IaninSheffield
Veteran
- Location
- Sheffield, UK
After returning from a recent trip I folded my Dahon Speed TR for storage as usual and noticed it wouldn't sit upright; it leaned over. It didn't take long to spot movement in the frame hinge - not the locking mechanism, but the hinge itself. As I rocked the two halves of the frame back and forth to try to better understand what was happening and more importantly how to remedy it, the lateral movement got worse. It would seem the hinge pin must have sheared, but the real problem was I couldn't see a way of extracting it, let alone replacing it. Surely that mean this cracking little folder that has served me so well for 14 years has reached the end of its serviceable days? Despite much keyboard action I only managed to find one reference to disassembly of a Dahon Vitesse hinge - a slightly different arrangement.
Whilst wondering whether replacing the bike might be necessary and casting around on the Bay of 'e', I came across a used Speed TR almost identical to mine at the Buy It Now price of £250. A bit dear for a 10 year old bike, but much less than me buying a new replacement ... and bidding for the listing was available so worth a punt I thought. I won the auction and the bike for £165, which I was happy with, even with the £45 additional cost in fuel to go pick it up.
My 'new' steed
Now back at home I've had a better chance to check out my n+1 Speed TR and, apart from the front dynamo light, all seems to be in good working order. The frame is much more scuffed and chipped than my original, the seat post pump foot stay is missing, the front mudguard end cap is missing/broken, the handlebar twist grip has been taped over (repaired), the saddle has a short cut (taped over), the chain guard is missing, and there's no front rack. I'd spotted most of these in the listing photos so no real shocks. On the bright side, this bike has Ergon GR3 bar ends which are longer and gripper than the GR2s on my original bike, and it has the original MKS quick release pedals - as a clipless rider I quickly replaced the pedals on my original bike with SPD pedals and sold on the MKS's ... then later regretted it!
Two of a kind?
Now here's the curious thing. I checked the frame hinge and on the 'new' bike it seems there's some sort of retaining grub screw, although whether it releases the hinge pin is yet to be discovered.
Original hinge underside - short of drilling it out, can't see how the pin can be released
Underside of hinge on new bike (not quite in focus - apologies)
I'd be interested to hear any observations/suggestions. I'd also be interested to hear whether anyone thinks my original bike is actually unsafe to ride - when the frame is unfolded and the hinge locked, there's no play in the hinge whatsoever and the frame seems completely locked out. Maybe now I have a replacement bike, I just get the folding bracket on the original welded shut?
Whilst wondering whether replacing the bike might be necessary and casting around on the Bay of 'e', I came across a used Speed TR almost identical to mine at the Buy It Now price of £250. A bit dear for a 10 year old bike, but much less than me buying a new replacement ... and bidding for the listing was available so worth a punt I thought. I won the auction and the bike for £165, which I was happy with, even with the £45 additional cost in fuel to go pick it up.
My 'new' steed
Now back at home I've had a better chance to check out my n+1 Speed TR and, apart from the front dynamo light, all seems to be in good working order. The frame is much more scuffed and chipped than my original, the seat post pump foot stay is missing, the front mudguard end cap is missing/broken, the handlebar twist grip has been taped over (repaired), the saddle has a short cut (taped over), the chain guard is missing, and there's no front rack. I'd spotted most of these in the listing photos so no real shocks. On the bright side, this bike has Ergon GR3 bar ends which are longer and gripper than the GR2s on my original bike, and it has the original MKS quick release pedals - as a clipless rider I quickly replaced the pedals on my original bike with SPD pedals and sold on the MKS's ... then later regretted it!
Two of a kind?
Now here's the curious thing. I checked the frame hinge and on the 'new' bike it seems there's some sort of retaining grub screw, although whether it releases the hinge pin is yet to be discovered.
Original hinge underside - short of drilling it out, can't see how the pin can be released
I'd be interested to hear any observations/suggestions. I'd also be interested to hear whether anyone thinks my original bike is actually unsafe to ride - when the frame is unfolded and the hinge locked, there's no play in the hinge whatsoever and the frame seems completely locked out. Maybe now I have a replacement bike, I just get the folding bracket on the original welded shut?
I was thinking about them and wanted to check their distance from you, but then had to attend to s-thing else. I ordered from them some Dahon parts and it was a happy experience.