Dahons advice required

Hello all again.

Haven't gone down to MBS due to work and their Sunday closed timing (I work on Sat too). Been researching on Dahons and would like to ask Dahon bikers here for some feedback.

Ignoring my previous post of 400 to 800 dollars budget, I am looking at MU P24 and Vitesse P18 as possible candidates. I made my initial choice based it being advertised by Dahon that they can handle anything from short distances to long touring riding. Would anyone know the prices as I can't find their price online and also do you guys think it is an overkill? I welcome advice from actual Dahon riders here, I am not looking for an entry level as I do not want to have to change bike later, I rather get a bike that can serve me all purposes and be the only one bike. These are only 2 bikes I mentioned because I do not know if the bikes are suited to my needs. I welcome all other suggestions, to be honest the huge variety of dahon bicycles is overwhelming and I think real user recommendations is still the best.

My needs are basically I want a foldie that I can use to cycle for casual rides but also for long distance events exceeding 50km if the need arises, of course the bike should be able to handle slopes and small hills. I understand that my choice of specs might result in the bike not being that small and compact but it should be at least be compact enough for me to bring up a bus or MRT with not much trouble using the bag if needed. I am a guy so carrying 12kg is not much problem. Perhaps Dahon riders here can give me better feedback as I cant find much online, I think feedback from you guys and girls would be more accurate especially if you have used your bikes for long distance rides that I see are becoming more common in the Lovecycling forum.

My apologies for the long mail and thank you in advance

I think entry-level or not, you can always upgrade parts in the future.. an entry level could last a lifetime if taken good care of.

Just my 2 cents.

Hi Vince, I dont mean entry level cannot last a life time. What I mean is I dont wish to have to upgrade an entry level bike in the future because I find I need more out of it. I personally rather get the frame right in the start rather than trying to upgrade a basic frame with better parts and it gets more and more expensive in the long run.

i will choose Vitesse P18 to MU P24 due to better components for gear shifting and wheel rolling.. with bigger chainring and smaller cassette u can pedal like a roadie in smaller wheels (also must depend on ur legs)
but this is just my 2 cents as the above mentions all can be upgraded..

*MU P24 is using hub gears which i do not know much about the technology

adrianelee wrote:

Hi Vince, I dont mean entry level cannot last a life time. What I mean is I dont wish to have to upgrade an entry level bike in the future because I find I need more out of it. I personally rather get the frame right in the start rather than trying to upgrade a basic frame with better parts and it gets more and more expensive in the long run.

no worries. I understand what you mean for me frame is important also.. as long as I like the frame. also, if its good components at a good price, why not?

ZTCC, would you know the prices for the Vitesse and Mu? I estimate it is around 1500? based on what I see being offered online in US sites in USD

Both bikes cost about USD700 on Amazon. Not sure if the configuration is the same as what you have in mind. Exchange rate now is about 1.3 so it should be about SGD 900. If you're going to have them courier it, you'd need to add another USD 100 to 150. They may not courier the bikes though cos of problems they've had with bikes sent overseas being undeliverable or damaged. You can try or arrange for someone to bring it back for you.

Local prices are in USD and they can be found at http://speedmatrixdepot.com:80/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2&sort=20a&page=1. Prices are in USD though. Alternatively, just call up the LBS and ask them for prices.

I bought mine on sale locally and I'm glad i did cos I needed their support for fitting the bike properly to me. I learnt this the hard way after getting sore shoulders and knees from riding a bike which I had assumed would fit me but didn't.

You can also consider getting second hand ones on togoparts. They may still be under warranty which the local bike shop may honour. You can check this with the respective owners.

Lastly, if you're not looking for a bike with so many gears, the ones with fewer gears are on sale presently and they may be sufficient to meet your needs. I am told that once you get your first bike, you'd end up upgrading even though that is usually not the intention in the first place. For me, finding the right bike and hopefully the only one now has been a trial and error process. I didn't have the benefit of a forum like this to help me then, so I made more mistakes along the way. All the best with yours!

agree with freedom rider.. i learn the hard way too for not doing enough homework
base on previous price was ard S$1500.. not sure for current model.. cant help much

Go for the Vitesse P18. Has sufficient gearing for any ride u want, and has a great frame. The MuP24 has more gears but tends to be rear heavy cos of the hub gear at the back. Will be troublesome also if u want to change tires for the MuP24 rear wheel cos of the hub gear.

Think the MuP24 was like $1400? P18 not sure. That should be the range I think...

