The best folding bikes are comfortable and capable bikes, but small when folded, light enough to carry, and durable eno💫ugh to deal with the rigours of daily commuting
The best folding bikes can fold down into incredibly small and compact shapes. Allowing for more versatility for travel or just simply taking up less room in your house or at work. The 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best folding electric bikes make things even easier and give you a best-of-both𓄧-worlds combo, their popularity♋ is certainly on the rise given the time and effort they can save.
Folding bikes can just be downright fun to ride, there's a playfulness to them that makes riding one, especially commut꧑ing or zipping around busy streets rather enjoyable. Using one to travel with can just feel seamless, unfold the bike and travel under your own steam, reach your destination and fold it back down and bring it inside with you.
Folding bikes due to their convenient size and weight can also be carried onto a train or bus or even plane. What could be more convenient? If you need to combine different modes of transport when travelling or commuting a folding bike is possibly the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best commuter bike for you.
You don't need to worry about locking a folding bike up whilst worrying about it being left outside, the best folding bikes can be carried easily into your workplace, office, or home♍ and stored neatly without taking up the space a traditional non-folding bike does, this ease of use really helps make sustainable travel a viable option for more people.
Explore our guide to the best folding bikes if your looking for an upgrade or are intriඣgued by the idea of slashing that comඣmute time or ditching public transport for a healthier way of getting to work. Head to the bottom of the page for our advice on how to choose the best folding bike for you.
We have tested a range of folding bikes to produce our guide to the best folding bikes. We have considered the weight of each bike, how small and eas꧑ily it folds as well as the technical specs in the same way we would for any bike. Our team at Cyclingnews has years of combined of experience and we have tested all the bikes in real-world conditions and for their intended purpose.
Best folding bikes available today
(Image credit: Courtesy)
1.Brompton C Line
The best folding bike for tried and tested performance
Reasons to buy
+
Super compact when folded
+
Solid Brompton build quality
+
Tonnes of spares available
Reasons to avoid
-
You need to pay quite a bit more for extra gears
Brompton bikes are considered the gold standard in folding bikes for their foldability, reliability and comfort. The C Line is Brompton's standard build, which sits between the more basic A Line and the significantly lighter P Line and the titanium and carbon T Lಞine.
You get a choice of gearing, with the Urban spec getting two derailleur gears, while the Utility has three-speed hub gears. Go for the C Line Exploreᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ and you get both, for six speeds and a 300% gear range that's great for hilly routes. The C Line weighs in at 11.3 kilos, not as light as the titanium T-line model which we tested below, but still light enough to tackle all but the steepest climbs with ease.
At the back, all Bromptons have an elastomer between the front and rear triangles, which acts💖 as a simple-yet-effective bump absor🤪ber. With seven colours to choose from and loads of accessories and luggage options, it's easy to spec the bike just as you want it.
(Image credit: Courtesy)
2.Tern Link C8
The best folding bike for low maintenance ownership
Reasons to buy
+
Eight-speed drivetrain
+
Magnetic dropout clips are helpful
Reasons to avoid
-
Not as compact as a Brompton
The Tern C8 is one of the brand's ent🌠ry-level folding bikes, which transitions easily and compacts right down. Using the brand's FB🔥L two-joint frame design, the top tube breaks away in the middle, and the wheels are stuck together with the brand's Magnetix 2.0 dropout latch.
The C8 has 20-inch wheels that are finished in Schwalbe's Impact BigPack tyres, which have decent air volume a🐽nd good puncture protection. The C8 has eight gears at the back, complete with a Shimano Tourney mech and grip shifter on the bars for maximum reliability with minimal maintenance. At the front, the bike uses Tern's Physis 3D Handl🅠epost, which is made using 3D-forging so the structure is a single piece, removing the need for welds and increasing stiffness.
