Founded in 1982 by David Hon, Dahon is an American company leading the way in the foldable bicycle industry through its visionary and tradition breaking products.
The Eco C7 is your budget bike from Dahon, for you every day commute. It sure is not intended for heavy usage and can be considered a quality entry bike at max. However, it does come with a solid built backed by a cemented reputation of Dahon.
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
Rating:
4.20/5.00
Price:
$$$ on Amazon
Warranty:
You get a basic 2 year warranty with the purchase, which will be activated after a review from a bike mechanic.
You can upgrade your warranty up to 5 years.
Pros and Cons:
Good Gear System Handlebar Adjustment Not Possible
Reasonable Price For An Entry Level Bike Not The Lightest Of Bikes
Good Design Plastic Locking Mechanism
High Quality Parts
Good Speed
First Impression:
The C7 comes off as a cool and slim bike, and is pretty exciting for first timers.
Detailed Review:
The Dahon Eco C7 was introduced in brick and red colours, however it seems that the red has been discontinued. It can be purchased off the Amazon website and it can be delivered to you within a day if you are an Amazon prime user and live in the continental United States. If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, you would need to call the customer care department for your delivery.
It arrives in a stock Dahon box, sealed and padded, in a folded form. The bike itself does not need much assembling and if you know your way with assembling foldables, you can get it ready for riding within a few minutes.
Even though the Eco C7 is a basic bike with a low price tag, you should not expect anything less than quality. The C7 boasts a sturdy metal frame, with a good geometry, made out of aluminium which keeps the weight on the lighter side (for this price tag). The Shimano gears, Fusion integrated fork and the Radius handle bar post are all features which are seen on most Dahon bikes.
There is a 7 gear system installed, which is pretty flawless. The gears can easily be changed by rolling your wrists on the handle. The gear numbers are clearly indicated on the handle bar for your convenience. You will usually find yourself changing the gears between 3 and 6, unless you are really riding in a barren area or a pretty long straight road. The gears are actually handy when you are riding an incline and prove themselves to be stronger than you would expect them to be. You will rarely find yourself dropping a sweat while riding the bike.
The seating is upright, as you would find in most urban foldables, and considerably comfortable. Although if you have a thin or bony body, the seat can cause you nuisance and you might have to replace it with your favorite brand or put on a gel cover on it. It is pretty important that you adjust the seat to your height or else it can cause strain on your back while riding. However, markings on the seat post would be preferable as when folding you drop the seat down losing the sweet spot where you would prefer to have the seat placed while riding.
The wheels are your normal 20 inch, a common feature in most Dahons, which can make your journey a bit slow if you are travelling far. Quality wise, the wheels are made to last long and should with proper care while riding.
The folding mechanism in the bike is straight forward and easy to do, with the folding and unfolding processes taking only 15 to 20 seconds each. The folding requires you to drop the seat down as mentioned above and there is a plastic latching mechanism to hold on to the compact form. It would have been better if Dahon provided a magnetic latching system as it is more reliable. The bike size is compact enough to be easily stored in your vehicle trunk, however it might be difficult to carry along to places as it is not the most ultra-light bike in the market. If you really want to carry it along, you should probably purchase a Dahon carrying case which will make it pretty easy for you even if you are not used to lifting weights.
There isn’t much to complain concerning C7 as it is an entry level bike, but it would have been nice to get an adjustable handlebar especially for the taller people for whom the rigid position can be problematic. The handlebar grips are also not from the patented Dahon handlebar line. The single disk on the front gear is also a tad bit disappointing considering full bikes usually have 2 to 3 disks.
You can find various accessories for the bike if you want to personalize it, from a rack to a bottle holder and more on.
Specifications:
- Colours: Brick And Red
- 7 Speeds System To Support On Most Surfaces
- Adjustable Seat Posts
- 20″ Wheels
- Compact Size is 11.7″ × 31.2″ × 25.7″
- Only 15 Seconds To Fold
- Moderate Weight Of Almost 27 Lbs (26.7)
- Built To Ride By People Of All Heights
- Maximum Weight Supported Is 230 Lbs
Verdict:
While it is certainly not a powerhouse and loaded with the features associated with the Dahon premium bikes, the Dahon Eco C7 is an excellent buy for the money it comes with. The bike is on the top if you consider the pile of entry level foldables and is recommended to be used if you are new to the bicycle world. It also makes a great gift for someone and Dahon can in fact wrap it up in a gift paper if you ask for it. It is perfect for those casual weekend trips with family or friends or light commute around your home town. While it will not provide you with the luxury of a bike with a 4 digit price tag, it will get the job done.
Leave a Reply