Dahon, an American company, is the world’s largest manufacturer and marketer of folding bikes, which has introduced several revolutionary ideas in the industry and has over two hundred patents to its name since its inception in 1982.
Dahon Speed Uno is the company’s recent launch and has become one of the most popular folding bikes in USA. It can be seen as a less expensive branch of a tree that is Dahon Mu Uno.
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Rating:
4.00/5.00
Price:
$$$ on Amazon (August 24 2015)
You get a typical one year warranty with additional options of 3 and 5 years.
Pros and Cons:
Super-fast Folding And Unfolding Difficult To Control For Beginners
Compact And Light No Mudguard/Fender
Minimalistic Modern Design Not easy to find replacement parts
Durable
First Impression:
The Speed Uno has an elegant and simplistic design and looks a lot like a BMX or Freestyle bike than your usual foldable bike, bringing the ‘coolness’ on the streets.
Detailed Review:
The Dahon Speed Uno is a good investment for your money. It can be bought online through Amazon and is delivered in a secure stock box to your address with free shipping. The frame protectors and cardboard wrapping help to keep your package free of damage.
While boxed, it is still light and immediately assures you that you have made the right choice.
It is incredibly easy and quick to unbox and assemble the Speed Uno, requiring only a knife and wrench to get it ready. The seat and a paddle need to be put together onto the frame of the bike. It took around five or less minutes for the bike to be assembled for riding.
The folding pedal quality is not the best you will find and you need to take care of it to keep it from breaking, however the rest of the body is constructed to perfection.
As the name suggests, the bike has a single speed mechanism and while the gearing system might come as a turn off to pro bikers, it is actually very well adapted to perform in urban settings: fast enough on flat asphalt and controllable enough for a steep incline. Despite the dark color, the reflectors on the bike make sure they have got your back when you are speeding at night.
Dahon have removed the usual calliper brakes found on most of the brands. Instead they have induced a conventional braking system of back peddling. So all you got to do is just gently push the pedal in the reverse direction for a few seconds to the bike to slow down, even though it can be a bit of a nuisance when you are speeding and need to stop immediately. Of course you can add a front break by visiting a bike mechanic if need be.
The frame is well balanced and feels solid. The seat is very convenient, upright and easy to adjust, and the whole model feels comfortable to ride in, even if you are towering 6 ft. and above. Its beauty lies in how well it integrates its aesthetics with practicality. However, if you are a big guy the pedal braking mechanism might just be a bother for you.
The wheels are 20”, like all Dahon models, but due to their small size the stability and speed of the bike might come off as limited for a cruiser biker.
The folding and unfolding is very simple and you might not even require the instruction manual to perform it. The bike has a plastic latch to keep its form while folded and while it is not small enough to be taken on a plane, it can easily be carried with you on public transport or stored in your office or room. (The bike was introduced with a magnetic latching system, but it seems that has been discontinued and replaced with a plastic only latch.)
Small things worthy of a note include the sturdy kickstand which comes in handy when you have to stop for that emergency grocery shop and the chain housing to prevent damage to your clothes. You can also find three screw holes on the front for attaching a rack or other cycling accessories to it.
Aesthetics and mechanics apart, Dahon has made sure that your bike is always secure by putting a DoubleLok system in the bike. This ensures that each latch has another lock for your security and safety.
Specifications:
- Made In China
- Colour: Shadow (more like matte black).
- Mono Speed
- 7″ x 30″ x 25″ Compact Size
- 24 lbs Of Weight
- 20 Inch Dahon Rotolo Performing Tires
- 6 Feet 4 Inches Is The Maximum Recommended Height Of The Rider.
- 230 lbs Is The Maximum Weight Of The Rider
- Folding Time Is Less Than 15 Seconds
- Pedals Are Suntour Folding And Non-slip
- Aluminium Kickstand
Verdict:
The simplicity of Dahon Speed Uno can be a refreshing look for many and a reminiscent to the bikes of your childhood days. You are going to love showing it off to your friends and family. If you want more features then there are more expensive options, but for price, quality and value the Dahon Speed Uno is very hard to beat. It can in fact be your first choice as a newbie if you think about venturing into the world of folding bikes.
The bicycle is pretty good for usual city commutes, as you don’t actually need a variety of speed while riding on busy streets. As its name says, the single speed is all you need and has been well thought of. The light body makes it easy for both guys and girls to use it, without putting strain on their bodies. If you are thinking about getting a folding bike, it is a great recommendation- especially for asphalt riding. There’s no better feeling in the world than riding to ANY store, hopping off in the iconic speed racer pose, folding your bike in ten seconds and walk in the store with your bike under your arm with a smug grin!
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