If a powerful company like Dahon spent years of R&D, aiming at being competitive at a specific product and ends up with a product with no obvious technical or price advantages, then it shows to what extent the Brompton engineers did a good job over the last years.
or not... Brompton didn't invents the flip fold, but DiBlasi in 1970. We can say the same about Birdy, Ori, Vellobike... I know the Curl and B. and the ride is completely different. I can feel less vibration in Curl's hydroformed frame than Brompton's steel frame, and quicker fold so It's something btw a Brompton and a Birdy (I love Brompton by the way)
I highly doubt Dahon nor Tern spend years on R&D. They've been making the same products with slight differences for 20 years. The new products they do come out with are greatly flawed. Someone is sleeping at the wheel and it isn't Brompton. They are dominating. I want Dahon and Tern to knock Brompton off their throne. Competition is good. It's just that Dahon and Tern are coasting and are self-satisfied with their inferior bikes.
Hi there, thanks for this review. There is some really great feedback in this video and in the comments section of the video! We have collected up the feedback from the video and the comments section and spoken with our R&D team and have got some responses to your feedback that we hope you find useful. 1. Chain tensioner broken when opening the box - The packaging for the Curl has now been improved to ensure this problem is avoided in the future. The R&D team are also looking into how to improve the chain tensioner. 2. Cable does not look neat once the bike is folded - R&D will continue looking at this issue to find out how best to improve the look of the cable once the bike is folded. 3. Problems with the wheels on the rear rack, meaning the bike cannot stand properly by itself - Previously, the Curl had one smaller wheel among the other wheels on the rack, this meant that if the bike was not folded well, it could encounter problems when standing on its own. We have now changed this, so that all the wheels are the same size, and the bike can stand on its own with no problems. 4. The Curl is not lighter than Brompton bicycles - The Curl is heavier than Brompton bicycles due to it being designed with a stronger tube to ensure maximum stiffness of the frame. 5. The curl is a clone of Brompton bicycles - The Curl is not a clone of Brompton bicycles and has 10 patents of its own. 6. The Curl is very expensive - We feel the Curl is worth the price due to the specifications of the bike and it being a different design, not like any of our previous bikes. We are working on developing an economical version of this model, with a cheaper price point to meet the different needs of our riders. 7. No front carrier block - One can be installed on to the bike. 8. The aluminum frame is not as durable as the Brompton steel frame. The Curl is meant to have a harsh ride due to the rigid frame and lack of suspension. - Our aim with the Curl was to have a stiffer bike, that delivers better efficiency when riding, which is why the frame is made from aluminum. 9. A disc brake at the front would be nice (no rim wear) - Installing a disc brake on this bike would have made the bike bigger and meant that it could not be folded as small. We also felt that a disc brake would not look good on this model. 10. In Europe there seems to be an i7 version, but either 7 speed or 8 speed hubs are in no way as reliable as the simplistic 3 speed hub and for a long term commuting bike that surely is more important? - People can use different speeds for the Curl i8. 11. The chain will fall off when backpedaling - This is an issue that we have worked on and have since improved. Thanks again for all your interest and discussion around the Curl!
The only significant differences I see from a Brompton are: - left pedal is removable instead of foldable, - different gear hub, - different material, - slightly more curved horizontal frame, - front wheel hitting the tensioner in the folded position, - poor cable routing that results in a wide loop in the folded position that hangs dangerously, - different hinge locking mechanism (replacing the screwed clamp with a single action lever held in place by a secondary spring-loaded lever). 10 patents for that kind of product is pretty low since you can get one just for changing the shape or number of holes in a random piece. Also the broken tensioner could be caused by the poor packaging with the seatpost squeezed between the front wheel and the chain. Just see how hard he had to pull to get it out, and the resulting paintless spot on the side of the seatpost. With all the issues this reviewer encountered that product shouldn't have left the factory before your R&D solved the most obvious ones (uneven rack wheels, cable routing, front wheel hitting the tensioner) and it should have been packed more respectfully.
