A folding bicycle is a bicycle that folds for convenient storage and portability. The perfect folding bike would be one that rides as well as a quality full-size bike, folds in seconds, weighs less than 10 kg (22 lb), and folds small enough to fit under a bus or train seat.

Folding bicycles significantly extend the functionality of the bicycle because you can go anywhere you want, and your bike can go with you, whether you ride the entire way or go part of the way by bus, train, car, boat or plane. And due to its compact folded size, a folding bike can also be easily stored indoors, safe against potential thieves if left locked outside.

Dahon has been the world’s leading manufacturer of folding bicycles for over 25 years with over 95% of all folding bikes on the market today using technology developed and pioneered by Dahon.

Yes. Our compact bikes (16" and 20" wheel sizes) feature our BioLogic frame geometry and deliver superb riding comfort and efficiency. Most of our small-wheeled bicycles feature telescoping stems and long seatposts which can be adjusted to deliver a perfect, custom fit for riders of all sizes. Our full-size bikes all feature standard frame geometry so you can’t even tell that you’re riding a portable bicycle.

No. We design the gearing on every bicycle we make to feel like a full-size bicycle so that you don’t have to pedal any harder or faster. To do this, we use special oversized chainrings, smaller rear cogs, or a combination of both.

Yes and no. All test conditions being equal, a small wheel has a slightly higher rolling resistance than a larger wheel. But rolling resistance is only one element of “speed.” Small wheels have several important performance advantages compared to larger wheels. First, small wheels accelerate faster due to a lower moment of inertia. Second, small wheels are more aerodynamic than larger wheels. Third, small wheels are lighter than larger wheels. In fact the world speed record for a bicycle ridden in an upright position was set twenty years ago on a bike with 18” wheels.

We have an excellent safety record and we build all of our own frames and folding components in our own ISO 9001 certified factory. All of our bicycles exceed the rigorous strength and safety standards in the U.S., Japan, Germany, the UK and France and all of our designs undergo long hours of rigorous testing, redesign and re-testing in our fully-equipped testing laboratory at our factory. We use DoubleLok technology on all folding frames and parts, which makes our latches and locks virtually fail-safe when adjusted and used properly.

All of our 16" and 20" wheel size bicycles are rated for riders up to 230 lb (105 kg). Our 26" bicycles are rated for riders up to 240 lb (110 kg). In terms of riding position, our compact bicycles (16" and 20") are designed with long seatposts that can be extended for a customized fit. As a general rule, our 16" models are ideal for riders 4’6” – 6’2” tall, 20" models for riders from 4’10” – 6’4”, and 26" models for riders from 5’4” – 6’2”. These guidelines may vary slightly depending on your riding style and preferred riding position.

In each class (16", 20", 26") Dahon bicycles are among the most compact folding bicycles available. All models fold into a neat rectangular shape without protruding parts, making them easy to transport and store. A Dahon 16" reduces to the size of a shoping bag that can fit under a bus seat or in an airline overhead luggage bin. A Dahon 20" is slightly bigger, but is still very compact. Believe it or not, you can fit two 16" and two 20" Dahon bikes into the trunk of most midsize cars. Dahon 26" models are by far the most compact 26" portable bicycles available – you can fit one with room to spare into the trunk of any standard compact car.

One of our primary design goals over the last 25 years has been to reduce the weight of our bicycles. Our lightest model weighs only 19.4 lbs (8.8 kg) and our best selling bikes weigh about 26 – 27 lb (11 – 12 kg). On higher end models, we use carbon, titanium, magnesium, exotic aluminum alloys and state of the art manufacturing techniques to reduce weight wherever we can.

Except for the frame, fork and handlepost, most parts are standard and can be replaced by any quality bicycle dealer. If you have a problem with a frame or other component that isn’t stocked by your dealer, the Dahon distributor for your region will stock replacement parts.

Our corporate mission is to promote the growth of clean transportation, so we price most of our bicycles within reach of the average consumer. We do however, also offer a few luxury models made of exotic materials and equipped with state-of-the-art components for our “enthusiast” customers. Parts specifications (and therefore price) will vary depending on where you are.

When it comes to business, size does matter, and Dahon is the largest manufacturer of folding bikes in the world. Since we build in such a large scale, we are able to negotiate very good prices with our suppliers. We also keep our costs down through vertical integration: we manufacture all of our own frames and folding components starting from raw tubes and sheets of metal. We also assemble most of our bikes in our own factories.

A Mini Bike is a full-performance and full-featured bicycle designed around small wheels. Mini Bike frames do not fold. Small wheels make Mini Bikes super portable and easy to store and allow for faster acceleration and more agile handling. A Dahon Mini Bike packs flat in less than 30 seconds, small enough to slide under a bus seat or even hang in a closet. Try that with a full size bike.

In the U.S. our bikes are sold in hundreds of bicycle shops around the country. Visit your local dealer and check for availability. If they don’t stock Dahon, have them give us a call and make a special order. If we have the model you want in stock, we will ship it within 48 hours. Dahon bicycles are also sold in select boat and RV stores. You should note that not all models are available in the U.S. Internationally, you’ll find our bicycles available in over thirty countries. Again, check with your local stores for availability. If you have trouble finding our bicycles, get in touch with us by email and let us know what model you are interested in. We’ll let you know where you can find one. Again, not all models may be available in your country.