Dahon has created a folding road bike that combines extreme lightweight, high efficiency foldability, and an excellent riding experience, delivered through cutting edge technological innovation.
“The driving inspiration leading to the creation of the Telodon C8 AXS was the desire to break through the limitations of carbon frame folding bicycles,” said Dr. David Hon, CEO of Dahon Tech Co. Ltd. “The R&D team were working on how to design a foldable bike frame made out of carbon fiber without compromising frame rigidity and speed efficiency. We have applied Dahon’s cutting-edge Dahon-V technology suite, in which the Deltech reinforcing cable takes center stage, together with a frame structure made up of a carbon fiber front fork, a carbon fiber seat post and a thickened downtube, complemented by a sleek, hidden headset,” he said.
Achieving this came down to fine-tuning the T-800 carbon fiber manufacturing process, the application of in-depth Finite Element Analysis, and rigorous static rigidity tests. “The rigidity of the frame and front fork is cranked up to the max, while wind resistance is slashed to the bare minimum,” said Hon. “Racing tests and lab tests show the Telodon is faster than most other road bikes. And at 8.6 kg, it’s lighter than others in the same category, while being able to accommodate riders up to 105 kg. With a folded size of 81x32x66 cm, it is compact.”
In terms of bike frame design, the patented Deltech technology (an ultra-light tension cable) connects the headtube and the downtube to provide a stable triangle structure, increasing the frame rigidity by 15 percent. “Much like modern bridges, this tension cable provides best-in-class strength-to-weight ratio for folding bikes and increases both stiffness and frame longevity,” said Hon. The Super downtube is the next innovation. By flattening the downtube along the central axis of the junction tube, it increases both lateral and vertical rigidity by 10 percent. The Falco-Clawed seat stay flattens the seat stay in multiple directions, which provides even more stiffness to the rear triangle. This ensures every ride is a smooth, stable, and safe,” he said. “The double inner-V-joint design is a revolutionary departure from tradition. It endows folding bikes with sturdiness approaching that of hardtail bikes, gives the bike a sleeker appearance and breaks through the design limitations of folding bikes.”
“The overall inspiration for the Telodon came from observing that as urban cycling trends around the world, shared cycling programs are no longer unique to Europe, but also available in the U.S. and most parts of Asia,” said Hon. “At the same time, governments of many developed cities have integrated bike lane infrastructure as a part of city planning. Thus, more people are recognizing the efficiency and benefits of cycling around the city and across the suburbs.
Urban cycling is not just for professional racers or enthusiasts; it’s accessible to anyone who enjoys biking for commuting or the thrill of speed outdoors. Thus, as urban lifestyles evolve, we see the Telodon C8 AXS as an ideal choice for both urban commuting and outdoor racing. It’s perfect for office workers who love sports, allowing them to embrace a low-carbon, dynamic lifestyle. And with the growing trends of 4+2 lifestyle, this type of design also addresses the evolving needs of urban commuters and recreational riders with efficient, eco-friendly micromobility options.”
New line of small folding e-bikes
Dahon has also launched several small electric folding bikes. Where most folding e-bikes on the market start at 22kg, Dahon’s K-Feather comes in at 12Kg. With a 250W hub motor and frame-integrated battery, the pedal-assisted power flattens hills and shrinks cities. It will be available by this summer. The E-Hemingway is the new electric version of Dahon’s signature on-and-off road gravel folding bike. With its sleek seat-post integrated battery and concealed hub motor drive, this Class 1 e-bike will also be available later this year.
Dahon has expanded its lineup beyond folding bikes. “As you can see in this show, we have electric motorcycles and mopeds on display. We’re certain that the electric lineup will serve the wider audience in the European market,” said Hon.
As for road bikes, Dahon has the Vélodon, 700cc non-folding road bike, offered in both aluminum and carbon-fiber frames. The frame is also designed with DAHON-V tech, ensuring the optimum frame rigidity and high speed, as recognized by the 2025 Taipei Cycle d&i awards. It is available in three sizes for custom-order.
New Business Directions
Dr. Hon also laid out a strategic plan for the company over the next few years. “Looking ahead, Dahon’s business strategy is to increase revenue, reduce costs and make technological breakthroughs. We will achieve this by working on two areas in particular,” he said.
The first is gearing up for the electric mobility market. “We have recruited many high-end talents from large electric vehicle manufacturers to conduct product research and development, production and sales. We’ve also launched five major product categories, namely electric motorcycles, mopeds, leisure tricycles and electric-assisted folding bicycles,” he said. “Secondly, we will also be working on R&D innovation in frame design and automated processing. With the launch of the Dahon-V tech suite, the application will be further applied to a broad range of Dahon bicycles and e-bikes. With strong R&D investment in bike frame testing, design, and manufacturing processes, Dahon will have a much stronger infrastructure backbone to compete on the global stage.”
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