I am curious as to why there is a jockey -- internal-hubs don't need them, and at least two of the issues described in the review exist only because of the seemingly unnecessary jockey.
on bromptons the distance between the crank and the rear wheels changes due to the fold, the chain tension is simply to keep the chain tight enough so it will remain on the crank and gears... otherwise it would simply fall off each time you folded the bike.... i guess this applys to the Danhon too
I have a Brompton and Dahon curl. Both bike are good in their own way. Both bike rides differently. Basically, if you are riding a Brompton and then ride Dahon Curl, you will not like it cause you so used to Brompton ride. But if you ask a newbie to both brand... Most will choose Dahon Curl cause it ride more like a 20” bike compare the the Brompton which ride a little nervous.
Most don't understand...What real knockoff mean is that copycat w/ cheap components. You can clearly see Dahons not made up with plastics but they got advantage of getting higher quality components in lower price from mass production because they're almost 80% of folding-bike market. We call it copycat only until whichever new inventions become common. We don't simply call Galaxy a copycat of iPhone just because they got touch screen in year 2023 now.
Dahon Curl i4 weigh 12,5 kg. My Brompton H (high steering) 3 (3 gears) L (no rear rack) weigh exactly 12 kg. You must ride on steep hills too and test the brakes! There are some problems I think.
I own Dahon curl i3. If you compare the frames of Dahon and Brompton, it is a night and day different. Dahon frame is way better built with sophisticated technology and much stiffer. Just compare dropouts of Dahon and Brompton. Brompton dropout is just stamped flat like walmart chinese bike whereas Dahon has forged metal dropout like expensive professional bikes. There are few bugs as described in this video but they are rather minor and can be forgiven for much better ride in Dahon.
I agree. I own a Curl i8 (which I also take long trips with) and have ridden a Brompton. The only advantage I've noticed on the Brompton is certainly the lower weight.
This bike is a perfect example of lousy design. Seems quite comparable to Brompton but differences are in small things - Bromptons fold way better - this is just "trying to be Brompton" expensive as Brompton ...."Dahon aimed to build a better version wih some improvements" lol
or not... Brompton didn't invents the flip fold, but DiBlasi in 1970. We can say the same about Birdy, Ori, Vellobike... I know the Curl and B. and the ride is completely different. I can feel less vibration in Curl's hydroformed frame than Brompton's steel frame, and quicker fold so It's something btw a Brompton and a Birdy (I love Brompton by the way)
I've been riding this bike for about a month ruclips.net/user/postUgkxwC0IIeIomGQVeBWg-kKJaToZkLEFIA2W and a half now and I think it's fantastic. It helps me get to work on time every day since I'm able to fit it inside of public transportation rush hour. The price is great too, people are always shocked when they ask me how much I paid for the fold up and I tell them "200". It's easy to fold and installation when it ships is insanely easy. All you have to install when the bike arrives is one foot pedal, everything else is done for you. I do recommend you carry some sort of wrench to tighten any loose screws on the handle bar and seat whenever they get a little bit loose. Other than that I think it's a fantastic bike. Easily fits in the home, can fit inside a car trunk and can even fit in subway rush hour.
I think there are other issues with the Curl besides the issues mentioned here. Although there was talk of a higher weight limit that seems to have been reduced to 105kg on the Dahon site. In Europe there seems to be a i7 version but either 7 speed or 8 speed hubs are in no way as reliable as the simplistic 3 speed hub and for a long term commuting bike that surely is more important. The aluminium frame is unlikely to last as long as the Brompton steel frame and the Curl is meant to have a harsh ride due to the rigid frame and lack of suspension which maybe the reviewer didn't encounter due to riding the Curl on pretty good roads. Ultimately with a much higher resale value and much longer life with stronger reliability and parts the Brompton in real terms is considerably cheaper than the Curl. However its possible Curl resale values will be low so it will make a good s/hand purchase. I don't know why Dahon used aluminium for this bike, while aluminium might have a weight advantage normally in this type of product the more compact steel tubing and higher resistance to fatigue seems a much more logical choice. The lack of a rear suspension block means hitting potholes where the rider is still seated on the saddle is going to be more jarring to the aluminium frame, which is possibly why they have revised the weight capacity back down to 105kg. I have a Dahon bike myself amongst others but this seems to me a very poorly conceived clone of the Brompton best swept under the carpet. Not only does it look poor as a product but its a weak copy which goes against Dahon's marketing of being an innovative company but instead makes Dahon look like a cheap copycat type company which I think damages their reputation. I don't get the pricing either its a clone made in China and surely should be much cheaper than Brompton, possibly half the price to make sense. The UK is extremely expensive to manufacture, it has a large financial centre and the pound is grossly overvalued making exports difficult and less cost effective. I don't get why these 2 bikes should be broadly the same price especially as the Brompton as a product is far higher quality too. Even if you don't want a Brompton it is a price where many other options become available. A copycat product is not prestigious it's often a choice where people can't afford the original innovative product and are looking for a low cost alternative. The Curl doesn't make sense to me.
