My 1st Folder: Dahon Mu Uno ('14) - Watching it evolve
 

Hi,

My 1st post on this forum :-)

Hopefully collecting my Mu Uno later today :thumb: Thanks to the store's price-match policy and my friend's 25% discount card (they work for the chain) I will be picking it up for £307! Excellent value at that price! That's just shy of $520 US.

This is only the 2nd bike I will have ever owned - the other is my trusty Giant Boulder around 10 years old. I have no previous experience with folders.

My Mu will get used at least 4 days per week; daily commute, sometimes on and off trains and into a car boot. Reason for purchase is that due to a change of job I need something more portable for the commute. Also I will get plenty of leisure time with it when we visit people on weekends - I love visiting local woods wherever I go to simply take it in, walk around, birdwatch etc. This will allow me to do much more of that.

I chose this bike because of its weight, general simplicity, minimalist design, colour & because with my friend's staff discount it made sense to pick-up a highly respected mid-level folder at at an almost entry-level price. I'd also noticed that in many ways it's ripe for some cool upgrades.

I hope to get some sound advice from those much more knowledgeable than me, as a I slowly start to upgrade this bike with little bits and pieces. Having ready many threads (ps Brucemetras Mu Duo is especially gorgeous!) I've got plenty of ideas already but will do it slowly and steadily.

Will post a picture every time I add something or change something on the bike. My aim is to get advice before each step to get the best possible outcome every time any change is made.

Many thanks,

Atma.

Welcome and look forward to seeing pics of the bike.

Welcome and look forward to seeing pics of the bike.;)

It's arrived...here it is folded:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379358

Pic taken on iPhone, with lighting provided via my first 'upgrade' - Knog Blinder 1's (Silver) front & rear, attached where you'd expect them, to handlebars & seatpost. Lovely lights seemingly made for this bike.

This bike really is a thing of beauty. Feels very high quality and looks very well thought out. Love the matte look.

Will post more detail pics 2moro. For now I've attached a pic of the bike...before I removed the bell, the front n back reflectors & the half-pipe chain guard thingy :-)

ps Tomorrow I will be installing a Cateye Velo Wireless onto it which should be perfect for my needs.

Things I've noticed:

- There are no magnetic attachments - a plastic system instead. I don't mind it. Seems to feel secure but then I've not experienced anything different so can't compare to magnets.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379404http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379405

Here are the wheels locked together:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379406

- The shop I bought it from 'built' it for me and apparently tuned it up. Funny that because the front brakes are rubbing the rim slightly, handlebar stem isn't aligned straight with the front wheel and the main folding clamp is seriously tight. Having looked at the downloadable manual I can see what I need to do to correct those last two.

- Here are some other little things I've noticed:

Tyres aren't Schwalbe - not sure if that's a good/bad thing really as I haven't got a clue how good/bad these Dahon / Impac branded ones are.

Grey decals along top bar & back of frame - nice!

Seat doesn't include an integrated pump - doesn't really bother me. Feels comfortable.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379407http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379408http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379409http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379410http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379411

Please feel free to share your thoughts - esp. re: locking mechanism.

Thanks,

Atma

Looking good! I've enjoyed mine for the past 5 years but now I'm riding a Brompton. Here is my original post http://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bi...ml#post9581122

Overall the bike has been very reliable and pretty much maintenance free. One annoyance which I hope Dahon has fixed in the new version is that on mine, the frame started to make squeaking noise just few months after purchase. It doesn't affect the performance but I've never managed to make it stop even though I've tried to tighten every bolt and even tape/repaint the joint.

Cool!

Hopefully I won't get 'the squeak' lol.

Will post pics soon of my bike with a cycle computer, lights, bottle cage and bottle attached. Then I'm going to get some advice about the first actual modification to go for, having ridden the bike for a week or two. I'm thinking it may be the handlebars but let's see how I feel about them in a week or two.

Sweet bike, welcome to the folders forum.

Thanks Ed :-)

..

Yep. I agree.

Those impac branded tires are actually low end schwalbes which they don't even sell through normal channels:

Link C7 | Tern Folding Bike and Folding Bicycle Accessories | Worldwide

go to the specs on the c7 and look at the specs tab it'll say "impac by schwalbe" it's the only bike that has those tires from tern. I don't expect those to perform well or last long but try them out for awhile before you upgrade to some kojaks or supremes which is entirely a different ride once you start climbing I find! using them first would let you appreciate the upgrade when you do :)

oh yeah and I would like to see what you think about that new locking mechanism that your dahon uses. The terns use the magnetic lock plates that dahon used to have which is next to pathetic in holding it together and if yours is better I would actually buy that and try it out!

Just received my new Mu Uno from Amazon.
Haven't had chance to ride yet due to heart problems.

