Dahon GB2, as the second generation of Dahon's folding road bike, features a patented gooseneck design that can accommodate riders of different heights.
Posted by Jollymap - 2024-04-03T00:00:00.000+08:00 - 2025 Folding Bike Recommendation
We have previously introduced some popular large folding bikes from Dahon. Among them, the 26-inch mountain bike equipped with a suspension system received enthusiastic responses from many online users. Many users also asked us if we could introduce some road bike models. Therefore, today we will provide a detailed introduction to the Dahon GB2 folding road bike.
Dahon GB2 Folding Road Bike: Excellent Design and Stability
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike, model OBA793, has already gained popularity with its previous generation. It is one of the few folding bikes designed specifically for road cycling. Now, let's dive into the details of the second-generation upgrades.
First, let's talk about the design of this road bike. Despite being a folding bike, it still features a diamond frame composed of two triangles. This frame design provides additional rigidity and stability compared to typical folding bikes. It makes the bike more stable and reliable while riding.
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike is primarily positioned as a Gravel Bike, which means it is designed to handle gravel road surfaces. Additionally, it has a relatively more upright riding position, which can be observed from the design of the front end where the fork is slightly higher than that of a typical road bike.
Dahon GB2 Folding Road Bike - Adaptable to Various Road Conditions
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike boasts excellent design features, including its equipped 27.5-inch (also known as 650B) wheelset and 1.4-inch wide tires.
The design of this size enables the wheels to have excellent flexibility, allowing them to adapt to various road conditions. Whether it's facing rough surfaces, uphill segments, or gravel roads, the GB2 can handle them with ease. This versatile design makes the GB2 a suitable road bike for different riding needs. Whether you're riding on flat roads, tackling steep mountainous routes, or exploring gravel paths, the GB2 can provide exceptional performance and reliability. By choosing the Dahon GB2, you'll be able to enjoy an exciting riding experience and achieve outstanding performance in various road conditions.
Dahon GB2 Folding Road Bike - Innovative Adjustable Stem
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike stands out with its avant-garde adjustable stem design. Equipped with Dahon's latest patented 4D adjustable stem, this bike offers a noticeable departure from traditional road bike stems.
The key feature of this folding bike is its ability to accommodate riders of different heights and arm lengths. In front of the stem, there is a safety latch that riders need to press before lifting the stem. By adjusting it up or down and securing the clamp in the desired position, riders can customize the stem according to their needs. Once the adjustment is complete, simply clip the clamp back into place and listen for a "click" sound, indicating that the safety latch is locked.
The clamp also features an adjustable tension function, similar to a common quick-release lever. In the front part of the stem, there are two adjustment positions where riders can simultaneously tighten these positions to adjust the clamp's tightness. If the clamp feels a bit loose, simply tighten these two positions synchronously to adjust the tension. If no adjustment is needed, a simple step on the pedal will release the clamp and move it to another position.
Another upgrade on the Dahon GB2 folding road bike is the quick-release clamp on the head tube. This clamp allows you to adjust the handlebar's steering angle, thus saving more storage space. When you need to fold the bike, you can use this quick-release clamp to adjust the position of the handlebar, bringing it closer to the frame or folding it inwards, making the entire bike more compact.
Dahon GB2 Folding Road Bike - Meticulously Designed Commemorative Edition
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike is renowned for its exceptional design and outstanding quality. From material selection to paint finishes, this bike integrates fine details and innovative features. Its fork and frame are crafted from sturdy aluminum alloy, providing a reliable foundation for stability and durability. In terms of aesthetics, it features a subdued matte black color that exudes an elegant and stylish flair.
However, upon closer inspection, you'll notice the gold accents on the fork, frame, and rear stays, which are a common design element seen in Dahon's recent bike models. These gold accents add a touch of sophistication and serve as a distinctive visual highlight, making the GB2 stand out as a commemorative edition.
The careful attention to detail and the inclusion of design elements like the gold accents contribute to the overall appeal of the Dahon GB2 folding road bike, showcasing the brand's commitment to both functionality and aesthetics.
