Best adult folding bikes according to redditors

I just got back from a month-long camping trip from San Francisco to Alaska. In addition to 150 pounds of camping gear, I carried two folding bikes in a Cessna 172. I removed the rear seats to allow for more cargo space.

I own a Schwinn 20-inch bike and a Dahon Vitesse bike. The Dahon fits nicely in the baggage compartment, though I had to remove its luggage rack to get it through the baggage door. The Schwinn takes some maneuvering, but I was able to load it through the front doors.

It was a little unpleasant to unpack and repack the airplane -- it took about an hour each time, given how much gear I had. But oh man, the folding bikes were invaluable.

If your on-the-ground distances are smaller, and the roads are paved well, I would consider carrying a Razor scooter instead of a folding bike. It doesn't travel as fast, and there's no shock absorbers so your wrists will get tired, but it's about the easiest and most portable ground transportation I own.

Came here to say bike..got beat to it..but I can say Folding Bike.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Columba-Folding-Shimano-Silver-SP26S_SLV/dp/B0015QPOP4/ref=sxin_3_af-pna-1_86ddb8c8f38f993124486d43276cfe946ea9bfd1?keywords=folding+bike&pd_rd_i=B0015QPOP4&pd_rd_r=866aa33d-ea7b-4fbd-a971-94f18e253132&pd_rd_w=jRleh&pd_rd_wg=4Zyyu&pf_rd_p=3892bc23-5fa8-4a18-8855-22c23bd2e202&pf_rd_r=AE7ZNQ2BWJ5XWTFZQQ65&qid=1572881050

It shouldn't be hard to find a sub $400 bike to commute that distance on. My preference is for steel-frame bikes because they give a great comfy ride. There are many styles of bike that will serve your purpose.

In fact I did the same distance commute on a low-end mountain bike and had a great time even though it was hardly the ideal bike for commuting. When I bought that bike, my budget was also $400. Looking back, I wish I'd spent more and gotten a better bike because the commute made me fall in love with bikes again and I went out and spent twice that a little later. My commute was on a bike trail and there were few stops and starts. I'm guessing you'll have a lot of stop and start. You might need something geared lower than a road bike for that.

In traffic, I prefer a flatbar because my hand is right there by the brakes if needed and I like the greater stabiility. But I'm sure there are plenty of drop bar riders who have no trouble in the meanest traffic.

What kind of bike did you ride as a kid? You may be more comfortable on a style that you're familiar with, all other things being equal. What accessories/gear/clothing will you need (rack, water bottle cages, repair kit, visibility, etc.)? Do you plan on maintaining the bike or taking it to a shop? do you like to ride as fast as you can or do you prefer a more leisurely pace?

Just to get you started, here are some different bikes that might fit your needs. (I was impressed with the number of good bikes on craigslist in your area):

City Bikes

https://www.retrospecbicycles.com/products/kinney-flat?variant=9374985797

https://cnj.craigslist.org/bik/d/60cm-giant-rincon/6306319698.html

https://www.linusbike.com/products/rambler-7

http://breezerbikes.com/bikes/details/liberty-r-1-3-plus (way over $400)


Single Speed

https://www.brooklynbicycleco.com/collections/commuter-bikes/products/bedford-single (My fav bike to ride in city traffic is my single speed).

https://www.raleighusa.com/rush-hour-4973


Road Bikes

https://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/bik/d/new-like-miyata-classic-road/6306866055.html The narrow tires don't provide the stability offered by other bikes in this list.

https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/d/specialized-sequoia-touring/6287946883.html

MTB/Flatbar

http://civiacycles.com/bikes/venue

https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/d/giant-escape-3-bicycle/6302209792.html

https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/d/specialized-sirrus-road-bike/6291789047.html


Folding

https://www.amazon.com/Dahon-Vybe-Folding-Obsidian-Fenders/dp/B00DYX1XOW. These are popular with people who have small apartments or have to carry the bike up a lot of stairs.

------


(the list got out of hand, sorry. you would need to make sure any used bike is in sound working condition and fits you and it doesn't hurt to look at a few reviews on any bike you consider.)

