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Pimping my Dahon Espresso

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Pimping my Dahon Espresso

Old 01-23-19, 09:40 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Barchettaman
I was a bit cramped so fitted a cheap extender from China. Does the job!

Also, I wasn’t getting on with the bullhorns so swapped in a cut down flat bar and some Ergon grips. It’s much better now.
Nice work.

If you want some ideas for light weight parts take a look at my build:
https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...csi-build.html

There are still a lot of areas where you can shave weight but it gets costly quickly.
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Old 11-06-19, 02:35 AM
  #27  
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Old 11-06-19, 02:41 AM
  #28  
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So, 2 years since I got it and the Dahon has seen some serious use.

It’s been on tour around Europe, gravel riding in Bavaria, on holiday to Cornwall, had a couple of months in Wales and recently 6 weeks commuting across London.

It’s been on buses, planes and just about every sort of German train.

The rear rack collapsed but I had a Blackburn rack ready to go on.

I have just swapped the new handlebar in. The FSA external bottom bracket is pretty short lived but I have removed the seals, cleaned and repacked it a couple of times. Easily done. Drivetrain now has a few thousand KM on it but still looks ok. New shift cables and housing, new brake pads, that’s it.

I’m very glad I went with the Magura hydraulic rim brakes as I have ridden with some serious weight on board.

All in all a great acquisition and a keeper, for sure!
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Old 11-11-19, 05:08 AM
  #29  
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What Front chainring do you run? I'm interested in the small one as the top seem a 50 something teeth.

thanks
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Old 11-18-19, 04:54 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Fentuz
What Front chainring do you run? I'm interested in the small one as the top seem a 50 something teeth.

thanks
Standard racing compact (as that’s what I had in the parts bin). 50/34, 11-30 ten speed cassette.

It’s a bit overgeared. A 13-30 cassette would be perfect.
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Old 11-19-19, 09:29 AM
  #31  
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Old 11-19-19, 09:30 AM
  #32  
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Just got this one too for €10 - looks like a project!

Different branding but the geometry is the same.

3x7 Microshift, flat tyres, no seatpost, but should be an easy fixer upper.
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Old 11-21-19, 07:18 AM
  #33  
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All finished, rides perfectly.

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Old 12-17-19, 12:12 PM
  #34  
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So the white DLT above sold pretty much straight away for €130, which netted a nice profit, offsetting the costs of pimping the silver Dahon a bit.

I’m currently in Strasbourg and the bike is running perfectly. Newly cabled and with fresh brakes, I repacked the folding pedals as they were squeaking horribly, everything works as it should and it’s a joy to ride.

If you don’t need a particularly small fold, then I highly recommend these Dahon 26” folders. They ride exactly like a standard hybrid.
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Old 05-24-20, 02:01 PM
  #35  
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Back to pimping the Espresso: it’s about to receive a Swytch front wheel e-bike conversion.
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Old 01-03-21, 01:18 PM
  #36  
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has anyone put shock forks on the front of a D21?
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Old 01-03-21, 04:29 PM
  #37  
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What are you hoping to gain? Roger
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Old 01-04-21, 05:07 AM
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a smoother ride I have it set up as a mountain bike. also considering a rear ewheel or middrive motor?
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Old 01-05-21, 02:42 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by rhenning
What are you hoping to gain? Roger
Hi Roger,

When I am working away, I will be able to more comfortably park and live temporarily further away from my destination and commute in.

I will hopefully save some cash. The Swytch kit works well.
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Old 01-05-21, 03:14 AM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by kentpaul
a smoother ride I have it set up as a mountain bike. also considering a rear ewheel or middrive motor?
is that a question for me?

I am considering neither as the front wheel Swytch conversion fulfills my requirements. It’s a decent piece of kit, although installation took a while.

I also serviced the external bottom bracket cups whilst I had the crank arm off so that took a bit of time. It’s well worth doing this if you run an external BB. They won’t be perfect afterwards but you can extend their life massively.
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Old 01-09-21, 01:53 PM
  #41  
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have any of you figured out the best way to attach an ebike battery to the frame?
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Old 01-25-21, 03:35 AM
  #42  
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You have various options.

a smaller bottle style battery on the bottle bosses under the downtube.

a rack battery on... a rear rack.

the Swytch handlebar battery is a decent solution. It’s easy to remove. There is a mild effect on the steering as it is slowed by the extra weight up there but you get used to it quickly enough.

hope this helps.
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Old 02-15-21, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by kentpaul
have any of you figured out the best way to attach an ebike battery to the frame?
Originally Posted by Barchettaman
You have various options.

a smaller bottle style battery on the bottle bosses under the downtube.

a rack battery on... a rear rack.

the Swytch handlebar battery is a decent solution. It’s easy to remove. There is a mild effect on the steering as it is slowed by the extra weight up there but you get used to it quickly enough.

hope this helps.

https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-b...l#post21925054
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Old 03-12-21, 12:53 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by Barchettaman
Back to pimping the Espresso: it’s about to receive a Swytch front wheel e-bike conversion.
How about some pics of the bike with the kit installed. I'm contemplating getting the Swytch Bike kit myself,...
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Old 03-12-21, 01:15 PM
  #45  
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  • Oops apologies. I will upload photos tomorrow!
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Old 03-12-21, 01:27 PM
  #46  
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a pretty terrible photo but it’ll give you an idea.
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Old 03-12-21, 05:28 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by Barchettaman


a pretty terrible photo but it’ll give you an idea.

I love my Swytch kit. Bought 2, 1st one is on a tandem. Other will go on my wife's road bike to keep up with my Chameleon

On a smaller folder their Brompton block mount would be ideal.
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Old 08-31-21, 07:20 AM
  #48  
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Crisis time!

The seat tube cracked all the way round; fortunately the guys at the theatre here in Belgium could fashion a rough and ready repair.
It looks pretty awful, but I don’t care at all, it just has to hold!
A month of Begian pavé proved too much for it!







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