I *love* bicycles, and I really love folding bikes. Having owned several bikes, and several Dahons, I think I can speak about this one. Things I like.
reasonable fold.
reasonable weight
decent ride. Remember, this is a smaller bike. Smaller bikes are a bit nimbler (some would say "twitchy") and smaller wheels have less gyroscopic force. This is a double edged sword. It makes it easier to accelerate (great for stop and go), but it also makes smaller wheels "twitchy". Bigger tires add some low-tech shock absorption
3 speeds. Its enough for shorter distances. I used to want more speeds (and I still appreciate it for my other bikes), but it really *is* enough for commuting and short (say 5-6 miles and under) distances.
built in rack
built in bike pump and fenders
reasonable cost
good build construction
feels solid (for a folding bike, which is never as solid as a non-folder)
simple, durable.
the twin rack. it keeps the bike vertical,
Things I don't like:
wish its fold was a bit smaller. Not bad for trains, apartments and offices. A bit big to bring onto a coach type bus. There's no way to squeeze it small enough between your legs and still get it behind a seat.
a bit clumsy to carry. Like most dahons, the center of gravity doesn't line up w any comfie holding point. I usually hold it by the seat, but it just doesn't feel right.
no easy way to roll it. Here to fore, my favorite folder is a Strida. More compromises, but when its folded, I just roll it along. This bike, you have to carry. Its a 25 lb suitcase, with no convenient handle. How far do you want to tote it?
the twin rack. Its tipsy.
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As a previous owner of a Dahon folding bicycle with 16" wheels (the Dahon Piccolo D3, a 2005/2006 model), I have to say that the Curve is a huge improvement upon its predecessor.
The Pros:
One of the first things you'll notice is that it features a body with an ergonomically curved and minimalist design that makes it easy to carry. Just by grasping and feeling the weight of the bike, you can tell that it's a sturdy, energy-efficient design. The improvement also makes this bike more compact and easier to store when folded.
Another thing I love about this bike is how easily it folds and locks itself, especially in comparison to the Piccolo D3 I once owned. On that model, I was pretty excited about the folding mechanism that included a magnet on the side of the front wheel. When folded, the front magnet would cling onto the magnet on the side of the back wheel, essentially locking the fold in place. The problem was that the overall design of that bike was flimsy, and some other component of the bike would always get in the way and prevent the magnets from even touching. The Curve, which also features the same magnets, seems to have solved all that. I don't struggle to fold it at all. It takes some getting used to, but eventually you'll reach a point where you can literally do it in under 10 seconds.
A feature also worth mentioning is the internalized 3-level gear. The internalization essentially makes the gears weather proof and makes the chain less likely to come off in storage, which is what had happened to my Piccolo D3 after putting it in the trunk of a friend's car. Even if the chain did come off, fixing it is a lot easier because the Curve has a bipedal stand, allowing you to park your bike upright and elevate the rear of the bike to spin the back wheel. The stand may not seem like much, but after owning a bike that had a stand only at its side, this is something worth getting excited about.
The gear itself makes the Curve a useful utility bike for the crowded urban setting. At level 3, you can match the speed of cars on the road. At level 1, you can pedal through a crowd without excessive acceleration and climb a hill at ease; more so than regular bikes because the 16" wheels rotate faster for every pedal. This is something that I'm sure people who live in hilly areas would appreciate a lot. The small wheels also lets you turn much faster and easier, which is desirable if you're riding around a lot of people and buildings.
Last but not least, the seat. It's also an air pump! I guess they come standard on Dahon bikes now, but my Piccolo D3 certainly did not have that.
The Cons:
Having small wheels and a compact design are the strengths of the Dahon Curve, but admittedly, these features also contribute to its cons.
