Jordan is a passionate cyclist and bike tech enthusiast. He serves as lead editor at BikeRide.
The world of folding bicycles can be confusing, with options ranging from compact multi-modal commuters to fat-tire electric off-roaders. If you’re looking for a folding bike but can’t decide what you need, fear no more.
We have reviewed 92 folding bikes, analyzing thousands of expert reviews and owners’ opinions to create an accurate, up-to-date list of the best folding bikes in six categories.
Based on trustworthy feedback, including in-house testing of some models, we produce summaries and BikeRide Scores for each bike, allowing us to quickly and easily compare models and produce the best recommendations possible.
Experts consider Brompton’s C Line superb value. Brompton offers 2-speed and 6-speed builds and excellent optional accessories to make the most of your bike.
Though not the brand’s lightest or most feature-rich option, the C Line strikes a balance between price and utility that earns it our top spot.
The quality components, time-tested frame design, and surprising turn of speed make this bike stand out. It’s also comfortable, stable, and highly portable. These characteristics make the C Line well-suited to any urban ride, leading one expert to label it the “ultimate” folding bike.
The Ride1UP Portola’s low price impresses experts, who find little to complain about.
This folding e-bike offers Class 3 speeds, above-average Shimano Altus gearing, powerful braking, and a full set of accessories for commuters and urban riders. The high-capacity integrated rack will be particularly useful if you frequently carry cargo or kids.
On top of its utility, the Portola is relatively compact, especially for a bike with ride-smoothing 3″ tires, and it folds quickly and easily. However, you might need help lifting its 60lb into the trunk if you’re taking it on adventures.
Bikes at this price point are often littered with quality control issues and poorly-specced parts, but with the Portola, experts feel Ride1UP has a product of exceptional value and few issues, making it our top-choice electric folder.
Tern’s Link is available in four builds, but the Link A7 is our pick for the best budget folder, coming in at an impressively low price for what experts consider an excellent product.
As a folder with 20″ wheels, it’s not as light or compact as 16″ alternatives from competitors like Brompton, but it offers better comfort and stability, and light off-road capacity.
A quick and easy fold and relatively small folded footprint make this bike well-suited to multi-modal commuting.
This version lacks the accessories of the higher-end builds, but this saves weight, making the budget-friendly A7 the lightest of the four Links, and you can add these accessories post-purchase if needed.
Aventon’s third iteration of its Sinch impresses as a fat-tire folder, with a number of well-thought-out upgrades to the previous version.
The Sinch 2.5 and similar folders eschew portability in favor of the comfort and off-road capabilities afforded by fat tires. As a result, the bike isn’t very light or compact, but it does have plenty of power, a comfortable ride, and reliable brakes.
You can throw the folded Sinch 2.5 in your trunk and bring it on camping adventures, or take advantage of the commuter accessories by riding to the office and storing it by your desk.
The ultra-light T Line is a luxurious machine and the first fully titanium version of Brompton’s proven three-fold design.
Those who can handle the price will revel in the comfort, fast acceleration, and efficiency on offer from the premium titanium frameset.
The three builds offer the choice of 1, 4, or 12 speeds, and Brompton’s practical accessories let you customize the bike to fit the needs of your commute.
The T Line’s incredibly low weight means it’s a joy to pedal when the road goes up and easy to huck from place to place while folded, making it the perfect folding bike for multi-modal commutes or hilly cities.
Fiido’s L3 is a mini folding e-bike with 14″ wheels and a massive expert-tested range of up to 80 miles using the throttle.
The L3 folds into a compact package of 26.8″ x 14.6″ x 26″, easily fitting in a trunk or a closet at home. It has a handy frame-integrated handle, but we recommend removing the 13lb battery before lifting it.
Testers find the L3 stable, comfortable, and surprisingly capable off-road for a bike with 14″ wheels. They also find little to complain about, which isn’t the norm for this price point.
Overall, Fiido knocked it out of the park with the L3 and it comfortably earns the title of best mini folding bike.
The BikeRide team is made up of seasoned cyclists and bike nerds who love to dig deep into the details to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information available.
