Dahon folding bike - contradictory sizing
Discussion
Interested in buying a folder to pop in the car boot but many seem to suggest that they suit riders up to 185cm tall (& I'm 191cm). I know it's a bit subjective as it's inner-leg size that is more relevant however the metric the main brands seem to go by is 'rider height'.
Some taller people on cycling forums say that Dahons work for them (Bromptons & Terns are more than I want to spend). Halfords is the main distributor of Dahon bikes in the UK & those listed on their site all state they suit riders up to 191cm. Dahon's own website states they're suitable for riders up to 185cm for the same 3 bikes.
Do Halfords spec longer seat-posts for the UK market?
Store staff were clueless & advised me to raise a query on the website. Halfords web-site were equally clueless & referred me to check with store staff.
Is it just a case of sitting on different folders in-store & seeing what I think will work?
Some taller people on cycling forums say that Dahons work for them (Bromptons & Terns are more than I want to spend). Halfords is the main distributor of Dahon bikes in the UK & those listed on their site all state they suit riders up to 191cm. Dahon's own website states they're suitable for riders up to 185cm for the same 3 bikes.
Do Halfords spec longer seat-posts for the UK market?
Store staff were clueless & advised me to raise a query on the website. Halfords web-site were equally clueless & referred me to check with store staff.
Is it just a case of sitting on different folders in-store & seeing what I think will work?
Dahon in the US state that they use extendable seat-posts but I'm not sure if they mean a regular post that can be raised or if they mean a telescopic one.
Their website also states that their 20" folders suit from 4'4" to 6'4" or 130 to 190cm which is itself confusing as 190cm isn't 6'4".
Meanwhile Dahon EU website says up to 185cm but their UK distributor Halfords say up to 191cm / 6'3".
Their website also states that their 20" folders suit from 4'4" to 6'4" or 130 to 190cm which is itself confusing as 190cm isn't 6'4".
Meanwhile Dahon EU website says up to 185cm but their UK distributor Halfords say up to 191cm / 6'3".
I've got the BMW/MINI branded version of this Dahon, which is essentially the same frame but slightly less beefed up.
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/dahon...
I'm 6ft tall with a 32in inside leg in trousers. I've had it for 7 years and ride it every day, I'm on the maximum extension for the seat post but it's absolutely fine.
It's been a great bike. I've only had to replace brake pads and tyres. I regularly leave it locked up at my busy local station which is a theft magnet for other bikes - you'd have to be insane to leave a Brompton there - and it has never been nicked.
I would definitely recommend, great bikes.
ETA: if you follow the reviews on the Halfords website there is a person saying they are 6' 3" tall and it fits them perfectly.
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/dahon...
I'm 6ft tall with a 32in inside leg in trousers. I've had it for 7 years and ride it every day, I'm on the maximum extension for the seat post but it's absolutely fine.
It's been a great bike. I've only had to replace brake pads and tyres. I regularly leave it locked up at my busy local station which is a theft magnet for other bikes - you'd have to be insane to leave a Brompton there - and it has never been nicked.
I would definitely recommend, great bikes.
ETA: if you follow the reviews on the Halfords website there is a person saying they are 6' 3" tall and it fits them perfectly.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Friday 31st May 17:04
I just noticed Halfords do this one too, the main difference being it has mudguards
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/dahon...
Mine came with mudguards and I would definitely recommend them. It looks like they have improved the design since I bought, as mine has an annoying habit of the support arms coming out of their mounting point on the guard when folded, so you have to spend a moment relocating them. It's not a massive issue, but a bit of a chore so I'm pleased to see they seem to have engineered that glitch out.
I find that I ride mine in all weathers so mudguards are a real bonus. If I ride it to the pub and it tips it down too much I just fold it and pop it in a cab, it's great.
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/dahon...
Mine came with mudguards and I would definitely recommend them. It looks like they have improved the design since I bought, as mine has an annoying habit of the support arms coming out of their mounting point on the guard when folded, so you have to spend a moment relocating them. It's not a massive issue, but a bit of a chore so I'm pleased to see they seem to have engineered that glitch out.
I find that I ride mine in all weathers so mudguards are a real bonus. If I ride it to the pub and it tips it down too much I just fold it and pop it in a cab, it's great.
EasternBlocGeek said:
Interested in buying a folder to pop in the car boot but many seem to suggest that they suit riders up to 185cm tall (& I'm 191cm). I know it's a bit subjective as it's inner-leg size that is more relevant however the metric the main brands seem to go by is 'rider height'.
Is it just a case of sitting on different folders in-store & seeing what I think will work?
Take a tape measure into Halfords and check the standard length. Is it just a case of sitting on different folders in-store & seeing what I think will work?
The diameter should be 33.9mm. Aftermarket aluminium seatposts are available in lengths up to 600mm. If the standard Dahon one is too short then that might be an option.
