The best folding bikes make it incredibly easy to get around on two wheels without the usual limitations that can come with full-sized models. Add a motor and you’ll lower your work rate, so that you can travel further and arrive at your destination less hot, so electric folding bikes are becoming increasingly popular. Naturally we’ve also got a guide to the best folding electric bikes if that’s your thing.
Folding bikes offer a certain level of speed and comfort that makes getting around town by bike convenient and enjoyable, and once you get to your destination there’s no need to worry about locking them up in public. Simply fold them back down and wheel them inside with you.
What’s more, they’re incredibly convenient if you find yourself needing to combine transport modes, as you can easily take them with you onto a train or bus. In fact, folding bikes are a great solution for getting around town, and are quite possibly the best commuter bikes you can get.
Whether you’re riding to the train station and then on to work, or you live in a small apartment where storage space is at a premium, the best folding bikes make for reliable transportation and don’t take up too much space.
So if you’ve got a new job in the city, are just tired of being squashed onto public transport like a sardine, or want to slash the time it takes to walk to the office, read on for a roundup of the best folding bikes we use to rip around town – or jump to the bottom to find out how to choose the best folding bike.
Once you’ve found your perfect folding bike, it’s a good idea to check out our commuter bike accessories checklist, and while you’re there why not grab one of the best commuter helmets and best waterproof cycling jackets to go with it?
Best folding bikes
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 Line.
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 Explore and you get both, for six speeds and a 300% gear range that’s great for hilly routes.
At the back, all Bromptons have an elastomer between the front and rear triangles, which acts as a simple-yet-effective bump absorber. 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.
The Tern C8 is one of the brand’s entry-level folding bikes, which transitions easily and compacts right down. Using the brand’s FBL 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 and 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 Handlepost, which is made using 3D-forging so the structure is a single piece, removing the need for welds and increasing stiffness.
For a cheap and cheerful option, look no further than the B’Twin Tilt 500, equipped with a Shimano 1×7 drivetrain, front and rear mudguards, 20-inch wheels with 1.75in tyres complete with anti-puncture reinforcement, 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 under Decathlon’s lifetime warranty.
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. The 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 like 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 1×11 Shimano Ultegra drivetrain – including a Shadow rear mech – 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.
Rolling on 24-inch wheels and tyres, the Tern Node 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, and shouldn’t give you too much trouble as you climb the stairs up to a train platform.
Raleigh’s Stowaway sees an aluminium frame and a single-hinge design for a simple folding process. 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 a Shimano Revo/Tourney 7-speed mix, with a 14-28T cassette and 48T crankset.
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 quality 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 accommodate riders from 4’9″ right up to 6’3″, so it’s a bike that will 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.
Buyer’s guide to how to choose the best folding bike
How to choose a folding bike
What wheel size do I need on my folding bike?
Bigger 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 16in hoops like Brompton’s all the way up to traditional 700c rollers, with most folding bikes based around 20in wheels.
If you have a long distance to cover, consider upping the wheel size for the increased efficiency. Alternatively, if you have heaps of stairs to climb before boarding a packed train, smaller wheels 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 the bikes fit most bodies.
That said, if you can dunk a basketball without jumping, you may struggle to find a folder that fits, while the more vertically challenged will have a much easier time.
You can sometimes get extra-long seatposts or different handlebar rises to accommodate different riders – that’s something that Brompton specialises in.
What’s the best folding mechanism on folding bikes?
The whole selling point of a folding bike is the fact that in a few 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 smaller 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 completely safe from bike theft.
The last thing you want for your new bike is for it to be stolen, so ensure you take steps to reduce this risk. We have an article dedicated to advising how to prevent bike theft, but the key takeaways are to ensure you choose the best bike lock, know how to lock a bike correctly, and shop around to ensure you are covered by the best bike insurance policy for your needs.
