A Dahon folding bike is one of the most convenient transportation modes on two wheels. It allows you to get from one place to another just like a regular full-size bike but also offers some added benefits.
If your house or apartment has limited storage space or your commute involves a train or elevator, a foldable bike is a genuine problem solver.
You can also fold and store it inside a van or RV, on a boat, under your desk, in a closet, or even in your car trunk.
Best Dahon Folding Bikes
If you’re searching for a folding bike, you might already have encountered Dahon, one of the most popular and successful manufacturers. After test-riding, I have come up with my list of the “10 Best Folding Bikes by Dahon” you can buy, along with detailed reviews (paid links).
1. Dahon Mariner D8 – Best Dahon Bike for the Money
The Dahon Mariner D8 is one of the best folding bikes overall. It offers all the features and options in a folding bike, including carrying ease, riding comfort, a durable frame, and high performance.
The Dahon Mariner D8 is an excellent lightweight and compact bike. It performs excellently within city environments and is comfortable to ride. For cyclists who enjoy taking weekend trips, this bike might pleasantly surprise you with its off-road performance.
- Folded size: (25.5 x 12.5 x 31.1) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch single-wall aluminum rims
- Weight: 28 pounds / 12.50 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: 110 millimeters alloy V-brakes
- Adjustable drivetrain: Shimano RD-M310 Rear Derailleur (8-speed)
- Frame: Lattice Forged Hinge, Lightweight Dalloy Sonus Tubeset
- 8-speed adjustable drivetrain for going up and down hills
- Adjustable steering handlebars
- Well-designed bungee cord on the rear rack.
- You may find the folding bike’s seat a little uncomfortable after prolonged use.
- Assembling takes considerable time.
It’s a very lightweight bicycle and also delivers the performance of a full-size regular bike.
The Dahon Mariner D8 folding bike is equipped with an adjustable drivetrain and adjustable steering handlebars, which are useful while riding.
If you plan to buy one bike that performs different roles, this folding bike is one of the best options.
2. Dahon Vybe D7 – Best Dahon Bike for Commuting
The Dahon Vybe D7 is a relatively new addition to the company’s recreation collection. It’s a well-built folding bike, best for commuting. It’s equipped with a Shimano FT35 derailleur, which enables rapid shifting by moving the chain through gears.
The Dahon Vybe D7 is perfect for commuters because it folds away in less than 20 seconds, is lightweight, and has 20-inch wheels which offer better rolling performance.
- Folded size: (26.3 x 13.3 x 32.6) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch aluminum
- Weight: 26.2 pounds / 11.9 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: 110 millimeters WinZip V-brakes
- Drivetrain: Rapid shifting 7-speed SRAM
- Frame: Vise-Grip technology, Lightweight VYBE Dalloy
- Durable and stable folding bicycle
- 7-speed rapid shifting gears
- Attractive design
- Rust resistant
- Easy and comfortable riding
- Quick folding and unfolding mechanism.
- Seat height is difficult to adjust.
One of the best features of the Vybe D7 folding bicycle is its minimal size. It remains sturdy after folding and takes up very little room. This bike’s folding and unfolding mechanism is faster than most folding bikes. You can fold it within 20 seconds.
Its quick folding and lightweight make it the best folding bicycle for people on their commute.
The braking system for this bicycle is also premium and will last for years. The only downside of this folding bike is that adjusting its height is a little difficult.
3. Dahon SUV D6 – Most Durable
Dahon SUV D6 is one of the best folding bikes from the company. It is very reasonable and affordable. It comes with a flex-adjust system that allows you to travel comfortably from one point to another.
The SUV D6 is one of Dahon's best folding bikes and comes at a very reasonable and affordable price. Despite the aluminum frame, it's not one of the lightest models, though.
- Folded size: (26.3 x 13.3 x 33) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch aluminum
- Weight: 31.7 pounds / 14.4 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: 110 millimeters Aluminum V-brakes
- Drivetrain: 6-speed Shimano RD-TY21 rear derailleur
- Frame: Dalloy Sonus Aluminum Tube Set
- Fun to ride, practical, and convenient
- Great braking power
- Well-treaded tires
- Adjustable handlebar and seat height
- Well-designed and sturdy folding frame
- A little heavy frame
- Slightly hard seat
The folding mechanism is also effortless, taking only 15 seconds. You can easily adjust the handlebars and saddle height of this folding bike according to your needs. Like most foldable bikes from Dahon, the SUV D6 also offers a quality aluminum frame.
