Review of Dahon Espresso 18" 2009 Folding Bicycle

Dahon Espresso 18" 2009 Folding Bicycle
By: Dahon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 2
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Good bike

On: 2010-01-13

Good bike. I would not buy from the company again however. Dahon would not help me on another purchased bike.

a comfortable ride that folds

On: 2009-07-26

This is my review based on my first ride in the Dahon Espresso 18":

Pros: Quiet, comfortable ride, surprisingly solid frame despite folding feature, looks better than smaller folding bikes, 21-speed

Cons: A bit cumbersome to fold due to bigger wheels and higher weight, gears are set for low speeds, front derailleur a bit slow and non-responsive (may just need adjustments)

My first ride on this bike consisted of about 2 miles to a local subway through city streets and even sidewalks. First thing that I noticed was how smoothly and quietly the drivetrain operated. The noiseless chain feature really works and gives an impression of high quality. This was surprising considering the low price on these bikes. The bike allows for a comfortable upright position and the seat height adjustment range seems adequate for people of wide range of sizes. Im 61" and setting the seat at about medium height provided plenty of clearance. Since the short ride was through city streets and over light rail tracks in some sections, there were plenty of bumps on the road to test the bike. Overall, the bike appears to be solidly constructed, with no rattles, and the ride was very stable. The 21-speed really helped and the shifts were relatively crisp as long as I wasnt pedaling too hard. One thing that was noticeable was that the gearing seemed to max out around 20-25 mph, but it was also easy to get up hills. Only minor assembly and adjustments were needed to get it rideable, but an inspection from a pro is needed to activate the warranty. =( Once on a crowded train with a few others with full size bikes onboard, I had to fold up my Dahon. Folding is a snap and basically requires lowering the seat with a quick release and then releasing and folding the frame in half. The handlebars do protrude wide when in place, but it is still fairly compact when folded. Due to the size of the wheels, it is a bit cumbersome and awkward to carry when folded. So, if maximum mobility and space savings is an issue, this bike is not for you. But, if you can deal with the slightly larger size, the Espresso offers less compromising ride than other smaller folding bikes. Think of it as a decent bike that also folds.

No Complaints

On: 2008-10-15

Ive had my Dahon Espresso 08 for almost two months now and I have no complaints. It gives you the best of both worlds - adequate speed and portability. Unlike other folding bikes where more often than not they are single-speed, the Espresso is multi-speed (21-speed). I take it with me every weekend when I go riding and I do an average of 20 miles every weekend.

I have never had to fold it up yet except when I bought it and have to put it in the back of my car and it was easy to fold and unfold. Will need to fold it up again when I ship it back to my home country and the fact that it can be folded up will save me some money in shipping!

Its a winner and worth every $ I bought it for. This is a keeper

One and a half drawbacks in a flood of awesome.

On: 2008-09-15

I bought the Espresso for the purpose of converting it into an electric bike. After over a month of riding, Im very much in love with the Espresso. It folds enough to fit in the back of a Volkswagen GTI but can still support the weight of a battery pack, front wheel motor, and 170 pounds of me.

One of the two things Im not happy about is the placement of the bottle cage bolts. Its not like theres a lot of available space for that on a folding bike, but putting it right above the front wheel means all the road crud gets flung up onto the mouthpiece of my bottle.

The other gripe is with the handlebar removal. The body folds in half with the flick of a switch, the seat post collapses with a quick-release... but I have to carry around a 5mm hex to remove the handlebars? Come on guys, theres got to be a more graceful hand-tightened way to collapse the bike.

Ive actually featured the bike with the electric conversion in a series of videos over at my website if you want to see it in action.

Great bike, and foldable too.

On: 2008-08-11

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 dont 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! 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 nitpickers 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 Espressos 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.

The seat is comfortable and well made, but not as soft as some gel saddles.

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.