Commuter folding bikes are small, lightweight, and can easily be folded and collapsed down to a carry-on size that is no bigger than a large tote bag. This Folding electric bike is designed with 3-speed settings to get you there on time, 16” Tires for a smoother ride, and a folding frame for easy storage. Practical to use on both rough and smooth terrain, our folding bikes are built using 20” wheels and engineered using a lightweight aluminium frame so you can easily carry your folding bike onto public transport or lift it out of storage. Pros: High top speed and easy climbing thanks to the electric motor, long range compared to other folding e bikes, 20-inch wheels for a more comfortable ride, reliable braking. Up-to-date pricing and reviews for Folding Commuter Bikes on the market can be found at the folding bike models website.
I am recommending you the best folding bikes in the U.S.. The table below will list bikes with some important features that you have to consider when buying a bike like Size, Weight, Speeds, Frame and Price. Created with 20″ wheels to find the perfect balance between folded size and ride stability, our folding bikes are fully equipped with mudguards and pannier racks so you’re ready to face any challenge. The smaller wheels result in a less comfortable ride, and the more expensive prices of folding bikes do not necessarily reflect their quality or performance.
Bikes with smaller than 16″ wheels are often called portable bicycles These forgo the performance and easy ride benefits of their larger counterparts, acquiring characteristics similar to those of an adult folding kick scooter Nonetheless, regardless of how each bike folds, the result is easier to transport and store than a traditional bicycle. Some manufacturers are producing folding bikes designed around folding systems that allow them to use 26″ wheels, e.g., Dahon , KHS , Montague , and Tern Bicycles Advantages of smaller wheels include potential for more speed, quicker acceleration, greater maneuverability, and easier storage. However, the best folding bike designs pack down small and quickly, can be easily carried then stored under your office desk, and offer a ride quality not far off most full-sized bikes.
The smart choice for commuters with longer journeys to the station (or those who simply have issues with smaller bikes), the 10.8-kilogram Boston comes in 17- or 19-inch frame options, with 700c alloy wheels, which allow for steady, speedy riding over medium distances. Bike is folded in a triangle shape, where wheels are folded down and flipped forward as well under the main hinged tube, it is typically designed and involves latches which ultimately help you to increase the speed of folding and unfolding. Brompton’s foldable bikes have exceptional ride quality, an unbeatably compact folded size, and loads of custom options.
This is among my favorite folding bikes because it is super lightweight (only 24 lbs) and easily folded to carry anywhere. Size: This is the size of the whole bike after being folded, not just the wheel size (majority of folding bikes are manufactured with 20-inch wheels and I recommend the size too). Folding single-speed bike with rear coaster brake perfect for riding around the city, easy to carry and store in small spaces.
Overall, when selecting a folding bike there are many things to consider; frame style, wheel sizes, gear speeds and weight limitations are your primary considerations when selecting a folding bike. Transitioning from a full size bike to a folding bicycle may be difficult at first, as the smaller wheels require a different riding technique. Called the Switch Commuter Bike, Dumaresq’s lightweight, fast-folding design takes up only the footprint of one wheel when collapsed so it can easily be maneuvered in crowded environments.
That’s where the folding bike comes in. We’ve seen some cracking designs in recent times that incorporate large wheels and make the bike easier to handle when folded, and this award winning example from student designer Robert Dumaresq ticks all the boxes. But due to the position of the rider and the size of the wheels, these folding bikes are never used for long trips (more often 30km, but also few 150km trips travelling between cities). Amazon purchasers seem to love the Urbana , noting that is it easy to assemble and sturdy and high quality” despite its light weight and affordable price At just 21.5 pounds, the Urbana is one of the lightest folding bikes in this price range.
A hinge in the frame may allow the rear triangle and wheel to be folded down and flipped forward, under the main frame tube, as in the Bike Friday , Brompton Mezzo Folder, and Swift Folder Such a flip hinge may be combined with a folding front fork, as in the Birdy Swing and flip hinges may be combined on the same frame, as in the Brompton Mezzo Folder and Dahon , which use a folding steering column. Originally our budget pick, the Tern Link B7 rides great, folds and unfolds quickly (in the same manner as our top pick, the Dahon Mariner D8), and has a forged aluminum crank and a decent-quality seven-speed Shimano rear derailleur and shifters, all for a price that’s on a par with that of cheaper bikes built with no-name components. The latest bikes are lightweight and easy to carry, plus they have simple folding mechanisms and offer a range of tyre sizes to cater to all interests.