Cons: - No front carrier block (!) - Alumin(i)um isn't as comfortable as steel - Must remove saddle for compact fold? - A disk brake in the front would be nice (no rim wear) But we're getting closer to having a competitor to Brompton.
real thing is DiBlasi from the 70's that inspires Curl. Same for Birdy, Tyrell Vello bike, Ori, translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&u=www.dahon.pt/dahon-curl-faqs
I agree on the weak point of the chain tensioner. I think it’s best to dissemble it when checking in to the airport. However, the problem you have while back pedal while folded it’s due to the nexus hub. When it’s new, the hub feels a little drag. Once you have a few hundreds km on it, the hub loosen up and you can back pedal without problem. So far I’m loving my Dahon curl i8.
The issue still remains that the Nexus 8 is relatively short life compared to the Nexus 3 or Sturmey Archer hub and much less efficient in most gears. It makes the Curl a lighter duty bike than the Brompton or Curl with a 3 speed hub. You see reports of Nexus 8 and 7 hubs failing before 5,000 miles of use, you hear a Rohloff is expected to achieve 50,000 miles and that a 3 speed hub can beat a Rohloff for lifespan due to its simplicity. It's clear Brompton's choice of 3 speed hub was based on their strength and reliability and why they came up with their novel 2 speed derailleur setup to compensate for the 3 speed hub's lack of gear range. I'm not saying its a perfect solution but it seems a better one than fitting a 7 or 8 speed nexus hub.
Let the market decide. Considering a Nexus 7/8 costs less than $100, it doesn't really matter if it needs to be replaced after 5,000 miles (and probably more when used by people who know how to handle an IGH.)
Yes you make a good point the Nexus 7 and 8 geared hubs are pretty damn cheap for the complexity of their mechanisms and that reinforces the short life nature of the product. I don't think its operator error that has caused the hubs to fail after a short life although it could be related to heavier western riders of Europe and the US. I disagree that people are happy to replace such hubs especially if the failure is in the middle of traffic next to articulated lorries, buses and other large vehicles where the driver has restricted vision. You see Brompton's weaving in and out of dangerous traffic by riders who almost seem like they have a death wish and I certainly wouldn't want to be doing the same on a relatively light duty bicycle.
I haven't had any problems with the Brompton and the Alfine 11 bikes I've had for a few years now. IGH just need a bit of love & care. I suggested that Brompton offer a 135mm OLD rear triangle when ordering so that people could use a Nexus/Alfine/Rohloff if they so wish. That would be more useful than fancy colors. I sure hope a competitor will finally come up with a valid alternative to Brompton. Obviously, the Dahon Curl isn't a good alternative yet.
real thing is DiBlasi from the 70's that inspires Curl. Same for Birdy, Tyrell Vello bike, Ori, translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&u=www.dahon.pt/dahon-curl-faqs
People do like Brompton but they are expensive unless you really use them over the long term. A cheaper copy would be a good alternative for occasional or short-term use. But the cheaper copies really need to be very cheap, otherwise the Brompton is always going to be the better option.
