I have a Dahon Boardwalk that I ride to work every day, I love it and I'm considering upgrading to something with gears. I originally purchased it when I was riding the trolley since I could fold it up and carry it on with me, saved me at least an hour a day since I could catch an earlier trolley and get home must faster.

First I looked at it and thought it looked really goofy, now I just love it. I moved into an apartment near my work and I sold my full size mountain bike since I really don't have room for it but I'd like to ride more than just the short jot back and forth to work.

Anyway, I'm in kind of unique situation, well not completely, but semi rare, I'm an IT guy for a bike shop. Which means I love bikes, but I'm not nearly as up on all the tech as the actual bike mechanics are, I do their computer systems, the website, ecommerce orders, stuff, like that. Because of that I can buy at wholesale so I can buy more than my actual budget can allow for at retail pricing.

I'd like to stay with Dahon, we do have 2 Giant folders here, a halfway and a clip. I'm not really into the look of the halfway and the clip is out of my price range even at wholesale. I'll be selling my boardwalk when I get a new bike, the Speed7 would be perfect pricewise for me. Although I saw someone use a Speed P8 the other day on a local 15+ mile ride leaving from our shop and he had no trouble keeping up with everyone else on their carbon road bikes, which was pretty impressive for me. With that said the P8 is about the top, if not above my price limit even at the price I can get it and after selling my boardwalk. I do recognize better components are worthwhile though so I'm looking at other models too.

I'd like to stick with the 20" wheel, I do like the look of the curve though, looks like they are all smaller. I see the P8 doesn't have fenders or a rack. While I haven't used the rack on my boardwalk yet I do appreciate the fenders since I've already ridden in rain and snow a number of times when it started while I was already at work.

Just looking for some feedback from people who have the speed7 or the speed p8 or even anything in between in a 20" wheel. I realize I could ask my coworkers but non of them are really huge folding bike people to be able to give personal recommendations.

Thanks!

D means deluxe
P means premium ..
well worth the extra money, especially if you can buy wholesale

get some extra fenders and a nice alloy carrier and you are golden

thor

And the difference between the speed p8 and mu p8 is steel vs aluminum?

P7 & P8 will have different gearing. According to Thor's site you will also see one comes with rear rack and the other doesn't if the pictures are accurate.

I'd love to hear how the Speed P8 performs for gravel grinding, dirt trails, or even single track.

Talking to Dahon today I think I could go with either the Speed P8 or the Mu P8. The mu is on the high side of the budget though. Are the only differences between the two the steel vs aluminum frame and the frame design/curve? Are there are other component or quality differences between the two bikes?

The Speed P8 and the Mu P8 have pretty much the same components (derailleur, brakes, wheels, etc.). To me, the biggest differnce besides the frame material is the tires. The Speed P8 should have Schwalbe Big Apple tires. The Mu P8 should have Schwalbe Marathon (Racer or Supreme) tires. IMHO, the Speed P8 rides a bit smoother while the Mu P8 feels a bit quicker and more nimble (to me). FWIW, the Mu frame is a more recent design.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

I love the Mu frame, much better looking than the speed IMO. You may think it's shallow to decide on looks, but a bike you love is a bike you ride, and surely it's easier to love a beautiful bike I'd stretch for the Mu any time.

Yep, this is why I'm having a difficult time deciding. I can take a speed p8 for a test ride which hopefully I can do tomorrow. We've had snow and slop outside so it has been less than ideal. Unfortunately I don't have a mu p8 anywhere nearby to test ride, the closest thing would be a curve and that isn't exactly a fair comparison. Making a pros/cons list, the speed p8 is cheaper, the tires sound like they'd be more useful for me and combined with the steel frame probably smoother overall. But.. I really like the frame design of the mu, haha. What I don't want to do is spend a lot more for the mu and then change the tires too, sounds like I'm answering my own question at this point at least.

Since you work at a bike shop, can't you have them take over the tires of the mu? My LBS took over the tires that came on my newly ordered MTB because he's selling a set of those tires regularly anyway.

I have a MU P8 but haven't ridden a Speed P8. I find the ride a little harsh which I attribute to the Aluminium frame. I think the frame/reach on the Speed P8 is a little longer. That said I love my MU and enjoy riding it. I am considering getting a Speed P7 for local commuting rainy day riding.

Well, while I work here, the order is going to Dahon directly. The shop isn't making a penny on it so asking them to take my tires and give me 70-80 dollars in other tires and holding onto ones they don't normally sell isn't really a request I'd feel right in making.

i like P8 than the MU just because of it's steel frame.

I tried to find what tires you get on a speed P8 to confirm the info posted above, but I couldn't find it (the website redirects to tern). Anyway, I actually put big apples on my mu sl, so it's not like it's a useless tire. Many people prefer them to the marathons. And it's not a night and day difference, so I wouldn't sweat it over which tires come on the bike. I think you'll like both bikes. But it's hard to argue with the looks of the Mu frame. It looks so playful and nimble. The speed frame looks a bit outdated really. I love that "chain suspended into nowhere" look of my Mu's nonexistent chainstay.

Direct from Dahon the MU P8 has Schwalbe Marathon Supreme, the Speed P8 has Big Apple tires.

I'm back to update on my bike.

I had decided on the Speed P8, I went back and forth between that and the MU P8 for awhile. When I finally went to put in my order for the Speed P8 it was backordered... I waited a month, checked back in, the backorder was pushed back a few more months. So, in the end I went with the MU P8 anyway, haha.

I'll have to take pictures, it's very nice. I went with black. I already ordered the big apple tires because I ride over a lot of bad pavement/cracks/etc around here and I'd like a little more cushion and grip. I have a new set of schwalbe marathon supreme tires with 0 miles on them, where would be the best place to sell the tires?

Congrats! Lets have pix.

What about keeping at least one as a spare? https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghhh-Flat-tyre Depending on where you live finding good quality tyres can be a problem, and even impossible unless you buy online.

It is also possible that you want to try the Supremes after riding on the BA`s for some time.

Just sayin.

Thankfully getting spare tires isn't really an issue. I live less than a mile away from a bike shop that I also work at every day, hah, so I'm good on tires! I wanted to avoid riding on the new ones as I want to sell them as brand new and it looks like from eBay that the cost of them is more than double what I can get a set of big apples for so I'll probably go that route. I wouldn't mind trying them out but the MU was already a bit above what I wanted to spend even at an employee purchase price so any money I can recoup is going to be helpful.

The only bad part now is having to wait until my new tires come here when I really want to ride my bike that is all tuned up and sitting right next to me!

eBay

Thanks! They are listed up there now and my new tires will be here Monday so I can start enjoying my new bike!