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Help me identify this 1980's Dahon

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Help me identify this 1980's Dahon

Old 02-13-13, 01:03 AM
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go_jake
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Help me identify this 1980's Dahon

I've been wanting a folder to play with for years and last weekend I finally picked up a lovely, red Dahon. Now that I have it, though, I'd like to figure out exactly what it is I've got.

There aren't a lot of markings on the frame. It has badges on the stem and the rear fender that both say "DAHON Carson, California". It has a "Made in Taiwan" sticker and a faded sticker saying something about having six patents and others pending. But there's no other labeling on the frame, no model name and no serial number anywhere. From what I've seen looking around, I suspect it's a Classic III, but I'm not really sure. There's one clue to its age—the Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub is stamped 86-8.

Other specs:
Sturmey-Archer 3 speed AW hub
16" x 1.75" HWA Fong tires
CMCO steel rims
KMC chain
Wellgo plastic pedals
Lee Chi brakes
Cateye reflectors
Persons oversized, sprung saddle (that I suspect may not have been original and which I immediately removed)
Here is a picture.



And here are some more.

https://plus.google.com/photos/10936...Ly5087l0IeIyQE

Can anyone tell me anything about this bike? Model? Year? Charming anecdote?
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Old 02-13-13, 01:15 AM
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badmother
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I would say the hub is made in june 86. I have mixed feelings about this bike, I gave mine away but after seing what somebody posted a short time ago I can for sure see the cool factor.. https://www.flickriver.com/photos/num...7606937764955/

Try searching the forum. A lot of peopel have them and post about them.
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Old 02-13-13, 01:24 AM
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go_jake
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Thanks, badmother. I've been looking around both here and on the Dahon forum and what I've found out is that I probably have a Classic III. But I'd like to know the model and year. And I think I'm hitting a point of diminishing returns for time spend just searching so I'm hoping someone more experienced will give me a push in the right direction.
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Old 02-13-13, 01:41 AM
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Did you try to contact the taiwan club I linked to? Looks like they know what they are doing.
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Old 02-13-13, 09:36 AM
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yes. it is a 1986 dahon classic III.

now, let the mods commence!

https://www.flickr.com/groups/dahonclassics/pool/

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Old 02-13-13, 12:59 PM
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I found the serial number! Or, rather, I found out that the writing scratched inside the folding hinge was, in fact, the serial number and not a previous owner's phone number as I had initially thought. I'm a little stunned that this is how Dahon was tracking their product—hand-scratching some numbers in the paint. But whatever, I'm just glad to know a little more about this weird bike.

Also, the first part of the number is H703, which I think means that it was rolling off the factory floor in March of 1987?

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