Buying guide for best folding bikes
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Wouldn’t it be nice to take your bicycle with you wherever you go? Well, with a folding bike, you can. You can take it into your home, up to your apartment, into your office. You don’t have to leave it outside where it might get stolen. You don’t have to take up all that space on a train. You might not need to hold up the entire bus as you wrestle with the front rack. You can even take your bike with you when you travel.
Folding bikes are typically smaller and lighter than regular bicycles, with smaller wheels and simpler frames. They may have collapsible seats, handlebars, even pedals. They can range in weight from 30 to 50 pounds, and some won’t fit under a desk even when folded up, but some can. They’re usually designed with urban commutes in mind, but many can handle recreational and even trail riding. Some are even e-bikes.
Our team here at BestReviews have put together a list of some of the best folding bikes available, choosing them based on features, capabilities and price. Our top choice? The Brompton C Line Folding Bike, a British icon that’s still one of the most compact folding bikes you can find.
Editors’ picks
Brompton C Line Folding Commuter Bike
Editors’ Favorite
Weight: 26 lb | Wheel Size: 16” | Frame Material: Steel | Number of Speeds: 12 | Maximum Weight: 242 lb
Perhaps the original and certainly one of the most iconic modern folding bikes, Bromptons are immediately recognizable in their native UK and in cities all over the world. The Brompton C Line is the original Brompton model, with up to twelve speeds, a steel frame and a compact folded size.
The Brompton C Line has an unmistakable silhouette, with three height options available for the handlebars and seatposts. It has a strong, hand-brazed stainless steel frame, yet only weighs around 26 pounds. It has a hybrid four-speed derailleur, three-speed hub system that gives it 12 effective speeds, while its 16-inch wheels are designed for urban streets and commuting. It can fold up in as little as 20 seconds.
With a folded size of around 25 inches by 23 inches by 10, the Brompton C Line is one of the most compact folding bikes available, capable of fitting under desks or tables. Two roller wheels also allow it to be walked or pulled like a suitcase, an additional convenience. While it’s something of an investment, the build quality and brand heritage of a Brompton C Line is undeniable.
ZiZZO Campo 20-Inch Folding Bike
Great Value
Weight: 30 lb | Wheel Size: 20” | Frame Material: Aluminum | Number of Speeds: 7 | Maximum Weight: 240 lb
The ZiZZO Campo Folding Bike is made for commuters who appreciate a good deal and don’t want to spend too much. With its lightweight frame, 20-inch wheels, and seven-speed derailleur, it’s a great choice for budget-minded buyers looking for personal mobility between bus or train stops.
The ZiZZO Campo is a seven-speed folding bike with 20-inch wheels. It has a single-walled aluminum frame that, combined with its wheels and other components, weighs just under 30 pounds, while supporting up to 240 pounds of weight. It folds to a size of 31” by 27” by 12.5”, and the process can be done as quickly as 30 seconds with experience.
The Campo uses a seven-speed Shimano tourney derailleur that, among other benefits, eases hill climbing and tackling slopes, with a convenient grip-style shift. It has an adjustable handlebar and seat height, and its saddle is generous for added comfort. The pedals also fold for more compact storage.
NARRAK Fat Tire Folding Electric Bike
Best for Larger Adults
Weight: 63 lb | Wheel Size: 20” | Frame Material: Aluminum | Number of Speeds: 7 | Maximum Weight: 280 lb
E-bikes have never been more popular, and so-called fat tire bikes almost equally so. The NARRAK Fat Tire Folding E-bike combines all of these into one, making it an appealing choice for anyone who wants a trail-capable, collapsible e-bike.
With 4-inch-thick 20-inch fat tire wheels, the NARRAK folding e-bike offers a stable platform for riders, especially when riding on unpaved trails or sand. As an electric bike, the NARRAK runs on a 750-watt brushless electric motor and can reach maximum speeds of 28 miles per hour. It has a maximum range of between 55 and 65 miles and can run for four to six hours on a single charge.
The NARRAK has a seven-speed Shimano tourney system with a handgrip shifter and rear-wheel derailleur. It can be used in five pedal-assist modes, as a non-assisted manual bike, or as a pure motorized e-bike. Its frame is made of aluminum and supports weights of up to 280 pounds. Folded, it measures 37 inches by 30 inches by 18 inches.
