A folding bike could be the most handy mode of transportation on two wheels.
It could get you from level A to level B simply as readily as a full-size bike, however you’ll be able to stash it in a automotive trunk, tuck it underneath a desk, or retailer it in a closet, on a ship, or inside an RV or van.
To suss out which folding bike does all of it greatest for many commuter riders and utilitarian customers, we pedaled and shifted, folded and unfolded, and carried and maneuvered 13 well-liked fashions from 9 producers.
After our 85-plus hours of analysis and testing, the well-designed Dahon Mariner D8 edged to the entrance of the pack, combining a snug experience and simple folding with good-enough elements, all for an affordable value.
Our choose
This eight-speed bike hits the excessive notes for a commuter folder: a easy experience, an easy-to-use folding mechanism, and a rear rack and fenders.
The eight-speed Dahon Mariner D8 affords the options and efficiency most commuter cyclists might want in a folding mannequin, all in a sensible, reasonably priced bundle. First, the Mariner D8 is snug to experience, going easily over bumps and shifting fluidly up and down hills. Second, it folds and unfolds rapidly, and it latches securely into each modes.
Its design additionally addresses sensible issues: The Mariner D8 has fenders to thwart rainy-road splashes onto clothes, a rear rack to hold stuff, and the choice for a frame-mounted entrance bag.
Lastly, though its value has gone up since we first examined it, this bike stays a good worth. As with full-size bikes, with folding fashions you typically get what you pay for. Priced at round $950, the Mariner D8 is a good-quality folding bike with the options you want.
Runner-up
Tall riders might particularly just like the Hyperlink D8’s adjustable handlebars—and everybody can respect its higher-end elements, such because the puncture-resistant tires. Not all of our testers preferred the best way the bike folds, although.
The eight-speed Tern Hyperlink D8 offers a couple of upgrades over the Mariner D8 that will go well with taller riders. And now that the Mariner D8 and the Hyperlink D8 are the identical value, you now not must pay extra for the latter’s higher-end elements.
Our take a look at riders raved concerning the proprietary handlebar stem, which permits each peak and angle adjustment through two easy quick-release levers. One bike professional praised the design of the entrance brake, which is mounted near the body to scale back snagging, in addition to the “top-shelf” puncture-resistant tires.
Nonetheless, our testers’ opinions had been blended concerning the best way the Hyperlink D8 folds, which positions the handlebars exterior the folded bundle; some testers discovered this setup simple to handle, however others most popular the tighter bundle of the Dahon mannequin. The Hyperlink D8 additionally comes with the same rear rack and entrance bag-mounting choice because the Mariner D8.
Improve choose
If folding measurement trumps all, the notably compact Brompton leaves the competitors within the mud—as does its value.
For some consumers, the number-one criterion is how small a folding bike can get. The Brompton C Line Discover elegantly transforms right into a bundle that shaves 3 inches off the peak, 2 inches off the width, and eight inches off the size of the folded Mariner D8 (and much more off the scale of the Tern D8), making for a neater carry.
Even so, a Brompton manages an “I’m virtually using a full-size bike” expertise on the highway. The six-speed Discover offers the widest gear vary—that’s, provides you the perfect choices for each hilly and flat routes—of the three C Line households. (The Utility affords three gears and the City simply two.)
Nonetheless, you’ll pay a premium for the small measurement and nice experience: the Discover prices almost twice as a lot as our different two picks.
