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Author Topic: Broken Dahon  (Read 6248 times)

drossall

Broken Dahon
« on: 15 March, 2018, 11:25:00 pm »
I wrote off my Dahon this evening. I hit a fairly modest pot-hole. The frame broke just behind the main joint. Looking at the metal, I can see that a problem had been developing in the weld (the metal is white), but it looks as though the actual main tube went pretty-much in one go.

I was dumped in the road of course. Nothing serious - scratches and clothing damage. However, it does shake your confidence in the design, especially as I come down the Pentonville Road every day. Glad it didn't happen at a higher speed there.

Obviously any single-beam design isn't as strong as a proper diamond frame. Any thoughts though on folder strength for a rider who is heavier, but not beyond the published design strengths of these things? Are Bromptons actually stronger than Dahons/Terns?
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StuAff

  • Folding not boring
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #1 on: 16 March, 2018, 12:16:12 am »
Eeek. Glad you're OK. As a scrawny git I can't really help on the frame strength thing...
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handcyclist

  • watch for my signal
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #2 on: 16 March, 2018, 07:36:12 am »
Eeeew, scary. Glad you're ok.

If it helps, I never thought my Dahon was very well made. They are definitely constructed down to price, and the are known to have quality control issues. I spent a long time facing the main joint on the one I had to make true so it tightened properly. In the end I lost faith in it and bought a secondhand Brompton, much happier with that.

I'm guessing you're not the first owner?
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Doubt is is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

drossall

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #3 on: 16 March, 2018, 07:45:18 am »
Correct. I believe it to be a 2006 model. I bought it from our very good LBS. They said it had sat on canal boat as an "In case we want to go somewhere" bike, very little used. Since September 2014, I've used it daily, commuting into London.
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handcyclist

  • watch for my signal
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #4 on: 16 March, 2018, 07:52:20 am »
Mmm, wonder if the 'white' you refer to was corrosion ..... anyway, a Brompton get my vote. I think there is one in the FS section.

<edit> I see you've seen that!

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Doubt is is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #5 on: 16 March, 2018, 07:52:55 am »
I'm no Brompton apologist but I would point out that a steel frame is unlikely to fail in that way. Although it's pretty certain to be noisy before it does...
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VELOMANCER

Quote from: trekker12 on 16 July, 2016, 08:54:33 am
Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

1nterceptor

    • https://www.youtube.com/user/1nterceptor/videos
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #6 on: 16 March, 2018, 06:54:43 pm »
Pretty happy with my 2013 Brompton S6L-X. Used it for my 16.5 mile one way commute for years;
in all kinds of weather:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeZhBw3cjI&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=43
Have done some lite dirt riding a few times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNuuT-nRer4&index=42&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA
Been tossed about on over a dozen trips/flights. Pretty common to see my box upside down:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVLPtnQKwzQ&index=4&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA
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drossall

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #7 on: 16 March, 2018, 09:59:47 pm »
Yes, I'm certainly thinking carefully about materials and construction for a replacement!

For the ghoulish, who like to see the corpse, here it is:





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StuAff

  • Folding not boring
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #8 on: 16 March, 2018, 10:01:33 pm »
Quote from: drossall on 16 March, 2018, 09:59:47 pm
Yes, I'm certainly thinking carefully about materials and construction for a replacement!

For the ghoulish, who like to see the corpse, here it is:






:o :o :o
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Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #9 on: 16 March, 2018, 10:12:32 pm »
Yup, that's b0rked.
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drossall

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #10 on: 16 March, 2018, 10:36:07 pm »
Thanks. I wasn't sure whether it might be fixable, but it's good to have one of the forum experts clear that up for me.
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Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #11 on: 16 March, 2018, 10:53:30 pm »
Maybe with a fuckload of cable ties?
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Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #12 on: 16 March, 2018, 11:00:40 pm »
You're missing a trick. There are two holes in the endplate of the borked bit. Bung some 3x2 in the frame, a couple of good length woodscrews through the holes and stick it on Gumtree. If you're bothered about frame integrity, get some gorilla glue. S'easy.