Schwinn Loop Folding Bike
Ideal for Commuters
Weight: 33 lb | Wheel Size: 20” | Frame Material: Aluminum | Number of Speeds: 7 | Maximum Weight: 300 lb
Schwinn, of course, is about as famous a bike company as there is. With a smooth gear-shifting system, useful rear rack and minimal assembly required, the Schwinn Loop offers convenience, portability and quality to commuters looking for a folding bike.
The Schwinn Loop measures 32.5 inches by 26 inches by 16 inches folded up, and weighs in at 33 pounds, so while it does fold for storage and safety, it won’t sit under your office desk. It has 20-inch wheels made for pavement and city streets, with an aluminum frame capable of supporting up to 300 pounds of weight. Part of that can go toward any items you want to clip or store on its convenient rear rack.
The Loop has a seven-speed system controlled by twist-shift controls on the handlebars. It has front and rear linear pull brakes as well as front and rear splash guards. Its stepthrough frame makes it easy to use for anyone, and it comes with a stand-up nylon storage bag for the rear rack.
Gotrax R1 20-Inch Folding Electric Bike
Best Folding E-Bike
Weight: 50.4 lb | Wheel Size: 20” | Frame Material: Aluminum | Number of Speeds: 5 | Maximum Weight: 264 lb
Combining the convenience of a folding bike with the powered assistance of an e-bike, the Gotrax R1 is at home anywhere, from heading to the office to cruising the boardwalk. It’s an excellent option for students, professionals and anyone who wants the extra oomph of an electric motor to go with their folding bike.
The Gotrax R1 has 20-inch pneumatic tires, making it stable for use on a variety of surfaces, not just pavement. It has a 350-watt electric motor (500-watt peak) that helps push it to speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. As an e-bike, it has a range of approximately 15 miles when running on electric power alone, or 25 miles in assisted pedaling mode. Note that it’s rated for just one hour of battery life, but its battery is removable, making it safer and even transportable.
The R1 folds up to 37 inches by 27.5 inches by 18 inches in size. It has an aluminum stepover frame and a five-speed gearbox. It features disc brakes, a cargo rack, an LED headlight and an LED info display.
How we analyzed
Our editors chose these products based on several factors, including brand reputation, features and price. We evaluated these picks on capabilities such as ease of folding and ease of assembly; number of speeds and ease of gear switching; frame materials and wheel size; and, particularly, size when folded, overall weight and maximum weight supported. For e-bike models, we noted engine wattage, maximum speed, maximum range and battery life. We also took note of additional features, such as cargo racks, adjustable seat and handlebar heights, and safety features like headlights.
The perks of owning a folding bike
Perhaps you’re wondering if a folding bike is the right choice for you. Here are some of the benefits of owning a folding bike:
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Folding bikes are perfect for commutes where you go part of the way on public transit, as they're small enough to fit on a bus or train.
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If you live in tight quarters with nowhere to store a full-sized bike, a folding bike is compact enough to fit in a closet when not in use.
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Say you want to ride a bike trail in another town. You can easily transport a folding bike in the trunk of your car.
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You can bring your folding bike inside your shop or office rather than chaining it up outside. This diminishes the chance of theft and weather damage to the bike.
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Using a folding bike is more eco-friendly than taking a bus or driving a car.
- Riding your folding bike is good exercise. If you have a sedentary job, this is especially important.
Considerations for selecting a folding bike
Size and Weight
One of the main reasons to own a folding bike is that it's compact and portable. However, before you select one, check the weight of your chosen product and its size when folded. The manufacturer's product specs should contain this information.
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Is it light enough? Make sure the folding bike you choose is light enough for you to easily carry around. Granted, you’ll be riding it much of the time, but you may have to hold it while on public transit or haul it up the stairs to your office or apartment. Some of the lightest folding bikes weigh under 10 pounds, but notably, they tend to cost more.
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Is it small enough? Some folding bikes fold up smaller than others. If you'll be taking your folded bike on public transit or carrying it for any length of time, the more compact, the better. That said, folded size might not be so important to you if you simply want to fit it in your trunk or store it in a garden shed.