I own one: - Expensive - On the six-speeder, must juggle with two shifters - Rims wear fast - The derailleur gets stuck with mud - A£most all part$ are propri€tary
I'm sure your last 3 criticisms are fair but the 7 and 8 speed Shimano nexus hubs are in no way as reliable as the simpler 3 speed mechanism either from Shimano or Sturmey Archer. The Brompton 6 speed design is surely a solution to that enabling use of the far more reliable 3 speed hub but extending its gear range. The 7 speed Nexus for example is actually based on a 9 speed mechanism with 2 gears unselectable annoyingly one of them is the direct drive 1:1 ratio gear. It's much more complex than the simple 3 speed hub which enables the 3 speed hub to have larger stronger components. People can still ride 3 speed hubs well over 100 years old. You can world tour with a Brompton and not have to worry. I feel this increased reliability and strength far outweighs the inconvenience of 2 shifters. There is a Curl with just a 3 speed hub but then without the mini derailleur the gear range is limited however I feel that would be the best option for someone using the Curl frequently as a commuting bike. Lets not forget the efficiency of the 3 speed hub is far beyond that of 7 and 8 speed hubs. I think the 3 speed hub has efficiency of 90 to 95% in all gears but the 7 and 8 speeds drop into the 80s for certain gears and the 7 speed hub doesn't even have a single high efficiency gear (direct drive) at all. So 5 to 10% of your pedalling power is lost in the hub compared to the 3 speed hub.
The American Patriot A lot of people like Brompton, but it indeed has a few negatives. It's a small brand with poor distribution and poor support (not a problem in developed markets, yet a constant in most other places); expensive, which their fans actually like because they pay for the exclusivity of owning a Brompton, but not everybody cares about that; their clamps are obsolete (fans like it as part of the "Brompton experience" but there is no way to consider them objectively better than the design on Tern or Dahon; and whatever shifter they use, it's falls short from Shimano quality. So long history short: a lot of people value the "soul" of a Brompton; but there also a lot of people who consider those people a bunch of snobs, and are not looking for brand exclusivity but would like to see the principles of a Brompton applied to an updated design.
Dahon and Tern need to wake up! Brompton is KING and can not be dethroned. Brompton has been refining every detail of their bikes for decades. They are locked into their system. So why in the hell doesn't Dahon and Tern use this opportunity to truly invent a better folding bike? Dahon and Tern do not have the history and pedigree that Brompton has. Dahon and Tern must stop making Brompton clones. Reinvent the folding bicycle. Revolutionize the folding bicycle. Come at Brompton with everything you got. Dahon and Tern can't keep making the same low quality bikes and expect different results. Every detail matters. Make your folding bikes perfect. Knock Brompton off the top of the folding bike pyramid. You can do it!
Brompton have been making these bikes since the early eighties and are still making them today, the reason being they are the best and always will be. Sorry but this is no Brompton killer 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
my Brompton is 17 years young, and it still makes me smile... the Dahon looks interesting.... an alternative, as too which is best who cares... just enjoy riding your bike... you pays yer money you take yer choice...
Aluminium alloy .... high cyclic stresses - will fail suddenly - unlike lovely filthy carbon-rich steel. Have also had issues with some Taiwanese pick & mix fold down steerers, where the pin shears ....
Dahon: 99% hype, 1% quality. I really don't understand this company. They are aiming at high-end folding bike class with corresponding price tags, but what they really offer is just CRAP! Look at their standard 20 inch folding bikes, they don't even bother to equip them with QRs, but that doesn't stop them to be super expensive. Same for the Tern, by the way.
If a powerful company like Dahon spent years of R&D, aiming at being competitive at a specific product and ends up with a product with no obvious technical or price advantages, then it shows to what extent the Brompton engineers did a good job over the last years.
or not... Brompton didn't invents the flip fold, but DiBlasi in 1970. We can say the same about Birdy, Ori, Vellobike... I know the Curl and B. and the ride is completely different. I can feel less vibration in Curl's hydroformed frame than Brompton's steel frame, and quicker fold so It's something btw a Brompton and a Birdy (I love Brompton by the way)
@@bklisboa Not saying Brompton invented the flip fold. But the way they did it seems to be always competitive for now.
I highly doubt Dahon nor Tern spend years on R&D. They've been making the same products with slight differences for 20 years. The new products they do come out with are greatly flawed. Someone is sleeping at the wheel and it isn't Brompton. They are dominating. I want Dahon and Tern to knock Brompton off their throne. Competition is good. It's just that Dahon and Tern are coasting and are self-satisfied with their inferior bikes.
Hi there, thanks for this review. There is some really great feedback in this video and in the comments section of the video! We have collected up the feedback from the video and the comments section and spoken with our R&D team and have got some responses to your feedback that we hope you find useful.