This gold accent design not only adds a unique visual effect to the bike but also symbolizes the 40th anniversary of the Dahon brand.。
This special accent design makes the bike more attractive, capturing the attention of Dahon enthusiasts.
The frame design incorporates details that prevent chainring collisions.
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike features an admirable detail in its frame design. It is equipped with a support bracket at the bottom of the frame, which serves the purpose of preventing chainring collisions with the frame during folding. The presence of this support bracket ensures a safe distance between the frame and the chainring, eliminating the possibility of damage and collisions.
Such a design element, seen in the Dahon GB2 folding road bike, exemplifies the meticulous approach of the Dahon brand in designing folding bikes. The integration of this detail enhances the overall user experience and ensures the durability of the bike.
Dahon GB2 folding road bike differs from other Dahon models in terms of its drivetrain system
Typically, Dahon bikes utilize their in-house produced derailleur systems. However, the GB2 model features the Shimano SORA series drivetrain system.
The drivetrain system of the Dahon GB2 includes the Shimano SORA 9-speed shifters and derailleurs, providing a smooth shifting experience. The front chainring is a single 40T, while the rear cassette is a Shimano SORA 9-speed cassette with a range of tooth sizes from 11T to 34T, offering a variety of gear ratios.
The drivetrain configuration you mentioned is indeed designed to align with the positioning of the GB2 as a gravel bike. The smaller front chainring and wider range of rear cassette provide increased torque and climbing capability, which is advantageous when facing gravel and uneven terrain.
In terms of the wheelset, the GB2 is equipped with 27.5-inch wheels paired with 1.4-inch wide tires, offering a good balance and adaptability to different road surfaces.
As for the braking system, the GB2 features a 160mm mechanical disc brake system, both front and rear. This type of braking system delivers reliable braking performance, ensuring rider safety during rides.
Dahon GB2 folding road bike boasts some additional noteworthy features in its configuration.
Firstly, it is equipped with folding pedals. Folding pedals are specially designed pedals that can be conveniently folded and secured to the bike frame, making it easier for folding and carrying.
In terms of the folding mechanism, the Dahon GB2 utilizes Dahon's patented Jaw hinge. This hinge design is engineered to maintain the diamond-shaped frame structure. The frame has two hinge points that require a 6mm hex wrench to open and disassemble or assemble the folding bike.
This patented Jaw hinge ensures the stability and reliability of the frame while providing a simple and safe folding and unfolding process.
Weight ~12.5kg (including pedals).
The Dahon GB2 folding road bike weighs approximately 12.5 kilograms (including pedals). While it may be challenging to compare its weight directly to that of a regular road bike, in reality, it is lighter than one might imagine. The weight of a typical 20-inch aluminum frame folding bike already exceeds 12 kilograms. Considering that the GB2 has a larger wheel size, achieving this weight demonstrates Dahon's success in controlling the frame weight.
Dahon has always been committed to developing lightweight folding bike frame technologies to provide products that are more portable and easy to carry. As a folding road bike, the GB2 incorporates lightweight design principles, making the riding experience more agile and convenient.
Despite its relatively light weight, the GB2 maintains sufficient stability and durability to meet the demands of daily riding. Dahon's focus on balancing weight reduction with structural integrity ensures that riders can enjoy a reliable and sturdy bike for their everyday cycling needs.
Common Question 1: Can it be used with 700c wheelsets?
The Dahon GB2 comes with 27.5-inch wheelsets, which are different from the 700c wheelsets typically used on road bikes. Therefore, some people may wonder if it's possible to install 700c wheelsets on the GB2..
The answer is yes. We have successfully replaced the 27.5-inch wheelsets with 700c wheelsets. When changing the wheelsets, we chose tires with a width of 25c. You can see that there is still some clearance in the front fork, which means you can switch to tires with widths of possibly 28c or even 30c, providing the bike with more versatility.
Indeed, such a wheelset replacement not only increases the flexibility in wheel choices but also provides more space for further adjustments in terms of weight reduction. This allows you to fine-tune the bike's lightweight characteristics according to your preferences.
Common Question 2: Can the front chainring be upgraded to a different size?
As long as you choose a front chainring that is compatible with the specifications of the GB2., you can install a different size chainring on the Dahon GB2.
