Buying a bicycle with enough suspension

Question
QUESTION: I live right in the middle of the city, but I want to get back into cycling. I was planning to buy a folding bike that I could put in the back of the car - I have a very small car and can't get a bike rack or roof rack to fit.

There are three bikes I'm looking at, in quite different price ranges, are as follows.

A Dahon Jack, 2008 model. ?30
<http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/14967/Dahon_Jack_Folding_Bike_2008>
This bike has no suspension, but does seem to have bouncy tires!

A Land Rover City Elite 2008 model. ?30
<http://www.foldingbikehut.co.uk/product_info.php/pName/land-rover-city-elite-200>
This has some suspension at the front of the bike.

A Dahon Martix, 2008 model. ?30
<http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Dahon/Matrix,%202008/12714/index.aspx#specifica>
This bike seems to have the best suspension - hydraulic at the front.

I'm looking for a bike that will cover bumps if I ride "off road", say through woodland paths. I'm not that serious a cyclist, so it's not going to be speeding up mountains and across logs, but at the same time, I'd expect to be able to have some bounce-factor. I'm not using it for commuting.

At the moment, I've got a standard mountain bike with front and back suspension, which I find fine for what I've done so far. But I need one that folds to be able to transport it.

I'm assuming that in order to get this "smooth" ride over bumps, the Dahon Jack would be unsuitable as there is no suspension. Would there be a significant difference between the Land Rover model (city elite...city riding?) and the Dahon Matrix?

I'm looking for a bike that'll last me a decent amount of time, and I don't want to find out that the Land Rover isn't really suitable. I'm wondering if the extra ?00 is a worthwhile investment in the ride...I can't afford to buy the Land Rover one, find it's no good, and then buy the Dahon Matrix on top. Though I don't mind spending the money on the Matrix if it has the best suspension system which will keep me happy! Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Francesca


ANSWER: Hi there Francesca (im guessing you Italian) lol.

Thanks  for providing me the link for the bikes your looking at so I can review them.

I need to ask you a few things first though. I know you want a nike with shocks, also, how much off roading will you do? Is it mostly road with a little off roading, or mostly off road with a little road?

Also if you dont mind me asking, how tall are you and how much do you weigh? As for me...I like long walks on the beach, im 6' ...oh wait, im on thw wrong web sight ~ lol

But seriously, your height and weight are important. BUT if you want to know what I picked so far, it would be the Dahon Jack Folding Bike (2008).

Thanks : )

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hehee! Thanks for the quick response.

I'm looking to cycle mainly off road, because my aim is to get out of the city. I guess I might use it on country roads, but mostly dirt-tracks.

I'm 5'7, and weigh 9 stone 7.

I was initially really keen on the Jack, but I am still worried about buying a bike with apparently no suspension. One of my friends has a "traditional" road bike, which doesn't have suspension, and I didn't really get along with it, even just using it on tarmac.

Answer
Hey again,

Oh my your a wee lil thing arnt you *cute* ok...ive reviewed reviewed and reviewed some more!

I would say your best pick is Dahon Matrix. It has better parts, disk brakes and the construction is better (notice on the land rover it only has ONE top bar for the frame where the dahon has the conventional two bars welded to the top tube) I hope you get what im trying to say : P

Basicly its built better and has better parts. Hope this helps and feel free to ask me anything else.

Let me know what you finaly pic. Oh here is a picture of my bike : )

http://sports.webshots.com/photo/1396235145041356018OWBNQH

Thanks and happy riding!!