In addition, like more expensive folding bikes from Dahon, this bicycle is equipped with a Shimano RD-TY21 rear derailleur, which allows you to shift gears quickly and easily.
However, it is heavier than most other bikes mentioned on this list.
4. Dahon Vitesse i7 – Best Dahon Bike for Touring
Dahon Vitesse i7 is a great folding bike that excels in all departments. Its aluminum frame is incredibly sturdy yet lightweight. The bike doesn’t vibrate while being ridden and offers excellent hinges that allow you to fold it easily and quickly.
This folding bike can be folded and unfolded in 20 seconds, and its durable, robust build and lightweight make it the best bicycle for touring. The only downside of the Dahon Vitesse i7 is its expensive price tag.
Specs
- Folded size: (26 x 13.2 x 30.5) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch aluminum
- Weight: 25.9 pounds / 11.7 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 220 pounds / 100 kilograms
- Brakes: 110 millimeters WinZip V-brakes
- Drivetrain: 7-speed Shimano Nexus Internal Gear-Hub
- Frame: Dalloy Sonus Aluminum Tube Set
Pros
- Sturdy and lightweight aluminum frame
- Attractive, timeless appearance
- Rust-resistant frame
- 7-speed drive
- Tires with a firm grip
- Quick and easy folding and unfolding
- Exception braking power
Cons
- Expensive price tag
5. Dahon Boardwalk Folding Bike – Best Looking
If you’re looking for a great-looking bike, the Dahon Boardwalk Folding Bike is one of the best options. It’s an exceptionally exquisite folding bicycle, and the best thing is that you can buy it at a very reasonable price.
It’s one of the cheapest folding bikes that Dahon offers. First, its folding mechanism is impressive, as you can fold it within 12 seconds. The Dahon Boardwalk Folding Bike is also relatively lightweight, and you can easily carry it without too much difficulty.
Remember that this bike only offers a single speed, which means it’ll show the performance and functionality of other bikes you see on the road. If you’re planning to buy a bike to ride in an urban city, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Specs
- Folded size: (12.5 x 29.5 x 25.9) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch
- Weight: 27.6 pounds / 12.5 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: linear Spring Aluminum PROMAX V
- Drivetrain: single-speed
- Frame: Steel, Wraparound, and Vise-Grip Technology with Lattice Forged Hinge
Pros
- Rust-resistant frame
- Extremely affordable price tag
- Attractive design
- Rapid folding
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Single-speed
- Not suitable for hills
6. Dahon Vitesse D8 – Best All-Rounder
Dahon Vitesse D8 has many impressive features and is also reasonably priced. It offers everything you need in a folding bike, making it a great all-rounder.
All the components of this folding bike, including the gear system, lights, brakes, clips, hinges, and overall frame, are well-designed and made of reliable and durable quality.
It comes with an 8-speed system, and you can expect to enjoy a great cycling experience.
The folding mechanism is also straightforward and quick, with fewer moving parts to maintain. If you have a mixed commute situation, you can use this bike to store it in limited storage space.
The all-around performance of this bicycle is the main reason we have included this folding bike in this list.
Specs
- Folded size: (11.4 x 31.9 x 25.9) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch
- Weight: 24.7 pounds / 11.2 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: 110 millimeters alloy V-brakes
- Drivetrain: 8-speed with Rear Derailleur NEOS
- Frame: Custom Drawn Sonus with KA Series Dalloy
Pros
- A sturdy and lightweight frame made of aluminum
- 8 quick-shift gears
- Rust resistant
- Great bang for the buck
Cons
- Slow acceleration
- Brakes could be more powerful
7. Dahon Speed D7 – Best Combination of Sports and Regular Bike
Dahon Speed D7 is undoubtedly a well-built and good-performing folding bike by Dahon. But it doesn’t offer the same performance compared to the company’s high-end models.
However, this bike still provides excellent value and combines the sports bicycle-like experience with performance.
It has a sturdy frame that features the K-Series SuperLite 4130 hinges.
The folding and unfolding process is easy and quick, and its 7-speed drive ensures seamless riding on hills and flat surfaces.
The Dahon Speed D7 also features the company’s Neos rapid-rise derailleur that performs flawlessly and allows you to shift gears reasonably.
