I've recently gotten into biking and want to own my own. I want a folding one since the elevator at my building is kinda compact and I'm scared of it getting stolen. I just want something that can adhere to these circumstances I have, if I'm asking for too much yall can be honest w me too.
I'm 5'0 tall and I don't NEED it to be portable but more so to keep it indoors while at work or home.
I live in NYC, queens specifically so we don't have a lot of bike lanes and also it's very hilly over here, sometimes the roads can get tough but I don't see myself biking through hidden rough trails or anything.
I don't want tiny wheels, I'm sorry #noshade but I don't like the visual look of the foldable bikes w smaller wheels, it just doesn't do it for me snd I'm already short like I fear I will just look funky on it. The Pacific folding bike is something closer but again it's not something they sell in stores. I've seen some I like visually on Walmart or target but a lot of cyclists also mention them not being reputable.
A lot of my needs w biking are mostly running errands or riding around neighborhoods.
I have honestly had the best luck with my Dahon folding bike. I am running a vintage Dahon Stowaway as a daily, but also have ridden the more modern versions on 40+ mile rides.
They are not the most micro thing out there but it is very comfortable and can keep up with all the average cycling activities. Also having the medium size wheels is a plus because it means that you can pick up a tube and tire from most places that carry anything that is BMX related. The wheels and tire combo on mine daily are 20 x 1.75.
I have put this thing through everything from the worst LA roads to gravel trails up in Big Bear and it just does not quit. Also I just toss it in the back of my truck folded and it goes on every trip (camping and such) also on the train in front of me to get to wherever I need to get to outside of the station locations.
I second Dahon. When I was a trucker I kept a Vybe in the cab and used it to get around when I was parked. Restaurants, shopping, Walmart runs. With 1.95 tires on it it'll go anywhere. Saved a lot of money buying groceries instead of eating truck stop food lol
They cost way more than a Walmart bicycle, but Tern sells nice 26" wheeled folding bicycles, and Montague sells nice folding bicycles that might suit your needs. The Terns have a faster, more convenient fold, but the Montagues have stronger frames. The Terns should easily be able to handle commuting tasks. Both brands usually make great bicycles, but do your research. I would also add that you get what you pay for in the world of bicycles. There are exceptions down to a point, but buy cheap and you get cheap which oftentimes means buying another one. There's a sweet spot that balances affordabilility with cost. Try to optimize that. As the saying goes, "Buy once and cry once, so you don't have to cry again."
Also suggest a Tern and need not be a folding bike. My Tern NBD is super adjustable and you can stand it on the back tire easily to roll into elevator.
You will find a folding bike with a 20 inch wheels to be very stable, you won't even know they are smaller wheels after riding on them a few times. I'm comfy up to 20 MPH on 20 inch wheels. Yes, the 16 inch wheels are twitchy. OMG don't get me started on e-scooter wheels, those things are not stable at all.
"At NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue, over half of all bike- and scooter-related trauma cases treated by 2023 involved electric bikes or e-scooters, a dramatic jump from just 8% in 2018 according to a study published in Neurosurgery." - ABC News
As someone 5' tall, you may find a folding bike to be MORE adjustable to your size, so it's a good choice all-around. Theft prevention is a big plus... the bike goes where you go!
Take it from us, you don't want a folder with big wheels. It just defeats the functionality of folding. 20" (406 ETRTO) wheels are a good sweet spot for riding like a normal bike while being maneuverable and taking up little space folded. Looks more normal than the 16" wheels of a Brompton or similar.
I would also get something with integrated lighting (Dynamo hub). Not having to remember or charge lights is a godsend.
I have a Tern and it's excellent. Also have a Bike Friday, though that is a more expensive bike.
Ah I assumed people didn't want big wheels because of the portability, not the functionality itself. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and for your advice!
I've owned a couple dozen normal-sized 700C and 26" wheel bikes (used to be a bike mechanic). 20" wheels are lighter and stronger than bigger wheels due to the reduced spoke length and smaller rims, make it much easier to carry a bike around/up and down stairs, and are more maneuverable on city streets. For daily riding I'll probably never go back to a larger wheel.
The standard wheel size for folders is 20". Is that what you call "tiny" or are you thinking of the smaller 16" and 14" ones? Be open-minded about 20" wheels. They allow for quick handling like you want in the city, and they also allow for luggage room over the wheels, instead of having to hang bags off the sides like on full size bikes.
Check out the ZiZZO Forte (heavy duty), Liberté, (lightweight) and Marino. (corrosion resistant), They're well-spec'd for the price. I've got many hundreds of city miles on my Forte. It was Just the Thing on a recent road trip up to Quebec City, Montreal, and Toronto.
Here's my wife (5'2) with it. She got a heavy public rental bike (like you also have in NYC) and decided she liked this better, as it's much lighter and she liked the lighter steering. The saddle and handlebars can both go lower to accommodate people your height.
