Dahon Curl (brompton clone) released
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Dahon Curl (brompton clone) released
Everybody see that the Dahon Curl has finally been released?
https://www.nycewheels.com/dahon-folding-bike-curl.html
At $1450, any thoughts on what this would have to offer over just buying a Brompton?
https://www.nycewheels.com/dahon-folding-bike-curl.html
At $1450, any thoughts on what this would have to offer over just buying a Brompton?
Last edited by mainstreetexile; 08-02-12 at 05:53 PM. Reason: fixed typo
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may as well get a Brompton at that price.
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There is something interesting there in the seatpost for the folded bike. Might this be something for pinching in the other direction?
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its on the web so it has to be true ....
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Interesting that it's that expensive. I'd like to know specs - weight, gearing, etc. And, yeah, 18" wheels seems an odd choice.
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With something costing the exact same price as the brompton and not as good long term support i'm trying to find a benefit the curl would have over any typical brompton. Anyone?
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I guess the slightly smaller fold may be more convenient when taken as luggage on flights?
The steering will probably be a bit less twitchy and handlebar height is adjustable.
I don't think the concept works, it looks awkward to carry and the chain being on the outside is not good.
The steering will probably be a bit less twitchy and handlebar height is adjustable.
I don't think the concept works, it looks awkward to carry and the chain being on the outside is not good.
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I don't find the Brompton steering twitchy at all, in fact I find it a very agile bike. This is interesting from Dahon but the chain on the outside defeats the purpose of a compact folder. It won't challenge the Brommie too much at that price entry point.
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Depends on how you define "hard to find". Your corner LBS won't have them, but then they probably won't have ISO349x35 for your Brompton or ISO406x28 for your Tern Verge X30h either. Birdys use 18" tires.
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It looks as though this fold with 20" wheels would be around the same size as a Brompton, perhaps there's an argument for one of those.
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Depends on how you define "hard to find". Your corner LBS won't have them, but then they probably won't have ISO349x35 for your Brompton or ISO406x28 for your Tern Verge X30h either. Birdys use 18" tires.
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So while the difference between ERTO 349 and 355 is clearly trivial -- 6 mm! -- you do get wider tires with ERTO 355.
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I don't know what kind of "long term support" your talking about, but the Curl is, I'd argue, better looking with it's more modern style and technological edge. A Brompton is properly handsome, but those tiny riser bars are awfully prissy, aren't they?
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Don't give up on the Brompton riser bars just yet. The new H type's stem makes all the difference in the world. The Curl model might be gone in a couple of years. The basic Brompton lasts and lasts.
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Why do you suggest the Curl may be gone in a couple of years, as if it's a problem, when the H type was just introduced this year, and so as a model, has yet to earn it's keep? That models come and go is a fact of life, and doesn't weigh much with me, and being "just a bike," I've found there's not a lot to go horribly wrong.
Anyway, if I was handing out bona fides for longevity, remember that Dahon has been producing bikes longer than Brompton. On top of that, Dahon has done more engineering and tried more unique designs, which translates as real, working experience to me, and is more impressive than just general evolution of a single design.
And don't get me wrong, I don't hate a Brompton, but was just answering the question posited earlier, "What benefit would the Curl have over a typical Brompton?" That answer, to me, is better styling. It also looks like a more compact fold, but since no one has seen one yet, I'll refrain from commenting on that aspect.