This board is in danger of turning into Bromptonland.
So, to introduce somce balance, I thought I would offer an opinion on our Dahon Vitesse HG7. It's been languishing outside partly under a tarp, unused and ignored for far too long.
Then on Sunday, I dug it out, stuck some pedals on (once I'd got them both to turn on the spindle), soaked the horrible chain in WD40-a-like and treated it to a bit of Epic Ride oil.
It sprang joyfully into life!
Yesterday, I had the joy of riding out to get some lunch, and getting to a neighbouring hospital in between rain showers. It's still undergeared, but I wasn't saying that as I struggled up the steep hill I climbed. And today, I rode out again, this time in the rain, but it didn't matter at all.
I had a slight setback when the qr bolt on the seatpost binder pinged apart (when the bike was folded in the boot of a colleague's car, oddly), but I've swapped in another from one of the other Dahons in our fleet. And now it performs excellently.
It's been commented that Brompton favour smallness of package over ride, and Dahon the other way round, and I'd agree with that. I can't deny that my bike takes up more space than the Origami bikes. But Oh what joy! When we all alight from the train, and the men in suits are still fiddling with their twiddly bits as I am already wheeling my bike away fully proud and erect!
Fast fold & unfold, fast and comfortable ride, and fun. Sure, I need to get round to changing that cog, and maybe the hub, and I could do with a block on the front cause I have bag envy of the Helios. And the saddle could be replaced by something a bit less sofa. And I need to find a way to fit bullhorns because of my wrist/shoulder issues.
But it's a damn good bike.
Did I mention I had fun?