Folding bikes are useful for anyone interested in taking their bike on a bus, train or ferry. They can also be packed in a car, stowed on a plane, or stored indoors securely. Many owners bring their folding bikes into an apartment or store them under an office desk. Most folding bikes have 16″ or 20″ wheels, but you can also find 26″ wheel bikes that fold (see the Dahon bikes below). Here’s our overview of the best folding bikes available:
Let’s start by taking a look at entry-level folding bikes:
Best Entry-Level Folding Bikes
Schwinn and Citizen make folding bikes than retail for under $250. These bikes are generally build solidly and ride well — they are not toys. However, a folding biks at this price is heavier and usually take longer to fold up. They also have some cheap components — like cheap gearshifts and brakes. So if you can afford a $450 folding bike, get a Dahon (reviewed below), but if your budget only allows you to spend $250, then these bikes are a reasonable choice. The Schwinn Hinge (pictured above) is available from Amazon for $250, and the Schwinn Loop (pictured below) sells for $217.
Best Performance Folding Bikes
Dahon Folding Bikes
Dahon, based in California, dominates the folding bike market with more than two-thirds share. Dahon produces a wide range good quality 20″ folding bikes, ranging from inexpensive models (starting at $350), all the way up to deluxe models priced around $3000. They also make some of the lightest folding bikes on the market (for example the Dahon MU SL). Dahon bikes are built in Taiwan and more recently China and Macau.
A to B Magazine rates Dahon bikes 4 out of 5 stars. I own the full-size Dahon Jack ($450) and Dahon Espresso ($370), and I’m very happy with these “urban utility” bikes — they are durable but lightweight.
Dahon bikes are available from Amazon
Brompton Folding Bikes
Brompton folding bikes from Britain are are classics in the world of folders. They’ve been in production for 15 years now, and they are still the world’s most compact folding bike – they fold up into an amazingly small 22-in. x 23-in. x 11-in. bundle.
Bromptons come with fenders and a rack, making them ideal for urban commuter. In Europe, many commuters from the on trains, and then ride to work from the station. Prices for Bromptons in the U.S. are $1000 and up.
Available from: NYCE Wheels
Strida Folding Bikes
The Strida is unique bike that is best suited to short trips on level ground. Owners say these bikes are great for riding a few miles to the train or bus (see a detailed review on Bike Design). They have an extremely quick folding action: it takes about seven seconds to fold one up.
There are two models of Strida. The original 3.2 Strida weighs 22 pounds and features many maintenance-free components: drum brakes, grease-free belt drive, plastic wheels, plastic hubs and plastic bottom bracket. This means you can carry these bikes without worrying about getting grease on your clothes.
The next version of the Strida, the 5.0, improved the quality and reduced weight to 19.4 lbs with disc brakes, anodized alloy wheels, somewhat better cranks and chainring, and alloy hubs and bottom bracket. Both models are single speed.
Here is Japanese video demonstrating the folding action:
A Strida owner, Bruce Hartleben says:
Unlike the Brompton, the Strida is a single gear with (dry) belt drive, which means no shifter or greasy chain, no tension adjustments and no caught pant legs. Even though there is only one speed, I can still climb reasonable hills. The tires are mini fat tubes, so you can jump curbs and hit potholes without any problems. The bike has a very, very tight turning radius, and while riding, your posture is quite upright – like a boulevard bike, not humped over like a road bike – so you can see traffic while riding in a suit and tie.
Small wheeled bikes like the Strida can take some getting used to — some riders find it easy to topple over on them.
The Strida 5.0 bike is available from Amazon for around $800.
Bike Friday Folding Bikes
Bike Friday is an Oregon-based company that builds quality, road-tested folding bikes. They focus on serious traveling bikes for serious riders. Each 20″ wheel bike is custom-fitted to its owner, the range includes the Metro for the commuter, the Pocket Rocket, a racing and road bike, and the 16″ wheel Tikit, which is comparable to the Brompton commuter bikes. Bike Friday now also makes recumbent folding bikes and a tandem model.
Prices range from $1,379 to $3,585 (depending on components).
Available from NYCEWheels.
Birdy Folding Bikes
Birdy Bikes are German-engineered folding bikes built in Taiwan. These innovative bikes are very smooth on the road due to their front and rear suspension. They are also known for their excellent handling and stable feeling on the road. Birdy Bikes are reasonably light at 25 pounds, and fold up into a small package.
