Dahon Vybe D7 (2016): ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The frame of the Dahon Vybe D7 is a lightweight aluminum unit, with a lattice-forged hinge in the center along with its Visegrip latching mechanism. The lattice-forged hinge is at the heart of the success of this bicycle; it is supremely lightweight but definitely a heavyweight in strength and performance. This is achieved through cold forging and CNC tooling, including stainless steel and brass components to stand all the weathers of wear and tear. The Vybe D7 alloy felt super-light and very maneuverable all through the ride, and the cleverly integrated hinges that allows the bike to fold, did not hamper the frame‰Ûªs strength or characteristics. The paint work was simple and to the point, nothing fancy in this department. The materials used were top notch and there wasn‰Ûªt once during the ride that we felt the bike would come apart due to the multiple hinges. The flat profiled frame folds in the center using the Visegrip technology, which is extremely solid and sturdy, which makes it fairly easy to manage the transition. The overall ergonomic position was fairly relaxed. The comfortable and slightly curved handlebar isn‰Ûªt too hard on the wrists. It is super comfortable even over bumps and on bad stretches of the road. The low frame ensures that you could be in your office attire and not be forced to stretch too much to get on and off the bicycle.

When you look at Dahon Vybe D7 for the first time you‰Ûªll automatically think quirky and funky. But trust me, apart from the funky looks, every part has been designed with a functional aspect in mind. The design will appear a little odd, as something that was ridden during the evolution of the bicycle, though not the best looker, you‰Ûªll be plesantly surprised the moment you start riding the foldie, more on that later.

The Vybe D7 comes with a 7 Speed Shimano FT35 rear derailleur with the lightening quick micro shift option integrated. The gear shifting was super quick and precise with almost no lag. This Foldie can be a bit of a wolf in sheep‰Ûªs clothing, because while riding through the city, I almost forgot I was riding a Foldie, its super quick in terms of gearing and you can easily hit some good speed on this bicycle. The Vybe D7 comes with a fairly large crank that ensures that every pedal gives you more distance. The transfer of pedaling momentum was pushed forward quite efficiently.

The braking on the Dahon Vybe D7 was excellent for a 20‰Û bicycle. The Winzip smooth and powerful 110mm V-brakes were very responsive and sufficient for urban riding. The maximum stopping power was at the end of the brake lever range, thereby ensuring that city riders do not over brake in traffic conditions. The bicycle comes with alloy brake levers that are designed for 3-finger braking. We felt that the brake levers could have been made a little chunkier and longer to avoid slippage. Especially since this bicycle is going to be ridden in high traffic conditions.

The handlebar on the Vybe D7 is wide and flat, which gives it a sporty and aggressive ride. The bicycle while riding is super responsive, at slow speeds at times it felt a little over responsive, but the positive to this is that it ensures that you have the ability to maneuver through traffic, without needing too much space. The one big upside to this model is that the handlebar is adjustable which allows you to easily adjust the handlebar to find your perfect riding height. This Foldie is even comfortable for a person who is 6‰Ûª2‰Û. The Vybe D7 is very stable around corners, but just be careful to not take corners at too fast a pace, since the steering is sensitive. The bicycle is not the quickest to accelerate but does pick up speed gradually.

The chunky Hutchinson tires strapped onto this beauty exude grip and control. The 20‰Û aluminum rims with 28-hole front and rear hubs are wide profile tires that are built for city commuting. The tires did an outstanding job in taking care of the potholes, bumps and half-baked roads the city has to offer. The wide profile also helps in handling a slightly heavier rider. We felt that the treading on offer assisted good grip and aided stopping power. The roll on this tire and hub combination was smooth and free, which aided our overall ride momentum.

The ride quality was very good. The tires, the frame and slightly uncomfortable saddle contributed to an overall good ride. If you get on to a folding bicycle, you will truly understand how much fun it is to ride. Not only is it a regular head-turner, but at times and especially at higher speeds you completely forget you‰Ûªre riding a Foldie, it almost has the same ride quality of a good hybrid bicycle. The saddle is relatively firm and semi-wide, Only drawback was that we felt that the saddle could be a little wider to give a much more comfortable ride for longer commutes. To sum it up, a great handling Foldie and at a decent price point, the Dahon Vybe D7 will not disappoint.