If I could buy a bike all over again, I would get the Vitesse P18.

Regards,
Steve

Many here suggested that most users will upgrade their bikes eventually. Based on that I placed the MU, Speed, Vitesse series bikes side by side and compared the specs and noticed each series share the same frame, the price diff would I supposed be because of individuals parts. Can I assume that if P18 is my choice but budget is an issue or I might not want to commit so early to a 1400 over dollars bike, I can actually get the lower end Vitesse p7 and slowly upgrade parts that I want to upgrade later and still get something close or maybe even better suited to my needs based on the P18 due to my customization and the fact they all share the same frame?

Sure you can start with the Vitesse D7 and upgrades parts later on. But you will find that the only thing in common between the D7 and P18 its basically only the frame. You will have to upgrade almost every component of the D7 to equal the P18. Of course the good thing is that you can choose exactly the components that you like, but it will cost more eventually than if you get the P18 in the first place. Do go to the bike shop and try the bikes!

tylsteve wrote:

Sure you can start with the Vitesse D7 and upgrades parts later on. But you will find that the only thing in common between the D7 and P18 its basically only the frame. You will have to upgrade almost every component of the D7 to equal the P18. Of course the good thing is that you can choose exactly the components that you like, but it will cost more eventually than if you get the P18 in the first place. Do go to the bike shop and try the bikes!

So Steve I am right in my earlier first few post that I am better off getting the right bike than to buy the basic frame and keep upgrading along the way?

adrianelee wrote:

So Steve I am right in my earlier first few post that I am better off getting the right bike than to buy the basic frame and keep upgrading along the way?

Yes.

The good thing about upgrading is that with every upgrade you make u have this feeling that you are able to go faster n faster

DarrenChia wrote:

The good thing about upgrading is that with every upgrade you make u have this feeling that you are able to go faster n faster

and also be greet by us "welcome to the poison club"

adrianelee wrote:

tylsteve wrote:

Sure you can start with the Vitesse D7 and upgrades parts later on. But you will find that the only thing in common between the D7 and P18 its basically only the frame. You will have to upgrade almost every component of the D7 to equal the P18. Of course the good thing is that you can choose exactly the components that you like, but it will cost more eventually than if you get the P18 in the first place. Do go to the bike shop and try the bikes!

So Steve I am right in my earlier first few post that I am better off getting the right bike than to buy the basic frame and keep upgrading along the way?

Right if u really never upgrade after getting the bike.
Wrong if u ganna the upgrade poison. Coz u pay higher initial cost plus still pay to upgrade even better parts. Total cost still more then u buy basic spec to upgrade.

adrianelee wrote:

tylsteve wrote:

Sure you can start with the Vitesse D7 and upgrades parts later on. But you will find that the only thing in common between the D7 and P18 its basically only the frame. You will have to upgrade almost every component of the D7 to equal the P18. Of course the good thing is that you can choose exactly the components that you like, but it will cost more eventually than if you get the P18 in the first place. Do go to the bike shop and try the bikes!

So Steve I am right in my earlier first few post that I am better off getting the right bike than to buy the basic frame and keep upgrading along the way?

You are right in the sense that its cheaper overall. But if you want to choose your own components then start with a basic frame and upgrade.

Conclusion.. go down test the bikes before u decide on anything..
free feel to post when ur going down.. some of us might be free to join u

tylsteve wrote:

adrianelee wrote:

tylsteve wrote:

Sure you can start with the Vitesse D7 and upgrades parts later on. But you will find that the only thing in common between the D7 and P18 its basically only the frame. You will have to upgrade almost every component of the D7 to equal the P18. Of course the good thing is that you can choose exactly the components that you like, but it will cost more eventually than if you get the P18 in the first place. Do go to the bike shop and try the bikes!

So Steve I am right in my earlier first few post that I am better off getting the right bike than to buy the basic frame and keep upgrading along the way?

You are right in the sense that its cheaper overall. But if you want to choose your own components then start with a basic frame and upgrade.

Dahon does not sell just the frame alone yah? Means I have to get the P7 and strip parts and then upgrade? Another question is there a market for these "2nd hand" standard parts or are they considered junk?

adrianelee wrote:

Dahon does not sell just the frame alone yah? Means I have to get the P7 and strip parts and then upgrade? Another question is there a market for these "2nd hand" standard parts or are they considered junk?

you can either keep these spare parts or post in forums to sell
i manage to sold off all my stock parts..