Pimping my Dahon Espresso
#26
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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.
#27
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#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!
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!
#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
thanks
#30
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#31
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#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.
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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#33
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All finished, rides perfectly.
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#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.
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.
#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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#39
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#40
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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.
#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.
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.
#43
Junior Member
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.
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
#45
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- Oops apologies. I will upload photos tomorrow!
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#46
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a pretty terrible photo but it’ll give you an idea.
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#47
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#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!
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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