An In-depth guide
BEST ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKES
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In today’s increasingly eco-conscious times a bike is the perfect green way to get around. It’s extremely cost effective too, with no need to worry about road tax, insurance or the sky-rocketing price of fuel. For those who live and work in urban environments, the ability to take to the road on their own bikes is infinitely preferable to stewing in nose-to-tail urban rush hour traffic or sharing a packed bus or train with scores of equally frustrated commuters, clinging to their crafted lattes in the cold.
Still, a bicycle can present its own problems, too. It can place restrictions on your speed, and all that pedalling can make you work up a sweat that you’ll have to sit in throughout your working day if you don’t have the luxury of shower facilities at work. What’s more, if you’re living in a city centre apartment where space comes at a premium, you may find that a conventional bike impinges on your living space, especially if there’s nowhere in your building to stow it securely.
The great news is that an electric folding bike can help you to neatly circumvent these issues. These clever bikes provide an electrical assist to your own pedalling to help you to reach faster speeds without needing to work up a sweat. And they fold neatly to make for easy storage at home, on the bus or on the train.
Take a look below at our carefully curated selection of the best Electric Folding Bikes on the market…
OUR REVIEWS
1 - RICHBIT RT-016 FOLDING ELECTRIC BIKE
The Rich Bit RT-016 Electric Folding Bike. This is a great choice if you are looking for something that offers the performance of an off-road mountain bike combined with the portability of a folding city bike. You get the best of both worlds.
This e-bike features a maximum distance of 40 to 50 miles when you are using level one assist. It is also powered with a high-quality 48V*8AH removable lithium battery. The maximum speed for this bike is 23 mph.
The bike is suitable for all-terrain, which is one of the main benefits associated with it. You can easily commute to and from work and then go on a mountain biking adventure in the evening. This is achievable thanks to the robust 500W rear hub brush-less motor. The bike also comes with in-built, sturdy front and rear material mudguards.
Safety is a big feature of this bike. It comes with a safer brake system, which will cut-off the electric when you brake. There is also a completely updated light system with this bike, with an added direction indictor lights and also a new light system on the rear. The front handlebar and two rear-view mirrors also add heaps of safety to this model.
2 - RICHBIT RT860 FOLDING ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKE
The very impressive Rich Bit RT860 Folding Electric Mountain Bike. This bike has been designed with mountain bike enthusiasts in mind. If you are looking for a rural roadster or a versatile yet fun mountain bike, this is a good choice. It has a luxurious look to it, with a mid-range watt power between 251 and 350 watts.
There are a number of reasons why this bike is held in such high regard. It boasts an outstanding range, enabling you to traverse trails between 18 and 37 miles long without needing to recharge the bike. The top speed of this bike is 31 miles per hour.
When you receive the bike, it is going to be around 90 per cent assembled, meaning a little bit of work is needed before you hit the road. There are three different cycling modes for you to enjoy. This includes the full power-down mode, which is just like a bicycle, i.e. you are going to need to pedal forward to get the bike to move! There is then the pedal assistance mode, which will save you around 70 per cent of your effort. Finally, there is the full-electric mode. Just use the right handlebar for the throttle and you’re good to go.
3 - RICHBIT ZDC RT-730 FOLDING ELECTRIC BIKE
The Rich Bit ZDC RT-730 Electric Folding Bike, which has been designed especially for the city. This bike is ideal for long commutes. It is easy and swift to handle, and it is also very light in weight, as it is made from aluminium. The bike can be folded, which means you are not going to need to leave it locked on a bicycle rack. Instead, you can easily fold the bike and carry it into your office or building, enabling you to place it securely under your desk.
Powerful 48V*8AH lithium-ion batteries are used to power this bike. They have been built into the frame of the bike, which makes them pretty much invisible. You can travel for up to 50 km at a time with these batteries. They can last for seven hours when they are fully charged. The bike offers a comfortable ride thanks to the rare and front suspension.
This bike can travel at a speed of 25km per hour. It has a seven-speed feature, which means you can use the speed shift lever on the bike to choose the most comfortable speed for you. There are also rear and front disk brakes, which have a shift or power off system, which enables you to use them either motorised or manually.