They sell for about $1,250.
Available from: Calhoun Cycles
Airnimal Folding Bikes
The Airnimal is another quality folding bike from England. Airnimals are built to be high-performance road bikes that can compete with non-folders. Like the Bike Friday range, Airnimals can be quick-folded for the train, or dismantled for long-distance hard-case transport. Airnimal Chameleons (pictured above) are priced at around $2500.
The Airnimal Joey was introduced as a commuter bike. It’s a fast, light bike, that can also be used for longer distance riding. It has a low step-over height and a telescopic seatpost making it suitable for a wide range of heights and ages. Price at about $1300.
You can read a full review of the Joey here.
You can read some personal reviews of Airnimal bikes here and here.
Available from: Calhoun Cycles
Montague Folding Bikes
The Montague Paratrooper is a full-size mountain bike that folds. This rugged 24-speed bike is a good choice if want to ride off-road, but also want the convenience of a folding bike. The retail price for this bike is $765.
Available from Amazon
Giant Folding Bikes
Giant Bicycles makes an folding bike called the Halfway. This stylish 7-speed bike has an aluminum frame and a number of design features like monoblade forks, a custom rack, fenders and a light carrying bag. The 20″ wheels and good handling inspires confidence, especially for those new to folding bikes.
At 27 pounds, it’s a bit on the heavy side, but the Halfway’s folding action is quick and simple.
Given all its features, the Halfway is inexpensively priced at around $500-600.
You can read a personal review of this bike here.
Available from: Bike Warehouse and Folding Bikes West.
Xootr Folding Bikes
With an aluminum frame, high-pressure tires, and a geometry similar to a full-size bike, the Xootr Swift is a performance bike. It is also quick to fold and easy to carry. The downside? When folded, it’s more than twice the size of the Brompton.
See a personal review of the Xootr Swift at Commute By Bike.
The Swift is priced at $679. Available at NYCE Wheels.
Moulton Folding Bikes
Moulton Bicycles is a small company in Britian that makes superbly crafted and very expensive bikes. Moulton bikes are know for their sophisticated suspension and extremely smooth riding. Their bikes don’t actually fold, instead they can be disassembled for traveling.
Prices range from $8,000 – $11,000 (depending on exchange rate and components).
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
Simply the best : Strida 5.0
http://www.strida.nl/
( Dutch language site )
Great article, but you guys forgot the most important folding bike….the Strida 5.
Pacific cycles, who make the frames for the Birdies and Airnimals now make a range of their own folders. These include the small (8″)-wheeled Carryme and the Reach range of performance folders.
So exactly why do you think a Strida is so great? My impression is that its somewhat of an overpriced toy bike.
what about Oyama RBI-RX-5? it looks like it can compete with Dahon Pro TT? It uses Shimano Tiagra…
I think that the prices of these Bikes are too expensive for low income people.
somethings should be done to make them affordable, to encourage using them for the sake of the world environment and sustanable development.
These bikes look great, but WAY out of my grad student price range. I was looking for something for a 3 mile commute to the train, and got a bike from citizen for $200 bag included.
citizenbike.com
A very nice review…..
Not a bad list but a few gaps ..
Pacific Reach, Strida5, carry me, IF-Mode, IF-Cross (700c), IF- reach
It should be noted that Pacific-Cycles make Birdy (and did a vast amount of the development), along with above listed bikes and airnimal (which you have). Their range of folding bikes covers all sizes from 8″ Carry me to 700c IF Cross, and at all price points (above heavy ‘ebay inports’) .
I agree with Amy. I too looked buying a folding bike but could not afford any of the ones you’ve reviewed here. I opted for a Citizen folding bike (the Gotham model) and I love it. At under $300 it is perfect for me and I’ve never had any issues.
