August 18, 2016

Dahon EEZZ D3 Folding Bike Review

A high-quality bicycle in a tiny package.

The DAHON EEZZ is a speedy little ride that gets you where you need to go comfortably with little fuss. As advertised, it folds quickly and easily, the latches are intuitive and it folds down to a very small package, making it a great choice for condo dwellers or the office. But beyond its folding capabilities, the DAHON EEZZ is an all-around great bike for urban commutes. It’s lightweight and comfortable to ride, with an upright riding position. The adjustable handlebar stem offers multiple riding postures and also enables the bike to be shared between multiple people of varying sizes. Since it folds away so tidily, I kept it under my desk and on more than one occasion lent it out to coworkers or visiting colleagues to run errands during the day, easily able to adjust it to suit different riders’ needs.

dahon folding bike review

PRICE $1,099 USD
FIND IT AT dahon.com

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

The 3-speed Shimano drivetrain, a 2016 update from the original singlespeed DAHON EEZZ, is a fantastic upgrade. At its highest gear, you can get some serious speed up, the bike rides surprisingly quickly for a 16 incher. Then the lowest gear is all you need for even some of Vancouver’s steepest hills, since at only 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) it isn’t a lot of weight to push up the hill. The compact derailleur and micro shifter don’t add a significant amount of weight to the bike, but the benefit you get from having gears makes all the difference and for a bike of this size, 3 is more than enough.

For such a compact package, this bike really delivers on performance. I had a few folding bike naysayers get on it and even they had to admit it it’s a great ride, quick and comfortable. Dahon went all in the components and the result is a machine that simply works.

Dahon folding bike review

WISH LIST

The stock saddle was not super comfortable, but that could have something to do with the fact that I’m used to sitting on a nice wide Brooks B66 I’ve been breaking in for years. Either way, I ended up swapping it out after a few rides. Dahon does offer a rear rack for 16″ wheels and I wish this came stock with the bike, but the fenders are a nice touch.

While it’s hard to disagree with Gunmetal and black as frame colors (they go with everything!), it might be nice to see another color option or two in future models.

SUMMARY

The EEZZ D3 is a high-quality folder in the “very small” category, coming in at a reasonable price. If you’re main preoccupation is finding a bike that fits under your desk or tucks away next to the couch, but you don’t want to sacrifice on riding quality, this is the bike for you. It’s a perfect bike for quick commutes in high-density cities, or as a travelling bike for those who take frequent road trips or flights to other cities and want their own bike upon arrival. It’s simple, intuitive, and a ton of fun to whip around on.

6 Comments

Hillary
December 20, 2017
This is really a must-have. I will surely get this bike soon! Thanks for an amazing review!
Carl
August 7, 2017
Can the crank arms accept standard folding pedals? Having to completely remove the pedals seems like an inconvenience. Also, sometimes, with my Dahon Curve D3, when I don’t need to fold it completely, just flipping the pedals up makes the bike compact enough to slip into a narrow niche or easier to navigate through a building.
Javier
September 2, 2016
Thank you for your useful review! Do you know if Dahon’s 16” rear rack actually fits the eezz d3? I would rather not carry things on my backpack. Thanks!
- Landis Arnold
  November 19, 2016
  The Current 16″ Dahon Arclite rack does NOT fit the EEZZ D3. Will try to post updated info when one comes available.
Taylor Winfield
August 21, 2016
If you don’t need a bike that folds up “really small”, then I think you’d be better off with one with 20″ wheels. I’ve had both (was an early adapter with Dahon – bought one in 1990). 16 inch wheel bikes with very short wheelbases like this one never ride very well (Birdy had suspension at both ends to improve the situation), especially with a tall/heavy rider aboard. They pitch. I now have a Bike Friday New World Tourist (20″ wheels) and it rides almost as well as any of my 5 other bikes. Given my age (over 70) & physical condition, it is likely the fastest road bike I own. I could get by with it as my only bike, just about. But, as you might know, it isn’t a real folder like a Dahon, Birdy, or Brompton. The Bike Friday NWT can be disassembled and packed away in a suitcase but that’s not something you’d like to do every day in order to stow it in your office. An NWT is a touring bike (3 x 8 derailleurs), can carry a goodly load on its racks but is oriented toward road performance also; drop bars, skinny tires, sidepull brakes. BTW, my daily city bike is a Cannondale SM700 no suspension MTB, mostly to cope with rough streets & other road hazards. Since I don’t commute any more, I don’t need a folder in the city.
- Landis Arnold
  November 19, 2016
  Taylor, Do give the EEZZ D3 a try. I have been using on several recent trips and IMHO it really does ride well . Hilary above notes, the bike rides well and defies expectations. I find that it rides along side most 20″ folders at similar speeds and comfort.