How to find a trustworthy bike shop if…

[Sylvs]

That Helios 8 is one good looking bike!

My Dahon Helios P8 is very happy and so am I with a Bafang BBS01B.

Cyclemotion - Mobility Solutions for an Integrated World

Folding bikes by Cyclemotion UK. We offer the world's largest selection of portable folding bicycle and bicycle accessories. We have folding bicycles for every riding requirement - from commuting, to traveling, to mountain biking.

www.world-wheels.co.uk

I'd avoid Tern.

 

[soundwave]

if you put a bafang mid drive on that bike and raced a 4k bosch bike you would kick its ass

 

[guerney]

That Helios 8 is one good looking bike!

I've been told by CH White that Dahon folding bikes with the reinforcement bar AKA "Rebar" over the hinge hardly ever have problems... which is one of the reasons why I bought a second hand Esperesso the other week on ebay for £72:

Home - Folding Bikes by DAHON

Official website of DAHON, World Leader in Folding Bicycle, RIDE ANYWHERE, ANY TIME, ANYTHING. Freedom Unfolds.

eu.dahon.com

 

[Sylvs]

I might have bought a Fiido a couple of years ago, but they didn't have a UK warehouse then, so I converted using a Bafang BBS01B instead... which was easy apart from the removal of the bottom bracket from my (old - manufactured in 2006) bike... and I don't think anyone in the UK offer them on CTW. I just followed this video guide:

I believe there are active Facebook Fiido groups where they swap tips, repair etc. And there are lots of hub drive conversion experts on this forum.

Shut the front door!! This is actually not that complex. I was sold on doing it myself until they got to the breaks side of things. I would not trust myself with that.

 

[guerney]

if you put a bafang mid drive on that bike and raced a 4k bosch bike you would kick its ass

There's a very light Dahon folder I've got my eye open for: 8.5kg... and that's with mudguards and rear rack. But I'm too embarassed to say which.

 

[Sylvs]

if you put a bafang mid drive on that bike and raced a 4k bosch bike you would kick its ass

The competitive side of me REALLY wants to be able to do that

I've been told by CH White that Dahon folding bikes with the reinforcement bar AKA "Rebar" over the hinge hardly ever have problems... which is one of the reasons why I bought a second hand Esperesso the other week on ebay for £72:

Home - Folding Bikes by DAHON

Official website of DAHON, World Leader in Folding Bicycle, RIDE ANYWHERE, ANY TIME, ANYTHING. Freedom Unfolds.

eu.dahon.com

I’ve seen Dahons come up in posts before and thought it’s just one of those elusive makes no one can really get in the UK but again…C H White has those

 

[guerney]

Shut the front door!! This is actually not that complex. I was sold on doing it myself until they got to the breaks side of things. I would not trust myself with that.

I put the battery on the rear rack, which was also easy - I bolted through a piece of pallet wood, reasoning it'd be suitable because it's lightweight, strong (compresssed and sometimes microwaved wood, treated with many toxic antirot chemicals) and I had some handy. I intended to replace it with aluminium and bought some the other month, which would be about 100g lighter. Another something to get around to But tbh the pallet wood just works.

 

[guerney]

The competitive side of me REALLY wants to be able to do that

I’ve seen Dahons come up in posts before and thought it’s just one of those elusive makes no one can really get in the UK but again…C H White has those

I think most people who own Dahons eventually discover CH White, because they have parts nobody else in the UK has. They've got zillions of "new" old stock frames in their warehouse. If they ever stop trading I'd be stuffed.

 

[soundwave]

Shut the front door!! This is actually not that complex. I was sold on doing it myself until they got to the breaks side of things. I would not trust myself with that.

there cable brakes so not that hard watch some more vids when i got my bike i had no warranty no bike shops would help me or have the right tools anyway so had to learn the hard way and just get all the tools and learn to do it my self.

if you have decent hydraulic brakes then you wont need brake sensors but bleeding those things on my bike is a pita and takes forever but when done right will last for years.

 

[Sylvs]

So I’m a bit torn now, on one hand side I begrudge spending money on a pre-made bike which will be (let’s face it) pretty basic, on the other hand I can’t change a tyre in my cyclocross confidently…so crappy bike or a good one and maybe broken bones/teeth if I don’t install things properly..‍‍‍

 

[guerney]

maybe broken bones/teeth if I don’t install things properly..‍‍‍

Yes that's a legitimate fear - I cracked a tooth with a faceplant, when a chain snapped while I was powering uphill. Now I use missing links, which didn't exist in the 80s when that happened:

... and I use a @soundwave approved jawguarded helmet.

