Hi all sifu.. A little bit update - been gathering parts for my bike. Have decided to go ahead and ordered fnhon tornado planning to install the 2nd hand - 105 groupset which i got cheap. Got quasar q2 for my 451 wheelset... I would like to know in terms of handlebars, i wonder if the fancy bars like butterfly or p-type is compatible with the stock dahon T-handlepost? Or i should just stick with straight bars?...

The FnHon Tornado is actually Dahon Vector's frame also now handed to Tern as the Verge. Only the folding mechanism is altered in Verge as Dahon's is patented. This is a sporty model so I think butterfly bars will look weird on the Tornado. As for straight bars, they look .......well .......standard. Then again your 105 groupset , does it comes with brifters? Brifters is the brake and shifter combination of the road bike. If it is, this braifters can only be installed on drop bars (road bike's) or bull horn bars. If not you need to get flat bar shifters for straight bars, butterfly or P bars. I don't know if your 105 is the older 10 speed or the newer 11 speed. If it is 11 speed, then the flat bar shifters has to be the Shimano SL-r700s which is selling over 500 bucks nowadays. If it is the 10 speed, then you have 2 choices, Tiagra or SL-r780.

The Dahon Vector used to use bull horn bars. Shown here . You can find the bull horn bars sized 25.4mm diameter (the size of Dahon handle bar post). Finding this size which is obsolete already is a bit tricky nowadays. Try scrolling on BBS and see. The bullhorns looks nice actually. You can use two kind of shifters, the roadie brifters or the TT bike's shifter which is mounted at the end of the bars.


As for drop bars, there are also sized 25.4mm too but just the same, hard to find nowadays. Usually Nitto brand, it will be expensive even if you find them as they will be classified as vintage. Here's the frame with drop bars,

If you can't find the 25.4mm bars, then the alternative will be this contraption. The smaller end will be clamped on the Dahon's post and the regular 31.9mm bull horns, drop bars, mtb riser bars or mtb straight bars and even the butterfly bars can be installed on the other end. Also makes it easier to adjust height and distance. Just be careful when you are buying
this as most of them are 25.4mm on both sides and as expexted this one with 31.9 on one side is expensive, about RM140 bucks.



This post has been edited by etigge: Jun 28 2017, 12:39 AM

Ahh tq sifu etigge on the explaination. Yes the 105 i bought is the 10 speed type - and also the brifters. Additionally i also bought sl-r780 shifters.

So 25.4mm is the standard diameter for folding bike handlebars? And 31.9mm is what standard road bikes and mtb are using? So in long run is better get the adapter as more options for handlebars?

Unless you are getting into bicycle business, just buy a bike you can afford and start cycling, you won't get a your dream bike from your 1st purchase! That comes after you pun on milage on a bike (any bike).
Time pondering over your dream bike is time wasted on cycling.

The wrong handlebars will affect your folding too.
Just to give you more headache on your parts selections
BTW, you will never be satisfy with your components selection until you finally come to the point of saying enough is enough…
You will won't build your dream bike at 1st go, sure got 2~3time complete make over, by the time you are satisfied, the bike will be very different from what you anticipated or you already sold of the half complete project…

This post has been edited by KenC: Jun 28 2017, 09:09 AM

I would say this particular rider wants to be safe. He wants the best so he has been patiently reading all reviews and comments before actually purchasing any bike. Neither does he has gone for unnecessary high end parts. In fact I didn't see any splurge on high ends. What he has decided are the proven work horses. 105s are the strong work horse of the Shimano road bike's components. Works good and durable but lose out to Ultegras in shifting precision and some weight (negligible actually) but 105s actually are more robust and lasting just as SLX are more stronger compared to XT and XTRs in mtb's components.

Once assembled, there are nothing much to upgrade if you are satisfied with the riding which should work OK , looking at the components. I would even dare to say he waste more money upgrading and looking if he were to start off from a entry level Dahon. I mean, he also wants good components and buying straight off original models actually have many components that will not perform to your satisfaction later.

You can't give judgement fairly if you do not really cycle what others have been doing weekly or routinely. Others ride for the social activities and passion and some for just the sweat, like I see in the evenings some fat fellas will be going round and round the 'Taman' daily looking really unhappy but have to do it. Sometimes a good bike also acts like the clothing you wear when you mingle around. No need to be wearing Armanis or Pradas, just something decent looking and nice. Not something chopped off and assembled like Frankenstein's project. Some might not admit it but it does matter when you are riding in groups.

Again said, maybe this is his idea of an entry level bike for him. His level of beginning, who knows, right ?

This post has been edited by etigge: Jun 28 2017, 12:44 PM

I agree with on building dream-bike experience. Its like chasing GPU which is a fleeting idea, bike building from scratch is a new experience to me. I realised folding bike specs are different from the typical road bike or mtb. Where parts are very distinct, folding bikes like a mash-up of mtb and roadbike parts. Im already down to handlebars and pedals now, thanks u all... lol

If you wanna use the brifters, get the bullhorn, and the handlepost that fold outside. Otherwise i dont think you can fold it. If given a choice, id personally go with the bullhorn.

i just weight my Tern yesterday...it weight a whopping 15kg...

Seriously My Giant Expressway is 12.6 kg stock ! I just change to 2 x 10 speed only and nothing else as I am more into mountain bikes now. BUT if I change the seatpost, I shave off 200 gms, change the wheelset, I can shave off another 700 to 800 gms (the Giant 32 spoke wheelset are darn heavy), change the Kendas to Schwalbes , another 150 gms. take off carrier and mudguards, another 500 gms. BUt this 1.5kg will cost me a few thousand bucks Nowadays, a few thoussand bucks , I rather spend it on my mountain bike. therefore, like I said, priority.

I changed to double chairing front .
behind sora RD, 11-32t...
rear rack
big apple x2
but still kenot understand why so heavy..

If you want light, buy a road bike.
Light bike are old school nowadays… heavy bike is to die for going downhill.
Mine is 16kg with my water bottle and tool bag. And I won't spend any extra to shave 5kg off the bike, damn, my love handles weights more!
#ps, I never want ride a bike without mudguard… so dirty…

This post has been edited by KenC: Jun 28 2017, 07:23 PM

It's like gambling when selecting components, even with the most extensive research, research always give us a near miss, very seldom you will get it right/perfect the 1st time,… you win some you loose some, final tuning is always required. I consider that as tuition fee.
When one decided to take the bike building path, money is sure to go… only thing we can save is time. Hence I call it a hobby
Cheapskate like me oso spent 1.3k (bike + modifications) to get my chap ayam faux BMX into a configuration I can live with… Still there stuff which I wish to improve but until something broke la…

This post has been edited by KenC: Jun 28 2017, 07:47 PM

Guys, today i found something interesting which I've never thought the Van's Urban Bicycle Co. will give me such belated surprise (Surprise!~~~)... Part of it, i do blame myself for believing a mechanic should have at least a common sense left if there is no skill. This is from previous installation story... and i only realized now after i feel strange about the braking result (i only did total 40km ride since came out from Van's).

Check out the Brake Pads photo, taken from the REAR of my bike. (Yes, same thing happen to the Front Brake Pad as well)

HINT : Read the Brake Pad > Direction (in Word & Graphics) > Left & Right (In Word).

It's your fault, you had been riding you bike backward all this while…

Yes... indeed.

Anyone have this setup before, i wonder is this handle bar call in the market.

Bull horn handlebar. Or tanduk.

Im sure I have a set of bullhorn or dropbar in the 25.4 diameter, new ones. Pm me if interested and ill go look.

LOL!

Still stopped ok right?