If you have a long daily commute, you live in a small flat or you're just fed up with the ever-increasing costs of city parking, you may want to consider picking up a folding bike. Manual or electric, they’re easy to take on the train or pop in the boot of a car, saving you considerable time when walking to and from stations and park and rides, or even just cycling straight home.
Unfortunately, bike theft is a real issue in the UK, so it can also bring peace of mind to have your method of transportation safely folded away with you in your office or home. There are many inventive and original designs on the market today, so we’ve put together a list of the best foldable bikes on Amazon, Decathlon and more, including both top-end Bromptons and budget brands under £300 and £500.
Quick List - Top Folding Bikes
ANCHEER
Folding Electric Bike with 250W Motor and 21-speed Gear Options
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The first thing you’ll want to think about is whether you’d like to get along by your own pedal-power or you'd prefer some electric assistance. Of course, a regular bike is a great way to keep fit and healthy, but an electric bike may be a better choice for longer commutes where you don’t want to turn up to the office tired and sweaty.
While they take the effort out of a journey, electric bikes come at a higher price point both in terms of initial outlay and the cost of recharging the battery. There is also the added weight of the battery to consider which isn’t an issue when cycling but could make for a heavier load to carry around while folded.
Want more protection during your commute? Discover our top bike helmets.
The main draw of a folding bike is obviously its ability to fold down into a portable package that can easily fit in small spaces at home, in the office, or on the train. Most folding bikes will shrink down to roughly their wheel size, but while you may think it’s best for a bike to fold down to the smallest size possible, there are some drawbacks to weigh up.
The more folding points a bike has, the less stable it can feel while riding. They are 100% safe, but you may feel the occasional slight wobble at the joints which can make the bike feel strange to ride if you're used to a traditional bike.
For added security if you're parking your bike somewhere out of reach, check out our suggestions for lightweight bike locks.
A bike’s weight has always been an important thing to consider as it affects how easy it is to ride, but it carries greater importance for folding bikes as you’ll likely be carrying it around on your daily commute. This means taking it on the train and up and down stairs, all while holding it in just one hand or over your shoulder.
Most folding bikes won’t be more than 15 kg, but that is still quite a hefty load to take up a flight of stairs; somewhere between 10 and 12 kg is manageable to carry. When looking at electric bikes, you can expect to add anywhere from 2-5 kg for the battery, but you can usually detach this and carry it in another hand or bag if necessary, so it doesn’t make too much difference overall.
If there’s one thing you can’t fold down on a bike, it’s the wheels, so you may notice that they are considerably smaller than those on a regular road bike. Most folding bikes will have wheels that are either 16 or 20 inches in diameter; these are perfect for commutes and general road cycling, and work great with electric bikes.
If you have longer trips in mind, you may want to consider a larger wheel (around 20") as it will require a lot less effort while cycling. Obviously, this will make for a bigger and bulkier folded size but would be essential if you had any plans to take your bike off-road, though it's probably best to keep your folding bike to smooth surfaces.
Depending on where you live, you could be fine with just a single-geared bike, or, perhaps you'd be better off with a few more to deal with hills and other steep inclines. While you’re unlikely to find an 18-speed folding bike, just having the option of a 3 or 6 speed can make all the difference if your journey isn’t completely flat.
When dealing with electric bikes, you still want to consider the number of gears it has. Obviously, you won’t need as high a range, but you’ll often still be doing a lot of pedalling, especially up those hills. Proper gearing will help you save battery power as you won’t be relying on electric assistance as much.
Have any of these handy bike tool kits on hand for a peace of mind in case your bike requires quick fixing.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brompton M3L Folding Bike | ![]() | A Versatile Bike That Folds Down in Under 20 Seconds | |
2 | OXYLANE Tilt 100 Folding Bike | ![]() | A Budget Option With a Solid Build | |
3 | Btwin Tilt 500 Electric Assisted Folding Bike | ![]() | Unbelievable Value With Three Battery Modes | |
4 | ANCHEER 26 inch Electric Commuter Bicycle with 250W Motor | ![]() | Folding Electric Bike with 250W Motor and 21-speed Gear Options | |
5 | Carrera Crosscity Folding Electric Bike | ![]() | Sleek Design With an Integrated Samsung Li-Ion Battery | |
6 | Raleigh Evo Electric Folding Bike | ![]() | A Sturdy Yet Easy to Unfold Electric Option | |
7 | OXYLANE 120 Folding Bike | ![]() | Easy to Transport and Folds in 30 Seconds | |
8 | Carrera Transit Folding Bike | ![]() | Lightweight and Comfortable to Ride and Carry | |
9 | ECOSMO Lightweight Alloy Folding City Bike | ![]() | Stylish and Lightweight, Made for City Riding | |
10 | Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike | ![]() | A Commuting Companion With a Reliable Battery |
Brompton is a name that has become synonymous with folding bikes, and it is because of one simple reason; they make the best quality models on the market. The M3L is no exception to this and is well worth the investment if you can afford the premium price tag.