There are a lot of folding bikes under $800. You can even get electric ones for $800 and possibly less https://ridegenesis.com/collections/electric-bicycles/products/commuter-electric-bicycle-white?gclid=CjwKCAjwuvjNBRBPEiwApYq0zhHID1U_tRwm9SpqQUPCKSKAu3ViV0J5cfy4Rv_v4tF5pB79UXdPVxoCW_UQAvD_BwE

Most of Dahon's line up is under $800 as well
https://www.amazon.com/Dahon-Vybe-Folding-Obsidian-Fenders/dp/B00DYX1XOW/

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=lp_2588037011_nr_scat_3405101_ln?srs=2588037011&rh=n%3A3405101&ie=UTF8&qid=1505636199&scn=3405101&h=c5286098a6ef1d1202c9379646b71b1f55c0d813

Do not buy that bike, about the biggest POS I've ever seen.

It's this bike but with a different brand label and colour scheme.

Don't be fooled by the supposed 800 MSRP, the bike is similar quality to $100 Walmart bikes but tarted up to the max to appear more expensive to people that know nothing about bikes. There's a solid chance with bikes like this it is either badly assembled or has defective parts out of the box.

It's so bad I'd feel guilty flipping it to someone - I'd even feel guilty giving away for free because it would probably end up putting whoever got iot off cycling for life.

Only an idiot would buy this bike to ride, so if you're a flipper you'll be dealing with idiots if trying to sell it for sure

If you're going to pay for Citi Bike, why not buy a single speed folding bike? This one is about the same price as Citibike for a year.

http://a.co/j8VVScP

There are also folding bikes w/26 inch wheels.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015QPOP4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_1AkGzbBQYXHBK

Depends what is expensive and also how professional you want in a bike. If you just want to ride around just to get some exercise then amazon has folding bikes for $200+


EuroMini Via 20" Folding Bike-Lightweight Aluminum Frame Genuine Shimano 7-Speed 26lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRMNTZ9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3lDxDbGZ1TB1X


Max4out Mountain Bike Folding Bike, 21 Speed Shining SYS Double Disc Brake Suspension Fork Rear Suspension Anti-Slip (Black, 26 in) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QGB7M8B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zmDxDbSQRJNFF

I don’t know what exactly your looking for.

I'm not surprised - It's a copy of the Graziella from the 60s. Tons of manufacturers copied that design, and still do! Here's a Chinese Schwinn for sale now.

That's a good idea, it's an uncomfortable little folding bicycle. My full size one would have took up way too much space. The only interesting thing is it's a ford.

Going with that bike makes the install more complicated, as the brakes are shit. You can go folding if you really want but I'd suggest something with at least linear pull brake bosses such as this. Another issue with the Judd is it has no bottle mounts for a battery. There's ways around all this of course, like bottle bobs (or riveting your own bosses) and you could put on center mounted caliper brakes but they generally suck (road brake dual pivot ones aren't too bad but I doubt you'd have the clearance for them). Or you could install one of those disc brake fork adapters, or put a new fork on, but all this stuff is a lot of work you could save by not choosing that particular bike.

For 3 miles anything will work.

https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-20-Inch-Loop-Folding-Bike/dp/B01JNPQ1UU

I have this bike and absolutely love it. I live far from the train so I usually bike to the train, and it's so much better than taking the bus. Regardless or what bike you get, I'd also suggest you buy some bungee cord so that you can keep the bike securely closed when you're on the train or wherever

Checking for used bicycles on CL so that I can go outside more often. Have my butt set for a folding bike, for easy storage and to take on the train.

Found a few used ones for $130. Turns out that Wal-Mart sells new ones for the same price. (shakes fist) WALMART!!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HLWV3ZT/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_0g0yCbRBH26P6

Do you think this could attach a rack?

What do you think about this one? u/llort_tsoper https://www.amazon.com/EuroMini-Lightweight-Aluminum-Shimano-7-Speed/dp/B07RRF95QW/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Folding%2BBike&qid=1569460471&refinements=p_89%3ADahon%7CEuroMini%7CSchwinn%2Cp_72%3A2661618011&rnid=2661617011&sr=8-2&th=1

​

Compared to the Dohan D7

http://www.amazon.com/Altruism-X9-Bicycles-Aluminum-Mountain/dp/B019UQVQES?ie=UTF8&keywords=road%20bike&psc=1&qid=1465303564&ref_=sr_1_2&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rps=1&s=outdoor-recreation&sr=1-2-spons

Any thoughts on this bike? Looks great for city and train use...

What do you think of this bike then? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0185SXQCM/ref=twister_B0185SXQ7W?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The cranks are only 6.5mm shorter(negligible I think?) in length as the bbso2 kit which solves that problem.

