I recently posted about the Dahon Speed D7 folding bike. That was my first folder and is a bike near and dear to my heart. Since Bow Cycle is a Dahon dealer I had the good fortune to borrow a Mu P8 for a few weeks and try it. I also recruited my friend Karen [another Dahon Speed D7 owner] to try out the Mu P8 and get her thoughts on it. Since the Mu P8 and the Speed D7 have a lot in common I won’t bore you by repeating everything in the D7 review. I’ll just compare the two bikes and discuss what’s different with the Mu P8.
If you just want the coles notes version of the review here it is - the Mu P8 is a nicer more refined version of the D7. Not a revolutionary improvement, but in just about every respect better.
Frame
The obvious difference between the P8 and the D7 is the P8’s frame is aluminum while the D7’s is steel. Typically steel bikes have a more compliant ride, but in this case I didn’t really notice a difference between the two. What you will notice is that the P8 is lighter by about 3lbs. Part of this is due to the frame and the rest is due to the component spec.
The curved main tube on the P8 extends all the way back to the rear drop outs and makes for a very attractive bike. If you stand them side by side the D7 looks decidedly chunky and angular compared to the P8. Not something everyone cares about, but if you do the P8’s frame is a looker.
The other major difference in frames is the new refined main frame hinge that the P8 uses. It’s definitely a solid way to keep the two halves of the bike together and works really well. Dahon claims it is stronger than the older clamp used on the D7, but to be honest I couldn’t detect any difference and the hinge on my D7 and those of my friends works just fine.
Both bikes fold the same way, but the P8 is 3lbs lighter which may make a difference when moving the folded bike around for smaller riders.
Drivetrain
The names of the P8 and D7 should give it away, but in case they don’t the P8 has 8 gears to choose from and the D7 has 7. This gives the P8 a gear inch range of 32″- 93″ vs the D7’s 34″- 92″. That’s enough to be noticeable, but not a radical difference. Both bikes use a Dahon proprietary rear derailleur with the P8 sporting the newer 2.0 version and the D7 equipped with the older version. The D7 shifts just fine, but the P8 shifts are very fast, crisp and precise. My friend Kurt rode the P8 back to Bow Cycle for me and commented that it was the nicest shifting bike he’d ever ridden.
Neither bike has a front derailleur option which means they are fine for most people, but if you intend to carry heavy loads uphill and/or ride very steep hills you’ll want more gears and should look at something like the Dahon Mu P24 with a wide range drivetrain. Personally I find 7 or 8 gears lots for general riding around Calgary.
Wheels
The wheels on the P8 are light weight and shod with Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires. This makes the P8 noticeably zippier than the D7 and I find these tires are more supple than the tires on the D7 making the ride more comfortable. Most of my friends and I have swapped out the stock D7 tires for Schwalbe Big Apples because they improve the comfort of the ride so much. The trouble is Big Apples are heavy and slow. The Marathon Racers are a great compromise of speed and comfort.
Cockpit
The fit of the P8 & D7 are similar, but not identical. If you are a bigger rider [say 6'] you may fit better on a D7 and if you are on the smaller end [say 5'] you might fit better on a P8. For most people there will be no difference.
The P8 offers some nice upgrades in the cockpit:
- ergonomic grips come stock [something I'd spend $40 to upgrade on a D7]
- nicer stock saddle vs. the D7
- nicer SRAM gripshifter vs. D7
- integrated pump in the seatpost that the D7 doesn’t have
- nicer brake levers and brakes than D7
How to choose between the P8 & D7?
As I said initially the P8 and D7 are similar bikes. The P8 has lots of really nice upgrades, but it does cost more than the D7. So which bike should you choose? If you are the kind of rider that appreciates a sweet bike and tends to upgrade a bike the Mu P8 offers a great package that is already upgraded in most respects saving you time and money. If you care most about getting the best value in a bike the Speed D7 is really hard to beat. If they both fit your budget and you’re not sure definitely take the Mu P8 out for a test ride. The improvements are quite noticeable - especially if you want more speed/performance from your bike.
Karen Says
Karen used the Mu P8 for a couple weeks and had the following comments:
- The Mµ is noticeably lighter then the Speed D7 making it extremely easy to carry anywhere. Although I initially thought the frame folding hinge looked a little clunky, the safety features of it’s design make it worth it. The outer hinge piece locks in place when the bike is completely unfolded making the frame a very solid unit. That being said, I have never had a problem with the lower profile hinge on the Speed D7.
- The curved frame of the Mµ gives a nice modern look, the ergonomic hand grips are comfortable, the Biologic seat is easily adjustable and contains a built in bike pump making top ups easy. In this case, convenience outweighs ultra lightweight, you can’t beat a air pump stored in a seat post. The handlebar height can be easily adjusted to an upright position for slow, scenic rides or to the lower sportier position of a regular sized bike for faster rides.
- Folders make nice, short distance urban bikes for city dwellers or commuters who park close to downtown and want a bike to get them from their car to work.
- Dahon folding bike design makes them easy to fold and store, providing a convenient, accessible bike. I store mine in the front closet, ready to go at a moments notice.
