Dahon touts its newest offspring as the ultimate commuter bike, and they may be right.
The upsides of folding bikes have long been known as the ease with which we can carry them around in places where we can’t ride or have bikes. Never mind risking leaving your bike locked to a rack; fold it up and leave it in a corner in your office. Yes you can ride that crowded commuter train where no bikes are allowed… except folding bikes.
And we know the down-sides: the small wheels and short wheel base just don’t deliver the same ride as a “real” bike.
The IOS promises to narrow that gap: the convenience of a folding bike with the comfort of standard one, plus conveniences that even your standard bike doesn’t offer. The IOS XL line is designed around 24 inch wheels, markedly larger what we usually see on folding bikes. A longer wheel base promises to make it more stable to ride, and Dahon has chosen an in-line hinge, which should result in a stiffer frame when the bike is unfolded, all of which should make the IOS XL very nearly as comfortable as your other bike.
To really make this line stand out, Dahon has thrown in a device charger, integrated into the bike’s design. Charge up your phone while you ride to the office, connect your GPS navigator as you pedal away from the cruise ship.
