Just about the best ride quality you can get from a 16in wheel bike – that’s the view of Cycling Plus magazine with its review of the D10. Read the full review here.
The D10- is the latest folding bike designed by former Marin mountain bike designer Jon Whyte. Like its predecessor the d9, it comes with a 60612 aluminium main frame, but as well as gaining an extra gear and a small increase in gear range the D10’s frame is now a more elegant – dare one say ‘organic’ – curved design. But unlike the other small-wheel folders, the frame itself doesn’t fold – instead, everything else folds and hinges cleverly around it.
While the folding mechanism doesn’t seem as natural or as intuitive as the Brompton’s – you only had to see the efforts of a couple of Cycling Plus team members as evidence of this – once you get the hang of it you really can fold it in 20 seconds and unfold it in less than 10. Once folded, all of its parts click firmly into place.
True, its looks – with the stem effectively just above the front wheel – won’t appeal to everyone, but the engineering feels extremely solid. There’s no flimsiness anywhere in the construction and the mudguards are the toughest we’ve ever seen. Despite its sturdiness though, its overall weight is still only 11kg.
On the road the d10 is really quite a nippy performer. As with any small-wheeler there’s an element of twitchiness, certainly when you set off, but once you’re up and running the Mezzo is a neutral and confidence-inspiring performer. The 32in bottom gear means you can tackle steepish hills while the 82in top means you can reach a decent lick on the flat.
Ultimately, as with all folders, it’s a trade off. The folded package isn’t quite as small or as neat as the Brompton’s but the ride is about as good as it gets for a 16in wheeled bike. As such, if you’re looking for a bike with good ride quality for shortish journeys, one that you can chuck in the car boot or take on the train, the D10 is certainly worth taking for a test ride.
Finally, Mezzo also deserves praise for a very comprehensive owner’s manual. It’s available, along with the handy instructional video of how to fold the bike, on Mezzo’s website www mezzobikes.com.
A high quality, Brompton-challenging folder. 8 out of ten.