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The Dahon Formula S18 is a gorgeous folding bike that is pieced together out of premium anodized components that are like no other.
The first thing that I would like to touch on in this review is the looks of the bike, there really aren’t many folding bikes out that that can compete with the S18 for its premium look.
Every inch of it has been specifically tailored to stand out among the rest.
1. STOWABIKE FOLDING BIKE
Our Rating
PROS
- 18 speed gears
- Premium design
- Weighs only 25 pounds
- Aerodynamic design
CONS
- Difficult to assemble
OUR VERDICT
“The Dahon Formula S18 is a stunning bike that performs like no other. It will not only stand out on the road due to its gorgeous design, but from its raw speed too!”
Dahon Formula S18 Review
Dahon are one of my favorite folding bike manufacturers and for very good reasons too, they’ve not only been in the industry for longer than almost any other brand around.
But they also put an immense amount of care into each and every single one of their products, regardless of the price.
“”Dahon never let anybody down and they’ve not done so today – a stunning folding bike that can compete with the best!”
This is perfectly illustrated in their latest offering, the Dahon Formula S18.
Performance
When it came to riding the Formula S18 we were also pleasantly surprised with how quick it was, it’s definitely not going to win any awards for the quickest or most lightweight folding bike – but it is so quick to get off the mark.
So if you’re looking for a bike that has the capacity to accelerate from a stand still rapidly then the aptly named Dahon Formula S18 could be the perfect model for you.
It is for these reasons that I feel this folding bike is perfectly suited to both commuters who are constantly stopping and starting as they navigate the busy city streets.
But also, for those of you who want a bike that is capable of getting your adrenaline pumping too.
I’m going to come out right away and say that I genuinely enjoy riding this bike and would happily use it as my daily driver.
Test Ride
Not only this, but the Dahon Formula S18 performs extremely well over a variety of different types of terrain and scenarios too.
I think that this is partly as a result of it weighing in at only 25 pounds, but also because it has a total of 18 gear speeds.
In all of my time using folding bikes I think that this is, or is close to the perfect amount of gears to have if you want a bike that will perform well almost anywhere.
The bike can actually be carried around your town with consummate ease and you will have absolutely no difficulty with it whatsoever.
Obviously weight is usually a massive factor when considering what folding bike you should purchase, it’s important to almost anyone as it affects acceleration, speed and ultimately how transportable your bike is.
Folding bikes are, at least partly, designed to be carried around with you on your daily commute and so I feel it’s pretty fundamental to pick one that weighs under 30 pounds.
Some of the other things that I loved about the Dahon Formula S18 was that it not only has an extremely well built and sturdy frame that reduces all vibrations to essentially nothing.
But the whole bike seems to have been designed to be able to tackle bumpy terrain, examples of this include the premium Kojak tires – these are some of the finest tires I have found on a folding bike to date and they do a truly fantastic job of ensuring a smooth ride at all times.
Another plus of these tires is the fact that they maintain speed exceptionally well too, so long as they are pumped up sufficiently.
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Dahon Formula S18 Specs
| Description | Aerodynamic |
| Brake Style | Mechanical Disc |
| Color | White |
| Frame Material Type | Aluminum |
| Item Dimensions | 26 x 14 x 36 inches |
| Item Weight | 25.06 pounds |
| Number Of Speeds | 18 |
| Shipping Weight | 32 pounds |
| Size | One Size |
| Wheel Size | 20 |
Concluding Remarks
I feel like I could spend all day talking about all the things I love about the Dahon Formula S18 and it still wouldn’t do it justice.
If you’re not too keen on purchasing one online now, make sure you take yourself over to your local bike shop and test it out for yourself, you certainly won’t be disappointed folks.
Mark Plummer
Mark Plummer is an experienced bike mechanic who has built, repaired, and customized thousands of bikes over the years. A former mountain biking athlete, his cycling adventures have taken him all over the globe from the mountains of Scotland to the South Island of New Zealand. These days he enjoys the benefits of commuting to work and touring on his Dahon and Brompton folding bikes.This free cheat sheet will help you choose a folding bike by providing quick information on the 7 key considerations when buying a foldable bicycle!
