Neva tried the marathon plus, but currently using the big apple. Definitely a much more cushy and comfy ride compared to normal thin profile..and i guess it should be good and comfy for long haul in touring. Check the web, some schwalbe test said the rolling resistance is just as good the thinner profiles. I do not personally experience much higher rolling resistance compared to my previous stock thinner tyres, yet it gives comfort qualities, and better puncture protection. I think the marathon series is geared more for longetivity, i suppose.
Im sure many sifus here like desastar and etigge can provide valuable input.

When I first bought a foldie, it came with a Rotolo, a Dahon contracted tire. Then I got another used Speed P8 which comes with Big Apples. The ride can be cushy but the resistance is very obvious compared to even the Rotolo which is 1.75 compared to Big Apple's 2.0. So, I changed to Maxxis DTH as I wanted more grip on sandy or gravel trails. Maxxis DTH are actually BMX's tires but it suited the Dahon well. Grip was good, rolling was good compared to Big Apples and because it was a folding tire with kevlar bead, it was also very much lighter than the Big Apples. The 2.0 Maxxis DTH cannot fit onto a Dahon Speed as the tire profile was squarish unlike the Big Apples which are rounded. The sides was brushing the chain stays and some paint wears off. So, I still maintain Maxxis DTH but smaller 1.75 ones. And I used it till it started to get more punctures, it wears off very fast in fact. The compound was soft and thins out very fast, even a small grain of sand can get embedded into it and then slowly gets deeper and finally punctures it.

It was then I switch to Marathon Supreme and the little treads it have actually improves rolling resistance. It also last longer and also less punctures than the Maxxis. So far the best tires on foldies I have used was the Marathon Supreme. The Marathon Racer is slightly smaller, 1.5 but it has more treads. Big Apples........hmmm, if you ride like I did those days, 100 kilometers at a time or Genting Peras every weekend, the resistance is going to wear you off. But if it is a casual ride with friends, a round in Putrajaya or the housing estate, no doubt the Big Apples will be good for bumping over kerbs or running over roots but on long haul, it's going to sap your energy.

Then again, it all have to do with yourself. If you can't ride strong, even the Kenda Kontender will not help you. There are people who can ride long distance with even Snow Bikes aka Monster Bikes.

IMO.............for touring get the Marathon Supreme or Plus. Can even buy a spare one and keep it in the bag as they come in folding form too. I think the Marathon Supreme with it's semi slick form is still the best.

apart from warranty issue,is it ok to buy cdm foldie?


http://bicyclebuysell.com/item/348786/read...ng-bike-20-quot

plan to buy this one as it offer better spec and cheaper also than our local speed p8

anybody know is there any Bike ride event in list?
i've join alots of marathon but never try bike ride event before..not hardcore..but only funride hahaha..wana try n experience it.

They are the same contracted builders, I suppose. Only that the chinese parallel produce the frames and usually for CDM , they skipped two important process. First they skip the heat treatment process that heats up the aluminum to bind the molecules to make it stronger and second is off course the quality control. That's why they are cheaper. Not to say that they are not as good, they are actually but chances of getting a defect is possible too, especially near the folding clasp area. But we don't ride as hard as other riders anyway but for for above 90 kgs, it better to get the original ones.

Thanks... Sifu..

👍🏻

Walau..... there's only one sifu lah.....etigge. I'm only a grasshopper who like playing with bikes

Most of my foldies are shod with Marathons and my Speed TR on Big Apple. I haven't really noticed the difference in rolling resistance, mainly because I ride on average 25-28km/h. What I have noticed is how much easier it is on my Surly with 700c Mavic wheels. I put it down to better hubs, bigger wheels and no hub gears. Because there are so many factors at play, I consider the differences between tyres are fairly minor. I value time saved not having to fix punctures, so I am prepared to roll a little slower.

I see a lot of bikes on Kojaks, while tempting, I will stick to my Marathons. I have a set of Supremes but have not tried them yet.

Are the marathons as cushy and comfy as the big apples? Will keen to try them next when the apples turned bad..

And yeah..about the stock rotolos...awful puncture protection..it was punctured on its first maiden ride...by a miserable stapler pin size wire....really crap protection

mizi28
you may ask the seller for the serial number to check check with Dahon.
please do keep us posted.

Big Apples are definitely more comfortable, more volume lower pressure. Have not run Big Apples long enough to know if they give better puncture protection over the Marathons.