Specs
- Folded size: (11.7 x 30.1 x 25.5) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch
- Weight: 27.52 pounds / 12.4 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 220 pounds / 100 kilograms
- Brakes: 110 millimeters alloy V-brakes
- Drivetrain: 7-speed with Rear Derailleur NEOS, rapid shifting
- Frame: 4130 lightweight steel, K Series
Pros
- Features SKS fenders
- Strong and lightweight built
- Rust resistant
- Comfortable riding experience
- 7-speed rapid shifting gears with Rear Derailleur NEOS
Cons
- Dahon offers some better models for a similar price
8. Dahon Espresso – Best 26-Inch Wheel Folding Bike
Dahon offers all types of bikes across the price spectrum, and the Dahon Espresso is one of the best models.
If you want a big folding bike that’s also considerably lightweight and has a strong frame, the Dahon Espresso is the best choice.
It’s a 26-inch folding bicycle that only weighs 14 kilograms.
However, this bike is available in two sizes, small and large, and you need to keep that in mind while taking the riding test.
We recommend getting a full-size variant if you want to tackle all types of outings.
Specs
- Folded size: (13.2 x 36.6 x 30.7) inches
- Wheels: 26-inch
- Weight: 29.3 pounds / 13.3 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: Dahon QR Winzip 110 millimeters V-Brakes
- Drivetrain: 21-speed gears Rear Derailleur Shimano TX, Front Derailleur Microshift M22
- Frame: Urban MTB Frame Full Size with Dalloy Sonus Tubeset
Pros
- 21-speed gears
- An excellent option for off-roading
- Great aesthetics
- Sturdy and well-designed folding bike
Cons
- Expensive price tag
9. Dahon Speed P8 – Best for Long Rides
The Dahon Speed P8 is a stunning folding bike that stands out from the crowd because of its many exceptional features.
Our favorite feature of this Dahon bike is its extremely well-built tires.
You’ll experience a comfortable and fantastic riding experience regardless of the terrain.
The tires of this bike are also slightly slim, allowing the cycle to achieve high speed on straight roads.
This folding bike has a sturdy aluminum frame, and like all the other folding bikes by Dahon, it doesn’t vibrate.
It’s undoubtedly one of the best folding bikes for long rides. It works well in urban and rural environments, and the folding mechanism is rapid and easy. The bike also folds down to a small size.
You can fold the Dahon Speed P8 within 15 seconds.
Specs
- Folded size: (12.5 x 32 x 26.2) inches
- Wheels: 20-inch
- Weight: 26.9 pounds / 12.1 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: Winzip 110 millimeters V-Brakes
- Drivetrain: 8-speed gears with Dahon Twist Shifter Neos (has speed D9 in stock)
- Frame: K-Series, Super Lite 4130
Pros
- Quality and sturdy build design
- Exceptional performance on all types of terrains
- Well-suited for long rides
- Attractive color and frame design
- Comfortable riding experience
- Quick and easy folding mechanism
Cons
- You can easily damage the paint
- Relatively easy
10. Dahon MU SL – Best Lightweight
If you’re looking for a lightweight folding bike, you can’t go wrong with the Dahon MU SL. It’s a premium-quality folding bicycle that can withstand the test of time. All its components are made of high-quality and durable materials, and it’s both lightweight and fast.
It’s challenging to describe all the features of this bike in a single review. However, its unique and best feature is its 17.7-inch or 451-millimeter wheels. Not only do they make the folding bike more stable, but they also allow you to achieve more speed in less time on the road.
The tires also offer excellent grip, and the wheels are considerably lightweight.
In addition, the Dahon MU SL flaunts a 9-speed SRAM APEX derailleur. This means you can shift gears quickly without noticing the shift, making climbing steep hills very simple.
Specs
- Folded size: (25.5 x 14.1 x 31.8) inches
- Wheels: 17.7-inches or 451-millimeter
- Weight: 23.5 pounds / 10.6 kilograms
- Weight capacity: 230 pounds / 105 kilograms
- Brakes: SRAM Apex Caliper Brake
- Drivetrain: SRAM SL700 Shifters with SRAM Apex Derailleurs
- Frame: V-Clamp technology and Dalloy Sonus Tubeset
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Exceptional quality components and frame
- Rust resistant
- Impressive aesthetics and excellent paint job
- Easy and quick folding and unfolding mechanism
- Stable and fast wheels
- 9-speed gears that make hill climbing a breeze
Cons
- Very expensive
How To Choose the Right Dahon Folding Bike for Your Needs?
It would be best to consider many factors when choosing a new folding bike. We have listed the most important ones that will allow you to choose the folding bike that best suits your needs.
