Dahon Quality

Dahon is probably the largest and oldest manufacturer of folding bicycles.  They certainly don't make the cheapest bikes and they may not (arguably) make the best.  What they are known for is having great quality for a great price.  Sure, you can spend $1000 and up for a Brompton or Bike Friday but if you want a solid, reliable folding bike that is going get you from point A to point B and still be fun to ride, Dahon is the way to go.

For example, one of the first things I noticed on the bike is this odd little piece of rubber stuck to the frame.

When you fold down the handlebars, you realize that it is there to protect the frame from getting scratched by a small nut on the handlebar post.

That is the kind of quality I didn't expect from a $350 bike. It has a nicer over-all feel than the Trek comfort bike we bought a few years ago and was similarly priced if not more expensive.

One disappointment is the way it holds together when folded. Dahon uses a magnetic mechanism which is better than some folders which have nothing to hold them together. However, the magnets are not strong enough to always hold and sometimes it opens up when I am getting on and off the train. If you made the magnets any stronger, though, it would be too hard to unfold when you are ready. I think that some kind of locking latch in the frame hinge would be better.