I did get a puncture on the front Marathon of the Birdy last week. Looks like it was due to a small split in the tube rather than a puncture. Cheng Shin tube.......

mizi28
below is the link to know a little bit about the KBC093.

http://www.dahon.com.cn/pro_show.php?id=184

the frame is chromoly.
i think chromoly (alloy) is heat treated during the raw material stage.
chromoly do not need stress relief (further heat treatment) after brazing/ welding.

like etigge mentioned;
QC could be overlooked (i think this applies most chinese domestic product).
but i think Dahon imposes the minimum - reputation ma...

like i said, ask for the serial number and check check.
if the seller is serious, he should provide it to you.

i am starting with KL car free morning.

China domestic models are not given warranty anywhere else, maybe except in China. So, no point checking with the website. It only applies to Dahons sold by Guan Chow in Malaysia. Maybe Gary of GS Bikes will give you some limited warranty. Apart from that, if you want full warranty, buy the real deal.

Marathons rolls at higher pressure so it is definitely going to be harsher than the Apples. The Supremes runs smoother though with it's semi slick treads but it is 1.6 which is wide enough to give you confidence to go faster. I say confidence because research says, treads or no treads or even width on a bicycle makes no difference. The contact line is so slim, you won't get aqua planing or water dispersion like a car tire. Most important is the rubber compound. The Panaracer Minits Lite is only 0.9mm and the contact is even narrower in actual but it performs well even in wet condition. The Kojaks are sticky after a hard ride.

Matter of fact is.........................I ride up Fraser's Hill with Maxxis DTH 1.75, in the end very tired I rode again with Schwalbe Marathon Supreme........ also very tired lah! Then I ride again with my velo with Schwalbe Durano........same lah, also very tired.

Conclusion, same lah. We are not in a race where a fraction of seconds counts. Hahahaaaa.

This post has been edited by etigge: Aug 22 2016, 11:22 AM

When Schwalbe says their tires are puncture protected or something description similar, it doesn't mean they don't get punctured. They do. So many factors makes a tire puncture, the most common is off course , penetration. Usually small staple thin wires, as like me before, some sharp loose gravel got lodge between the tire tread and then as you ride , the same spot gets push harder and harder and finally the gravel reaches the inside and punctures the tube eventually. Most of my punctures are this way. Once a small brake cable strand got lodge in the rubber. You can't feel it or touch it. It is embedded inside the rubber. You change a new tube and then ride, after half an hour or so it went flat again. You repeat the changing process and then use your fingers to feel it, Nope, nothing. Then again after half an hour , same thing happens. After taking out the whole tire from the rims and scrutinizing carefully , you see this little small strand of tiny metal inside the tire tread. You even need another needle to push it out.

This can be avoided if you have the Schwalbe puncture protection because some models have this blue layer inside the tires. This thickens the bottom part of the tire and smaller penetration don't reach the tubes. This is the protection they mention. Yes, only this

Same protection can be made by using duct tapes. Get a 10mm duct tape, another 15 mm and another 20mm wide ones. Layer the 10mm on the bottom inside of the tires. Go two rounds. Then do again with the 15mm ones and do also two rounds and finally the 20mm ones. every layer thickening the bottom part of the tire. Finally fit in your tube as usual. Voila, puncture protection!

Looking for folding bike on promotion, for cycling around taman.
What brand is ok?

as far as i know, Dahon's warranty is limited and comes with a bunch of gorgeous conditions.
(Gary's maybe even more limited than limited... hahaha!)

some may think genuine = real deal.

suggestion to mizi28,
pay a visit to shops (if you are really serious) like kimbell jaya/ my bicycle shop/ usj cycle/ etc... (or other Dahon authorized re-sellers in Malaysia) to have a look at the Speed D8, then visit GS Bikes to have a look at the KBC093 - Speed D9 and then make a decision... savings vs. warranty/ quality (if any).
p/s
i don't think Speed D9 is currently available outside of China; you can check check. but then again, do you need 9 speed?


disclaimer:
i have no interest in any sellers nor i have any thing against them. i always try look for the best deal.

This post has been edited by built: Aug 22 2016, 04:17 PM

Just for tcb2012.....

I just went for a 30km ride to test out the new Big Apples on my Speed TR. Very windy day, cool 16 degrees. Pumped up the tyres to its max around 70psi. Still cushioned ride but 60psi is much better. Because of the wind, south-westerly 36kmh, so sections I was crawling at 15kmh or so.....😂
That being the case, all I can say is if you want comfort stick to Big A, otherwise Marathon or Kojak or Durano if you want speed over puncture protection.

👌


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