Dahons are built strong which is important for folding bicycles especially at the fold. Many cheaper bikes will get loose here and the whole bike is ruined. That is why Dahons are well known for folding bikes. Other brands may have the same geometry and ride quality and shodded with better components, they will usually perform much better than the more expensive Dahons but Dahons folding mechanisms are guaranteed!

For 1K budget you can only get a 7speed Dahon. An 8 speed Boardwalk cost about 1.3K. The Dr.Hon D7 (replacement for Eco C7) is about 1K and the Dahon Boardwalk 7 is 1.2K. Problem is, an 8 speed is off course better, giving you more gearing for uphill rides but for a Dahon, it is over your budget. You can modify it to 8 speed later (as I did but it's not cheap either) but you need to change the shifter, freewheel cogs and the RD as well. This makes it more expensive than buying an 8 speed in the first place.

XDS has a model with 16 speed for only 1.3K but at the expense of an inferior frame and also a lousy looking handlebar! Just add another 200 bucks for a Dr.Hon 8 speed Boardwalk. I have ridden it before and it's light and easy to ride.

y u like this lois garniau ?   
price goood?

LG handle can take out but it was not quick release type like dahon tern or oyama..

jojo_g2 says it is on sale now at RM950. Good price if can find and nice bike too. At least it uses Shimano components rather than microshifts and Neos.  That's the susah part, many bike makers mask their inferior frame and fork with higher end components and also vice versa some mark down their better frames with cheaper components.

Folding bikes are mostly if not all, upright position. It's meant for more of a leisurely fitness riding. It's not for speed so you don't need the crouching down position for aerodynamics. Hahaha! 

The LG was actually priced at 1.3K, it has a strong frame and also good components. I never said LG has a lousy frame. I was referring to many other brands that can sell sub 1K for 8 speed and  some 1.3K for 16 speed. The higher cost factor in most 8 speeds is because 8 speed and above needs to use the cassette type cogs at the rear and this upgrade is costly and from the 8 speeds you can actually upgrade to 9 or 10 speed later without changing the wheelset. 

Most popular Dahons are 8 speeders and cheaper ones 7 speeders. I bought mine, the cheapest I can find for Dahon, it's a 7 speed. Now it is an 18 speed bike. I think the front crank should be 50 or 52 cogs to compensate for the smaller wheels compared to a normal 26 inch wheelers.

Any 16 or 18 speed is over 1K and in the case of Dahons over 2K. Even the cheaper bikes like XDS is 1.3K for 16 speed. I choose to modify from 7 spped is because I can choose my components when I upgrade, that is the advantage of upgrading yourself although it can be more costly. They are all Shimano components. If you buy a ready installed 16 or 18 speed, you might get other components which are inferior.

So, your grouse about LG is unfounded! It's actually a good buy if it is sub 1K. Most important it has a double walled Weinman rims and tektro brakes compared to single walled rims and old style freehubs that can only accomodate 7 speed cogs at the rear for other sub 1K bikes. Heck even Dahon Boardwalk 8 speed uses single walled rims and lousy Neos and their own shifters.

My only dislike for the Louis Garneau LGS is the little metal cage that supports the bike when folded welded to the bottom bracket. Looks ugly!   Looks like the XDSes.

A second ring on the crank will double up the speed at the cassette. If there's room to upgrade a FD and second ring, then you can opt to do so. Should do some research on the bike frame first. You can check out http://handsonbike.blogspot.com/2013/03/gu...n-tern.html?m=1 for more upgrading info.
Hope that this helps.

It all depends on the terrain you are riding on. Places like Putrajaya lakeside and some parks, 8 speed is more than enough. We must understand the ratio of the gearing too. If you were to just change the 8 speed cassette from the original 11T/28T to 13T/34T which are available actually (you need to source it though), you are actually upgrading 2 speed up but lowering the other end 2 speed down. Off course, having more options is still the best.