Dahon Speed D7 Review
Dahon’s Speed D7 has very quickly garnered a well deserved reputation for providing a lot of bang for your buck; including praise from both online and traditional paper media organizations.
The D7 offers a little bit of everything to would-be buyers. Dahon is marketing this folder in its urban utility bike series and promotes it as an inexpensive yet flexible option for doing your daily shopping errands during your lunch break, commuting from the suburbs to the city in lightweight style and acting as a day tripping exploratory tool to play tourist in your own backyard including checking out local cafes and restaurants, parks and other community sightseeing endeavors. This bike also fits the bill for short weekend excursions/getaways around your district, state or even country if you’re happy to board a bus or train with it in tow and given the ease of folding and compact design why wouldn’t you be.
The D7 is a rarity in the saturated, highly competitive folding bicycle industry; it’s a good bike, a good folder and a good value and what more could you really ask for.
Firstly as a bike it possesses several impressive features based on either innovative technology or materials:
a) The 7 speed Shimano rear cluster and the Dahon Neos rear derailleur provide a super combination of crisp, fast shifting and low gear climbing capability for powering up hills; in fact one folder pundit described the D7’s well spaced gearing as a ‘work of genius’.
b) The Superlite 4130 chromoly frame is strong yet light providing a ride that is stiff yet responsive. The lightweight frame is large enough to give a stable, comfortable ride to someone 6 ft plus and when combined with the adjustable Radius Telescopic handlepost (with highish riding position) and its saddle and seat height adjustment this 7 gear folder offers the ride of a 21 gear ‘large wheel’.
c) The precision ‘V’ braking system further suggests this bike is capable of some light off-road use (although not recommended by the manufacturer).
Secondly as a folder it does its job admirably. It’s light and compact thanks to the chromoly frame and the Dahon patented 3 step folding system that includes the added pleasure of one of the best locking systems on the market; when riding it stays unfolded and when folded the magnetic locking system keeps it that way.
Thirdly and above all else this bike is good value for money. At 279 pounds sterling (UK) it has impressive specifications, an enjoyable ride capable of overcoming hills and occasional trails, stylish looks and to put the icing on the cake a 5 year warranty covering its ‘best in category’ frame. All of these attributes make it extremely competitive in a jam packed marketplace prompting some publications to recommend it as the ‘Best Value’ available.
