Dahon rejuvenation
#1
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
Dahon rejuvenation
New project, upgrade my 2012 Dahon Mu P8 w/ new Conti’s rubber & a few LitePro components.
32mm replacing 42mm
Leaving rear drivetrain & brakes original. Litepro for weight reduction & bling
32mm replacing 42mm
Leaving rear drivetrain & brakes original. Litepro for weight reduction & bling
Likes For Need41speed:
#2
Looks like a nice upgrade. The best upgrade I made for my Dahon 20" folder was a 2X crank and derailleur to get additional lower gearing.
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
Likes For Duragrouch:
#3
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
Looks like a nice upgrade. The best upgrade I made for my Dahon 20" folder was a 2X crank and derailleur to get additional lower gearing.
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
8spd shifter & disc brake caliper/rotor fm Amazon
Last edited by Need41speed; 03-16-24 at 09:56 PM.
#4
I recently looked at that exact fork. But I don't want carbon for reasons stated, bad failure modes. I want a disc in front for long downhills to keep from heating up the rim, and no sidewall wear, my rims are getting critically concaved after 10 years in an area with steeps. My current fork is 74mm, would need 100mm for disc, plus disc wheel, caliper, etc. May be better to just buy a disc folder, like an Origami. I like my old chrome-moly frame and fork, it's outfit with front and rear panniers as a townie, 2X gearing, aero bars, it's tricked out nice. Only thing it's missing is discs.
Carbon: Get a micro-torque wrench (lb-inches and metric equiv) if you don't have one. And any adaptors and/or bits so you can use it on the bike.
Carbon: Get a micro-torque wrench (lb-inches and metric equiv) if you don't have one. And any adaptors and/or bits so you can use it on the bike.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 03-16-24 at 10:29 PM.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: The Ring of Fire
Posts: 1,645
Bikes: Several, all affordably priced, none exalted cult artifacts
Liked 841 Times
in
554 Posts
Thanks for the heads up on the friction paste, I ordered some along w/ tire liners for the project. Took a measurement of the front fork & discovered that the spacing is only 85mm. The new front wheel is 100mm so, will be upgrading the front fork with a carbon fiber disc brake version. This frankenbike project will have front disc brakes & rear V brakes! New front fork means new headset too, along with new brake levers & changing from SRAM grip shift to trigger shifter. The OEM is reduced to frame, rear derailleur, 8spd cassette & rear V brakes.
8spd shifter & disc brake caliper/rotor fm Amazon
8spd shifter & disc brake caliper/rotor fm Amazon
I'm with Grouch on the carbon bit.
#7
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
From past experience, headset race on fork side , usually pressed fit or are very tight & difficult to remove and easily damaged. Bearings on my original headset are 12 years old. New headset for this project. Brake levers to be mounted on carbon fiber handlebars so that grip paste & TLC will used. Thanks for the heads up on the levers.
Last edited by Need41speed; 03-17-24 at 02:41 AM.
#9
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
LitePro specializes in components for folding bikes. These levers appear to be a little longer than the original Avid levers in that they’re straighter but arm girth appears the same.
#10
That would be a great trick. Usually, you twist the handlebars up or down before fold, so the brake levers are more flush to the fold. But I can't because of bar-ends, aero bars, plus I have L levers to reach on the bar-ends. I currently remove the forearm pads and arms, for a bit better fold. It's a great cockpit setup, but poor for folding.
Likes For Duragrouch:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,566
Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
Liked 121 Times
in
77 Posts
Best of luck with those high pressure 406/32 tyres.
I swapped mine out; on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac my fillings would be shaken out of my teeth.
The minor increase in speed was offset by much higher rider fatigue as my poor body absorbed the bumps and chatter rather than the tyres.
I went back to 406/42 and my molars are grateful.
I swapped mine out; on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac my fillings would be shaken out of my teeth.
The minor increase in speed was offset by much higher rider fatigue as my poor body absorbed the bumps and chatter rather than the tyres.
I went back to 406/42 and my molars are grateful.
