Jipe

The geometry of a real gravel bike (original concept, nowadays any offroad bike without suspension is called "gravel") is very different from the geometry of a MTB. The position on the bike is also very different.

Its close to the geometry and position of a cyclocross bike (for those who don't know, Cyclocross is an official UCI discipline) and closer to a long distance road bike than to a MTB bike.

tds101 

As long as I'm happy with it, it's a "gravel bike"... I know all about cyclocross. Great sport.

Barchettaman

A drop-bar conversion of a cheap Dahon Espresso would get you 90% of the way there for considerably less expense. There are fast-rolling ‘gravel’ tyres for a 26 inch rim available.

Jipe

Its not only about a drop bar, if the frame of this GB-2 is a real gravel frame, i.e. close to a cyclocross frame, its a different frame geometry that creates a different bike behavior.

Ron Damon

Freud called it the narcissism of small differences. I call it splitting hairs in a First-World bubble.

tds101 

Here's another bike I own that would work as a gravel bike. A gravel bike is what I decide is a gravel bike for ME.

Jipe

This is exactly the current situation of gravel bikes: almost anything is called gravel bike, so that gravel is now meaningless!

Barchettaman

I would agree with most of that, but that isn’t what Dahon have done with the GB-2 as far as I can see.

They’ve taken a standard Cadenza and just set it up with drops and gravel tyres.

you could do the same with an Espresso, a Tern Joe, a Matrix. Heck even a Tern Node would work!

Jipe

OK, I didn't knew that its a reuse of an existing frame and not a real gravel frame geometry.

Fentuz

Compared to CX, Gravel bikes tend to be 10mm shorter on effective top tube and 10mm higher on the stack with 1 to 1.5deg extra slack on the head tube and BB tend to be 5 to 10mm lower. This allow a more upright position with more "caster" hence a more stable steering.
MTBs are 1.5deg slacker but older mtb used to have headset angle very close to modern gravel bikes.

That is the theory but , it is possible to convert a 2000's MTB or large clearance hybrid into a descent gravel bike by fitting a set of dropbars with a shorter +6deg stem (compared to road stem) to bring the upperbody towards the saddle. Then, something with 42 to 50mm wide tyres and more importantly, a modern groupset with a 1X, clutch derailleur and a wide range cassette.

From there, it is pretty capable and versatile.

questionesse

Umm - where do you see that? The cadenza is a 26" bike with a very different looking frame, even if you'd add a different tread and drop bars.
Wondering where you draw that conclusion from.
https://dahon.com/bikes/cadenza-p18/

Barchettaman

It looked to me very much like an older Cadenza frame with a different fork; upon much closer examination I think you’re right, it could well be a newly designed and manufactured frame.

Anyway I hope it makes riders very happy; there’s obviously a significant market for ‘gravel’ bikes and perhaps a niche within that for folding gravel bikes.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to ride some gravel farm trails near me here in Frankfurt on this:

questionesse

It's even on decathlon Hongkong from a vendor which is not decathlon though.
For a mere 800bucks.
https://www.decathlon.com.hk/en/p/mp...a-04b69e517a43

Also on carousel.sg etc.

Are there any parcel forwarding companies for those countries to Europe?

Reddleman

Dahon NZ has reappeared recently and their website says they have a couple of GB-2 bikes in stock for 2000NZD each including our local sales tax. See if they’ll ship to you from Christchurch?

questionesse

Thanks for the heads-up!
That's interesting that it appeared on an official dahon branch!
Shipping from NZ is probably the most distant open, but I'll definitely have a look!
Also found some package forwarding services that cover Hongkong and Singapore, need to have a deeper look if that would also encompass bike-sized shipments...

questionesse

Got some measurements from NZ. Any take from the geometry experts?

Dahon is also checking for geometry data meanwhile...
After telling me, it's not on the market yet, they are now stating it's on the market in NZ, Hong Kong and Thailand.
If anyone has a tip for a packaging forwarding company for any of those...

questionesse

Aaand some close up shots

Ron Damon

I'd stop measurin' and start opening my wallet. Pull the trigger already.

CrimsonEclipse

Great pics!
Wonder if the hinge bump on the left side with be noticeable to your inner thigh

Reddleman

Try Pack & Send for shipping from NZ. I’ve used them for shifting bikes from the South Island to the North Island, no real dramas.

questionesse

Haha - didn't see that one.
You did read the thread, realising it's not available pretty much everywhere?
Plus - meanwhile having at least a quick look at actual dimensions of a bike that no-one has ever seen live can't hurt it'd say?

questionesse

For comparison, Dahon provided geometry data as well now:

Top Tube Length 487.6MM
Seat Tube Length 470.4MM
Head Tube Angle 71°
Standover 675MM
Wheelbase 1031.8MM
Chainstay Length 430
BB Height 265MM

Ron Damon

Top tube looks short.

questionesse

Strikingly so! Although - how's it correctly measured? Middle to middle of the tubes, isn't it?
On the pictures it looks a bit longer at least, more like 53cm (which is still on the shorter end though).

Ron Damon

Looks short from the measurements in the table, not from the image with the tape measure.