Also it's not that v-brakes are bad or useless, its that in the wet going quickly I've had better performance w/ good disc-brakes which I intend to upgrade. Also I find them to be quite a but cheaper since at 30mph on the regular will cause a need for constant rubber-replacement on v-brake-pads.

I already wear a full-face MTB helmet while commuting, I think body-armor is overdoing it in my case since I ride in conditions where it wouldn't often come to use. Like paved trails with grass on both sides. I don't actually ride in the city that often and will stick to mostly wide streets w/ bike lanes. I have my motorcycle endorsement and understand safe riding styles for 2-wheeled stuff at higher speeds and basically will treat the thing like a more delicate scooter.

The weight won't be 50#'s. The battery removes in 5 secs and will be in my bag which makes it 40#'s which makes it like carrying this. Which isn't at all bad if carrying it 30 feet to a seat on the bus, or 3 feet off the ground into the back of a car. It also rolls on flat ground wile folded like a suitcase which means it won't be at all difficult to take it into an office and lock it under a desk.

The bike you linked isn't folding, no rack, no fenders...

I do appreciate your advice and welcome more.

It's on the heavy side. But it's steel after all, so it will last a lifetime if you take good care of it. When we refer to heavy or light folding bikes its not a matter of performance, you literally carry the bike around a lot. If you're a small or not particularly strong person this can be an issue.

I've never tried a citizen (you can't get them in México lol) but I haven't read anything bad from them either. It folds just like my dahon, so you should be able to pull the seat post up and push it like a cart.

I got this one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01067DUO4/ref=twister_B010EXY8E6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 folders down here are quite expensive, but i found this one with a very good price at costco and got it. I love every bit of it.

I suggest you look for Dahon or Tern bikes (tern is a little pricier but usually better components) or if you got a big budget, a brompton.

If I get this or any bike for my SO I'm betting we're going to max out at 12-14 mph. It would be for casual, not fitness - what's the speed you get with a casual cadence? The Amazon post seemed to indicate that the warranty is valid if it was assembled at a certified bike shop, so I sort of assumed that they would make the brake and shifter adjustments if needed, but I feel comfortable doing those myself if required. Do you think that's a waste and it would be better to assemble it at home? Or maybe it comes assembled?

I guess the biggest question is do you think it can handle someone much shorter (5'2")? If so, then I might consider getting one myself for Pokémon GO (it would definitely be more convenient than anything I do now with my road bike, haha).

Lastly - is your username a Rurouni Kenshin reference?

EDIT: It looks like they have another folding bike that is a lower price as well.

These Brompton bikes are very expensive.
What about Schwinn folding bike?

Are Schwinn bikes good?

Something like this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJDRZEA/

don't forget the helmet

Yes it sucks that someone stole yours but that's life in the big city in a blue state, get used to it. Assuming you get paid in dollars at this job of yours, you can get a folding bike for less than $200 on Amazon:

• https://www.amazon.com/Vilano-Urbana-Single-Speed-Folding/dp/B010RH7576/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535967494&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=vilano+folding+bike&psc=1
  
  
• Fold it up and take it into work with you, problem solved

There are a bunch of good ones on Amazon these days.
They are no longer expensive.

schwinn $227
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y2PRTI?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

Kent $100+
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IDTKD6?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

dohan tech $250
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UL5MQU?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

super mini backpack bicycle $135 (tiny wheels but full size bike!)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L4S4WK?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20


bunches more

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D20%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%26y%3D16%26field-keywords%3Dfolding%2520bicycle%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=reddit0e-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

No way. Not anymore.
I got a super mini with 6" wheels

like this actually

super mini backpack bicycle $135 (tiny wheels but full size bike!) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L4S4WK?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

and now almost never pull my car out to go down the street to the grocery store.

I also find I take it out instead of my full size Cannondale simply becuase the super mini is so easy to carry down the stairs and it's fun to ride.

I can zip around the neighborhood and have a blast and get a much exercise as I used to get going 50 miles on my Cannondale without the high speed danger or higher traffic intersection speeds.

Truth is I went long distances on my Cannondale becuase I had to to get the exercise. now I don't have to go as far and can do some tricks and more easily use my super mini as a local commuter too. ( I carry it right into the grocery store so no lock up and no risk of theft.)

Honestly I think the next bike I get will be another folding bike for longer distance rides to replace the cannondale just becuase it is so easy to put in the car. I ride much more with the ease of not having to use a bike rack.
The technology has gotten great.

Non-fold is old.
Fold is now gold.