Dahon Formula S18 Folding Bike Review

Dahon is a leader in manufacturing folding cycles for generations and has recently taken the leap into the electric bike circle.

The Formula S18 is a successful Dahon product with the same quality and performance reliability as the non-electric Dahon foldables.

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Rating:

4.00/5.00

Price:

$$$$ on Amazon (September 2 2015)

Warranty:

You get a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty which needs to be activated for Dahon to honour it.

Pros and Cons:

Super Quality                          Not For Newbies
Great Design                          Seat Not Very Comfy
Quick Folding                         Only For In- City Usage
Light For Short Distances

First Impression:

It is a stunning bike, with a sharp look and the white colour gives it a very premium feeling.

Detailed Review:

The S18 can be ordered online through Amazon. The product arrives in a sealed Dahon stock box and is extremely well padded inside. The product is assembled and folded in its padding. You must get the bike checked thoroughly by an authorised bike mechanic before you hop on it for your first ride.

As soon as you lay your first touch on the bike, you can sense that you made the correct choice. The solid aluminium frame (Not as good as titanium but certainly better than steel!) is radiating with top quality and finishing. Even though it is light, the body is very tough and in fact will be able to endure falls without losing any parts or getting damaged. It is a package of performance and durability knotted together by Dahon.

The bike has been installed with Avid mechanical brake discs which are top of the line and have proved to be perfect. They brakes have tremendous stopping power considering the speed of the bike and solid modulation too.

The S18 comes with 18 speed system from the Shinamo brand, and even though it is from China it still makes high quality and safe products. The several choices of speed allow the bike to be considerably faster to any other foldable in town and will fulfil your thirst for speed and thrill like nothing you have experienced on a bike. While it won’t win a race against an actual motorbike, the S18 is well equipped to commute very quickly around the town and with the smooth shifters by Microshift and the company’s self-manufactured cranks, you can breeze through the streets and beat that yellow light on the signal with ease and grace.

The Schwalbe Kojak tires on the wheel are able to give a good amount of traction on the pavement even while wet. Once inflated, they are able to keep working for a pretty long while given that they are made to run on smooth solid asphalt. The tires are very quiet and assist you to move fast. Even though their size is only twenty inches each, this is more of an advantage to you than a disadvantage as you get greater control and manoeuvrability while riding. The tires are well balanced and can easily hold the line on a free lane.

The foldable features an adjustable handlebar, which allows people of most sizes to ride the bike with comfort. It can be easily rotated by simply releasing the collar on the stem which lets the steering branch to telescope for your preference.
The seat height is also adjustable which is a great plus, even though the seat is not really comfortable and just does its job.  The seating position is upright, which we can usually find in all urban commuters.

Together, the handle bar and seat post adjustments will allow you a great grip and position to right your bike.

The derailleur at the rear and front function well.

When it comes to folding and packing, the S18 can be collapsed in under 15 seconds, which is pretty much the average for most Dahon bikes. At first it might take time for you as your reactions adjust to folding the bike, but still it is quick for a newbie. To ensure the safety of your bike parts, Dahon has introduced small but very powerful magnets which hold the axles together. The pedals also fold which leads to a smaller overall size. Therefore the bike is able to fit into the trunk of any car or be stored under your office desk. You can even carry the bike in a carrying bag without worrying about the load on your shoulder. Moreover, the folding mechanism installed on the bike make sure that your bike doesn’t unravel while you are carrying it in the bag. The internal hardware in the main pivot is able to take up any slack to further protect the bike.

The internal headset gives a slick finish to the bike, while the regular drivetrain parts allow you to find the replacement or repairing services very easily.

If you are into accessories, Dahon also sells racks, baskets and other accessories on its official website. You can also find accessories on Amazon, with some sweet deals.

There are not much negatives to speak about the bike. If anything, the black anodizing on the bike parts start to come off rather easily. This is not really a great problem as it doesn’t affect the bikes performance but still you would want it to stay a bit longer. Dahon also sent the bike with a very complicated instruction manual which made it confusing to assemble and fold/unfold the bike. If you need any help regarding this than you should watch instructions over YouTube.

Specifications:

• 18 Speeds Shinamo System.
• Derailleurs Present.
• Small Size Of 11.3″ × 31.2″ × 25.7″ When Folded
• Only 24.6 Pounds Heavy
• Aluminium Frame
• Latch For Safety
• Schwalbe Tires.
• High Speed.
• Avid Performing Brakes
• Max Weight Of Rider: 230 Lbs

Conclusion:

There is very little to argue about the Formula S18 being anything but an awesome machine. With so many features to like, you will wish to keep it running forever. The machine is always ready to run and requires almost no space to store. It is a handy little bike with a racing engine at its core.