There are other elements of the bike that make it comfortable to ride, including the ergonomically designed grip, as well as the waterproof seat. The seat is held by a high-impact aluminium 33.9 mm seat post. The seat itself is very comfortable and perfectly suited for commutes of a long distance. Safety is also enhanced with the LED light, which makes it easy for riders to see their way while in dark areas such as tunnels or while simply riding through the night.
4 - CYCLAMATIC CX2 FOLDING ELECTRIC BIKE
FEATURES INCLUDE:
Cyclamatic’s CX2 Folding Electric Bike offers an alternative to other electric bikes on the market, providing riders with a simple, quick means of getting around that can be folded up and stored away in a matter of seconds. For those on the go who don’t want to worry about clambering onto a packed train and trying to find space for a bike, or homeowners who are fed up of trying to manoeuvre around a bike that takes up the entire corridor, this could be an excellent investment.
The folding design of the CX2 is a major selling point. The fact that you can bundle up your bike into a much smaller package is ideal not only for portability reasons, but also for storage. Many people who cycle to work or enjoy getting about on two wheels rather than four find it difficult to carry a bike around and find sufficient space to keep it safe and dry. With the CX2, you can transport your bike on buses, trains and tubes once you’ve finished riding or simply carry it with you when you’re walking without breaking your back. In addition, you don’t need a vast amount of space for storage purposes. This makes the CX2 perfect for campers and those who like to embark on cycling breaks.
The lightweight frame, which is made from steel, makes getting around a breeze, regardless of whether you’re riding or carrying your bike, and you can benefit from a 250-watt motor. This model can achieve speeds up to 15mph, and it has a lithium 36V 8.8AH battery, which charges in just 4-6 hours. Like the CX1, the CX2 also has a conventional pedalling mode, as well as assisted pedalling.
PROS
HOW ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKES WORK
Electric folding bikes are powered by an on-board motor which in turn is powered by a battery. This is usually a lithium ion battery and can be easily removed for quick and easy charging. How far and how fast you can get on a single charge will depend on the bike, but you can usually expect to reach speeds in excess of 20 mph and cover distances over 40 miles in a single charge.
There’s usually a control unit to help you to better deal with changes in terrain or situations where you want to ride without assistance or walk the bike.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKE
In our selection of Electric Folding Bikes we’ve tried to include a range that’s suitable for all tastes and needs. Nonetheless, it’s worth taking some time to think about what makes the perfect bike for you.
When making that decision you should factor in;
Folding - Depending on your storage needs, you’ll likely need to consider the bike’s folded dimensions as well as where and how it folds. Most bikes fold at the at the handlebar and the mainframe while some also have folding pedals.
Weight - You’ll likely be carrying your bike up stairs, over platforms and virtually everywhere you go. So make sure that it’s light enough for you to carry around with you comfortably.
Battery range and power - Make sure that it’s well suited to your daily commute. There’s no point in buying a bike with a 30 mile range if your commute to work and back is over 40 miles.
Wheel size - Most Electric Folding Bikes have wheels around 20” although some have smaller wheels for greater portability. Just be wary that these smaller wheels may give you trouble picking up speed on and off road.
Brakes - Does the bike have traditional V brakes or disc brakes? The latter will cost you more but provides much better stopping power and are easier to maintain.
Gearing - Even though the bike is electric, you’ll still need to consider the gearing implications of your intended use, especially if you’ll be doing a lot of uphill riding.
WHY BUY AN ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKE?
While the choice of Electric Folding Bike shouldn’t be made lightly, it’s important to keep in mind the myriad benefits that come from buying a bike like this. These include;
Easier commutes - No more arriving at your desk red faced, panting and hoping that the can of deodourant in your desk drawer hasn’t run out. An Electric Folding Bike gives you support when you need it for an easier commute.
Lower theft risk - Because you can carry an Electric Folding Bike around with you, you’ll never need to worry about leaving it anywhere it will be vulnerable to theft.
It can go wherever you go - It can slide easily into a car boot or sit beside you on the bus or train for maximum portability.
SUMMARY
An Electric Folding Bike can be a great investment that brightens up your daily commute or the weekend cycling trip you take to liven up your days off. And because we’ve provided these comprehensive breakdowns of some of the best bikes on the market, you know that you have all the information you need to make an informed choice about which is the best fit for your needs.
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