Product Features :
- Speeds 21
- Weight 29 3 lbs 13 3 kg
- Max Rider Weight 230 lbs
- Suggested Rider Height 5 6 6 0
- Color Sand
>> Good bike
Good bike I would not buy from the company again however Dahon would not help me on another purchased bike
>> Great bike and foldable too
Dahon is the most popular brand for foldable bikes in the US for a good reason quality products at bargain prices The Espresso is the entry level full size 26 wheels model in the line up It comes in three different frame sizes 20 18 16 Since my wife and I need to share this bike I pick the middle one as a compromise
There are other compromises in our decision My wife wants a comfortable i e high handle bar riding position I need a foldable model to pack into the trunk of the car occasionally We both want a bike with a good range of gears to negotiate the local hills I also want quality all aluminum construction for light weight and rust resistance Finally we don t want to pay a lot In the end the Dahon Espresso is the only bike that fits the bill
What a beautiful bike it is I get inquiries from strangers all the time especially after they see how I unpack from the trunk and unfold it in 10 seconds
In regular use it looks and handles like a premium bike yet costs hundreds of dollars less Both the front and rear derailleurs are name brand components that prove convenient and reliable The rim brakes are so strong that the rider must be careful not to engage the front brake alone or he risks flipping over in a hurry The folding and unfolding operations are straightforward The seat is easily detachable although the front wheel is not The wheel rims are aluminum The spokes are stainless steel with brass nipples It is hard to find a regular bike with this set of specs at this price level not to mention another foldable one
Of course a 400 bike cannot possibly be perfect so let me put on the nitpicker s hat and list some possible complaints With 26 wheels the Espresso does not fold as compactly as 20 or 16 models but the latter looks like circus bikes and often rides like one too It is just not possible to have it both ways Another similar issue concerns the Espresso s 30lb weight which is light for a full size bicycle but again not as light as the mini sized models
The rim brakes work well in normal usage but are inferior to disk brakes in off road condition wet weather or long downhill rides This is a compromise Dahon has to make to maintain a low price point I have no intention to do mountain biking in the rain or down steep hills so it is a non issue to me For those who care about the brake types Dahon offers Matrix Folding Bike 08 size 19
The handle control is very light This makes the bike very agile at turns but also makes me nervous about letting go the handlebar This is not a bike with which you want to see your son do the Look dad no hands trick
The seat is comfortably shaped and well made but very much on the hard side at least to this casual bicycle rider I plan to replace it with a gel saddle
The front derailleur and both wheels need careful adjustments before first ride The manufacturer in fact requires professional setup service for the warranty to come into effect This is common among premium bicycles though
Folding the bike involves releasing a lever and flipping the included foldable pedals Then comes the tough part the handle bar does not come with an easy folding hinge To avoid having it sticking out to the sides you must unscrew it Dahon does provide a nice Allen wrench for this purpose but I still think it may be considered a pain I usually just leave the handlebar as is The bike still fits into larger trunks easily
The 18 frame model feels a little small for me I am only 5 8 so most men probably want to go with the 20 frame size Someone who is really big and tall may have to forget about folding bikes and get a regular one with 700c/28 wheels instead
I bought the 2007 model on clearance The 2008 model is carried over unchanged as far as I can tell except for the paint color I like the silver/metallic hue of the 2007 a lot better