Best of luck. 20” folders are brilliant little things, I pimped mine with a stem extender, a new wheelset and drivetrain, it’s great fun and incredibly practical.
Edit:: apparently the Dahon Hit at Halfords has a 580mm, 33.9mm seatpost. So aftermarket won’t win you much extra.
Edited by Barchettaman on Friday 31st May 22:10
I'm 6'4" and at the back of the shed I've got a generic folding bike of that style. Nothing flashy or specially long/large/xl and just over £200 IIRC. Can't remember the brand off-hand.
If I was ever doing any real distance on it I'd probably start to notice shortcomings, but it was bought many years ago for literal park-and-ride into Oxford and for 2 or 3 miles around town it was, and is (I used it around Bristol a bit last year), perfectly acceptable. I'd get a lot fussier if I was planning to travel or tour or something, so it might depend on your usage plans.
In the same way, my current commuter is an old, now e-converted, hybrid; it's an L and I could really do with an XL; but the ride is only a few miles and the bike was just £30 off Gumtree
It would need changes if I wanted to use it to get to the branch that would be an hour's ride away.
If I was ever doing any real distance on it I'd probably start to notice shortcomings, but it was bought many years ago for literal park-and-ride into Oxford and for 2 or 3 miles around town it was, and is (I used it around Bristol a bit last year), perfectly acceptable. I'd get a lot fussier if I was planning to travel or tour or something, so it might depend on your usage plans.
In the same way, my current commuter is an old, now e-converted, hybrid; it's an L and I could really do with an XL; but the ride is only a few miles and the bike was just £30 off Gumtree
It would need changes if I wanted to use it to get to the branch that would be an hour's ride away.Thanks so much for the info. It's really helped make it clear to me that a folder can work.
PurpleTurtle, I did look at the Bromptons but other than the amazingly small fold, I took one out for a half-hour demo ride yesterday. I returned to the shop within 10 mins... Edinburgh's roads are diabolical & I just felt that it was a liability with its 16" wheels. It would be great as a city commuter (which to be fair is what it's designed for) on smooth roads & cycleways but I really didn't like the ride on rough potholed streets. When you add in the cost & attractiveness to thieves it it's not for me. Good to hear about your experiences with your Dahon. It's a shame that the non-mudguard & rack version is on sale at Halfords from £480 down to £432 but the mudguard & rack version is at the non-discounted £500. I like the naked look as it's a little like a foldable BMX. The mudguards & rack remind me of the sort of bike old ladies used to ride to the shops. They'd have to come off in the summer months but I can definitely appreciate their usefulness when the weather isn't so forgiving.
Barchettaman, thanks for that info. If after a bit of use I felt that an aftermarket longer seatpost was required then I'd get one. Even if it's only an increase from 580mm to 600mm then that would probably be enough to make the difference for me. I've definitely come round to the thinking that 20" folders are brilliant little things as you say. They're never going to impress people with their looks but they seem to be a very practical tool for general usage... much more so than having to pull the wheels off a bigger bike & attempt to manhandle it into my small car.
I've looked at Halfords Carerra & Decathlon Tilt folders as well. They might to the job but what am I getting with a Dahon other than the brand name? Are they much more durable / higher quality?
Halfords had a amazing deal on the 2021 electric Carerra folders a few days ago. Down from £949 to £600'ish I think? They're no longer advertising them so presumably sold out. Weirdly the same bike but 2020 model remained (& is still advertised) at the full £949. I was tempted but a woman at work has one & it's had quite a few issues. I test-rode one last year & didn't like it at all. If I want a cheap big store bike then I'd take a punt on a Decathlon.
PurpleTurtle, I did look at the Bromptons but other than the amazingly small fold, I took one out for a half-hour demo ride yesterday. I returned to the shop within 10 mins... Edinburgh's roads are diabolical & I just felt that it was a liability with its 16" wheels. It would be great as a city commuter (which to be fair is what it's designed for) on smooth roads & cycleways but I really didn't like the ride on rough potholed streets. When you add in the cost & attractiveness to thieves it it's not for me. Good to hear about your experiences with your Dahon. It's a shame that the non-mudguard & rack version is on sale at Halfords from £480 down to £432 but the mudguard & rack version is at the non-discounted £500. I like the naked look as it's a little like a foldable BMX. The mudguards & rack remind me of the sort of bike old ladies used to ride to the shops. They'd have to come off in the summer months but I can definitely appreciate their usefulness when the weather isn't so forgiving.
Barchettaman, thanks for that info. If after a bit of use I felt that an aftermarket longer seatpost was required then I'd get one. Even if it's only an increase from 580mm to 600mm then that would probably be enough to make the difference for me. I've definitely come round to the thinking that 20" folders are brilliant little things as you say. They're never going to impress people with their looks but they seem to be a very practical tool for general usage... much more so than having to pull the wheels off a bigger bike & attempt to manhandle it into my small car.