Bolted to this are the wheels, which come in different sizes and affect both the ride and the folding characteristics of the bike – as a rule, bigger wheels roll more easily over bumps and imperfections in the road. Compact folded packages are more convenient to carry, but bikes with very small wheels can be twitchy to ride. Our lightweight folding bikes have been crafted for maximum performance in a design that folds up small enough to easily take with you and light enough to carry around.
At this price point, folding bikes tend to become more specialised; you’ll see fast, lightweight bikes designed for road riding, chunkier options that can actually be ridden off-road, and touring bikes that don’t leave you swearing in the back of beyond after a few hundred miles. The BYB S11 offers one of the best rides of any folding bike out there thanks to its stiff frame design, long wheelbase and 20-inch wheels. We’ve long loved Bromptons for being one of the only folding bikes that can, according to Brompton, fit in an airplane overhead compartment; the electric iteration of the 16-inch-wheeled bike still folds to the same small dimensions but adds a custom-developed 250W front-hub motor with a removable 300Wh battery pack that offers a riding range of 25 to 50 miles between charges.
If you plan on riding longer distances, 700c wheels will offer a smooth ride and maximize your pedaling input—but at the expense of a smaller size when folded down, and a lower weight. It makes a difference in the folded size as well as what kind of terrain the bike is best suited to. Most folding bikes use 20-inch wheels to ensure they fold down to a manageable size and stay relatively light when commuting or traveling on public transport. + Lightweight and foldable – The small but sturdy 20-inch alloy wheels and lightweight aluminum frame make this bike super easy and user-friendly when it comes to folding it away, even the pedals fold away for extra storage space.
The qualities of these folding bikes vary from the folding speed, folding ease, compactness, it’s weight and size. Xspec mostly focuses on the speed performance and wheels size of the bike, because when you buy folding bike your focus also on the size of the wheels and the speed performance. Also, the size and the weight of the wheels is more than other bikes like Hummingbird bike and the Brompton bikes.
Commuters won’t need a bike with large wheels and a lot of gears Someone expecting to face large inclines and declines will need larger tires (20 inches and more) and a bike with multiple gears – some folding mountain bikes come with over 20 gears while a commuter version may only come with a few or just one gear. If you hanker after a folding ebike with bigger wheels than the Brompton but can’t stretch the budget to GoCycle’s top-dog GX then absolutely put this superbly designed entry on the shopping list. Best folding electric bike for low weight and features Furo X An exceedingly well equipped e-steed that’s as easy to lift as it is to ride.
While typically we might think of folding bikes as models with small wheels — and only really good for short distances — there are folding versions of every possible design, from city bikes to mountain bikes. Loop Adult Folding Bike, 20-Inch Wheels, Rear Carry Rack, Black. However, thanks to innovation and improved technology, we now have much more viable options, ranging from full size mountain bikes to small commuters that ride like bikes twice their size, and all of which are capable of quickly folding down to under half their normal size.
The Boston is a full sized bike with 700c wheels, while incorporating Montague’s renown folding technology that is always easy to use, and reduces the bike’s size in a matter of seconds. Folding bikes include a variety of sizes when it comes to wheels. Unlike the Brompton brand bikes which offer the same gearing, this bike cannot be rolled along when folded, but it makes up for this with its lighter weight and the fact that it costs just over one-third of the price.
Why you’ll love it: Reliable components, a lightweight frame, and easy folding and unfolding make the Dahon EEZZ D3 ride like a regular bike. With an integrated electric motor to help you out while pedalling, electric bikes will provide a less strenuous alternative to a traditional road or mountain bike and what’s more, they’re compact too, which means that packing them away to charge or store on public transport is easily done and when it comes to charging, both our electric folding bikes can achieve at least 20 miles off a single charge, and maxing out at a speed of 15.5mph. This is so that it may be more easily transported and stored, and thus allow greater flexibility in getting from A to B. 13 Many public transportation systems ban or restrict unfolded bicycles, but allow folded bikes all or some of the time.