BikeRide reviews are produced in two ways: we find, filter, and summarize all reviews available from verified owners and trustworthy professional testers, and we test some bikes ourselves.
Our testing involves multiple rides over the course of weeks with the bike, subjecting it to varied terrains and challenges to find its strengths and weaknesses and give it an overall score based on the following five areas:
Build Quality
Performance / Innovation
Design
Ride Quality
Price / Value
Each review takes BikeRide’s experts hours of research, gathering and analyzing manufacturer documentation, owner experiences, and real-world testing by experts to create a concise yet comprehensive summary of the bike that includes the key facts, reasons to buy, reasons not to buy, and a bottom line.
Why You Can Trust Us
Over the past couple of years, we have reviewed 92 folding bikes and read through thousands of reviews from 266 experts and 5,516 users.
Based on this pool of folding bike reviews, the BikeRide scores, and their own expert opinion, our editors have picked the best option in each of our six categories.
The BikeRide Score is determined by gathering all scored expert reviews and user ratings that can be found online across all languages. Where we conduct in-house testing of a bike, the BikeRide reviewer’s score is included in the calculation.
We compute the average of all scored reviews and ratings, adjusting the score based on the experience of each expert and the total number of customer and expert ratings. Low-quality and biased reviews and spam ratings are not included.
Because our score is based on all available reviews of a specific product from owners and testers, it gives a more accurate impression than a single expert’s opinion and test data.
Photo: Scott C.C
What Is a Folding Bike?
At BikeRide, we define a folding bike as having at least one hinge in the frame. Most folding bikes use this design, but some, such as Bromptons, use a three-part fold to achieve a more compact folded package.
Lowering the seatpost into the frame further reduces the folded size, and almost all folding bikes have a hinge that allows the handlebars to be folded down. Some models also have folding pedals or telescoping stems.
Folding bicycles can be designed to be lightweight and super-compact for multi-modal commuting like the two Bromptons in this article, brawny for mixed-terrain riding like the Sinch 2.5, or anything in between.
Unique Benefits of Folding Bikes
Folders offer a couple of unique benefits over other categories of bicycle. With their ability to collapse into a more compact package, these bikes can save space at home, tuck under your desk at work, or fit in the trunk of almost any vehicle, instead of using a vehicle bike rack.
The lightest folding bikes are easily carried up stairs and onto public transit, making them the ideal multi-modal commuters. If you live in a busy city, it’s usually risky to leave your bike locked up outside, but it’s possible to bring folding bikes inside in most situations. For example, Bromptons can double as shopping carts with the simple addition of a front-mount cargo bag.
Folders are also one of the most popular electric bike categories, with a massive range of options across different subcategories and price points, from lightweight electrified folders to powerful fat-tire e-bikes.
Photo: Nick Koleszar
Types of Folding Bikes
Once you’ve decided a folding bike is right for you, it’s important to determine the type you need.
Most folders fit into the following categories:
Commuters: Commuter accessories, comfortable
Multi-modal commuters: Light and compact
Recreational: Comfortable, use-specific tires and accessories
Off-road: Off-road wheels and tires, stable handling
The increasing popularity of e-bikes makes them an important part of the folding-bike category. Three of the six models in our review are e-bikes. However, there are electric versions of all types.
Features to Look Out For
The design, components, and features of folding bikes vary based on what the bike is intended for. As we’ve seen with Brompton bikes, they have a three-part fold, and most have small 16″ wheels to create the lightest and most compact package possible.
In the folding category, selecting for one characteristic almost always means a trade-off elsewhere. For example, increasing portability by reducing wheel diameter and tire width means sacrificing comfort and stability.
Photo: Scott C.C
Weight and Size (Portability)
Low weight and a compact fold are two standout characteristics of the folding category. This makes them easy to lift, carry, store, and transport.
The notable exception is electric folders, many of which completely forego low weight in order to include powerful motors, big batteries, and comfort-enhancing suspension and fat tires.
Even within the electric folding bike segment, the choices range from compact and manageable to chunky and heavy.
Regardless of whether you go electric or not, you’ll want to check the bike’s weight and dimensions when folded. How much importance you place on these factors will depend on your needs.
