings will be more if you get a more expensive bike. Besides I am not all that great on the Eco models.... for a little bit more you get a much better Dahon.

thor

Silly question probably, but is this better than a Nexus 7/8? Thanks.

Don't know if it is better than the Nexus offerings, but for small wheel bikes, it's easier to get a useable gear range as 1st gear is 1:1 and the 7 remaining gears are overdrive... for anyone looking for the 8spd S/A hub, I have a new bike take off (20" 406 wheel complete) which would include shifter,cog, etc.. it is a freewheel, rim brake version .. pm if interested

Er, Bruce, that one's gone waaay over my head, LOL! Been afraid of reading Sheldon's site as there's so much info. Are you saying small wheeled folders do not need more than one fixed gear?

Another thing, will it be hard to switch to traditional derailleur gears since I've only ever used an IGH (Nexus 3). Any special tips apart from "only switch gears while pedalling"? A bit frightened at the maintenance it might require. My IGH has been no hassle so far.

OP, sorry to hijack your thread and I hope this question helps you too!

No, I don't mind the hijack If you're referring to the 1:1 then that means its the most efficient gear, all the rest are less efficient but still very needed.