Fnhon DB11: Long Term Review

I have had the Fnhon DB11 folding bike for about 1.5 years now, and it seems like a good time to write a long term review about this bike. There are obviously good and bad points about every bike, and here are the key points which I want to share regarding this bike.

Note that your personal experience will vary, even if you have the same frameset, as the components used and riding preferences may be completely different from mine.

Before going into the details, I just want to share some pictures of the bike, and where I have ridden it so far during my long term evaluation.

Front single 1x11 speed setup, with Di2 electronic shifting components.

Light gravel surface, found on the newer side of the Ulu Pandan Park Connector, between Jurong East and Clementi.

48T chainring with 11-32T cassette is used on this bike.

Lightweight custom 451 wheelset by Ascent Bikes.

I used to put gold bling on my Dahon Boardwalk, but now prefer a more muted look.

Riding on the Green Corridor in August 2020, before the southern stretch was all linked up.

This was with the shorter 29 cm Elosix handlepost that provides a more sporty riding posture.

Rougher gravel, not so suitable for the slick and narrow tires.

OK to ride slowly, but it still gets really bumpy due to the higher pressure needed for narrow, small diameter tires.

Main highlights of this bike

1) Does not feel as planted on the ground, compared to my full sized bikes.

When I ride most folding bikes, it feels like I am floating on the bike, instead of riding "in" the bike, like how I feel when I ride my full sized bikes. This might be due to the higher bottom bracket and higher handlebar, which puts my centre of gravity higher up.

2) Not rigid enough for sprinting or putting out high power.

This is natural, as the folding bike frame is not as rigid as a conventional frame with a rigid triangle. When pedaling hard out of the saddle, the frame will flex noticeably between the touch points (handlebar and pedals).

3) Takes more effort to maintain higher speeds of >28 km/h, compared to my road bikes.

Due to the smaller wheels, it is harder to maintain higher speeds compared full sized bikes. Also, the flat handlebar makes it more difficult to ride fast, unlike drop bars.

4) Di2 gear shifting works really well.

As proven on all my bikes, Di2 electronic shifting works well and effortlessly every time.

5) Wheelset rolls well with low rolling resistance.

This is a custom-built 451 wheelset by Ascent Bikes, as I wanted a lightweight 451 wheelset with Centerlock hubs, which are pretty much impossible to find as a standard wheelset.

6) No problem with the folding joints, no looseness or creaking.

The build quality of this bike frame is pretty good, with no issues so far. Of course, you have to adjust them properly so that they close firmly with no free play. Also, don't ride it off-road too often, or the folding joints will be put under high stress.

7) Hydraulic disc brakes enable effortless braking, with no concerns even when riding in wet weather.

XTR hydraulic disc brakes definitely work well, and are probably overkill on a folding bike. Best of all, the disc brake pads does not leave brake residue on the rims when there is rain, unlike on conventional rim brake bikes. This is the main reason I decided to build this bike.

8) Gear ratio is slightly high, would be better if a smaller chain ring is used.

As I ported over the drivetrain from my previous Dahon MuEX, the same 48T chain ring and 11-32T cassette was used. However, the 48T chain ring was sized for 406 wheels, while this new Fnhon DB11 is using 451 wheels, which is roughly 2" inches larger in diameter.

This means that the entire gear range of the Fnhon DB11 is about 10% higher than the Dahon MuEX. The gear range is thus increased from 30-87 gear inches, to 33-96 gear inches.

At the low end, the increase of 3 gear inches is not that much. However, at the top end, increasing from 87 to 96 gear inches is a big increase, which means that I will almost never get to use the top gear.

Overall, I am happy with this Fnhon DB11, as it is a high end disc brake folding bike that rides well. It is also quite lightweight (for a disc brake folding bike) at 9.4 kg, inclusive of kickstand and pedals. 

I might get a smaller chain ring, to adjust the gearing to suit my riding style and ability. Otherwise, the shifting and braking performance of this bike is as good as it gets.