(Image credit: Decathlon)
3.B'Twin Tilt 500
The best folding bike for smaller budgets
Reasons to buy
+
Very affordable
+
Mudguards included
+
Lifetime warranty
Reasons to avoid
-
On the larger size when folded
For a cheap and cheerful option, look noꦗ further than the B'Twin Tilt 500, equipped with a Shimano 1x7 drivetrain, front and rear mudguards, 20-inch wheels with 1.75in tyres complete with anti-puncture rei𓆏nforcement, and a stand for convenience.
It also comes supplied with front and rear battery-powered lights, and is compatible with a range of accessories, including a transportation cover, a pannier rack, and Hamax and Bike Original kids' bike trailers. At 12.9kg, the Tilt isn't among the heaviest folding bikes available, and it's covered un🌞der Decathlon's lifetime warranty.
Thinking about investing in a folding bike? You can often save on selected models and accessories by checking our 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Decathlon vouchers before you buy.
(Image credit: Peter Stuart)
4.Brompton T-Line
Lightweight and innovative high end folder.
Our expert review:
Reasons to buy
+
Super light weight
+
New components and features
+
Fantastic ride quality
+
Durable and strong
Reasons to avoid
-
Premium price point for commuting
The T-Line is the new range-topping model - and therefore the best folding bike - from Bri𓆉tish brand Brompton. It also happens🍌 to be the lightest Brompton ever. The T-Line represents a massive overhaul and a host of new developments from Brompton. Weighing in at 7.45 kilograms in its lightest single-speed form with a titanium frame and over 150 specially developed lightweight components.
Head to our 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Brompton T-Line review to see why we were so impressed with its new lower weight and brilliant ride qualities thanks to the new titanium frame and overhaul. The bike is available in two forms; the single speed slightly more stripped-back꧋ 'one' model or the 'urban' which gets a four-speed 🧜transmission, roller wheels and full-length mudguards.
The difference between the two is a paltr♏y 500 grams, and for us, that's the model we'd choose. If you want a high-end, visually stunning folding bike the T-line 🐷could be the model for you.
(Image credit: Courtesy)
5.Tern BYB S11
The best folding bike for normal ride feel
Reasons to buy
+
Normal bike handling
+
11-speed gearing
Reasons to avoid
-
At the more expensive end of the spectrum
The Tern BYB (Bring Your Bike) S11 is a 20-inch folder that aims to bring the ride quality of your regular bike to one that folds small enough to fit comfortably under your desk. Th🌺e brand says that its double-joint design collapses down 30 per cent smaller than traditional folding models, but the joint and lock design makes for a robust frame that doesn't ride lik💯e a wet noodle.
When folded, built-in spinner wheels allow you to roll the BYB S11 along without needing to lift it, while an anchor bolt connects the front and rear dropouts, so it doesn't unfold as you make your way through train turnstiles or as you board the bus. With 20in wheels and tyres, the Tern sees a 1x11 Shimano Ultegra drivetrain – including a Shadow rear mech &ndashꦡ; 🌠with an 11-32T cassette paired with a 54T front chainring. That's a flashy spec even for a road bike and the BYB has a price tag to match.
(Image credit: Tern)
6.Tern Node D8
Best folding bike for longer journeys
Reasons to buy
+
24-inch wheels offer faster rolling
+
Simple folding procedure
+
Rack and mudguards included
Reasons to avoid
-
Not as compact as others
-
Slightly heavier than some other folding bikes
Rolling on 24-inch wheels and tyres, ♔the Tern Nod﷽e D8 is the ideal folding bike if you have a longer commute. With the bigger wheels, the Node D8 also has an 8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain, with an 11-30T cassette and a 52T chainring to satisfy your need for speed. When a stoplight turns red, or the busy-busy businessperson who is too busy to look up from their phone steps out in front of you, the mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors will help you avoid a collision.
With the large wheels, the bike isn't as compact as some of the others, 🌳but it'll still fit under your desk, and it only takes about 20 seconds to transition. With an aluminium frame and the bigger wheels, it's not offensively heavy, either, ಌand shouldn't give you too much trouble as you climb the stairs up to a train platform.