Wheel Size
Folding bikes usually have 16-inch or 20-inch wheels. A model with 20-inch wheels feels more like a standard bike. It’s quick, smooth, and works well on all surfaces. Keep in mind, however, that a folding bike with 20-inch wheels will be larger when folded down.
A folding bike with 16-inch wheels is much more compact when folded, but it’s slower to get around on, and it won’t feel as smooth or stable as a larger bike – especially on rough surfaces.
Gears
The gears on a bike are there to help you pedal comfortably on all kinds of terrain and in various conditions that may make riding harder, such as high winds and icy pavement. While you can find some single-speed folding bikes, we highly recommend a model with at least a handful of gears, especially if you live somewhere with lots of hills.
You're not going to have as many gears on a folding bike as you would on a full-sized bike, but you should have enough that you can cope with cycling uphill and in adverse conditions. For most riders, four to six gears should suffice.
Frame material
The vast majority of folding bikes are made of aluminum, which is lightweight and affordable but not necessarily the sturdiest option. Unless you intend to do some serious riding on your folding bike, aluminum would likely serve you well.
A few folding bike models have steel frames. Steel is superior to aluminum in some ways: it’s extremely strong, durable, and has natural shock-absorbing properties that make for a smoother ride. But steel is heavier than aluminum, and folding bikes with steel frames are more weighty to carry around. They also tend to cost more.
Suspension
Steel has some natural shock-absorbing properties, so a bike with a steel frame renders a smoother ride – even without suspension. But since most folding bikes have aluminum frames, you'll need to give your bike’s suspension some thought.
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Folding bikes can have suspension on the front wheel, the rear wheel, both, or neither. Models without any kind of suspension usually cost less, but you’ll endure a relatively bumpy ride, especially on uneven surfaces.
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We recommend choosing a folding bike with full suspension. If you decide to forgo suspension, however, we suggest that you opt for a model with larger wheels, as they'll help give you a smoother ride. Keep in mind that a folding bike with small wheels and no suspension can be extremely uncomfortable to ride.
Folding bike prices
You can find folding bike prices to suit most budgets, but you generally get what you pay for, so it's worth spending a bit extra if you can.
Inexpensive
These folding bikes cost between $100 and $300. The cheapest bikes in this price range don't tend to be very durable and may not fold down very small, but you can find some decent models for casual use.
Mid-range
These folding bikes cost between $300 and $600. You'll find some excellent bikes in this price range that fold up small and withstand daily use.
High-end
These folding bikes start around $600 and can cost up to $4,000. These bikes are ideal for serious cyclists who want a folding bike that's as pleasant to ride as a full-sized bike.
Tips
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Evaluate how quickly and easily a bike folds. You don't want to spend so long wrestling with your bike that you miss your bus!
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Check whether the messy parts of your bike are hidden away. Chain guards and hub gears can help keep the oily parts tucked away so you don't get your clothes dirty as you're folding or carrying your bike.
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Find out if you can easily obtain replacement parts for your chosen bike. It may need to be repaired in the future, but if you can't access the right spare parts, you may find yourself getting another completely new bike down the road.
- Learn how much adjustment or assembly is required. Some folding bikes are ready to go straight out of the box. Others require some assembly or a range of adjustments before you can ride them. If you’re not a bicycle expert, you’ll likely appreciate a product that requires little fuss.
FAQ
Q. Do all public transit providers allow you to take a folding bike on board?
A. While you'll be able to take your folding bike on most buses and trains when it's folded up, some transit providers have strict rules. For instance, you may have to carry the bike in a bag or be able to fit it inside a luggage storage compartment. As such, always check the rules before setting out.
Q. Are folding bikes adjustable to suit users of different heights?
A. Most folding bikes are one-size-fits-all. The frame of the bike is fairly small, but the saddle is on a long stem that you can adjust to suit your height. While this could pose problems for the very tallest and shortest of riders, it works out for most people.
Q. Will my bike stay folded on its own?
A. If you carry your bike around once it's folded up, it could easily slip out of its neatly folded position – it doesn't stay in place on its own. Some folding bikes come with a strap or cord to secure them in their folded positions, but if yours doesn't, you'll need to bring something to secure it, such as a bungee cord.
