dahon speed folding cycles

[reusaroma]

hi,has anyone any experience of a dahon folding cycle frame breaking at the hinge.my frame snapped as i turned from an A road into my sidestreet and threw me into the road.after contacting the supplier,manufacturer and importer none of them want to know.any comments.

 

[upsidedown]

hi,has anyone any experience of a dahon folding cycle frame breaking at the hinge.my frame snapped as i turned from an A road into my sidestreet and threw me into the road.after contacting the supplier,manufacturer and importer none of them want to know.any comments.

My Cadenza fell to pieces after 4 months of daily riding. I managed to put it back together but now only fold it when i absolutely have to. The shop i bought it from contacted Dahon who told them "the moveable parts require frequent servicing otherwise they can fail."
It now has a wobbly joint that kind of feels like riding a clown's bike, not a great feeling.
If i had the time i would chase up a warranty claim, but instead i will just never buy another one. What's the old saying 'buy cheap buy twice' ?
Think i'll save up and get an Airnimal or similar next time.

 

[fossyant]

If under 12 months, return it to where you bought it and kick up a stink.

 

[Twanger]

I have a vitesse D7HG with a quick release stem which once folded while I was cycling along the Mall. I de-quick released it. I think Dahon have design faults. I will not ride fast on my Vitesse (not that I can, clunky old thing!) from fear but the main frame hinge seems sound.

 

[Origamist]

I'd go the Dahon forum and state your case there - it is read by the UK importers and Dahon staff and they don't like bad news stories.

FWIW, I've totaled 3 folding bike frames.

Keep complaining.

 

[ed_o_brain]

My Speed D7 hinge needs regular adjustment to keep the right tension on it, otherwise yeah the frame ends up trying to fold itself up whilst riding along.

I'm not really convinced by it's build quality. I have used it quite a lot 4/5 months that I have had it.

If I can afford to next time around I'll buy a brompton.

 

[LOGAN 5]

If I can afford to next time around I'll buy a brompton.

I've worn out two Bromptons. Spent £200 pounds on repairs on one which was just 2 years old.

I've got a Dahon Jack now and it seems ok at the moment. BUT a colleague commuter has gone through two Jack frames when the down tube cracked. he got both replaced on warranty.

Unfortunately I have to put a bike on the train so am forced to use these sub-standard poor quality folding bikes.

 

[ChrisKH]

I've worn out two Bromptons. Spent £200 pounds on repairs on one which was just 2 years old.

I've got a Dahon Jack now and it seems ok at the moment. BUT a colleague commuter has gone through two Jack frames when the down tube cracked. he got both replaced on warranty.

Unfortunately I have to put a bike on the train so am forced to use these sub-standard poor quality folding bikes.

Ditto. My Cadenza's doing okay at the moment and folding every day, twice a day.

No way is a Brompton comparable for riding/top speed. I have a Brompton and tend to use it as my "wet bike"/spare now.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Logan, what broke on the Bromptons?

 

[LOGAN 5]

Logan, what broke on the Bromptons?

Bikes were only two years old:

Hinge (warranty job on both bikes), new pair of wheels (worn out), complete chainset & sprockets, several sets of replacement cables, rear brake caliper kept coming lose (ok now with the dual caliper arrangement at the back), both pairs of wheel bushels (spelling?) where there was lateral movement, rear hub seized up, shim on seat post cracked (twice), creaking bits all over, crank arms seem to work lose, folding pedals ALWAYS works lose and bends so needs replacing, handlebar gear mechanism died, rear gear mechanism gave up and need replacing, and if you go out in the rain and don't use the bike for a month or two after that the cables seize up and need replacing.

Usual typre replacement which is expected but wow do those tyres wear out quickly (hope you never get a rear wheel puncture as it's a nightmare to get the wheel off).

Hopefully the Dahon will last longer and when parts need replacing then I can use upgraded standard parts and not be restricted to the awful plastic rubbish componentry on the Brompton which only fails over and over.

My Brompton is my spare bike now used for small local trips only.

Good luck.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

wow.... well, will be using mine to commute to work and back every day, so the cable thing hopefully wont happen to me (looks on the bright side) - and I've got a new one so the rear brake should be OK...
Due for my first service next week (almost 200 miles already, three weeks in)...

 

[robert b 2]

Well until I read this thread, I'd had my mind set on a folding bike for my commute; probably the Dahon Speed TR.

Didn't realise the folding frames are so corny.. might give it a miss.