Folding Bike FAQ’s

Folding Bike FAQs

WHAT IS A “FOLDER”?

A folder is a bicycle that, in addition to all the quality features you expect from a regular bicycle, folds for convenient storage and portability. A good folder will give you all these in excellent riding quality – but, even more, will weigh less than 10 kg (22 lbs) and, in seconds, fold small enough to take on a bus or train, or fit under the stairs.

WHAT’S THE ADVANTAGE OF A DAHON FOLDING BICYCLE?

Folding bicycles can go anywhere you go. Whether you ride the entire way or go part of the way by bus, train, car, boat or plane, your DAHON folding bicycle goes with you. Due to its compactness, your DAHON folding bike can easily be stored indoors, safe against potential theft or vandalism.

WHY CHOOSE DAHON OVER OTHER BRANDS?

DAHON is the world’s leading manufacturer of folding bikes – and has been for over 30 years. What’s more, 95% + of all folding bikes on the market today rely on DAHON’s pioneering technology.

IS A DAHON FOLDING BIKE AS GOOD AS A TRADITIONAL BICYCLE?

Yes. Our compact bikes (16″ and 20″ wheel sizes) feature DAHON frame geometry and deliver superb riding comfort and efficiency. Most of our small-wheeled bicycles feature telescoping stems and long seat posts, which can be adjusted to deliver a perfect fit for riders of all sizes. Our full-size bikes all feature standard frame geometry, so you won’t even notice you’re riding a folder. See the complete range of folding bikes

DO I HAVE TO PEDAL FASTER ON A BIKE WITH SMALL WHEELS?

DAHON’s unique gear engineering uses oversized chain rings and/or smaller rear cogs to give you the feel of riding a full-size bike – you don’t have to pedal any harder or faster.

ARE SMALLER WHEELS SLOWER THAN LARGE WHEELS?

Relatively speaking, no. A small wheel has a slightly higher rolling resistance than a larger wheel. But this is only one element of “speed.” Small wheels offer several performance advantages: they accelerate faster due to a lower moment of inertia, are more aerodynamic, and lighter. In fact, the world speed record for a bike ridden in an upright position was set on a bike with 18″ wheels.

HOW SAFE AND STURDY ARE FOLDING BICYCLES? WILL IT FOLD WHILE I’M RIDING IT?

All our frames and folding components are built in our own ISO 9001 certified factories, and all our bicycles exceed the rigorous U.S. and European strength and safety standards, as well those of Japan, Germany, the UK and France. All our engineering designs are rigorously tested and re-tested in our own laboratories. DAHON DoubleLok technology makes our latches and locks virtually fail-safe.

HOW COMPACT IS A DAHON FOLDING BICYCLE?

DAHON folding bikes are among the most compact in every class (16″, 20″, 26″), folding into neat, easy-to-store and transport rectangles with no protruding parts. A DAHON folding bike 16″ reduces to the size of a shopping bag and fits under a bus seat or in an airline luggage bin; two 16″ and two 20″ folders fit side-by-side in the trunk of most midsize cars. Dahon 26″ models are the most compact of their class.

HOW LIGHT ARE DAHON FOLDING BIKES COMPARED TO STANDARD AND OTHER FOLDING BIKES?

Optimizing the weight of our bikes through state-of-the-art technology is our on-going goal. Today, our lightweight models are made of carbon, titanium, magnesium, and patented aluminium alloys – the lightest weighing only 19.4 lbs (8.8 kg). Find out more