If you’re very sensitive to weight, because, for example, you will need to carry the bike up stairs regularly, then choosing the lighter bike makes sense. In contrast, if you only care about fitting it in your trunk, just ensure it’s small enough to fit when folded.
Remember: while 50lb may not sound a lot to some people, carrying or lifting an awkwardly shaped object that heavy can be hard work.
Other important features that influence portability include a mechanism to hold the bike together when it’s folded, a way to stop the bike falling over when folded, and extra wheels that allow the folded bike to be pushed rather than carried. The best folding bike brands provide clever ways to enhance the ownership experience.
Photo: Scott C.C
Wheel Diameter
The choice of wheel size, which includes 14″, 16″, 20″, and 24″, is perhaps the most important component decision for any folding bike manufacturer.
With all else being equal, larger-diameter wheels improve comfort and steering stability compared to smaller wheels. However, they’re also heavier, and the bigger they are, the bigger the folded bike is.
Again, consider your needs and preferences to help decide which wheel size is best for you. The majority of folders have 16″ or 20″ wheels, with fewer options in the 14″ and 24″ categories; 20″ is more popular for e-bikes.
Folding Mechanism
Folding bikes generally have two-part or three-part folding designs. The three-part fold has two hinges on the frame and one at the stem. This allows a more compact folded package, but it adds mechanical complexity, so many brands opt for the simpler solution of a single frame hinge and a stem hinge.
Folding bikes should be quick and easy to fold and unfold, and this is vital for models aimed at multi-modal commuting. Owners of fat-tire folding e-bikes might only fold their bikes a few times a week; multi-modal commuters may do it several times a day. If you fall into the latter camp, ensure the brand you choose prioritizes a quick and easy fold.
Disc or Rim Brakes
High-quality rim brakes are sufficient for non-electric folding bikes, and they have the added benefit of being lighter and easier to maintain than discs.
Disc brakes offer stronger, more reliable braking performance versus rim brakes and should be specced on any electric bike. This is especially important with heavy, high-power models. The faster and heavier an e-bike is, the more power that’s required to stop it.
Of the two most common types of disc brakes, hydraulic discs generally offer greater stopping power and modulation (control) while also needing less frequent adjustment. However, the risk of kinked or pinched hoses can make it difficult to fit hydraulic brakes to folding bikes.
On super-light folders, like Brompton’s electric models that weigh under 38lb and have a max speed of 15.5mph, rim brakes both keep the weight down and provide sufficient braking.
Photo: Nick Koleszar
Drivetrain and Gearing
When choosing a non-electric folding bike, it’s important to consider what gearing you need.
If you live in a city with moderate hills, you’ll want a few gears to choose from. For cities with steep inclines, a 10, 11, or 12-speed model would be best. However, if you live in a flat area with minimal elevation changes, a single-speed folder reduces maintenance requirements and keeps the weight down, making it easier to carry.
The same principles generally apply to electric folding bikes, though with help from the motor, single-speed gearing is suitable for light to moderate inclines, and 7 or 8-speed drivetrains suffice in hilly cities.
Most folding bikes have external drivetrains made up of a chainring, a chain, a cassette of multiple cogs, and a derailleur to change gears. However, some have gearing housed inside the hub and no external derailleur. Hub gearing is usually paired with a traditional chain or a belt.
Bromptons are an exception. The models with multiple gears use a hybrid drivetrain that combines a 3 or 4-speed internally geared hub with two or three sprockets mounted on the hub and a simple derailleur to change between the two or three external gears.
The advantages of hub gearing are that they maintain efficiency for a long time and require less maintenance. A geared hub paired with a belt drive requires even less maintenance. However, the trade-offs are that geared hubs are often heavier than traditional drivetrains, they can be noisy, and both hub gearing and belt drive technology are more expensive. They can also be slower to shift than modern, high-performance derailleurs.
Photo: Nick Koleszar
Accessories
Adding accessories to a bike increases the weight and bulk, which can be counterproductive if your goal is an easy-to-carry folder for multi-modal commutes. However, at a minimum, we think all folding bikes should have fenders to prevent road spray dirtying your clothes while you go about your day.