1. Chain tensioner broken when opening the box - The packaging for the Curl has now been improved to ensure this problem is avoided in the future. The R&D team are also looking into how to improve the chain tensioner.
2. Cable does not look neat once the bike is folded - R&D will continue looking at this issue to find out how best to improve the look of the cable once the bike is folded.
3. Problems with the wheels on the rear rack, meaning the bike cannot stand properly by itself - Previously, the Curl had one smaller wheel among the other wheels on the rack, this meant that if the bike was not folded well, it could encounter problems when standing on its own. We have now changed this, so that all the wheels are the same size, and the bike can stand on its own with no problems.
4. The Curl is not lighter than Brompton bicycles - The Curl is heavier than Brompton bicycles due to it being designed with a stronger tube to ensure maximum stiffness of the frame.
5. The curl is a clone of Brompton bicycles - The Curl is not a clone of Brompton bicycles and has 10 patents of its own.
6. The Curl is very expensive - We feel the Curl is worth the price due to the specifications of the bike and it being a different design, not like any of our previous bikes. We are working on developing an economical version of this model, with a cheaper price point to meet the different needs of our riders.
7. No front carrier block - One can be installed on to the bike.
8. The aluminum frame is not as durable as the Brompton steel frame. The Curl is meant to have a harsh ride due to the rigid frame and lack of suspension. - Our aim with the Curl was to have a stiffer bike, that delivers better efficiency when riding, which is why the frame is made from aluminum.
9. A disc brake at the front would be nice (no rim wear) - Installing a disc brake on this bike would have made the bike bigger and meant that it could not be folded as small. We also felt that a disc brake would not look good on this model.
10. In Europe there seems to be an i7 version, but either 7 speed or 8 speed hubs are in no way as reliable as the simplistic 3 speed hub and for a long term commuting bike that surely is more important? - People can use different speeds for the Curl i8.
11. The chain will fall off when backpedaling - This is an issue that we have worked on and have since improved.
Thanks again for all your interest and discussion around the Curl!
The only significant differences I see from a Brompton are:
- left pedal is removable instead of foldable,
- different gear hub,
- different material,
- slightly more curved horizontal frame,
- front wheel hitting the tensioner in the folded position,
- poor cable routing that results in a wide loop in the folded position that hangs dangerously,
- different hinge locking mechanism (replacing the screwed clamp with a single action lever held in place by a secondary spring-loaded lever).
10 patents for that kind of product is pretty low since you can get one just for changing the shape or number of holes in a random piece.
Also the broken tensioner could be caused by the poor packaging with the seatpost squeezed between the front wheel and the chain. Just see how hard he had to pull to get it out, and the resulting paintless spot on the side of the seatpost.
With all the issues this reviewer encountered that product shouldn't have left the factory before your R&D solved the most obvious ones (uneven rack wheels, cable routing, front wheel hitting the tensioner) and it should have been packed more respectfully.
I am curious as to why there is a jockey -- internal-hubs don't need them, and at least two of the issues described in the review exist only because of the seemingly unnecessary jockey.
on bromptons the distance between the crank and the rear wheels changes due to the fold, the chain tension is simply to keep the chain tight enough so it will remain on the crank and gears... otherwise it would simply fall off each time you folded the bike.... i guess this applys to the Danhon too
I have a Brompton and Dahon curl. Both bike are good in their own way. Both bike rides differently. Basically, if you are riding a Brompton and then ride Dahon Curl, you will not like it cause you so used to Brompton ride. But if you ask a newbie to both brand... Most will choose Dahon Curl cause it ride more like a 20” bike compare the the Brompton which ride a little nervous.
Perhaps Brompton would explore making theirs in a 20in version too but with their folding system.
18" from Birdy would be enough, for wide Marathons or Big Apples. But they need a large forq and rear triangle
Most don't understand...What real knockoff mean is that copycat w/ cheap components. You can clearly see Dahons not made up with plastics but they got advantage of getting higher quality components in lower price from mass production because they're almost 80% of folding-bike market. We call it copycat only until whichever new inventions become common. We don't simply call Galaxy a copycat of iPhone just because they got touch screen in year 2023 now.
Dahon Curl i4 weigh 12,5 kg. My Brompton H (high steering) 3 (3 gears) L (no rear rack) weigh exactly 12 kg. You must ride on steep hills too and test the brakes! There are some problems I think.