While being incredibly lightweight, this bike also folds down to an absolutely tiny size, making it perfect for train or bus journeys as it will fit comfortably in overhead luggage racks. If you're going to be spending a lot of time carrying your bike, a Brompton is the best option by far.
Another incredible bargain from Btwin takes our No. 2 spot, and once again you're unlikely to find anything comparable for the price. While it doesn't excel in any one area, you really can't complain about the build or ride quality for the money.
As a budget option it only has the single speed gear and is an average size and weight for a folded bike, but if you're looking for something cheap to add extra zip to your commute, you can't do much better in terms of value.
As we previously mentioned, getting an electric folding bike for under £1000 is great value, so the fact that the Btwin Tilt 500 is even less than that means you're unlikely to find anything close to this for the money.
While it doesn't quite have the same mileage as the other electric bikes on our list, it has three different battery modes so you can manage your charge effectively, and the money you save more than makes up for any shortcomings.
This folding electric bike by Ancheer combines the benefits of traditional folding bicycles with an electric drive, resulting in a versatile, environmentally conscious solution for inner-city transportation. It is excellent for commuting and trips around the city, and it blends the sportiness and practicality of daily life.
You have the option of 21 speeds to help you adapt to a variety of terrain, with a powerful 250 W motor allowing you to ride easily and relax your joints. And with a dual suspension cushion, your rides are guaranteed to be comfortable and seamless.
Like the previous entry on our list, the Carrera Crosscity's battery also has a 30 mile distance and a 2-year warranty, but rather than sitting on the frame, the battery is hidden inside it. You are still able to remove and replace the battery if you wish by sliding it out of the frame.
Although a lot of money, being able to get an electric folding bike for under £1000 represents great value and there aren't any cost cutting measures anywhere. The build quality is great, the 8 gears mean an easy ride, and while not the smallest folded size, it's still very easy to store.
As it only has one point in the middle of the frame, the Raleigh Evo is surprisingly quick to fold down which makes it easy to get up and running when needed. With 8 gears, electrical assistance and 20-inch wheels, riding this bike is almost completely effortless.
The battery is what sets this option apart, allowing for up to 30 miles of riding distance on a full charge. Sitting just behind the seat, it can be locked up to protect against theft, or easily removed. There is also a 2-year warranty on all electrical components.
Available in either red or grey, the 120 is one of three Btwin bikes on our list which are all fantastic value for money; this is something of a middle child falling between its cheaper and premium siblings.
Its hi-ten steel frame is extremely sturdy, and combined with the 20-inch wheels and 6 gears, you'll be in for an easy ride. One slight drawback is that it is a little on the heavy side for carrying around. Well worth the price, but you may want to consider the other Btwin models depending on your budget.
The Carrera Transit has a great sense of style and is available at an affordable price point. This model has 3 gears and at 14kg, you will have no problem on even the hilliest commutes. Aluminium V-brakes for controlled stopping will also offer added confidence.
The Transit also comes with mudguards, a kickstand, and a luggage rack, as well as a comfortable and supportive memory foam saddle for added comfort making this the ultimate commuter bike. One downside - this may not be the fastest option on our list. So if you want something speedy, this might not be for you.
While aesthetics may not matter a huge amount to some people, we think that this is one of the nicer looking folding bikes on the market. It's also well built with a lightweight aluminium frame and comfortable to ride in bumpier conditions.
At 12 kg, however, the recommended load capacity is only up to 90 kg. Although being so lightweight, you probably won't have difficulties lugging this up and down the stairs of an office building. Folding the bike is also a breeze.
This offering from Xiaomi makes a great choice if you're looking for a little electrical assistance on a daily commute, or for something to take with you in a car for a nice countryside retreat or European excursion.
It is worth noting that while it has the smaller 16-inch wheels, the folded size is still actually rather bulky as the frame itself doesn't fold at any point. This can make maneuvering it on a busy train or crowded streets difficult and may not be the easiest folding bike to store in smaller spaces.
No. 1: Brompton|M3L Folding Bike
No. 2: OXYLANE|Tilt 100 Folding Bike
No. 3: Btwin|Tilt 500 Electric Assisted Folding Bike
No. 4: ANCHEER|26 inch Electric Commuter Bicycle with 250W Motor
No. 5: Carrera |Crosscity Folding Electric Bike
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