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Break-in Period
Your bike will last longer and work better if you
break it in before riding it hard. Control cables
and wheel spokes may stretch or "seat" when
a new bike is first used and may require
readjustment by your dealer. Your Mechanical
Safety Check will help you identify some things
that need readjustment. But even if everything
seems fine to you, it is best to take your bike
back to the dealer for a checkup. Dealers
typically suggest you bring the bike in for a
30-day checkup. Another way to judge when
it is time for the first checkup is to bring the
bike in after three to five hours of hard off-road
use, or about 10-15 hours of on-road or more
casual off-road use. But if you think something
is wrong with the bike, take it to your dealer
before riding it again.
After Every Long Hard Ride
If the bike has been exposed to water or grit,
or at least every 100 miles, clean it by wiping
it clean and lightly oil the chain with a dry Teflon
lubrication or a synthetic based chain lube.
Then, very importantly, wipe off excess oil.
Long lasting lubrication is a function of climate.
(Hot or cold, wet or dry.) For general cycle
lubrication, Dahon suggests using lightweight
mineral based oil that is commonly available
in most bike shops or hardware stores. If you
have any questions, please talk to your dealer
as an incorrect lubricant can damage the
painted surfaces.
After Every Long Hard Ride or
After 10 to 20 Hours of Riding
Squeeze the front brake and rock the bike
forward and back. If you feel a clunk with
each forward or backward movement of the
bike, you probably have a loose headset.
Have your dealer check it.
Lift the front wheel off the ground and swing
it from side to side. If you feel any binding or
roughness in the steering, you may have a
tight headset. Have your dealer check it.
Grab one pedal and rock it toward and away
from the centerline of the bike; then do the same
with the other pedal. Anything feel I loose? If so,
have your dealer check it.
Take a look at the brake pads. Starting to look
worn or not hitting the wheel rim squarely?
Time to have the dealer adjust or replace them.
Carefully check the control cables and cable
housings. Any rust? Kinks? Fraying? If so, have
your dealer replace them.
Squeeze each adjoining pair of spokes on either
side of each wheel between your thumb and index
finger. Do they all feel about the same? If any feel
loose, have your dealer check the wheel.
Check to make sure that all parts and accessories
are still secure, and tighten any that are not. When
replacement parts are necessary, be sure to use
factory authorized replacement parts from your
local authorized Dahon dealer.
Check the frame, particularly in the area around
all tube joints; the handlebars; the stem; and the
seat post for any deep scratches, cracks or
discoloration. These are signs of stress-caused
fatigue and indicate that a part is at the end of
its useful life and needs to be replaced.
WARNING:
Like any mechanical device, a bicycle and its
components are subject to wear and stress.
Different materials and mechanisms wear or
fatigue from stress at different rates and have
different life cycles. If a component's life cycle
is exceeded, the component can suddenly and
catastrophically fail, causing seriou7s injury
or death to the rider. Scratches, cracks, fraying
and discoloration are signs of stress-caused
fatigue and indicate that a part is at the end of
its useful life and needs to be replaced. While
the materials and workmanship of your bicycle
or of individual components may be covered
by a warranty for a specified period of timeby
the manufacturer, this is no guarantee that the
product will last the term of the warranty.
Product life is often related to the kind of riding
you do and to the treatment to which you
submit the bicycle cannot be broken or will
last forever. It only means that the bicycle is
covered subject to the terms of the warranty.
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