Likes For Barchettaman:
#12
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
I recently looked at that exact fork. But I don't want carbon for reasons stated, bad failure modes. I want a disc in front for long downhills to keep from heating up the rim, and no sidewall wear, my rims are getting critically concaved after 10 years in an area with steeps. My current fork is 74mm, would need 100mm for disc, plus disc wheel, caliper, etc. May be better to just buy a disc folder, like an Origami. I like my old chrome-moly frame and fork, it's outfit with front and rear panniers as a townie, 2X gearing, aero bars, it's tricked out nice. Only thing it's missing is discs.
Carbon: Get a micro-torque wrench (lb-inches and metric equiv) if you don't have one. And any adaptors and/or bits so you can use it on the bike.
Carbon: Get a micro-torque wrench (lb-inches and metric equiv) if you don't have one. And any adaptors and/or bits so you can use it on the bike.
#13
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
Best of luck with those high pressure 406/32 tyres.
I swapped mine out; on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac my fillings would be shaken out of my teeth.
The minor increase in speed was offset by much higher rider fatigue as my poor body absorbed the bumps and chatter rather than the tyres.
I went back to 406/42 and my molars are grateful.
I swapped mine out; on anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac my fillings would be shaken out of my teeth.
The minor increase in speed was offset by much higher rider fatigue as my poor body absorbed the bumps and chatter rather than the tyres.
I went back to 406/42 and my molars are grateful.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,566
Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
Liked 121 Times
in
77 Posts
I think it was the combination of the short wheelbase, smaller wheels and rough tarmac in the north of England that made the 406/32 tyres so extraordinarily unpleasant. The vertical deflection and chatter was just appalling.
I hope you have better luck!
I hope you have better luck!
#15
Not as short a wheelbase as you might think. The KHS shown is a bit different from my Dahon, but similar proportions:
Likes For Duragrouch:
#17
I don't know, sorry. The picture is from the wiki page on "folding bicycle". Looks like a good one, fast, notice 2X gearing, bullhorns and brifters, rear suspension. Frame is a bit less compact than a Dahon because it's taller, probably to get away with a more normal diameter seat post.
Last edited by Duragrouch; 03-19-24 at 11:32 PM.
#18
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
Likes For Need41speed:
#19
BeastMaster
Thread Starter
Refocus to the build, along with the plethora of Litepro components & partial changeover to disc brakes, decided to change from 8spd to 11spd w/ SRAM parts.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,566
Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
Liked 121 Times
in
77 Posts
In defense of carbon fiber, I have a previous bike project that I built over 10 years ago that is composed of a EPX TT carbon frame, Easton EC90 Aero fork and Zipp 440 rims. These carbon components are vintage, the Zipp rims are from the 90’s and the frame & fork from the mid 2000’s. I’ve used this bike for commuting and training, on urban bike lanes and in century rides. From my experience, the durability, lighter weight and shock absorption (700x22 Conti tubulars) is excellent.
Likes For Barchettaman:
#21
Looks like a nice upgrade. The best upgrade I made for my Dahon 20" folder was a 2X crank and derailleur to get additional lower gearing.
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
I've shied away from carbon, a LBS has a web page devoted to fragility and bad failure modes of it, they only endorse its use for competitive racing bikes, and they won't service a lot of it. It also requires very careful installation to keep from damage due to clamp loads, such as using friction paste so you don't need to clamp as hard.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,566
Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
Liked 121 Times
in
77 Posts
#23
That will depend on the bike you have. I have the KING of folding bikes. The mighty Tern Verge X11. It has 24 to 102 gear inches. There isnt a hill that's ever defeated me. If you have a bike with gear inched in the 30s. That's another story. I owned an X20 before the X11. That had 2X gearing. But it kept going off. And even with the two rings it didn't match the X11. it was 27 to 95.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,566
Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
Liked 121 Times
in
77 Posts
I was defeated multiple times this January when I was staying in a very hilly part of Kent, UK, hence the move from 52 to 47 teeth on my 1x9 Tern 406 tyred folder.
I did have quite a bit of weight on board though (mostly the rider LOL)
I did have quite a bit of weight on board though (mostly the rider LOL)
#25
Well yes that will make a difference. When I was 100kg. Hills were a challenge. At 83kg. Life is alot easier on hills. I too experimented alot on my budget folder. With 45 to 56 tooth rings. But the X11 answered all my questions. 10--42. is a beautiful range.