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For anyone looking for some detailed information on the Dahon Mariner Folding Bike, or Mariner D8 Folding Bike to be more precise, with 20-inch wheels before going ahead and buying it, on this page we are going to be putting it under the spotlight to see how it stands up as being a good choice of folding bike for long distance riders as well as urban commuters who may need to take it with them on public transport as part of their journey.
And so in this review we will give you an overview of the main features before covering each of them more detail and then giving you our recommendation on whether or not we think it is worth buying.
We will then take a look at the customer feedback being left by other users, the good and the bad, so that you can get both sides of the story and see exactly how this bike is actually performing in the real world.
And finally, in case you decide that you would like to go ahead and buy the Dahon Mariner, we will tell you where you can pick it up at a really good price and with speedy home delivery thrown in too.
Or, if you are staying for the full review let’s get started right away…
Dahon Mariner Folding Bike Review…
A quick look at the main features:
- UNIQUE BUILD: Dahon has mastered the art of the foldable bicycle and the Mariner D8 is one of their most versatile and most popular bikes yet. The Mariner D8 Folding Bike’s frame is built from a Dalloy Sonus Tubeset and a Lattice Forged Hinge with Visegrip Technology
- FORK: The Smooth Riding fork is built with Stable Hi-Ten Steel Blades and Steerer
- V-BRAKES: The V-Brakes are made up of Alloy with a size of 110mm
- WHEELS: The wheel features 20-inch Lightweight Aluminum rims with Schwalbe Citizen
- FUSION TECHNOLOGY: The adjustable handle-post features Forged Alloy Radius Telescope with Fusion Technology
In More Detail…
With the Mariner D8, Dahon have surpassed even themselves and produced an incredibly versatile folding bike. It is very lightweight, weighing in at just 28 lbs and making it light enough to be carried on and off buses, trains and elevators, as well as up and down stairs, plus it folds down neatly and compact enough to be easily stored indoors meaning you don’t ever have to leave it outside unattended, because if you do-this bike WILL be stolen!
The bikes frame is made from a Dalloy Sonus Tubeset which increases strength and torsional rigidity by an impressive 30%+ when compared to frames made from similar sized oval tubing, and is unique to Dahon. This type of construction makes the bikes frame incredibly strong and durable while still keeping the weight down low.
The folding mechanism on the Dahon Mariner is built using Dahons refined lattice forged hinge technology. This produces a formidably strong hinge that is also amazingly lightweight and which gives outstanding performance time after time. This unique hinge is cold forged from stainless steel and brass components making it virtually weather resistant and extremely durable.
The hinge also features a Visegrip latching mechanism which is very strong indeed. The latch fits easily into your hand and is super smooth to operate. You also get a stainless steel hinge pin and brass bushings to buffer the moving parts.
The front forks and steerer tube are made from high tensile steel which gives them a pretty decent amount of strength, easily enough to tackle the rigors, and improve the ride quality, of urban commuting, as well as making them long lasting, very hard wearing, and resistant to corrosion.
The D8 Mariners front and rear 110 mm alloy v-brakes will provide you with all the stopping power you will need for gradual, as well as sudden and safe braking, without any juddering, making it an ideal choice for commuters who are determined to beat the rush hour traffic safely, and the brake levers are strong and smooth and easy to reach and operate.
This bike also comes with 20-inch lightweight aluminum rims which help keep the bikes overall weight down to a minimum while at the same time being incredibly strong and hard wearing, resistant to corrosion and giving a more comfortable ride.
The rims are fitted with Schwalbe Citizen tires which have a smooth cut tread design for easy rolling but will still give some pretty good grip on looser surfaces. The tires also have reflective side walls for additional safety when riding at night. These tires are also pretty tough and have Kevlar guard level 3 puncture protection and are regarded as being the ideal tires for folding bikes.
For added strength and stability the frame, fork and adjustable handle-post are fused together using Fusion Technology, to form a strong and solid unit that remains intact and won’t accidentally fold or buckle as you ride.
Click here to view the full product listing for this folding bicycle on Amazon.com…
Additional Features…
Fits Most Riders:
The handlebar height, and the seat height can be adjusted to fit the most comfortable riding positions of riders from 4 ft 7 ins to 6 ft 2 ins tall, and this bike can also comfortably carry riders weighing up to 230 lbs.
8-Speed Gearing:
For ultimate terrain adaptability, this bike is fitted with a handlebar mounted Shimano SL-M310 twist grip shifter and an 8-speed Shimano RD-M310 Rear Derailleur. These will see you picking up speed pretty quickly while riding on the flat, as well as take the hard slog out of riding up hills, while making your entire journey more effortless, smoother, and more comfortable.
Comfort Grips:
The handlebars also feature ergonomically shaped, double density grips which are nicely cushioned and designed to keep your hands, wrists and forearms comfortable no matter how long your journey.
Folding Pedals:
To keep the bikes folded footprint to an absolute minimum for maximum portability and easy storage, the Dahon Mariner also features folding pedals.
Carry Rack:
There is also a rear mounted carry rack, complete with bungee cords, which is great for carrying books, items for work, things home from the store, or whatever else you may need to take with you safely and securely.
Reflectors:
For safety when riding at night, or in other low-lit conditions there is also a rear reflector located below the carry rack, along with reflector bars on the pedals.
Kickstand:
And for ultimate convenience, this bike also comes with a kickstand allowing you to dismount wherever and whenever you like, to grab a coffee or take some photos, and stand the bike in a stable and safe position, even if you happen to be in the middle of nowhere at the time!
