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The Dahon Vitesse i7 20″ 7-Speed Folding Bike is a wonderful addition to the already expansive list of Dahon bikes on the market.
Dahon is the undisputed king of folding bikes in many people’s eyes and so when they release a new bike, there are few that are too hesitant to purchase one.
After getting our hands on the Dahon Vitesse i7 we were expecting much the same, a well-refined bike that is capable of functioning efficiently in any situation.
DAHON VITESSE i7
Our Rating
PROS
- Very sturdy aluminum frame
- Rust resistant frame
- Modern timeless looks
- Relatively lightweight (25.9lbs)
- A 7-speed bike that powers up hills and flats alike
- Exceptional braking power
- Folded away in less than 10 seconds
- Tires have a strong grip
CONS
- Slightly pricey compared to other Dahon models
OUR VERDICT
“Once again, another absolutely fantastic folding bike by Dahon. This bike has so many strengths that it was difficult to convey them into a single article, the Dahon Vitesse i7 is definitely not one to be missed!”
Dahon Vitesse i7 Review
“While certainly not one of Dahon’s cheaper models, the Vitesse i7 genuinely is an outstanding folding bike, it really does not disappoint in the slightest.”
Well, we can’t say that we were disappointed.
The Vitesse i7 excelled in every region and certainly lived up to our expectations. Our first impression was that the bike was incredibly sturdy, something that can’t be said about all of the folding bikes currently available – Dahon does seem to have this absolutely mastered.
The Dahon Vitesse i7 has a strong, but relatively light, aluminum frame that vibrates very little when ridden.
The bike comes complete with a brilliant hinge that facilitates rapid folding, we clocked it as being completely folded away in less than 10 seconds – quite the feat.
Many bikes around take anywhere between 15-30 seconds to do the same, these precious seconds make all the difference as many of you will know.
Performance
To further supplement this, because the bike weighs in at only 25.9 lbs, it is incredibly light to carry around with you throughout your day.
It also folds down into a nice and manageable size so it is not too clunky when using public transport, this is again something that is important to me and many others around the world.
There is little worse than lugging a huge bike around that is weighing you down and regularly getting in the way.
The Dahon Vitesse i7 is a particularly comfortable ride, as I said previously, there are little to no vibrations and it handles well on various different types of terrain.
This excellent bike also utilized Dahon’s flex-adjust mode, which effectively enables rapid adjustment of riding position – consequently enabling the rider to be more comfortable depending on the current terrain.
Test Ride
We tested the bike in the rain and it had no difficulty gripping the road, the tires were particularly impressive on this model.
Another benefit of this folding bike is the capacity for it to literally fly up hills.
The Dahon Vitesse i7 has 7 different speeds and so hills can be ascended with little difficulty, in addition, the bike is very fast across flat ground.
The bike genuinely is a high-performance bike, as advertised, each of the components has been crafted with true quality in mind.
The most striking of these features are undoubtedly the brakes and the wheels. The brakes work exceptionally well, while the wheels are very sturdy and have a fantastic grip on the road.
Dahon Vitesse Folding Bike vs. Dahon Mariner i7
I have been asked a couple of times whether the Dahon Mariner i7 is a better or worse option than the Vitesse. Both are great options and it’s hard to pick between the two as they both have similar specifications and performed well during test rides.
The Vitesse is slightly lighter and slightly cheaper which may give it the edge, however, one challenge is finding available stock and at the time of writing, the Vitesse is currently unavailable while the Dahon Mariner i7 has only one left in stock.
Dahon Vitesse Price
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Specifications
- Folded Size: 26.1″ x 13.3″ 30.6″
- Folded Time: Less than 10 seconds
- Weight: 25.9lbs
- Brakes: Winzip 110m V Brakes
- Speeds / Gears: 7
- Drive: Shimano Nexus Internal Gear-Hub
- Wheel Size: 20″
- Frame Type: Aluminium Dalloy Sonus Tube Set
- Max Rider Weight: 220lbs (105kg)
Concluding Remarks
To conclude, I believe that Dahon has once again produced an outstanding bike, while it is by no means one of their cheapest models – the Dahon Vitesse i7 is truly deserving of its elevated price tag.
Ultimately, this bike is not going to let you down on the road, it is very well-built and will stand the test of time.
The bike is a high-performance model that excels over various different types of terrain and as well in the wet as the dry.
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!