Folding bikes generally come with a wider range of adjustments for accommodating various riders than do conventional bikes, because folding bike frames are usually only made in one size. In our tests it offered a comfortable ride thanks to its integrated rear suspension, but given the bike’s limited distribution, its larger footprint when folded, and its high price—comparable with that of the Brompton—we chose the Brompton as our upgrade pick. With folding bikes, we homed in on the commuter segment, the riders who want to get to and from work at least a few days a week, who may have a bus, subway, or car ride within that equation, who want to bring their bike inside during the day to avoid risking theft, and who may want to carry some stuff on their bike rather than on their back.
After our 60-plus hours of research and testing, the well-designed Dahon Mariner D8 edged to the front of the pack, combining a comfortable ride and easy folding with good-quality components, all for a reasonable price. Montague makes full-size folding bikes that provide unmatched performance and ride quality. Some manufacturers provide lightweight alloys and materials in their collapsible bikes for easy carrying when the bike is folded.
Size – The goal of a folding bike is to make it as compact as possible when not in use, which is why manufacturers typically use small frames and wheels. Even if folding bikes have been around for a very long time, earlier models were usually compromised with extra weight, poor ride and handling characteristics, and clunky, unreliable locking mechanics. Folding bikes offer a convenient portable solution for bike commuters who are tired of lugging around a full size bike frame on the train, up the stairs, into the office or wherever you may be. With hundreds of options for sale on BikeExchange, be sure to read our guide below to help narrow down your options and find what type of folding bike is best for you.
Key specs – Folded size: 83 x 80 x 25cm; Wheel size: 24in; Weight: 11kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 9-speed; Extras: n/a. With big, 24in wheels, proper geometry, a light stiff frame and conventional gearing, it’s not just fun to ride for a folding bike, but fun to ride full stop. Unlike the other folding bikes here you’ll have to remove the Joey’s front wheel to fold it down, and you’ll need a separate kit if you want to fit it back to the frame for carrying.
Key specs – Folded size: 83 x 67 x 45cm; Wheel size: 20in; Weight: 18.6kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 6-speed; Extras: Mudguards and lights. Key specs – Folded size: 58 x 56 x 27cm; Wheel size: 16in; Weight: 16.6kg; Frame material: Steel; Gears: 2-speed; Extras: Mudguards. Key specs – Folded size: 38 x 65 x 75cm; Wheel size: 20in; Weight: 9.8kg; Frame material: Carbon fibre; Gears: 11-speed internal hub; Extras: n/a.
Key specs – Folded size: n/a; Wheel size: 20in; Weight: 12kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 7-speed; Extras: Chain guard. Key specs – Folded size: 35 x 81 x 52cm; Wheel size: 20in; Weight: 13.3kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 8-speed; Extras: Mudguards, kickstand, rack. Key specs – Folded size: 35 x 85 x 68cm; Wheel size: 20in; Weight: 14kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: Shimano Nexus 3-speed hub; Extras: Rack and mudguards.
Key specs – Folded size: 78 x 66 x 44cm; Wheel size: 20in; Weight: 12.9kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 7-speed; Extras: Rack, mudguards, and lights. With 20in wheels and a basic folding mechanism that sees the handlebar remaining outside the collapsed package, the Tilt 500 isn’t the easiest bike to carry once folded. Key specs – Folded size: 85 x 55 x 20cm; Wheel size: 16in; Weight: 6.9kg; Frame material: Carbon fibre; Gears: Single-speed; Extras: n/a.
The Hummingbird’s low weight, high stiffness and racy wheels make it one of the fastest-rolling folding bikes money can buy. Key specs – Folded size: 58 x 56 x 27cm; Wheel size: 16in; Weight: 11.6kg; Frame material: Steel; Gears: 3-speed internal; Extras: Rack and mud guards. That makes designing a great folding bike a real engineering challenge for manufacturers, as they have to balance the requirements of an efficient folding mechanism, easy portability, and ride characteristics that echo their full size counterparts. Be sure to visit folding bike models for the best Folding Commuter Bikes on the market to buy.
The wheel size and frame design will decide how compact a folding bike is. The most common wheel sizes are 16 inches, 20 inches, and 24 inches, you can see their differences in this video.
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