First off, having small wheels means having less of an ability to ride smoothly on terrain that is rough (i.e. unpaved, crumbling, or rutted roads), is abruptly uneven or steep (i.e. speed bumps, edges of sidewalks, or narrow grooves), or too soft (i.e. soil, mud, or grass). You can feel even the slightest of cracks on the pavement translated into a sharp vibration up your spine. Riding through grass feels like 50lbs was added to the weight of your wheels. Not only are such terrains a nuisance, they can be dangerous as well. I've cycled along what seemed like small grooves on the road in the past. Because of its size, the front wheel exacerbated the depth of the groove, causing it to slip and make me temporarily lose control of my bike. On another occasion, I sped across a road not realizing quickly enough that there were potholes ahead. It was too late to slow down and avoid them so I had to endure the turbulence that was channeled through my entire body. Had the potholes been deeper, my front wheel would have certainly been lodged, causing me to flip forward onto the asphalt.
The size of the bike and the rarity of its design also make it an attractive target of theft. This is exactly how I lost my Piccolo D3. I had just fixed the chains and locked up my bike at the mall, only to find that a few hours later it was gone.
Conclusion:
Losing my still-missing $360 PIccolo D3 was bad, but losing my $600 Curve would be much worse. Theft is a real concern pretty much anywhere, but with proper locks, or just by taking advantage of the compact size and carrying the whole thing with you, it is easily avoided.
As far as the dangers that accompany the small wheels, I sincerely hope that people who read this heed my warning. The Curve is an urban utility bike and is meant more for the sidewalk than the road. Even a simple jerk of the handle can cause a wobble, so it does take some getting used to before you're comfortable riding on 16" wheels. Just be alert and pay attention to the ground. Design yourself a path to follow within the streets that you regularly commute through so that there are no surprise-potholes. Most of all, don't ride the bike too fast. If you're a speed hog, this is not for you.
I use the Curve for my commute to school and work, all within a 3 mile radius from home, which I found saves me time compared to using the local bus system (no waiting for the bus, no limitations in direction, and no stopping for people). The folded size is very reasonably compact so I'm also able to store my bike at work and in the trunk of a car when necessary. Don't even need to fold it when riding the elevator. After understanding the limitations, I realized that the Curve still offers conveniences that are well within my needs. This is why I decided to overlook the cons and rate the product 5 stars. The pros and cons are really just dependent on your needs. I wish the Curve came in other colors, but it's all worth it after a few, near-daily compliments from strangers. Even if you did need the speed and stability of bigger bikes, I imagine the Curve would still make a great compliment as a more casual ride. Overall, the Curve has enhanced my daily life :)
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My husband and I bought Dahon Curve bikes to be able to take along when traveling or for short trips in town. The Curve is surprisingly comfortable. I rode 30 miles one day last week and felt fine afterward. It doesn't wheel along nicely when folded, but it wasn't too heavy to carry into a building. When I had to park it outdoors at another building, it was easy to take the seat off to make the parked bike less attractive to thieves. I like the tire pump that's integrated into the seatpost; it works great. With such tiny wheels, panniers would drag on the ground and interfere with pedaling, but it's possible to carry small objects on the rack. We also found a basket that will mount on the handlebars. The bike has a good stable ride, is comfortable, folds up small enough to fit two of them into the trunk of a Camry, and it's cute.
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I tested the bike at the bike shop and it felt fantastic riding it. I ended up NOT purchasing it because of folding size. I purchased Brompton bike because it folds smaller then D3. There is no questions that I would have purchased Curve D3 if it folded smaller (and it costs much less then Brompton bike), but for me the most critical point in folder is size when folded. You'll be happy with Curve D3 if you not looking for absolute smallest high quality bike.
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I am brazilian, so, firt of all, be kind with my bad english.
Now about the little bike:
I just bought a dahon curve D3 and I am just in love with it!
I use the bike to make errands in my neighborhood and to comute to work. Here where I live (Rio de Janeiro) the sobway don't allow to go in with a bike without a cover in the week days, but this problem is easialy solved with a "carryon bag", that you can buy here or in any other shop that suits you. This kind of bag "lives" under the seat of your bike, is light and very easy to put the curve into and out. Just great to comute.
The other great feature is the internalized 3-level gear. Its pratically water proof!
And the thing is beautifull, all red, everybody likes it and I am still getting used to be complimented by its beauty.
The cons: As a person in love, I still can't see the cons, but they must exist, of course :))))