Yes, Strida! I just got a 5.0 and even after reading all the reviews(on other sites obviously!), it still impressed me on my first ride!
has anyone ever heard of this brand?
i’ve owned a strida 3.2 for over 3 years. take the useless rack and fenders off and the bike is even lighter than 19 pounds.
the strida is optimal for commuters. bottom line. no grease, folds quickly, is never stolen, and is wheelable into the subway or anywhere really ( no need to carry)
also..it is MAINTANANCE FREE. i believe the newer 5.0 has disc breaks which i think is ridiculous since the bike cannot go faster than 15mph on flat ground. and the breaks now are suseptable to the elements , unlike drum breaks. plus the newer bike is double the price of the 3.0 which is a huge mistake. but…the marketing in nyc is working because in the past year alone the strida 5.0 is selling like nuts, whereas the much chaper 3.0 never sold.
i sold my strida however, becasue i realized the 5.0 was getting popular and i always relished having a totally whacked out bike, but this is no longer the case.
now enough people have it so i see at least 5 people a week riding it. , i just decided to get a single gear custom lightweight and it’s fast! but i’ve already greased up a pair of jeans, and my studio apartment is noticeabley more cluttered now. plus i can’t lock this baby up like the strida…it will get stolen, whereas no one will steal a strida since you can’t resell it or the parts.
I’m impressed (but don’t yet own) the Downtube family of folders. Very cost effective, not too heavy and full suspension available.
But, hey, when I see a bike that I don’t own, I’m typically just looking for an excuse to buy it. I like to both ride AND collect bikes.
thinking of investing in a good compact folding bike to whizz through the streets of london.
So What is the best of best bike???????
I keep hearing a lot of praise for Bromptons, but not so sure …look kinda geeky but probably functionaly kick arse. Dahon seem to make some good looking bikes to. Birday seem impossibly expensive.
Help…whats do people think?
I originally commented above that I loved my citizen folding bike. Now, I actually despise it, you can read about it at my blog. I think I will buy a dahon
http://doxxa.wordpress.com
I am looking for the exporter(s) of second hand folding bikes to send them to Jakarta Indonesia.
The pollution is real enemy, but the brand new bike in Indonesia is more expensive than motorcycle, so that peoples is difficult to change their habit from riding motorcycle. Anyone can help me to overcome this matters ?
Unfortunately, this article was written before Bigfish came out. I just got one a month and it has helped me loads. It isn’t as expensive as these other bikes and it has a contemporary design. A lot of the other bikes look the same.
Check it out on http://www.bigfishbike.com
I’m looking for an inexpensive fold-up bike for traveling around campus, and i was interested in the citizen bike gotham model. However, it seems that there aren’t that many good reviews out there for it, any suggestions? My price range is at most close to $300. Thanks
Hi everyone! I’m in the beginning stages of researching folding bikes, and was wondering what a good brand/model would be, as a live in a pretty hilly area. I don’t plan to ride off-road, but I wonder if any of these would be able to take the hills. Thanks!
I have owned Dahon, Peerless, Giatex, Strida, and am going to buy my first Brompton soon. First off, I sold the Strida 5.0 on eBay and I am glad I did. The ride is not good, it is slow and having one gear is not that functional to my taste. It is also overpriced at $799USD, half of that will be more suitable. The Peerless from China is great at 20.25lbs only with 20inch tires and wheels and 8 speed, it is “at least” in the rank of Dahon MU SL yet for half the price, but not avaliable in the USA. Giatex is a very interesting idea, which many ignore. They use a stretching machanism, which works so wonderfully. However, the Giatex cannot be made as small as the foldable bikes can and that is the downside. But Giatex bikes are very low priced and quality is very good; yet the company has gone under. Dahon is wonderful. They have such a wide range of folders that suit almost anyone’s needs. I have the MU P8, which is absolutely nice at 24ish lbs and ride as fast as the full-sized road bikes while out-handling those road bikes on twisties. I am yet to try Brompton soon. Can’t wait. Meanwhile of all the folding bikes above, I am only keeping the MU P8. I love the great speed and it folds to fit a small space in my bedroom, take it to trains, it is such a charming ride. And for those who wants a good quality folder without stretching the budget, try Citizen bikes, they have 16″ wheels and 20″ wheel folders at reasonable prices from $170ish to $300ish and some even weight only around 25-26 lbs. Good luck on your search for your next charming foldable bike.
Still browsing for a bike I could buy or have shipped here in the UAE. But my input is….how come no one has mentioned Downtube? Has not anyone encountered this, or is this bike not recommendable (though the notion is kinda contrary to what I’ve been hearing)?