Dahon Mariner D8 Specs…
- Wheel Size: 20″
- Weight: 28 lbs/12.59 kg
- Folded Size: 65 cm x 32 cm x 79 cm
- Model No: KMA082
- Frame: Lightweight Dalloy Sonus Tubeset, Lattice Forged Hinge with ViseGrip Technology
- Fork: Smooth Riding and Stable High Tension Steel Blades and Steerer
- Handlepost: Forged Alloy Radius Telescope with Fusion Technonlogy, Adjustable
- Dreivetrain: 8-Speed Shimano RD-M310 Rear Derailleur
- Shifter: SL-M310 twist shifter.
- Wheels: 20″ Lightweight Aluminum Rims
- Tires: Schwalbe Citizen 20″ x 1.6″
- Handlebars: Dahon city style black alloy.
- Grips: Double density, ergo shape.
- Saddle: Ergo comfort city style, black.
- Pedals: Foldable Dahon pedals.
- Brakes: Alloy 110 mm V-Brakes
- Rider Height: 145-190 cm
- Max Rider Weight: 230 lbs/ 105 kg
How Does It Ride?…
In a nutshell, the Dahon Mariner rides exactly like you would expect a premium quality folding bike at this price point to ride. Sit on this bike and you will be able to feel the quality, it’s a solid and sturdy piece of precision engineering.
Once you get moving you will notice how quickly and smoothly you pick up speed with the highly responsive and easy to use Shimano gearing, moving up and down through the gears is pretty much effortless, and the ride through city streets can only be described as very comfortable indeed, even over bumps, thanks to the super comfortable saddle and the air filled Schwalbe tires.
The tires give a good grip in both wet and dry riding conditions, they roll smoothly, and don’t lose any traction when riding uphill.
The braking system is very good and delivers strong and controlled braking, which brings the bike to an effective stop either instantly, or gradually, without any jerks or shudders as required.
The bikes light weight makes it very easy to ride and maneuver, great for zipping in and out of traffic on a commute, making this bike a pretty good timer saver.
It folds down really easily into small and compact little bundle and can be very easily stored away in a closet, the trunk of a car, or in the corner or under a desk in an office or apartment.
All in all, this is one premium folding bike that you really do need to experience for yourself, yes, it does come at a higher price point, however you certainly do get what you pay for, and more besides.
Click here to check it out for yourself on Amazon.com…
Pros And Cons…
Pros…
- Premium quality
- Excellent design and construction
- Shimano gearing
- Scwalbe tires
- Easy to fold and store
- Lightweight
- Smooth and comfortable ride
- Good braking system
- Comfort saddle
Cons…
- Expensive
Verdict-Should You Buy The Dahon Mariner Folding Bike?
If have money to spend and you’re in the market for a premium quality folding bike to use for urban commutes which you can easily take with you on public transport as part of your journey, as well as for leisure rides and zipping across campsites at the weekend, we strongly recommend checking out the Dahon Mariner Folding Bike on Amazon.com.
You may be wondering why this bike didn’t make it onto our top 10 folding bikes 2020 list and the truth is the only thing that held it back is the price, which we felt may be a little on the high side for some people when taking into account that there are some fantastic folding bikes out there which are more affordable.
That being said, you do get exceptional value for money with the Dahon Mariner. This bike is extremely well designed and professionally built to a very high standard from top quality materials and components.
It’s a fantastic bike to ride, it’s got speed, maneuverability, it folds down pretty small, its got comfort and reliability in spades and we think you’ll agree it looks pretty amazing too.
We really can’t recommend checking this one out highly enough if you’re looking for a premium quality folding commuter bike that is built to last.
Click here to view it on Amazon.com…
It’s getting some pretty good customer feedback too…
Customer Feedback…
At the time of putting this review together, although there are only 4 reviews for the Dahon Mariner Folding Bike on Amazon.com, it still has an average feedback score of 5 out of 5 stars which we think you will agree is pretty impressive to say the least and shows that the everyone who has so far bought this folding bike on Amazon.com is very happy with it.
The things they seem to be the most impressed with are firstly the overall quality of this bike and how Dahon seem to have gone the extra mile with this one in terms of materials, construction and workmanship.
They also comment on how, lightweight it is, that will no doubt be due to its forged alloy, high tensile steel, and dalloy sonus aluminum construction. In addition, customers also like how easily, smoothly and neatly it folds down, along with the fact that it’s faster than other folding bikes they have used and the gear shifting is effortlessly smooth too.
Some Hand Picked Alternative Choices For You To Consider…
If you like this review of the Dahon Mariner Folding Bike, you may also like our detailed reviews of the Euromini Zizzo Via Folding Bike, the Euromini Zizzo Urbano, and the Schwinn Loop Folding Bike which are both very good alternative choices and well worth comparing to see which one you feel will be the best fit for you.
If You’d Like A Quick Sneak Peek Before Buying…
Click on the video below to see the Dahon Mariner Folding Bike in action and see exactly what you will get for your money…
Best Place To Buy Your Dahon Mariner Folding Bike…
With the Dahon Mariner being quite an expensive folding bike you obviously want to be buying it from a highly respectable and trusted outlet that offers the highest levels of customer protection, and it is for this reason we strongly recommend buying your Dahon Mariner from Amazon.com.
Apart from their customer protection they usually have the best prices as well so you’ll not only be getting a great deal on your bike, but you will also get super fast delivery too.
Something else we really like about Amazon, and that we recommend doing before buying, is comparing similar products and their prices to make sure you’re getting the best bike for you, as well as checking out all the latest customer feedback.
In this case we recommend checking out the Euromini Zizzo Via ,the Euromini Zizzo Urbano and the Schwinn Loop Folding Bike which all make very good alternative choices to this bike.
Amazon is also a pretty good place to pick up any accessories you may need such as a water bottle, bicycle helmet, carry case, rechargeable LED safety lights etc at the same time.
And finally, they also make it really easy and painless to return any item you may not be completely satisfied with.