Best Folding Bikes

A folding frame makes it easier to pack and carry a bicycle on public transit or in the car, and easier to store at home

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Folding bikes are a novel solution to a variety of problems. They can help commuters get from a public transit hub to the office, or just for greater mobility and freedom once you get where you’re going. They’re more convenient to store in a small house or an apartment than a conventional bicycle. And they can be easier to pack into the car so you can enjoy a bike ride somewhere else.

To help you find the best folding bicycle for your needs, CR tested various models—including conventional pedal-powered bikes and electric motor-assisted e-bikes.

There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a folding bike. First off, how will you be using it most of the time? If you plan on taking the bike on public transportation, you should find out what accommodations the transit system in your area offers. Are there bike racks or somewhere you can stash your folding bike while you commute by train or bus?

Space ConsiderationsIf you’re going to be putting your folding bike in the car, make sure it will fit in your trunk or back seat when it's folded. It's a good idea to look at the bike you want to buy in person so that you can actually measure it. Not all manufacturers will tell you how much space the bike takes up when it's folded. On some models—especially the more sturdy ones—the frame won't fold completely flat, and handlebars and pedals can stick out quite a bit. Such bikes include the Schwinn Loop and the larger Montague Boston.

WeightAlso, make sure you’re comfortable with the weight of the bike. Some folding bikes are quite heavy, weighing in at more than 30 pounds, and can be difficult for some people to lift into the car. With a heavier bike, you may be more likely to scratch the car's back bumper, or accidentally smear bike chain oil on your clothes.

FoldingAnd if you’re going to be carrying the bike for any distance, you’ll want a model that is not only light enough but also folds in a way that you can handle. You don't want to end up having to schlep a heavy, unwieldy bike that bangs into your leg constantly or makes your arm feel like it's going to fall off after a few minutes, as was the case with the Schwinn and the Montague.

Before you bring your new folding bike home from the shop, make sure you know how to fold it. CR's testers found that instructions for how to properly fold a bike often weren't included in the owner's manual and that instructional videos online were limited. If you’re ordering online, it's especially important to know what you’re getting and how to use it.

"It took a bit of time, and some digging on the internet, to figure out how to properly fold some of these bikes so that they’d be as small as possible," says Bernie Deitrick, CR's senior test program leader.

RideFolding bikes ride a little differently than standard-sized bicycles do. With their long handlebar and seat stems and smaller wheels, they tend to feel more unstable, although not in a way that's unmanageable on most models. But be sure to test-ride a bike before you buy to make sure you’re comfortable with it.

"Riding each of the tested bikes felt somewhat different, which shows that it pays to make sure the bike you want is a good fit for you," Deitrick says.

Test ResultsBelow are some of the models CR tested from Brompton, Dahon, Montague, Schwinn, and Zizzo, listed in order of their Overall Test score, which incorporates range, ease of use, and portability, among other parameters. Each of these folding bikes has particular strengths and weaknesses, but our testers found them all to be fairly portable pedal-powered, and sometimes electric-assisted, transportation.

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