The Tern Gang has improved the magnets with some super strong ones.... they work very well, actually somebody complained to me that they were too strong ..lol ( never fails right ?)

The Impact tires are not so bad ..but I also prefer the "real" Schwalbe tires

thor

Thanks for the info.

Will let the tyres wear out before upgrading.

Will feedback regarding the new locking mechanism once I've used it for a week or two. Its definitely tight at the moment. Requires a decent amount of force to prize the bike apart.

I hope you get better soon - you will enjoy the bike :thumb:

Finally decided on lights
 

After much ado I decided on these Knog Blinder 1's - they are bright blinkers and meet my aesthetic requirements. I think they really suit the bike.

As as you can see from the side-on pic they are seriously low profile.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380011
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380012

Next up is sorting the bottle-cage, bottle, installing the Cateye Velo Wireless & mudguards/fenders. That last task is easily the most frustrating. Damn - they're ugly!

Update: Have yet to put the cycling computer on but have done the following:

- Installed Elite Race Cage (Nero). Has a beautiful black matte futuristic look. Suits this bike down to a tee. These cages get consistently excellent reviews. Excellent value for money.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380630
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380631

- I hate drinking from plastic bottles for various reasons. Bought a Sigg Widemouth bottle (aluminium, fully internally lined, durable, easy to wash) & swapped out the pull and suck lid with my classic lid. Shorter lid provides more clearance (0.75L bottle that's long and thin) and actually looks nicer. Matches the cage nicely but most importantly locks in very nicely. An extruding lip on bottom of cage catches the nook of the bottle's clever design very firmly.
Haven't ridden with it yet but I can already tell that bottle hopefully won't be accidentally slipping out. Bottle looks as lovely installed in the cage as any bottle could hope to look...on a frame so delicate and sophisticated lol.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380632
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380633

So that's lights, cage & bottle sorted. Currently getting advice from forum members re: fenders/mudguards and handlebar extension.

Finally got a chance to ride my new Mu Uno. Had to make some adjustments on the rear wheel as there was a clicking noise when I first road this.
Has been good so far, just put my first 10 miles on today. Have new Cateye Padrone installed and working well.

Good to know you're healthy enough to put-in 10miles. Hope you're enjoying your Uno as much as I'm enjoying mine :-)

Fitted the CatEye Velo Wireless earlier this evening. Also bought and fitted a Topeak Wedge ll Pack (large) saddle pack. Both are very nice additions. Will take proper pics tomorrow.

Kids and wife went to bed. Couldn't resist a late night cycle. On a nice long stretch I hit my max speed for the night - see pic.

I seriously love this bike. Tonight it seems I will be dreaming about hitting-up a 2nd gear to make me faster...via a SRAM Automatix IGH and some faster rims & tyres...but beyond that dream first those handlebars need some extending & shifting about...& I can't pretend I don't need some sort of fenders. And perhaps those pedals could be swapped-out for more comfortable ones...so many things to do!

Obviously I like the idea of the 2 speed SRAM .. and I had 451's and Stelvios on a 2 speed Mu Uno that I sold (that bike was a missile ) but I wouldn't extend the bars with the stock q/r stem .. I had bull bars on mine for awhile, but could feel the flex and the additional load on the q/r .. I pulled them and went back to stock.. as Smallwheeler pointed out, I'd be very careful extending bars with the stock post.. be better to do something like you had in the pic .. different handle post, ahead stem, life's good..

Those Stelvio's looked hot Bruce! How could you part with those wheels!?

Do you mean I should go this kind of route:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380869

My only worry about that route is the fact that it would surely affect the folding capabilities really badly.

So you also wouldn't recommend aber hallo etc...as I would be using bar-ends?

What do you think of the Andros extender on a t-bar stem?

Lots of toys in the toy box .. but I do miss the speed .. 451s are sooooo nice ..

Well, you take the torque out of a top mounted q/r .. that's a good thing .. I'm sure the fold is compromised..

I ran the aber hallo also ... and took it off .. I like stock, so I'm recommending stock ..

I can't get beyond the looks of it.. however, certainly would probably be a decent option if you had to get more reach.. most of the mods you will do with an inside fold handle post will muck up the folding.. you can purchase an outside fold post and then you have a few more options, but the fold will be wider.. mine folds to like 12" or less.. fits easily in the trunk of my Alfa with a minimum of fuss.. if you want to hot rod a Mu Uno, you'll have to do a little give an take..

Thanks Bruce. I expected as much...

Currently looking at Ergon GP grips as opposed to swapping-out the actual handlebars for bull horns etc. - getting people's thoughts in a separate thread - feel free to muck-in ;-)

http://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bi...on-mu-uno.html

I'm thinking by going this route I limit potential folding issues and hopefully minimise flex. Having lived with whichever GP grips I go with I will then come back to whether I still need to increase reach.