I own Dahon curl i3. If you compare the frames of Dahon and Brompton, it is a night and day different. Dahon frame is way better built with sophisticated technology and much stiffer. Just compare dropouts of Dahon and Brompton. Brompton dropout is just stamped flat like walmart chinese bike whereas Dahon has forged metal dropout like expensive professional bikes. There are few bugs as described in this video but they are rather minor and can be forgiven for much better ride in Dahon.
I agree. I own a Curl i8 (which I also take long trips with) and have ridden a Brompton. The only advantage I've noticed on the Brompton is certainly the lower weight.
This bike is a perfect example of lousy design. Seems quite comparable to Brompton but differences are in small things - Bromptons fold way better - this is just "trying to be Brompton" expensive as Brompton ...."Dahon aimed to build a better version wih some improvements" lol
agree
or not... Brompton didn't invents the flip fold, but DiBlasi in 1970. We can say the same about Birdy, Ori, Vellobike... I know the Curl and B. and the ride is completely different. I can feel less vibration in Curl's hydroformed frame than Brompton's steel frame, and quicker fold so It's something btw a Brompton and a Birdy (I love Brompton by the way)
I've been riding this bike for about a month ruclips.net/user/postUgkxwC0IIeIomGQVeBWg-kKJaToZkLEFIA2W and a half now and I think it's fantastic. It helps me get to work on time every day since I'm able to fit it inside of public transportation rush hour. The price is great too, people are always shocked when they ask me how much I paid for the fold up and I tell them "200". It's easy to fold and installation when it ships is insanely easy. All you have to install when the bike arrives is one foot pedal, everything else is done for you. I do recommend you carry some sort of wrench to tighten any loose screws on the handle bar and seat whenever they get a little bit loose. Other than that I think it's a fantastic bike. Easily fits in the home, can fit inside a car trunk and can even fit in subway rush hour.
I think there are other issues with the Curl besides the issues mentioned here. Although there was talk of a higher weight limit that seems to have been reduced to 105kg on the Dahon site. In Europe there seems to be a i7 version but either 7 speed or 8 speed hubs are in no way as reliable as the simplistic 3 speed hub and for a long term commuting bike that surely is more important. The aluminium frame is unlikely to last as long as the Brompton steel frame and the Curl is meant to have a harsh ride due to the rigid frame and lack of suspension which maybe the reviewer didn't encounter due to riding the Curl on pretty good roads. Ultimately with a much higher resale value and much longer life with stronger reliability and parts the Brompton in real terms is considerably cheaper than the Curl. However its possible Curl resale values will be low so it will make a good s/hand purchase. I don't know why Dahon used aluminium for this bike, while aluminium might have a weight advantage normally in this type of product the more compact steel tubing and higher resistance to fatigue seems a much more logical choice. The lack of a rear suspension block means hitting potholes where the rider is still seated on the saddle is going to be more jarring to the aluminium frame, which is possibly why they have revised the weight capacity back down to 105kg.
I have a Dahon bike myself amongst others but this seems to me a very poorly conceived clone of the Brompton best swept under the carpet. Not only does it look poor as a product but its a weak copy which goes against Dahon's marketing of being an innovative company but instead makes Dahon look like a cheap copycat type company which I think damages their reputation. I don't get the pricing either its a clone made in China and surely should be much cheaper than Brompton, possibly half the price to make sense. The UK is extremely expensive to manufacture, it has a large financial centre and the pound is grossly overvalued making exports difficult and less cost effective. I don't get why these 2 bikes should be broadly the same price especially as the Brompton as a product is far higher quality too. Even if you don't want a Brompton it is a price where many other options become available. A copycat product is not prestigious it's often a choice where people can't afford the original innovative product and are looking for a low cost alternative. The Curl doesn't make sense to me.
Hi, Could you tell me if there will be any significant difference between this model and Curl i7?
Cons:
- No front carrier block (!)
- Alumin(i)um isn't as comfortable as steel
- Must remove saddle for compact fold?
- A disk brake in the front would be nice (no rim wear)
But we're getting closer to having a competitor to Brompton.
Littlebigfred there are plenty of bromtom clones actually. But most of them stay in the far east.