I've looked at Halfords Carerra & Decathlon Tilt folders as well. They might to the job but what am I getting with a Dahon other than the brand name? Are they much more durable / higher quality?
Halfords had a amazing deal on the 2021 electric Carerra folders a few days ago. Down from £949 to £600'ish I think? They're no longer advertising them so presumably sold out. Weirdly the same bike but 2020 model remained (& is still advertised) at the full £949. I was tempted but a woman at work has one & it's had quite a few issues. I test-rode one last year & didn't like it at all. If I want a cheap big store bike then I'd take a punt on a Decathlon.
Might have to give a Dahon a miss unless I can order direct from Dahon. Their UK distributors (Halfords) didn't want to sell me one.
Visited 3 Halfords stores around Edinburgh this afternoon. None carried any in stock & when I asked about them I got:
(i) "Uhhhh, a what"?
(ii) "We don't get them in & when we do get one we just leave it in the box coz no-one wants them"
(iii) "Never heard of them, we don't sell those"
I can't hand over a few hundred quid to a business as clueless as that. A corpse has greater interpersonal skills than their store staff. Their stock answer is "Maybe try one of our bigger stores" or "Contact customer services via the website".
Visited 3 Halfords stores around Edinburgh this afternoon. None carried any in stock & when I asked about them I got:
(i) "Uhhhh, a what"?
(ii) "We don't get them in & when we do get one we just leave it in the box coz no-one wants them"
(iii) "Never heard of them, we don't sell those"
I can't hand over a few hundred quid to a business as clueless as that. A corpse has greater interpersonal skills than their store staff. Their stock answer is "Maybe try one of our bigger stores" or "Contact customer services via the website".
Edited by EasternBlocGeek on Sunday 2nd June 17:07
If you want a bike with a more full-size riding experience but that you can also fit in a car boot (so long as it's a decent size car boot) then you could do a lot worse than picking up a Montague of some sort, probably used from eBay. Something like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135045317595
They are full sized MTB or Hybrid bikes that fold - so ride very much like a regular bike, when unfolded, but are easier to fit in the car. I had a Montague Urban for a while and it felt a lot more "normal" than the Brompton I ride these days.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135045317595
They are full sized MTB or Hybrid bikes that fold - so ride very much like a regular bike, when unfolded, but are easier to fit in the car. I had a Montague Urban for a while and it felt a lot more "normal" than the Brompton I ride these days.
EasternBlocGeek said:
Might have to give a Dahon a miss unless I can order direct from Dahon. Their UK distributors (Halfords) didn't want to sell me one.
Visited 3 Halfords stores around Edinburgh this afternoon. None carried any in stock & when I asked about them I got:
(i) "Uhhhh, a what"?
(ii) "We don't get them in & when we do get one we just leave it in the box coz no-one wants them"
(iii) "Never heard of them, we don't sell those"
I can't hand over a few hundred quid to a business as clueless as that. A corpse has greater interpersonal skills than their store staff. Their stock answer is "Maybe try one of our bigger stores" or "Contact customer services via the website".
That's a shame, I've generally found the Halfords branches near me (Reading) have really helpful staff. Visited 3 Halfords stores around Edinburgh this afternoon. None carried any in stock & when I asked about them I got:
(i) "Uhhhh, a what"?
(ii) "We don't get them in & when we do get one we just leave it in the box coz no-one wants them"
(iii) "Never heard of them, we don't sell those"
I can't hand over a few hundred quid to a business as clueless as that. A corpse has greater interpersonal skills than their store staff. Their stock answer is "Maybe try one of our bigger stores" or "Contact customer services via the website".
Edited by EasternBlocGeek on Sunday 2nd June 17:07
Worth a punt buying it online as a Click and Collect? Apparenty the HIT is available at Edinburgh Seafield 1hr after reservation?
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/dahon...
I've done C&C before and if I haven't liked it on collection just done an immediate return. You have to go through the small rigmarole of 'buying' it then immediately returning it so you get a debit/credit on your card but all do-able.
Have you considered a used one off eBay? There are loads of really good condition 20" Dahons on there at the moment at about half the price of a new one, seems there is an active market. None in Edinburgh though. Doesn't stop you getting one couriered via Parcelforce though. I once bought a vintage caravan awning and all the poles from a chap in Leeds. It was massive and weighed a lot. The seller was happy to roll it up in an old carpet for me, stick a label on it and I got ParcelForce to deliver it to me for 40 quid. The bloke dropping it off joked that it was like a dead body! If you get a helpful seller and are willing to pay postage there are some great barely-used bargains out there.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 6th June 12:01
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