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Sports: 08 dahon espresso 18" :: Zport|SportingGoods|3405101 :: Sports
Date: Friday, 09 January, 2009 :: 20:03
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08 dahon espresso 18"
Brand: Dahon
List Price: USD $449.95
from USD $404.95
Product Group: sports
Manufacturer: DAHON
Model: espresso
Studio: DAHON
Features:
- espresso color sand size 18"
- by dahon
- FREE SHIPPING
- size 18
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Offers:
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Editorial Review: Product Description
The Espresso is the bike for urban adventures: to the park on a sunny weekend; down the street for a lazy Sunday brunch; or to the market for some fresh penne, organic tomatoes, and a bottle of wine. The ergonomic saddle, ergonomic grips, and upright riding geometry make cruising around town fun and comfortable. We?ve even stashed a high capacity pump inside the seat post. The Espresso folds in seconds to stash away easily in a car trunk, your apartment, or on the bus. by dahon.
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Reviews:
Average Customer Review: 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Summary: Great bike, and foldable too.
Date: 2008-08-11 -
Comment: Dahon is the most popular brand for foldable bikes in the US for a good reason: quality products at bargain prices. The Espresso is the entry level full-size (26" wheels) model in the line-up. It comes in three different frame sizes: 20", 18" & 16". Since my wife and I need to share this bike, I pick the middle one as a compromise.
There are other compromises in our decision. My wife wants a comfortable (i.e. high handle-bar) riding position. I need a foldable model to pack into the trunk of the car occasionally. We both want a bike with a good range of gears to negotiate the local hills. I also want quality all-aluminum construction for light weight and rust resistance. Finally, we don't want to pay a lot. In the end, the Dahon Espresso is the only bike that fits the bill.
What a beautiful bike it is! I get inquiries from strangers all the time, especially after they see how I unpack from the trunk and unfold it in 10 seconds.
In regular use, it looks and handles like a premium bike, yet costs hundreds of dollars less. Both the front and rear derailleurs are name-brand components that prove convenient and reliable. The rim brakes are so strong that the rider must be careful not to engage the front brake alone or he risks flipping over in a hurry. The folding and unfolding operations are straightforward. The seat is easily detachable, although the front wheel is not. The wheel rims are aluminum. The spokes are stainless steel with brass nipples. It is hard to find a regular bike with this set of specs at this price level, not to mention another foldable one.
Of course, a $400 bike cannot possibly be perfect, so let me put on the nitpicker's hat and list some possible complaints. With 26" wheels, the Espresso does not fold as compactly as 20" or 16" models, but the latter looks like circus bikes and often rides like one too. It is just not possible to have it both ways. Another similar issue concerns the Espresso's 30lb weight, which is light for a full-size bicycle but again not as light as the mini-sized models.
The rim brakes work well in normal usage, but are inferior to disk brakes in off-road condition, wet weather or long downhill rides. This is a compromise Dahon has to make to maintain a low price point. I have no intention to do mountain biking in the rain or down steep hills, so it is a non-issue to me. For those who care about the brake types, Dahon offers Matrix Folding Bike 08 size 19.
The handle control is very light. This makes the bike very agile at turns, but also makes me nervous about letting go the handlebar. This is not a bike with which you want to see your son do the "Look, dad, no hands" trick.
The seat is comfortably shaped and well made but very much on the hard side, at least to this casual bicycle rider. I plan to replace it with a gel saddle.
The front derailleur and both wheels need careful adjustments before first ride. The manufacturer in fact requires professional setup service for the warranty to come into effect. This is common among premium bicycles though.
Folding the bike involves releasing a lever and flipping the included foldable pedals. Then comes the tough part: the handle bar does not come with an easy folding hinge. To avoid having it sticking out to the sides, you must unscrew it. Dahon does provide a nice Allen wrench for this purpose, but I still think it may be considered a pain. I usually just leave the handlebar as is. The bike still fits into larger trunks easily.
The 18"-frame model feels a little small for me. I am only 5'8", so most men probably want to go with the 20"-frame size. Someone who is really big and tall may have to forget about folding bikes and get a regular one with 700c/28" wheels instead.
I bought the 2007 model on clearance. The 2008 model is carried over unchanged, as far as I can tell except for the paint color. I like the silver/metallic hue of the 2007 a lot better.
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