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Dahon Marks 20th Anniversary with Limited
Edition Folding Bicycle
Only 300 bikes to be produced and
all profits to be donated to charity.
FRIEDRICHSCHAFEN, Germany— August 29, 2002—
Dahon California, Inc., the world leader in folding bicycles,
today introduced the limited edition Helios XX in commemoration
of its 20th anniversary. The Helios XX is the most advanced
bicycle Dahon has ever produced. Weighing only 7.7 kilos (16.9
lbs.), the Helios XX is the world's lightest production performance
folding bicycle. Only 300 individually numbered and hand-painted
bikes will be produced. All profits from this bike will be donated
to grass-roots non-profit groups that promote cycling.
"When we first started 20 years ago, there was no folding
bicycle market to speak of and our bikes were largely considered
novelty items by the bicycle industry," stated Dr. David
Hon, Dahon president and founder. "It's very gratifying
that over the last 20 years, we have created an entirely new
market and have helped get 1.4 million people onto bicycles.
We're very happy to be able to give the profits from our commemorative
bike back to the community."
The Helios XX is the most advanced folding bicycle Dahon has
ever produced. It weighs only 7.7 kg (16.0 lbs.) and folds in
a mere 15 seconds. The frame incorporates seven patented technologies
and is fabricated from a proprietary Puro™
U6 alloy which is 25% stronger than T6-6061 alloy. Components
include some of the finest and most exotic components available,
including a SRAM X.0/ Shimano Dura Ace drive train, a custom
Rolf® Prima wheel set,
Nokon cables, and liberal use of titanium, carbon and magnesium
components. The blazingly fast Rolf®
Prima Accel wheel set is exclusive to Dahon and at only
995 grams, may well be the lightest performance wheel set ever
produced. Finally, each bicycle will be individually numbered
and hand-painted.
"To commemorate our 20th anniversary, we set out to produce
the most exquisite folding bicycle ever built," stated
Hon. "Only a lucky few will ever get to ride this bike
but we are confident that they will agree that we hit our target."
Dahon will donate all profits from the Helios XX to non-profit
organizations that promote cycling. Specifically, Dahon plans
to fund small, grass-roots organizations that fall under the
radar of the large philanthropic organizations. To decide on
which organizations to fund, Dahon will host a competition and
will choose three winners from around the world. Interested
non-profit organizations can write proposals to enter the competition
and Dahon will post these proposals on its website. Hopefully,
even those organizations that aren't chosen by Dahon can get
exposure and find other interested donors. Winners will be announced
in December 2003.
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