No spares and it will only last 3 years
So wait for yet another attempt from Dahon to come up with a Brompton-like bike.
Or someone else.
Does rain effect the bikes function?
Please put suspension and bag sacket at the front like brompton plz plz plz
Do you think a shopping bag can be attached like on the brompton? Can higher handle bars be added without having to change the cables too?
Honest review. Thank you very much. Sadly it is not what I hoped for.
More expensive and crappier! Go back to the drawing board and start again
The vid just made me like Brompton even more now, nothing beats the real thing
real thing is DiBlasi from the 70's that inspires Curl. Same for Birdy, Tyrell Vello bike, Ori, translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&u=www.dahon.pt/dahon-curl-faqs
@@bklisboa that's even worst. Just show that brompton stole the idea and make it even better. I'll stick to the elite manufacturer all day lol
Which is that helmet you are using? Thanks
I agree on the weak point of the chain tensioner. I think it’s best to dissemble it when checking in to the airport.
However, the problem you have while back pedal while folded it’s due to the nexus hub. When it’s new, the hub feels a little drag. Once you have a few hundreds km on it, the hub loosen up and you can back pedal without problem.
So far I’m loving my Dahon curl i8.
All IGHs need some break-in; It's not specific to the Shimano Nexus.
And _do_ backpedal a bit when shifting gears, or at least stop pedaling.
The issue still remains that the Nexus 8 is relatively short life compared to the Nexus 3 or Sturmey Archer hub and much less efficient in most gears. It makes the Curl a lighter duty bike than the Brompton or Curl with a 3 speed hub. You see reports of Nexus 8 and 7 hubs failing before 5,000 miles of use, you hear a Rohloff is expected to achieve 50,000 miles and that a 3 speed hub can beat a Rohloff for lifespan due to its simplicity. It's clear Brompton's choice of 3 speed hub was based on their strength and reliability and why they came up with their novel 2 speed derailleur setup to compensate for the 3 speed hub's lack of gear range. I'm not saying its a perfect solution but it seems a better one than fitting a 7 or 8 speed nexus hub.
Let the market decide.
Considering a Nexus 7/8 costs less than $100, it doesn't really matter if it needs to be replaced after 5,000 miles (and probably more when used by people who know how to handle an IGH.)
Yes you make a good point the Nexus 7 and 8 geared hubs are pretty damn cheap for the complexity of their mechanisms and that reinforces the short life nature of the product. I don't think its operator error that has caused the hubs to fail after a short life although it could be related to heavier western riders of Europe and the US. I disagree that people are happy to replace such hubs especially if the failure is in the middle of traffic next to articulated lorries, buses and other large vehicles where the driver has restricted vision. You see Brompton's weaving in and out of dangerous traffic by riders who almost seem like they have a death wish and I certainly wouldn't want to be doing the same on a relatively light duty bicycle.
I haven't had any problems with the Brompton and the Alfine 11 bikes I've had for a few years now. IGH just need a bit of love & care.
I suggested that Brompton offer a 135mm OLD rear triangle when ordering so that people could use a Nexus/Alfine/Rohloff if they so wish. That would be more useful than fancy colors.
I sure hope a competitor will finally come up with a valid alternative to Brompton.
Obviously, the Dahon Curl isn't a good alternative yet.
*Nice and easy to fold and unfold. I like the **Latest.Bike** of it components and so far it rides pretty well in pavement-ed trails*
Fantastically informative video of a very interesting looking bicycle.
*Works great, comfortable too*
Is the bike fast?
Nice try Dahon. You failed
if this isn't a Brompton clone what is?
A Brompton 1982 Mark 1 clone, before the design was perfected. The frame hump?
real thing is DiBlasi from the 70's that inspires Curl. Same for Birdy, Tyrell Vello bike, Ori, translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&u=www.dahon.pt/dahon-curl-faqs
Great honesty
I’ve had this for three weeks rubbish want my money back
how am bay thats bike
Junk. Never be able to match the Brompton.
People don't like Brompton but want an alternative clone... so what is it about the Brompton that makes it disfavorable
People do like Brompton but they are expensive unless you really use them over the long term. A cheaper copy would be a good alternative for occasional or short-term use. But the cheaper copies really need to be very cheap, otherwise the Brompton is always going to be the better option.
