Anyway of lightening an inexpensive folder?

For example, http://www.rei.com/product/842219/dahon-speed-d7-folding-bike-2012

I am looking for an inexpensive folder that I can take when I travel for zooming around cities that can also be used for occasional lightweight bike camping (on road).

I am 5'3, 110lbs.

Thanks

Can you get Mezzo? http://www.mezzobikes.com/UK/index.php

These start pretty light (for a folder) and use all standard components unlike many, e.g. Brompton. We built one last year with lighter wheels, tyres, brakes, chainset, bars, etc. and it was below 9kg without much effort. You could easily go lighter still if you tried. Very adjustable for different heights/positions too. Even without mods this is loads lighter than the Dahon.

thanks for the suggestion. I am open to any brand but not 16inch wheels and only looking to spend $600 before mods.

How much are you willing to spend on mods? How light do you want to go?

A $600 folder with $600 of mods will likely still be heavier than a $900 folder with no mods.

Many folders also use proprietary parts that cannot easily (if at all) be swapped for lighter/better alternatives. I know you don't want 16" wheels, but as an example A top end $2000+ part titanium Brompton with all the lightweight extras (Brompton specific) is still no lighter than the Mezzo D10 off the peg at half the price, but you don't easily have other options for upgrades.

Easy and cheap ways to save weight on the bike you link to though are saddle, bars, pedals, or even remove the gears, but it will still never be light. Unfortunately they even use their own folder specific rear mech which is generally poor and cannot be swapped for anything better if keeping the gears. Dahon (in the UK at least) have had a poor track record for quality recently and very poor after sales care.

Maybe still above your budget, but http://www.kansi.co.uk/bikes/ might be worth a look. Otherwise, I would seriously suggest you buy good second hand to keep within your budget.