Another non-negotiable on any bike is lights, but electric folders should come with lights preinstalled and powered by the battery. Bonus points if the taillight activates on braking.
Other accessories, such as cargo racks and bags, come down to personal preference. Many commuters use a backpack, making a rack unnecessary weight. But where weight is not a concern, a rack is a valuable asset, even if used infrequently.
Frame Material
The material from which a frame is made can have a significant effect on the ride quality, durability, weight, and cost of a bike.
The majority of brands use aluminum or steel for their frames. Steel is used for the frames of both cheap and higher-end folders, and the quality of steel or aluminum alloy varies greatly between brands and models.
Brompton only uses high-quality hand-brazed steel and MIG-welded titanium for its frames. E-bike company GoCycle combines carbon-fibre, alloy, and magnesium in the frame of its G4i+.
Steel and titanium are recognized as the most durable materials for bike frames. Steel is easier to repair than aluminum or carbon, and titanium poses other challenges.
Steel and titanium frames are typically noted for providing a more compliant, comfortable ride than aluminum, but aluminum saves a lot of weight compared to steel.
Overall, the frame material you choose will be determined mostly by your budget. Only top-end bikes use anything other than steel or aluminum, and most folding e-bikes have aluminum frames.
Extra Design Features
Some brands offer features or add-ons that can be nice to have but aren’t essential. These include rollers (as found on Bromptons) so the bike can be pushed rather than carried, a front-bag mounting block, and frame or saddle-integrated carrying handles. Bromptons have an excellent mechanism for keeping the folded bike locked together, a feature sorely lacking on many folding bikes. Many e-bikes have built-in bells or horns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which Wheel Size Is Best for Folding Bikes?
The two most common wheel sizes for folders are 16″ and 20″. The best wheel size depends on how you use the bike. For multi-modal commuting, a lighter and more compact bike is easier to carry and fit on busy public transit, so smaller 16″ wheels are preferred. Larger 20″ wheels add weight and bulk but provide greater stability and comfort, so if you don’t need the most portable folding bike, 20″ might be the way to go.
How Much Do Folding Bikes Weigh?
The 13 non-electric folding bikes we’ve reviewed at BikeRide range from 16.4lb for the single-speed Brompton T Line, our Best Lightweight Folder, to 35lb for the budget Eurobike G4 and Columba SP26S bikes with 26″ wheels. Of the 79 electric folders we’ve reviewed, Brompton’s Electric P Line 4 Speed is the lightest at 34.4lb; the heaviest currently in production is the dual-battery ENGWE X20 at an eye-watering 102lb.
What Are the Downsides of Folding Bikes?
Compared to non-folding bikes in the same category (i.e., commuter or recreation), folders are typically less comfortable, less stable, slower, and higher maintenance due to the additional mechanical complexity of the hinges, latches, and other folder-specific components.
Can You Take a Folding Bike on an Airplane?
Depending on the airline, folding bikes can be taken on flights as either carry-ons or checked luggage, as long as they meet size and weight restrictions. Bromptons fit in most full-size suitcases and weigh much less than most airlines’ weight limits. Some airlines allow bagged Bromptons as carry-on luggage, while others insist they’re checked in, and some levy an extra fee. Rules banning e-bike batteries make electric folders impractical for flying. It’s always important to check with your airline first.
How Much Do Folding Bikes Cost?
Like bikes in any category, prices for folders vary massively depending on the quality of the design, components, and materials used. The most expensive folding bike we’ve reviewed is the titanium-framed Brompton T Line at over $5,200, which is roughly $1,200 more than the next in our list of 92, the electric GoCycle G4i. The cheapest model we’ve found is Eurobike’s G4 at $200 full price.
Are Folding Bikes Comfortable?
A folding bike can be comfortable in its own right, but is usually less comfortable than a full-size bike. Wide tires, suspension, and compliant frame materials (like steel) can help achieve a more comfortable ride on smaller 14″ or 16″ wheels. Many people also enjoy the upright riding position of a correctly sized folder. Tern uses 20″ and 24″ wheels on its bikes, sacrificing some portability and lightness for increased comfort and stability over 16″ wheels.