I own one:
- Expensive
- On the six-speeder, must juggle with two shifters
- Rims wear fast
- The derailleur gets stuck with mud
- A£most all part$ are propri€tary
I'm sure your last 3 criticisms are fair but the 7 and 8 speed Shimano nexus hubs are in no way as reliable as the simpler 3 speed mechanism either from Shimano or Sturmey Archer. The Brompton 6 speed design is surely a solution to that enabling use of the far more reliable 3 speed hub but extending its gear range. The 7 speed Nexus for example is actually based on a 9 speed mechanism with 2 gears unselectable annoyingly one of them is the direct drive 1:1 ratio gear. It's much more complex than the simple 3 speed hub which enables the 3 speed hub to have larger stronger components. People can still ride 3 speed hubs well over 100 years old. You can world tour with a Brompton and not have to worry.
I feel this increased reliability and strength far outweighs the inconvenience of 2 shifters. There is a Curl with just a 3 speed hub but then without the mini derailleur the gear range is limited however I feel that would be the best option for someone using the Curl frequently as a commuting bike. Lets not forget the efficiency of the 3 speed hub is far beyond that of 7 and 8 speed hubs. I think the 3 speed hub has efficiency of 90 to 95% in all gears but the 7 and 8 speeds drop into the 80s for certain gears and the 7 speed hub doesn't even have a single high efficiency gear (direct drive) at all. So 5 to 10% of your pedalling power is lost in the hub compared to the 3 speed hub.
unfortunately Brompton only offer a 2 speed hub,
The American Patriot A lot of people like Brompton, but it indeed has a few negatives. It's a small brand with poor distribution and poor support (not a problem in developed markets, yet a constant in most other places); expensive, which their fans actually like because they pay for the exclusivity of owning a Brompton, but not everybody cares about that; their clamps are obsolete (fans like it as part of the "Brompton experience" but there is no way to consider them objectively better than the design on Tern or Dahon; and whatever shifter they use, it's falls short from Shimano quality. So long history short: a lot of people value the "soul" of a Brompton; but there also a lot of people who consider those people a bunch of snobs, and are not looking for brand exclusivity but would like to see the principles of a Brompton applied to an updated design.
Dahon and Tern need to wake up! Brompton is KING and can not be dethroned. Brompton has been refining every detail of their bikes for decades. They are locked into their system. So why in the hell doesn't Dahon and Tern use this opportunity to truly invent a better folding bike? Dahon and Tern do not have the history and pedigree that Brompton has. Dahon and Tern must stop making Brompton clones. Reinvent the folding bicycle. Revolutionize the folding bicycle. Come at Brompton with everything you got. Dahon and Tern can't keep making the same low quality bikes and expect different results. Every detail matters. Make your folding bikes perfect. Knock Brompton off the top of the folding bike pyramid. You can do it!
It's aluminum, so it's not going to last nearly as long as a brompton.
Brompton have been making these bikes since the early eighties and are still making them today, the reason being they are the best and always will be. Sorry but this is no Brompton killer 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
my Brompton is 17 years young, and it still makes me smile... the Dahon looks interesting.... an alternative, as too which is best who cares... just enjoy riding your bike... you pays yer money you take yer choice...
Aluminium alloy .... high cyclic stresses - will fail suddenly - unlike lovely filthy carbon-rich steel. Have also had issues with some Taiwanese pick & mix fold down steerers, where the pin shears ....
Imperfect imitation
so Brompton is an DiBlasi imitation. Same for Birdy, Tyrell Vello bike, Ori, translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&u=www.dahon.pt/dahon-curl-faqs
Dahon: 99% hype, 1% quality. I really don't understand this company. They are aiming at high-end folding bike class with corresponding price tags, but what they really offer is just CRAP! Look at their standard 20 inch folding bikes, they don't even bother to equip them with QRs, but that doesn't stop them to be super expensive. Same for the Tern, by the way.
What is a QR?
@@borg2331 quick release
BROMPTONの真似しては駄目だよ
Frame geometry is so ugly.
Quality fail
Horrible cheap crap. Buy a Brompton
Brompton for rotschilds..dahon for kim jong il