Forgotten Dahon

[Wildcat]

My godson picked up his new bike from me and dropped off the Dahon I gave his aunt about 8 years ago. It looks like it has sat for about that long and is rusty and covered with dirt and dust. The michelins still look good though.
So it will get a complete rebuild, paint and all.
Today:

From about 10 years ago:

 

[kingfish254]

Very cool. Dahons are well made bikes in my opinion.

Scoring a pair of Dahons at a yard sale years ago are actually what got me back into bikes. I was on the Dahon forum before I discovered the RRB forum.
Here is the Dahon I fixed up for my wife next to the rough stage of Fugsley for comparison.

 

[Pondo]

Note to self: 'I don't need more bikes, I have lots'; repeat as necessary. I've been watching Moulton videos on youtube lately. These small wheeled bikes are a kick!

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

I bought a pair of Retrospec 7 speed foldies from Fb Marketplace for $200 recently. I think I posted them here. I have enjoyed them, well, one of them, I haven't ridden the other yet, so much - way more than anticipated. The Retrospec is a copy of the Dahon.

 

[Wildcat]

I took off the handbrakes and put it back to it's original setup with just a coaster brake. It was a red Boardwalk single speed at a church sale for 10 bucks. All the hinges needed cleaned up and lubed but are all in good shape. I took off the Michelins and found cracks in one where it had been sitting flat for a long time. Those tires are about 14 years old. To my surprize a 2.4 tire fit in the rear and a 2.125 fit up front. Those are on there just for testing. I ordered some new blue rims and a blue hub for the front. I need to get another coaster hub, this wheel belongs to a BMX bike I stole the wheel from. I think a nice set of 1.50 street tires will work best with this setup.
It's ready for a ride now. I'll see if a 52/18 ratio will be suitable. If I use my 2 speed I'll have to add handbrakes so I'll probably stay single speed.

 

[Wildcat]

A little theme music for this poor forgotten little bike.


I ordered up some new parts, that all total came to 1800 pesos, or 32 dollars.
Tires, rims, a coaster hub and a front sealed bearing high flange hub.

 

[Wildcat]

After the test ride, I disassembled it, except for the big hinge. The hinge pin looks like it was pressed in, so I'll leave it be. It works fine so I'll paint around it. I found the cranks to be very heavy. It's a 52 tooth chain wheel but I'll change it out with a 47 alloy set and have a smaller cog on the rear. It was 52/20 so I think 47/18 will be about the same gearing. I have a 16 cog if need be.

I couldn't get the bearing cup on the drove side to break loose. I may just clean up the cup and use it, but I wanted to use a sealed set. There's nothing like getting pinched by the channel locks.

The drive side bearings were working but the cage was all torn up. This will get a new set and spindle.

I should be able to spend freely on this bike. I just got the wife a new car. I'm set for a little while!