Dahon Matrix

Price Paid:  $600.00 at College Park Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Gettin around town

Bike Setup:
Alivio derailleur, thumb click shifters
Truvative Team stem
MKS QR pedals w/power grip straps
26X1.25 tires
Richie comp seat post
Catamount sideload bottle cage

Summary:
I waited more than 3 months to get this bike, and overall I have to say it was worth it. With some significant modifications, it has proven to be an excellent and adaptable form of everyday transportation. The bike folds fast, but you will have to take off the front wheel to fit it in the average car trunk. It also handles surprisingly like a regular bike, although the frame makes more noise.

In concept, the Matrix is a great bike, but Dahon did not go quite far enough in adapting what was original meant as a mountain bike platform to the needs of city riding. Most importantly, the bike comes with mountain bike gearing, including a granny gear that will be rarely used and a high gear that tops out too soon. This is, of course, fixable if you don't mind springing for a new cassette, chain and outer chain ring.

Dahon also outfitted the bike to keep cost down, which means some really cheap parts that will need to be replaced almost immediately, including a clunky and heavy front shock fork, a nearly worthless shock seat post and an inexplicable adjustable stem. For my money, I wish they had just put on a rigid fork, which would have saved weight and cost, although I do like the traction the shock fork gives me on these bumpy city streets. However, I have yet to justify spending $200 or $300 on a better-quality front fork, which would only shave a few ounces off the weight anyway.

I ordered the bike from my local bike shop with some exchanges including folding pedals (which i chucked for the far superior MKS quick-release, cage ready pedals), an alivio upgrade and click-shifters instead of twist shifters. I also replaced the 1.5 tires with much faster 1.25s.

The disc brakes have proven to offer great stopping power in both dry and wet conditions. My other bikes feel spongy in comparison. I am, however, dreading replacing the pads as they don't seem to be a market standard.

I also point Matrix owners to the catamount sideload bootle cages, which are indispensible because of the placement of the bottle mounts on this frame. The cages are pretty cheap from Nashbar or Sierre Trading Post web sites.

Strengths:
Ability to fold
Disc brakes
solid, adaptable platform

Weaknesses:
Twist coupler
Cheap shock forks, seat post and adjustable stem
Mountain bike gearing

Similar Products Used:
Montague paratrooper

Price Paid:  $500.00 at airportshoppe.com

Bike Setup:
Nashbar bar ends, Tamer tricky Dick seatpost, Bruce Gordon front rack, Topeak rear rack with side panniers and rack pack, planet bike fenders, Kryptonite locking skewer set, Topeak wireless computer.

Summary:
Dahon Matrix (same frame as the Zero-G)

First encounter: Ordered online and was advised item was to be dropshipped from manufacturer. Item arrived but was damaged. Took photos and spent two days of documenting damage with Dahon. Personal assessment - bent derailleur bracket and broken derailleur cable. Dahon refused to ship cables to me but shipped the replacement bracket. I advised Dahon that there may be issues with the derailleur seeing that the bracket was bent, the derailleur must have been struck quite hard but Dahon refused to send me a replacement claiming that the bracket will suffice.

Replaced bracket myself and brought my bike to a local bike shop to have it tuned in order to activate warranty.

Took the bike for my first ride after tune up and notice creaking noise 'somewhere' on the bike....noise became more apparent at times when I accelerate. advised Dahon the situation but was of no help.

Creaking noise became much more apparent. Dahon did not provide answers to my problems. After two months riding, the noise stopped. During this time, the plastic safety latch (prevents bike latch from opening during ride) broke off.

I went through four inner tubes on my rear tire before my bike mechanic advised to double up the rim tape. no problems since then.

After a year of use, my disc brake pads on my bike were worn down. Looked for replacement parts online and could not seem to find any for my make. Contacted Dahon for help and was advised the following quote, "Will, Your best bet will be to take your bike to a bike shop to upgrade disc brakes. Thank You, Dahon." Strike five or is it six and a half?

Strengths:
foldability allows you to lock up your entire bike along with its essential items.

Weaknesses:
weight, service and durability. my rear rim's inner tubes kept giving me flats. a double rim tape is recommended.

Price Paid:  $650.00 at Bicycle Magic London

Favorite Ride:
Dahon Matrix

Summary:
It's been two weeks now ... and it did take me that long to get used to the Matrix. It's heavy, fast, nervous, agile, beautiful, practical, and combined with a good U-lock it is very hard to steal! Basically I enjoy it more and more, I don't think that it is for every one, and you should probably try one out before investing in the Matrix.

Strengths:
Beautiful, quick, rides and brakes good under the rain, easy to secure to a pole with a U-lock thanks to its folding frame, good front suspension and comfortable seat.

Weaknesses:
Quite heavy ... and that's about it ... oh and the handle bar could be a little better adapted to the style of riding of this bike.