Folding
Bikes
Some call them collapsible
others call them
folding bicycles. Either way a
folding bike is typically a two wheel, lightweight bike that
folds up and can be easily carried on to many forms of
public transportation. You can also find a few Electric
Bikes that fold. Some of these folding bikes come with nice
carrying cases making it ever so easy to take into your
office or work place. Also concealed as luggage you can take
your fold up bicycle on a plane as a carry on. Motorized
Folding bikes are not as appealing an Electric Bike
or a basic Folding bike but
Motorized bicycles still have
their audience.
With the ever changing and advanced technologies from
lightweight material to superior aerodynamics, folding bikes
are smaller and lighter than ever before. Most are
adjustable to fit any sized rider and fold down very small.
Electric Bikes as well as Motor Bikes are not easily folded.
Is a folding bicycle right for you?
Everyone’s needs are different, you really need to evaluate
what your primary uses for the bike of your choice will be
used for. If you are just looking for a good ride, then
performance will be a focus opposed to how well the bicycle
will fold.
You will find that some folding bikes have gears to help
balance the bike better due to the small wheel size. Riding
a bike very long distances will make different gear ratios
an important factor. With higher performance will come a
higher cost – but you still should be able to find a cheap
folding bike if you look hard enough.
If you are riding your fold up bike to work and ride public
transportation then a high-end performance bike most likely
is not what you are looking for. Lightweight, small and easy
to fold will be features that will be your focal point.
If you need to ride the bike long distances, be sure to get
a bike with adequate gears, so that the size of the tires
doesn’t slow you down. These ‘higher performance’ bikes will
probably cost more.
If you plan to fold and unfold the bike often and carry it
with you, then be sure you buy a model that folds and
unfolds easily, collapses to a small size and is lighter
weight.
You will find that your search for a Folding Bike may not be
as easy as you might think it would be. There are many
brands available – here we are featured a few of the top
brands.
Birdy - this German-engineered light aluminum frame
high performance folding bike features a full front and rear
suspension and a with options for 7 or 21 gears.
Montague – only offers full sized folding bikes that
are comparatively light (26-29 pounds) but have the largest
folding sizes (38" X 30" X13").
Swift Folder - a good, fast folding bike at a
practical price.
Brompton – known as the "Jaguar" of folding bicycles,
imported from Brittan. It folds smaller than any other model
into a package that holds the chain stead and keeps it away
from your clothing. It locks together for a tight and solid
travel.
Strida – offer an exclusive triangle frame and has a
greaseless Kevlar belt drive (rated to last 100,000 miles)
It folds in seconds into a rolling, 22 pound walking stick
with the dimensions of 44" X 20" X 20".
Caribike - this easy on the pocket brand of folding
bike offers small, medium, and large models of basic folding
bikes. Cheapest model with 16" wheels.
Bike Friday - this high-end make offers several
versions of folding bikes. Bike Friday bicycles are for
those in search of high performance. Bike Fridays use 20"
wheels and are made to fold easily to fit into a suitcase.
Dahon – has the U.S. market under wraps with about
50% to 60% market share of the folding bikes sold in the
U.S.
Moulton - a British folding bike with a full
suspension appears to be designed to contend with full-size
bikes holding the world speed record for bicycles of
conventional riding position at 51 MPH.