Robert's your auntie's live in . . .  :thumbsup:
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VELOMANCER

Quote from: trekker12 on 16 July, 2016, 08:54:33 am
Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

drossall

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #13 on: 17 March, 2018, 08:05:26 am »
See, now I'm in two minds. I was all ready to scrap it and buy a new bike, and the cunning repair ideas start coming in.

Torslanda, I could do you a discount on the bike if you'd like to buy it and do the repairs yourself?
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PaulF

  • "World's Scariest Barman"
  • It's only impossible if you stop to think about it
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #14 on: 17 March, 2018, 08:24:17 am »

Quote from: Kim on 16 March, 2018, 10:53:30 pm
Maybe with a fuckload of cable ties?

Don’t be silly, something that big would need duck tape ;D

Or the standard Singletrackworld response: are you sure it’s not a sticker?
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Jurek

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #15 on: 17 March, 2018, 08:36:42 am »
Shame its not a steel frame.
You can repair those using magnets.
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CAMRAMan

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #16 on: 17 March, 2018, 08:53:26 am »
'Tis but a scratch...
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Haggerty F, Haggerty R, Tomkins, Noble, Carrick, Robson, Crapper, Dewhurst, Macintyre, Treadmore, Davitt.

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #17 on: 17 March, 2018, 08:57:24 am »
Quote from: drossall on 17 March, 2018, 08:05:26 am
See, now I'm in two minds. I was all ready to scrap it and buy a new bike, and the cunning repair ideas start coming in.

Torslanda, I could do you a discount on the bike if you'd like to buy it and do the repairs yourself?

I'd be interested in rebuilding it on a new frame . . .
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VELOMANCER

Quote from: trekker12 on 16 July, 2016, 08:54:33 am
Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #18 on: 17 March, 2018, 09:37:02 am »
Surely a bit of t-cut and it'll polish out?
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“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #19 on: 17 March, 2018, 01:02:49 pm »
Quote from: Jurek on 17 March, 2018, 08:36:42 am
Shame its not a steel frame.
You can repair those using magnets.

If it was an electric bike, you could use electromagnets...
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PaulF

  • "World's Scariest Barman"
  • It's only impossible if you stop to think about it
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #20 on: 17 March, 2018, 01:05:51 pm »
Quote from: Kim on 17 March, 2018, 01:02:49 pm
Quote from: Jurek on 17 March, 2018, 08:36:42 am
Shame its not a steel frame.
You can repair those using magnets.

If it was an electric bike, you could use electromagnets...

Surely that would mean it would fall apart when you stop at traffic lights?
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zigzag

  • unfuckwithable
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #21 on: 17 March, 2018, 01:53:57 pm »
send those photos to dahon with a short story and see what they say
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Jurek

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #22 on: 17 March, 2018, 06:10:14 pm »
Quote from: PaulF on 17 March, 2018, 01:05:51 pm
Quote from: Kim on 17 March, 2018, 01:02:49 pm
Quote from: Jurek on 17 March, 2018, 08:36:42 am
Shame its not a steel frame.
You can repair those using magnets.

If it was an electric bike, you could use electromagnets...

Surely that would mean it would fall apart when you stop at traffic lights?
Always with the negative.
What is it with you? 
;)
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Jurek

Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #23 on: 17 March, 2018, 06:17:21 pm »
Quote from: zigzag on 17 March, 2018, 01:53:57 pm
send those photos to dahon with a short story and see what they say
Good call.
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clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Broken Dahon
« Reply #24 on: 18 March, 2018, 10:56:46 am »
Quote from: Jurek on 17 March, 2018, 06:10:14 pm
Quote from: PaulF on 17 March, 2018, 01:05:51 pm
Quote from: Kim on 17 March, 2018, 01:02:49 pm
Quote from: Jurek on 17 March, 2018, 08:36:42 am
Shame its not a steel frame.
You can repair those using magnets.

If it was an electric bike, you could use electromagnets...

Surely that would mean it would fall apart when you stop at traffic lights?
Always with the negative.
What is it with you? 
;)
You trying to induce puns?
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Getting there...
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