The Dahon Ciao! D5, a folding bike for commuting or for fun

Apr 20

Harrison-LDahon folding bikes , No Comments

The Dahon Ciao! D5, Dahon folding bike in many ways is designed with the city commuter in mind; this all-purpose folding bike features fenders, a chain guard (no grease on your work clothes!), rear battery lights, a luggage rack perfect for strapping down a briefcase or computer bag, and fat tires for the occasional stretch of cobblestone or rough road. There are no breakable components left exposed on the Dahon Ciao! D5 either. With the 5-speed Sturmey Archer internal hub gearing and practical twist-grip shifting, this folding bike could be put through the trials of a daily commute without worrying about damage to a fragile derailleur.

But the Dahon Ciao! D5 folding bike is also meant for relaxation and fun. Its step- through frame design brings to mind the old cruiser bikes, although with plenty of improvements. So when Bert asked me to take the Ciao! D5 out for a test ride, the West Side greenway immediately came to mind as the perfect proving ground for this laid-back folding bike. With the evening temperature a balmy 30-something degrees F (it felt balmy anyway, after the last few days of arctic cold) I rode cross town after work, doing a quick half loop in the park before picking up the greenway at 72nd Street.

The Ciao! D5 sits pretty on a west side pier

The first thing I noticed about the Ciao! D5 was the gearing. Wow, having 5 speeds on an internal hub really makes a world of difference. There are none of those abrupt jumps common with a 3-speed hub. With two extra intermediate gears, the Ciao! D5 has a range of gearing options for almost any rider and any terrain: two lower gears for hills and climbing, a middle gear for level ground cruising, and two higher gears for downhills and the acceleration bursts necessary from time-to-time.

Cruising down the greenway past the pleasure boats docked at the marina just felt right on the Ciao! D5. This folding bike would be perfect on a boat or in an RV. The step- through frame ensures the Ciao! D5 will work for riders of all sizes and abilities, so it could be fun for the whole family.

I had the chance to test the fold on the Ciao! D5 at the end of my ride, when I arrived to the West Village for dinner with friends. All folded up the Ciao! stowed nicely next to the table while we ate. After dinner, hopping on the subway with my girlfriend, the Ciao! D5 was no problem on a packed E train either. Lighter and more portable than its predecessor cousin – the Ciao! P8 – the Ciao! D5 would be great for a split commute, part train ride, part bike ride.

And so we come full circle: whether you’re looking for a practical commuter, a recreational bike, or both, the Dahon Ciao! D5 may be the folding bike for you.

Also check out the Ciao D5 Video