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| Founded | 1982[1] |
|---|---|
| Headquarters |  Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Key people | David Hon, founder and CEO |
| Industry | Bicycle |
| Products | Folding bicycles |
| Website | www.dahon.com |
Dahon is the world's largest manufacturer of folding bicycles with a two-thirds marketshare in 2006.[2] The company was founded by David T. Hon, a former laser physicist[3][4][5], in 1982 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with assembly factories in Taiwan, Macau, China and the Czech Republic.[1] Dahon markets bicycles under its own name as well as other brand names, including Ridgeback (bicycles), the affiliated Yeah Bicycles, and Novarra for REI in the U.S.[6]
The company is a member of the Global Alliance for EcoMobility.[7]
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Folding bikes
Several Dahon bicycles use a patented single hinge frame design, whereby the handlebar folds down and the frame hinge swings to the left, leaving the handlebar inside. Biggest sellers are the models with 16 or 20 inch wheels, but models are available with wheels from 12 inches to 700C. Models are available with derailleur or hub gear shifter, or both or none.
Models
Dahon in its 2009 product catalog offers 35 models of folding or portable bicycles in wheel sizes ranging from 16-26” with aluminum alloy or steel frames.[8] Most of the 2009 offerings are true folding bicycles with some, like the Flõ mountain bike, using Ritchey "break apart" technology.[9]
One of the company's best selling bikes is the Boardwalk D7, an entry-level, steel-frame commuter bike.[10]
Special bikes
In 2008 to celebrate 25 years of production Dahon produced a special edition based on the Mµ series of bikes - the Mµ XXV. 250 of these machines were produced. In March of 2009 they announced that they would produce 1,000 sets of a special edition bike based on its Curve D3 folding bike with the Spanish design firm Kukuxumusu.[11].
Awards
Dahon received an Innovative Products Award each for a folding bike entry and a suspension postpump, which combined an air suspension system and bicycle pump inside a single seatpost, at the 2009 Tapei International Cycle Show.[12]
Events
Smithfield Nocturne 2009 Folding Bike Race
The winners of the Smithfield Nocturne 2009 folding bike race, held in the Smithfield Market area of London, both rode Dahon folding bikes. Keith Henderson took first place in the Novice Commuter category riding a Mμ SL[13] while James Norton was first in the Seasoned Commuter category on a Mμ EX.[14]
References
- ^ a b About Us, Dahon corporate website., http://www.dahon.com/aboutus/company.htm
- ^ "A Commuter's Secret Weapon". Business Week. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_24/b3988102.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "United States Patent 4,344,042: Self-regenerative laser oscillator-amplifier". USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database. http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4344042.PN.&OS=PN/4344042&RS=PN/4344042. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ "United States Patent 4,178,561: Scanning arrangements for optical frequency converters". USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database. http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4178561.PN.&OS=PN/4178561&RS=PN/4178561. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ "United States Patent 4,019,159: Optical frequency doubler using electro-optic crystal with improved feedback control of crystal phase match". USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database. http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4019159.PN.&OS=PN/4019159&RS=PN/4019159. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ "Novara FlyBy Shuttle Foldable Bike". REI. http://www.rei.com/product/784058. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ "Businesses". Global Alliance for EcoMobility. http://www.ecomobility.org/index.php?id=9476. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ "Dahon 2009 Catalog". http://files.dahon.com/catalog/2009_dahon_catalog.zip. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
- ^ Lesser, Chris (2008-10-23). "Tested: Dahon Flo Folding Hardtail". BikeMag.com. http://www.bikemag.com/gear/bikes/10-23-08-tested-dahon-flo-folding-hardtail/. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
- ^ "Boardwalk D7". Dahon corporate Website. http://www.dahon.com/intl/boardwalkd7.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Sutton, Mark (2009-03-18). "Kukuxumusu and Dahon team up for limited folder". BikeBiz.com. http://www.bikebiz.com/news/30358/Kukuxumusu-and-Dahon-team-up-for-limited-folder. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ Harker, Jonathan (2009-04-14). "Dahon bags two Taipei awards". BikeBiz.com. http://www.bikebiz.com/news/30456/Dahon-bags-two-Taipei-awards. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ "The Folding Bike Race". http://www.nocturneseries.com/smithfield/foldingbikerace.php. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ^ Stevenson, John (2009-06-01). "James Norton smashes Dahon folding race". BikeRadar.com. http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bikeradar-live-james-norton-smashes-dahon-folding-race-21830/. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dahon |
- Dahon corporate website
- Dahon Facebook page
- Unofficial Dahon employee bike to work blog
- DAHON girl Official Website (Japan)
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