(Image credit: Courtesy)
7.Raleigh Stowaway 7
Best folding bike for foolproof stowage
Reasons to buy
+
Simple folding procedure
+
7-speed
Reasons to avoid
-
Heavier than similarly-sized options
-
UK-only
Raleigh's Stowaway sees an aluminium frame and a single-hinge design for a simple folding pr𝔍ocess. There are magnets to hold the 20-inch wheels together in storage mode, and the bike comes stock with mudguards and a rear rack.
The majority of the components are Raleigh's own, including the tyres, crank and♌ bars, although the drivetrain is aꦕ Shimano Revo/Tourney 7-speed mix, with a 14-28T cassette and 48T crankset.
(Image credit: Dahon)
8.Dahon Mariner D8
Best folding bike for accessories
Reasons to buy
+
Competitively priced
+
Lots of accessories
+
Folds quickly
Reasons to avoid
-
Shorter wheelbase aids handling
-
Some proprietary parts
The Mariner is part of Dahon's extensive range of folders. It's fully loaded with mudguards, rack and kickstand - just add lights and you're ready to go. It's also relatively inexpensive for a qualit𒉰y folder and comes with🍌 Dahon's proprietary eight speed shifting and an 11-32 tooth cassette for plenty of gear options.
Dahon says that it will accom෴modate riders from 4'9" right up to 6'3", so it's a bike that wilꦦl fit a wide range of riders. Despite rolling on 20" wheels, the folded size is pretty compact, it's quick to fold and at 12.5kg not that heavy either.
How to choose a folding bike
If y𝐆ou are considering purchasing a folding bike, there a few key things to consider. The key point to consider is how the bike folds. If you are buying the bike to use for commuting regularly and will be doing a lot of folding and potentially carrying, check which models fold down smallest and whether they meet required sizes to take onto public transport. This won't be so much of a worry if you only see yourself folding the bike occasionally. After this, check which models are within your budget and compare the differing specs of each one, does it come with mudguards and a rack? Is the gearing range suitable for where you live? Use our guide below to help you make a decision.
What wheel size do I need on my folding bike?
Bi💟gger wheels roll faster, carry speed better and offer more stability, while smaller wheels are lighter, more manoeuvrable and allow a bike to fold down smaller. Folding bikes come with wheels in sizes ranging from pint-sized 16-inch hoops like Brompton's all the wa♌y up to traditional 700c rollers, with most folding bikes based around 20-inch wheels.
If you have a long distance to cover, consider upping the wheel size for increased efficiency and speed. Alternatively, if you have heaps of stairs to climb before boarding a packed train an🥂d generally shorter trips to make, smaller w🎉heels and tyres may suit you better.
Do folding bikes only come in one size?
Quite a lot of bikes have a one-size-fits-💎all frame but have a glut of quick releases and miles of adjustments to make th😼e bikes fit most bodies.
That said, if you can dunk a basketball without jumping, you may struggle to find a f꧟older that fits, while the more vertically challenged will have a much easier time.
You can sometimes get extra-long seat posts or different handlebar rises to accommodate different riders - that's sometꦚhing that Brompton specialises in.
What's the best folding mechanism on folding bikes?
The whole s🐼elling point of a folding bike is the fact that in a f🐲ew seconds it can go from bike to compacted storage. However, if it takes as many steps as an origami crane, steer clear.
Also, consider the quality and number of joints. The more joints, the sm🐈aller the bike will be folded. However, it also introduces more points for flex, which can make for vague handling and woolly pedalling. Since the bikes are designed to be folded, robust, reliable hinges are something that most folding bike makers will concentrate on.
Also, look out for where the mechanical parts end up in the folded package. If they're in the centre they'll💧 be better protected when moving around with the folding bike. They'll also be less likely to smear your clothes with grease.
How do I keep my folding bike safe and well-maintained?
When buying a new folding bike, it's likely that you're trying to avoid leaving it at the train station or on the bike rack outside✅. It'll certainly be safer parked under your desk, but a bike is never completelyಞ safe from bike theft.
Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all fo෴rms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-running by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving ♐house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a mechanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.
Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing m⛎ore coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycling more accessible overall.
