Dahon is a pioneer in folding bicycle industry and produces more than half of all the foldables in the world. To date it has over two hundred patents to its name, which has boosted it to the top of the industry.
The Speed D7 is one of the most popular products released by the company, with the main selling points being the foldable’s value for money and its superior performance despite its size.
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Rating:
4.50/5.00
Price:
$$$ on Amazon (August 27 2015)
Warranty:
You get 2 year original manufacturer warranty which can be upgraded to 5 years. To get the 5 year upgrade you need to call the customer service department of your authorised vendor.
Pros And Cons:
Great Look Little Heavy For Its Size
Quick Folding & Unfolding Pedals Are Not Of The Best Quality
Very Durable
High Value For Money
First Impression:
The bike poses a sportster outlook and will receive a lot of attention when you are commuting in the city. It is a winner by its looks and can be taken as a premium bike by someone who doesn’t know its price.
Detailed Review:
The D7 comes in several choices of colour from Obsidian, Frost, Baltic and Tangerine, which can be ordered online through the Amazon web store and should reach you in under a week. If you are a Prime user, you can receive it within 3 days of ordering through FedEx shipping.
The bike is well packaged in a stock Dahon box. It is mostly pre-assembled and you only need to install the seat post and the pedals. If you have been into buying foldables before, you will probably not even require reading the instruction manual. Keeping a kitchen knife and a small wrench by your side will come in handy.
When you have assembled the bike, you should take it to a licensed bike shop to review your D7, as this is required to activate the warranty.
The bike frame is welded manually from chromoly Sonus tube (4130), using top of the line Dahon patent technology, which makes the body very strong. The frame geometry is similar to a few other Dahon products, but nonetheless very practical, making the bike look like a BMX or freestyle one. The spokes are manufactured from stainless steel, while the Radius Telescope handle post also features. The handle post is adjustable and hence will accommodate riders of most heights. The stainless steel and alloy are very important factors when you are buying a bike to last long in the city as these will keep from rust and stay durable, while maintaining the overall weight of the bike lower than you would expect. So you can buy it with the sense of reliability to ride in a busy New York lane.
However, the bike is not made to perform in unfamiliar environments and if you want to climb hills or go through a rough terrain, you should probably get a larger bike.
As the 7 in the D7 suggests, this model comes with a 7 speed gearing mechanism with indexed twist shifters. The shifters work well and can easily be rolled up or down, as per the requirement. The higher gears are not the most efficient ones however, the lower gears just work fine.
The seat on the D7 is not the most pleasing one and if you are planning on taking the bike on a long commute, say a few hours, then you are going to feel discomfort. This would be very problematic for people with bony back sides and will probably kill the fun of the bike for them. It is recommended that you buy an optional seat or a high quality gel cover to put on the original seat. The seat post is made of an alloy and is adjustable, hence making the bike workable for most people. However, the seat colour of brown olive is a weird choice given the colour scheme of the bike and probably kills the stylish design of the frame and the attractive paint. Of course this is a personal opinion and some people might be just fine with it.
When it comes to Dahon, the folding property of a bike is never under question. Same is the case with the Speed D7, which is one of the easiest foldables around and takes only 10 to 15 seconds to take a space-saving form. It is small enough to be kept in your car, taken on the train or kept on your boat while you go out for a long weekend. The bike has a magnetic latching system to hold the bike together when folded, however there are no instructions given in the manual itself so you need to Google the method if you don’t figure it out yourself.
Not a lot of bad to point out in this machine, however if anything needs to be changed or updated it has to be the pedals which are not of the best quality. They feel flimsy and are unable to provide a great grip while you are riding and can crack easily if you do not take proper care while folding.
As far as accessories go, you can purchase a luggage rack or a carry on from Dahon as these would come pretty handy if you are travel long distances on the bike.
Specifications:
- Weight: 27.6 lbs
- Folded size: 11.8″ × 30.3″ × 25.2″
- Frame: K Series 4130 Chromoly lightweight steel frame.
- 20 Inch Tyres
- Speeds: 7
- Forged Alloy, Radius Telescope Adjustable Handle post.
- Chrome Plastic Mudguards.
- Maximum Rider Weight: 230 lbs
- Folding Pedals.
Verdict:
With very few shortcomings, the Dahon Speed D7 is a well-rounded package for those who want to experience the joy of riding premium bikes on a budget. The wide range of gears and small tyres mean it is built for normal daily commutes on non-extreme routes and is expected to perform like a champ on the smooth asphalts in a city setting. It is recommended as a first bike for youngsters and oldies alike.
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