 

[soundwave]

So I’m a bit torn now, on one hand side I begrudge spending money on a pre-made bike which will be (let’s face it) pretty basic, on the other hand I can’t change a tyre in my cyclocross confidently…so crappy bike or a good one and maybe broken bones/teeth if I don’t install things properly..‍‍‍

i need help to get my tyres back on and off the rim as that tight as run tubeless but not one puncture in ten years.



it is latex and when liquid it will seal any hole in the tyre but over time it drys out and glues the fkn tyre to the rim.


that's how you learn because if you dont crash you are not going fast enough

 

[Sylvs]

Yes that's a legitimate fear - I cracked a tooth with a faceplant, when a chain snapped while I was powering uphill. Now I use missing links, which didn't exist in the 80s when that happened:

... and I use a @soundwave approved jawguarded helmet.

Okay so that’s terrifying. What’s a missing link? I have never snapped a chain so far (knock on wood) but my current chain is definitely on its way out. In the past I’d go to a lbs and ask them to do a service (change whatever needed changing and pay a lot for what I’m now realising I could have done myself )

 

[Sylvs]

i need help to get my tyres back on and off the rim as that tight as run tubeless but not one puncture in ten years.

View attachment 51324

it is latex and when liquid it will seal any hole in the tyre but over time it drys out and glues the fkn tyre to the rim.
View attachment 51325View attachment 51326
View attachment 51327
that's how you learn because if you dont crash you are not going fast enough

Haha I had braces as a kid, I have not suffered through that to knock my teeth out on my bike but…kudos to you for living a wild life.
the tyre pics however are giving me ptsd. I snapped (apparently) a decent set of levers trying to change my last one.

 

[guerney]

Okay so that’s terrifying. What’s a missing link? I have never snapped a chain so far (knock on wood) but my current chain is definitely on its way out. In the past I’d go to a lbs and ask them to do a service (change whatever needed changing and pay a lot for what I’m now realising I could have done myself )

They join chain end together. In theory easy to install and remove, but doing so sometimes requires missing link pliers:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KMC-Missing-Link-12-Speed-re-usable/dp/B07Z618NXC/ref=?th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oumers-Missing-Opener-Remover-Compatible/dp/B07BR7CYJ2/ref=

 

[Sylvs]

I am actually not disliking the Dahon Espresso from C H White. It’s already electified and I can learn small repairs as I go along. I think as a complete novice to e-bikes I’d lose teeth and maybe limbs on a DIY electric (at my current level of expertise)

 

[guerney]

So I’m a bit torn now, on one hand side I begrudge spending money on a pre-made bike which will be (let’s face it) pretty basic, on the other hand I can’t change a tyre in my cyclocross confidently…so crappy bike or a good one and maybe broken bones/teeth if I don’t install things properly..‍‍‍

Why not get a Wisper? They have dealers all over the country, or participating lbss participating as dealers, and their batteries might not be expensive. I've seen David the Wisper whisperer boss of Wisper providing support on the forum.

 

[soundwave]

it is just a single use link to connect the chain so no tools needed but if i took my bike to a bike shop every time it would just cost a fortune.

evens last time i looked charged £1 per min so 60 quid a hour of **** monkey work

 

[guerney]

I am actually not disliking the Dahon Espresso from C H White. It’s already electified and I can learn small repairs as I go along. I think as a complete novice to e-bikes I’d lose teeth and maybe limbs on a DIY electric (at my current level of expertise)

I'd ask what specific motor, controller and battery (battery cell details too) they have used to electrify this:

Dahon Espresso/Jack Electric Conversion 36V 250W

This 36V Lithium Dahon 26” wheel Espresso or Jack in matt Black

foldingbike.biz

Warranty repairs/returns for electrickery would be tricky - they're in Wiltshire.

 

[Sylvs]

I'd ask what specific motor, controller and battery cells they have used to electrify this:

Dahon Espresso/Jack Electric Conversion 36V 250W

This 36V Lithium Dahon 26” wheel Espresso or Jack in matt Black

foldingbike.biz

Warranty repairs/returns for electrickery would be tricky - they're in Wiltshire.

That’s an exceptionally good point! I’ll look at Wisper. I previously looked at a westhill link, bike is £1349 battery is £450…a bit off putting. Wisper can have a torque sensor (is that a gimmick?)