We have come a long way (First Dahon bicycle).
 

I'm a Tern guy myself, but I just thought you guys would find this video interesting. :thumb:

Nice! :thumb:

I guess the ones I have from 1984 must be second generation? I would love to see one of the prototypes in person.

Aaron :)

That's great! A piece of history. :thumb:

I wonder why the standing up on the wheels was ditched, and how it was achieved. Small footprint, that way. Looks like the mudguards were carefully chosen so it stands. Those early bikes were very carefully designed, I had a 16" model and I don't think it is beat for small folding size, perhaps only by Brompton.

Great video!!!

Very nostalgic thanks for posting.

24lbs seems light, many folding bikes struggling to get down to that weight even 25-30 years later.

Amazing how the message he is giving is almost a direct echo of things people are saying now re the current pressure to reduce carbon footprint.

Regards

Jerry

I think that was his prototype.

I believe the first run production bikes looked similar to the ones I have, but without the brace.

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/50...500x500Q85.jpg

Great video. Thanks.

It seems that at that time Dr Hon was very involved with the PR and promotion. I always assume that he is the shy inventor type because he was invisible in recent years and let his son being the visible face of Dahon.

Yes, great video indeed, and to echo what has been said already, so different, yet so many things have NOT changed at all, particularly the need to get people to/from mass transit points.

Thanks for posting!

Nice vid.

I think the prototype has many really nice features. The rolling method hasn't quite made it through to modern versions. Why not?

A really simple bike, nice!

Awesome video.
Yeah, I always wonder why more frames with designed in storage don't exist.
A monocoque frame would be nice.
I know a big 700c frame would catch crosswinds but a little 20" folder probably wouldn't catch crosswinds so much even as a monocoque.
It seems almost everyone gets an accessory bag to hold stuff, but it would be nice to see a frame with large enough tubes to store things in or perhaps an enclosed frame just like the Hon prototype had.
Or why not a regular tube frame with threaded side holes you can bolt carbon fiber storage panels to?

@wahoonc: yep, that's true. this is apparently his first mass produced bike, called "The Da Bike." I'm wondering what kind of issues it had that led it to having that brace added to it. I think the first "Hon" bike was really well thought out when it came to folding. The angle of the wheels were just perfect and the symmetry was on point. Kinda wish the newer ones were like that.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=262285