DAHON Tech recently introduced two new models that are designed to close the gap between compact form and full-size riding performance.
CHICAGO—Tri-fold bikes have surged in popularity in recent years for their compact and portable design, becoming a popular choice for many casual cyclists. However, limited differentiation and uneven engineering standards across the category have led to wide variations in ride quality and performance, according to a release from DAHON Tech, a manufacturer of folding bicycles.
“Although certain manufacturers of carbon frames can offer good quality at reasonable cost, many tri-fold designs still involve trade-offs, including inadequate frame stiffness, resulting in reduced performance,” the release stated. “These limitations highlight clear opportunities for design innovation.”
The Lunden 16-inch Tri-fold Bike is a compact and lightweight model engineered for easy folding, carrying, and short-distance maneuvering. (Image courtesy Dahon Tech)
Dahon Tech addresses these limitations with its introduction of the LUNDEN series bicycles. Designed to close the gap between compact form and full-size riding performance, the Lunden series features DAHON-V Tech for the first time in a tri-fold design, achieving a new balance of efficiency, rigidity, and portability. By optimizing frame and fork rigidity, the Lunden series is reported to deliver improved power transfer, confident handling, and a smoother, more responsive ride, whether folded for transport or ridden across urban, mixed-terrain, and light off-road environments.
Dahon addresses core design challenges with its 16-inch Lunden and 20-inch Lunden models.
Described as compact and lightweight, the 16-inch Lunden is engineered for easy folding, carrying, and short-distance maneuvering. The drivetrain is streamlined for enhanced aesthetics. The frame integrates DELTECH and Super Down Tube, enhancing structural stiffness, optimizing power transfer, and improving overall ride stability and acceleration, the company said in the release.
The 20-inch Lunden’s frame is completely redesigned for extreme rigidity, featuring a direct linkage between the headtube and the bottom bracket, strengthened seat-stay for extra stability and speed. Equipped with 2.0 wide tires, it is described as “well-suited to urban riding, uneven pavement, and light gravel conditions.” Its size is reportedly 12 percent smaller than conventional 20-inch folding bikes, improving portability without compromising ride feel, the company said.
The Lunden series features an innovative Dynamic Suspension System that is said to allow for quick, on-the-fly damping adjustments based on road conditions, balancing pedaling efficiency with impact absorption.
“The multi-segment adjustable seat post allows precise micro-adjustments in height and angle, ensuring optimal ergonomic fit and consistent comfort across a broad range of rider profiles,” the release stated.
The 20-inch Lunden made its debut at the CABDA Midwest, USA event on February 4-5, 2026. According to Dahon, the model garnered widespread acclaim from dealers for its exceptional performance tailored for adventurous riders.
“This model features DAHON-V Tech, including the patented DELTECH and an adjustable handlebar, making the Lunden tri-fold series equipped with the most essential elements for top-tier performance,” the release said.
DAHON said market analysts have noted that the company’s recent technical advances are “prompting renewed attention to frame stiffness, drivetrain efficiency, and real-world ride performance.”
“As rider expectations continue to evolve, the tri-fold bike segment is gradually shifting away from price-driven competition toward performance and engineering-led differentiation,” the company said in the release. “With DAHON-V Tech at the core of the LUNDEN series, DAHON positions itself at the forefront of this transition, making the segment’s next phase one to watch.”
According to Dahon’s website, DAHON is the abbreviation of the name of the company’s founder, David T. Hon, Ph.D., who spent seven years developing the first generation of Dahon folding bicycles. The bicycles are reported to have “emerged from a simple need for convenience and blossomed into a global phenomenon, transforming the way we navigate the concrete jungles of our modern world.”
“Due to his outstanding contribution to green mobility, Dr. Hon is acclaimed as the ‘Father of Modern Folding Bicycles,’“ the website stated.