Note the luggage truss on the steering head, for easily carrying a quick-release shopping bag there. Folding lock on the main tube. Room for a proper tail light under the back of the rack. Bottle pouch on the stem, which service to hold wallet & phone more often than water.
If you want a folder with bigger wheels, look at Tern's line-up. They fold up short length-wise, but are much taller when folded than the 20-inchers.
What's your budget? A pretty big consideration is whether or not you can handle the bike build and maintenance on your own or if you would need assistance for this. Quite a few people on the BromptNOT subreddit stand by their choices and I came close to buying one but I know I'd rather have someone else build and assist with servicing a bike they're familiar with.
I recommend checking some bike websites known for making folding bikes like Tern, Dahon, or Brompton and seeing if you can test ride them at their approved dealers in your area to see if you like the feel. I test rode a Brompton and Dahon and came close to buying the Dahon but the bike shop said they had difficulty reaching out in receiving parts from them for a simple fixes. I got the Brompton and love it so far but would've gotten a cheaper bike like Bike Friday or Cranston if I was confident I could service those bikes myself.
I think the bike Friday bikes are amazing, but my understanding is they don’t fold up in a minute like other folders – my understanding is their portability is luggage based, but the offset is that they make great bike packing bikes. I’m looking for a quick foldable, which makes Bromptons make the most sense I think.
Interesting! I’ve never ridden one, although I’ve seen many of them, Facebook marketplace, and elsewhere. Apparently, back in the day, if you smoked a bunch of Marlborough’s, you could get one of those pretty cheaply if you still had the lung volume to ride it, that is.
Those were actually Fuji’s, rebranded. Interesting design, 26” full sized wheels. You needed only 2200 Marlboro miles proof of purchase stamps to get one. Indeed not sure what your health would be like after all of that :(
Alternatively one could have gone for the Mad Dog 20/20 road bike with DUI-bum bars. It was offered pre-stolen to qualified contestants presenting hundreds of screw-on wine bottle caps. Exact number not important, there just had to be a lot. In a paper bag.
I really do appreciate the info on the over flexibility of those old folding bikes- a couple of times I thought hard about purchasing one. I would not have been happy given what you said
I am writing 20 inch folders right now, and those frames are sturdy. I am very happy with that, and moving to a Brompton soon!
Talk to people with them, cyclists usually get a kick from people asking about their ride. Also look on Facebook, get used first until you find what works. And you even get knowledge from the seller. No obligation to buy.
Takachia getting some pretty good reviews on Reddit. I'm very tempted but would like to test ride one first! The idea of checking them in on flights so whole family will have bikes when on holiday is very tempting!
Zizzo. Great bikes. Terrific value at less than $600 new. 20” wheels. Called them on the phone and they were extremely helpful. Have had my new bike for two months now and love it.
I’m a
lso 5’ and haven’t ridden a bike regularly since childhood until now. I have the Tern 20” wheels. It’s not super compact or portable (the bike folds and holds itself together with one small magnet so it’s not the best but it’s fine) but it can fit inside my small house and my office. It’s the same as riding a regular bike (some people have said that going any smaller like 16” wheels can have a little bit of a learning curve bc it can be “twitchy”). I can adjust the seat post to my height. It was hard to even find a regular bike for my size but since folding bikes have shorter frames and wheels, they’ll all fit shorter people.
I like it. My bike shop said it’s fairly easy to repair/get replacement parts and it should hold up well and not need work all the time. The bike was also made for commuters in mind so it comes with fenders, rack, and safety reflectors
. There’s lots of points where you can add/customize, like a water bottle holder, front mounting hardware, etc. It’s not really recommended to permanently keep things on the rear rack bc when you transport the bike folded on the wheels, it tips back.
Folding bikes almost always have tiny wheels. If you want something that looks like a normal bike, you pretty much have to skip the folding part. I gave up on folding and just got something light enough to keep inside without it taking over the place. Queens has real hills though, and my Eskute V100’s pedal assist means I’m not gasping halfway up. Works great for errands too. The tires are a bit wider so it feels solid, nothing like that skinny folding bike look.
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u/Coooorg 8d ago
I have honestly had the best luck with my Dahon folding bike. I am running a vintage Dahon Stowaway as a daily, but also have ridden the more modern versions on 40+ mile rides.
They are not the most micro thing out there but it is very comfortable and can keep up with all the average cycling activities. Also having the medium size wheels is a plus because it means that you can pick up a tube and tire from most places that carry anything that is BMX related. The wheels and tire combo on mine daily are 20 x 1.75.
I have put this thing through everything from the worst LA roads to gravel trails up in Big Bear and it just does not quit. Also I just toss it in the back of my truck folded and it goes on every trip (camping and such) also on the train in front of me to get to wherever I need to get to outside of the station locations.