Frame
The first and probably the essential factor to consider is the frame. It’s what holds every component in one way or another. Folding bikes are available in different materials, including the following.
- Steep
- Aluminum
- Carbon fiber
- Titanium
Each material has pros and cons, and you should understand them to ensure that you choose the suitable material.
Speeds
The drivetrain or the gearing system of folding bikes differs widely. The vast majority of folding bikes come with a single speed. However, if you need to climb hills on your bike, the single-speed won’t suit you the best. Gears allow you to easily take your bike on and off the mountains and steep roads.
Folded Dimension
It’s the most prominent feature of any folding bike design. The most popular folding option is a mid or half-horizontal fold. You can also find folding bikes with triangle hinges and vertical or swivel folds.
Folding bikes are available with two or even more folding dimensions. If you have limited storage space, choose the one with the fewest folded dimensions.
Weight
You must carry your folding bike to place it on your car’s truck, store, train, etc. That’s why choosing a lightweight folding bike is advisable. Remember that folding bikes are almost always heavier than regular full-sized bikes because of added folding functionality.
Wheel Size
You’ll find folding bikes in a vast range of wheel sizes. Small wheels are mostly stiffer and more robust, and big wheels offer better rolling performance. Most folding bikes in this list use 20-inch wheels, but you can find smaller or bigger ones depending on your riding needs.
Alternatives
Dahon isn’t the only manufacturer offering high-quality premium bikes. Other names include Brompton and Tern.
These folding bike manufacturers offer high-quality folding bikes with different features and functions.
You’ll also find similar folding bikes from these companies.
On average, Dahon and Tern bicycles fold up to around (25.5 x 12.5 x 31.1) inches. On the other hand, the Brompton folding bikes fold up to (23 x 10.6 x 22.2) inches, which is slightly less.
Brompton vs Dahon
While Brompton bikes’ average folding size is a bit smaller, the company’s folding mechanism is based on bolts and clamps. It’s outdated compared to the folding mechanism that Dahon offers, which is based on lattice-forged hinges and fast-release.
Usually, Brompton offers folding bikes that are also more expensive than Dahon folding bikes. So, if you need a small folding size, you should opt for Brompton. On the other hand, if you want to enjoy a more comfortable riding experience and long life, Dahon will serve you better.
Dahon vs Tern
Dahon and Tern are historically related. The wife and son of Dahon started the company Tern. That’s why the bikes that both companies offer are so similar. Both companies still have shared patents, and it’s hard to tell which is better.
You’ll find some models performing better from one company; the opposite is true. Therefore, we recommend you read each model’s specs and pros and cons properly if you can’t decide whether to buy a folding bike from Tern or Dahon.
Dahon vs Zizzo
I was honestly surprised to learn that not only are Tern and Dahon related, but Dahon and Zizzo belong to the same family!
In my opinion, Dahon and Zizzo both make great folding bikes. While it can be hard to choose between them, ultimately, the key differentiator comes down to price. The Zizzo offers better value for money, while Dahon offers a wider range of options.
You can read my full Dahon vs Zizzo comparison here.
People Also Ask
Is Dahon a Good Bike?
Dahon is a company that offers premium-quality and well-designed folding bikes. It’s one of the most popular folding bike manufacturers with an excellent track record. This list contains some of the best bikes that Dohan offers, and you can choose the one that suits your needs the best.
Is Dahon as Good as Brompton?
Both Dahon and Brompton are successful folding bike companies offering some of the best bikes in marketing. Brompton supersedes Dahon when it comes to folding size. However, Dohan’s folding mechanism technology is far superior to Brompton’s.
Which Dahon Folding Bike Is Best?
It depends upon your personal preferences and needs. For example, if you need the lightest Dahon folding bike, there is no better option than the Dahon MU SL. On the other hand, if you really need the best value for money, you should opt for the Dahon Mariner D8.
How Much Does a Dahon Folding Bike Cost?
Each Dahon bike has a different price tag based on the bike’s performance and features.
However, if you want a decent foldable bike with advanced features, expect to pay between 500 and 800 US dollars.
The Bottom Line
There you have it.
Some of the best Dahon folding bikes are available on the market. If you need the best Dahon bike for the money, go for the Dahon Mariner D8, but if you want the best Dahon bike for commuting, the Dahon Vybe D7 will suit you best.
The Dahon Vitesse i7 is the most suitable option for people who need the best Dahon bike for touring.
