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Dahon Matrix

Started by Znaya · · Last activity · 4 posts · 1,335 views

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Road Cycling
Published
4 May 2004
Last activity
7 May 2004
Original author
Znaya
Posts
4
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Public discussion
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1,335
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Topics
Folding bikesTouring

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  1. Original post
    Znaya
    Archived post
    #1

    Hello.

    Some time ago I decided I should buy a touring bike. I want to ride
    more than I do now.
    I started looking for carriers for my car...
    After some search I concluded it'd be much cheaper and practical to
    buy a folding bike than to buy a nice touring bike plus the car
    carriers. And I could easily take a folding bike in a train, bus or
    plane and ride the bike (almost) anywhere!

    At first time I only found the Brompton bikes. They are nice and
    beautiful but... for city, not for touring. I think my choice would be
    a 26" wheel bike.

    For long time I thought there wasn't such a bike like the one I wanted
    until... I found "Dahon Matrix".

    I found a dealer and tried the bike in a 5 minutes test. Although the
    drive test was so short I was marvelled with the bike.
    The only problem is that, here in Portugal, the price is more than
    twice the web price!

    A friend of mine told me that wouldn't be a problem because her
    father, who is also (in a social accepted way) bike addicted, flies
    regularly to the US and he could bring me the bike!!! More, in the US
    he buys tons of stuff (to his remote controlled cars and helis shop)
    which are shipped later, so, the bike would come with his order so...
    no shipping costs to me!

    Do you think Dahon Matrix is a good choice? I'm particularly
    interested in long bike rides and will probably adapt panniers to the
    bike.
    The local dealer told me they do not give technical assistance to
    Dahon bikes which are not bought through them, should I be worried?

    Is Dahon "Airporter Suitcase" a good option to ship my bike home?
    I could also use it to transport the bike in my car trunk whenever I
    went out for weekend. Is it really worth?

    I'd like, also, to read some experienced Matrix users opinion about
    the bike.

    Thanks.
    -Z-

    Report
  2. MP
    Archived post
    #2

    Dahon is a decent brand. No experience with that particular model.

    Just so you have a couple of other options to consider:

    Bike Friday makes very high quality bikes, but I don't know how hard
    it would be to get one where you are, and they do cost quite a bit.
    I've used mine for touring, over 100 miles ( 161 km ) in a day.
    http://bikefriday.com/index.cfm

    Birdy is a well known brand that may be easier to find in Europe than
    the US. I don't have personal experience with these, but they seem to
    have a pretty good reputation.
    http://www.r-m.de/english/1_katalog/birdy/index2.html

    Small wheeled bikes can ride a lot better than you would expect.

    If you are interested, here are a couple of general folding bicycle
    links.

    http://nordicgroup.us/fold/

    http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/

    Good Luck!

    On 4 May 2004 16:27:29 -0700, [email hidden] (Znaya) wrote:

    (mostly snipped)

    Quoted message said:

    Do you think Dahon Matrix is a good choice? I'm particularly
    interested in long bike rides and will probably adapt panniers to the
    bike.

    Report
  3. Znaya
    Archived post
    #3
    MP said:

    Small wheeled bikes can ride a lot better than you would expect.

    My experience with bikes is, somehow, limited.

    I thought a 26" wheel bike would be a better choice just because I
    could find tires more easily everywhere.
    That way, if one day I decide to take the bike in a flight somewhere
    abroad I won't stay on foot.

    Cheers.
    -Z-

    Report
  4. MP
    Archived post
    #4
    (Znaya) said:

    I thought a 26" wheel bike would be a better choice just because I
    could find tires more easily everywhere.
    That way, if one day I decide to take the bike in a flight somewhere
    abroad I won't stay on foot.

    Cheers.
    -Z-

    First, the Dahon Matrix may indeed be a good choice, and you are right
    that it is easy to find tires and tubes.

    There are two sizes of rims that are called 20", the 406mm and the
    451mm. 451mm is less common, and it is not as easy to find tires or
    tubes. This is used for some Bike Fridays.

    406 mm is a very common size, the same as the normal BMX size, and you
    can find tires and tubes everywhere. All the Dahon 20 inch bikes, and
    the Bike Friday touring bikes use this size.

    Birdys use 18 inch tires which are not as easy to find.

    Sorry to go off on this tangent when you asked about one bike. I'm
    sure that the Matrix is very good, and it may be the right bike for
    you. I'm just an enthusiast for small wheeled folders.

    MP

    Report

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