Will check back on this later…
The Strida is a wonderful piece of design and an engineering marvel. And a terrible, terrible bike. It imposes a ridiculous upright position, is unusually cramped for people of even moderate size, has a surprisingly unstable steering even by folding bike standards, has a dangerous brake mechanism, and folds to be much larger than even fairly big-folding bikes. As regularly equipped, it has one gear, at a price that competes with other bikes with far better choices. Its frame is stiff and unforgiving. It’s all custom, with very few upgrade options and almost nothing aftermarket. And it costs $800.
Mark, I can’t think of a single reason why someone would want a BigFish over a comparable Dahon. It folds quite poorly compared to the Dahons and costs more with fewer features.
I also bought Bigfish a few weeks ago and I can just say that is terrific. I am not just talking about the bike but also about costumer support service. I haven’t tried many other folding bikes yet but for the time being I can just say that Bigfish is great and that I will not buy some other one. I really recommend a bike to all of you.
kate,
For getting around campus, I suggest the Xootr Scooter (http://www.xootr.com). Its much faster than walking, simple, low maintenance, fun and easy to fold and transport for multi-modal commuting.
You’ve included the most expensive (I think) Montague. There are models under $500.
Have been wanting to try out a Strida–price on Amazon now says $399 instead of $800. May give it a try–my commute to train station is 1 mi, from station to office a few blocks–all level. Love the idea of folding it and tucking it into my cube.
Don’t forget the new kid on the block, Bigfish. Now available in the UK, it looks cool, there’s no hinge in the frame, and it rides brilliantly
http://www.bigfishbike.com
i like strida model
IF-Mode is the best folding bike I come across to date.
this folding bikes are greate i like strida!!!!
This is a good progam is very inteligent and good for the kids
IF-Mode is the best folding bike I come acroos to date.
IF-Mode is the best folding bike I come acroos to date.
super bikes!!!
does the author (or anybody) know who customized the white xootr shown in the article with disc brakes and upgraded wheels? xootr says it’s a custom bike.
thanks,
flyboy 2160
Probably a great site if you don’t know anything.
What about realising you’re part of the world?
What about at least using international measurement units? “22 pounds”! indeed. You teach your kids kilograms, then ask them to understand “pounds”.
How about the Giant MR-4F? A beauty of a bike no doubt!
Giant Mr-4F
Tacky that they note that A to B magazine gave the Dahon 4 stars out of five without also noting that A to B practically worships the Brompton and even occasionally stands accused of favoritism.
If you spend some time trolling reviews of folding bikes, you’ll discover that the Brompton is the gold standard of folders. Time and again, a review of another folder will say, “It does this almost as well as a Brompton and that not nearly as well as a Brompton….” The fold is fast, the folded size is remarkably small, and the ride is nearly as comfortable as my old road bike, which I haven’t touched since I got my Brompton a year and a half ago. I can take the B onto city buses, onto Amtrak without paying the bike premium, and onto planes, also without paying the bike premium because it folds small enough to count as checked luggage. I’ve even spoken with someone who gate-checks his B as you would a wheelchair or a stroller; I haven’t been bold enough to try. When I take it to work, it fits comfortably behind my desk, and when I go to the grocery store, I fold everything but the handlebars and use it as a small shopping cart.
Unlike Dahon, for example, which makes major changes every year, the makers of the Brompton have been refining the same design for over 30 years, and it has been in continuous production since ‘88, which is 21 years, not the 15 cited above.
You’d be hard pressed to find a Brompton owner who isn’t utterly smitten with his bike.
Scott,
Dahon makes inexpensive, quality bikes. We mention in the review that Brompton is regarded as the best folding bike in the world, however the prices for Bromptons in the U.S. are $1000 and up.
What about the Downtube Folders? They are a nice affordable entry level folder.
I got my single speed Dahon Boardwalk used for $130 ($199 new) on craigslist.
This is a great bike, and the only thing i changed was the seat which was small and hard. Someday if I have the cash I will get a 3 speed hub for it, but in a flat place like Florida it really does not need more gears.
What about Citizen Bike? http://www.citizenbike.com
$194 for the 16″ wheel version and $274 for the 20″ version.
Korea has been making truely economical folding bikes for years( under a $100). Gmarket global has a great selection. Shipping may cost you nearly as much as the bike. If you can contact the seller, they may be helpful enough to send it by Korean Post office, they will ship 14 Kg for around $70.