MG’s newest love: Dahon Hon Solo

UPDATE: MG decided to change the gearing and brakes on her Hon Solo. See the story on the changes Here.

MG recently succumbed to temptation and tracked down a new Dahon Hon Solo to buy.

MG with her Hon Solo at the National Gallery of Art. No, she’s not donating it!

It’s a folding single-speed with pretty much everything you could ask in a classy Rivendell-style build: wood chain guard, wood fenders, mustache bars, leather grips, Brooks B-17 saddle, Sugino crank and Suzue hubs with 406mm Schwalbe tires. According to Dahon, it was built as a limited edition and something of an homage to Rivendell founder and owner Grant Peterson. If that means anything to you, you get it.

The HS is a perfect town runner for MG, who is fascinated with small wheel bikes and single-speeds. Unlike her Bike Friday, this is a true folder that can be bundled up in a hurry. (Friday does have a new folder, the Tikit).

The bike arrived from a shop that MG found on the net, still packed in the box from Dahon with no touchup work done by the shop. The front wheel promptly detensioned on the first ride and MG is sadly without her new friend while the shop rebuilds the wheel. The rear was not properly tensioned either, but the shop was able to true it without a rebuild.

The only thing missing, on the way from Olde England, is a Carradice Pendle saddlebag.

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