Talk to me about folding bikes

[45K10]

My wife is going to have to take the commuter rail into Boston three days a week next year (beginning in the Fall). Therefore, she is thinking about getting a folding bike so she can take it with her on the train during peak hours.

The ride from our house to the train station is ~ 5 miles. She will then need to ride it from the station downtown to the university where she works which is ~ 3 miles.

What are some the down-sides of folding bikes?
Are there any specific brands beside Brompton we should look at?
Any specific brands we should avoid?
Anyone have experience commuting on a folding e-bike? She isn't sure if she wants an e-bike but just curious what other people have experienced.

Thanks!

[Jdm]

Does she want to bike commute in the rain and snow?

Can she comfortably carry a folding e-bike? They’re awfully heavy.

I wasn’t sure about Bromptons until my trip to London where I saw a ton of them being used by commuters. Also, when I did a 50 mile Grand Fondo in Monterey, I biked next to a guy who brought his from China. He said he loved it.

[professerr]

You should also consider Bike Friday. No personal experience, but my understanding from pal with one is they ride more like normal bikes.

[weaponsgrade]

A Brompton has a more compact fold than a Bike Friday. A Bike Friday rides closer to a regular bike. I commuted for a bit on a Brompton. Sometimes I needed to take the Brompton on a crowded train. No way I could’ve taken a Bike Friday. I used an IKEA zippered bag to carry the Brompton. It gets heavy though if you’ve got to carry it for any appreciable distance.

[Louis]

Regarding the whole weight question, in addition to the bike, how much other stuff will she need to carry? For example, will she have to take a large-ish laptop? All that stuff will add up on the train, if she needs to carry it any significant distance or up stairs.

[NHAero]

I think Bike Friday doesn't make it anymore, but their folder was the Tikit, and there is usually one or more on eBay. Their other models were travel bikes, in that they fit in a standard suitcase, but they were definitely not quick fold.

Here's the Tikit quick fold in a very short video. I believe the bike's designer was Rob English.

Bike Friday's current folder is the Pakit. I know little about that one.

[hokoman]

If you can swing the ti brompton, your wife will thank you. It is 5 lbs lighter than the p version that is steel and ti and considerably lighter than a full steel brompton) My son (was 8 at the time) could carry his in an Ikea Dimpa storage bag around school.

[Ken Robb]

bike friday has a strong trade-in program where they go through and re-sell bikes that have been traded in with a warranty similar to their new bikes. They will also work with buyers of these trade-ins to achieve a good fit by swapping parts if necessary. They are good folks.

[AngryScientist]

Depends on the terrain of course, but when I train commuted, I had an inexpensive folding single speed. I liked it a lot and it was a lot of fun to ride with the right gear ratio. I think the SS made it a lot simpler and lighter. The less complex the better with a commuter bike you're lugging around.

[jpsawyer23]

I have lots of experience with bromptons. They are great. If you go that route, I recommend getting the EZwheels. They make it .much easier to roll it around, like a suitcase, so you don't have to carry it as much. The bags they make for them are also very nice and well thought out. The racks are more for stability when folded I've found, than a very good rack for carrying so I recommend staying away from them unless you need that extra stability while travelling or for storage. Overall, bromptons are very well engineered and reliable. They are great city bikes and are very nimble feeling going through traffic but can be tedious on longer rides. The all ti ones are very cool, but also pricey and not as available. Id personally go with a C-line instead of the cheaper A-line as the parts are more robust and nicer feeling. Also, for Boston area, the 2 speed is great, and is significantly lighter than the 3 or 6 speed as it doesn't have an internal geared hub. But If I was going on a tour or doing more biking for fun, id go with a Bike Friday as they ride more like a normal bike, but they don't fold down as small and not as easily.

[professerr]

Originally Posted by NHAero

I think Bike Friday doesn't make it anymore, but their folder was the Tikit, and there is usually one or more on eBay. Their other models were travel bikes, in that they fit in a standard suitcase, but they were definitely not quick fold.

Here's the Tikit quick fold in a very short video. I believe the bike's designer was Rob English.

Bike Friday's current folder is the Pakit. I know little about that one.

Speaking of Rob English, his website suggests he still is up for making folders of all sorts, and he seems capable of electric too. That’d be sweet — a commuter folder made by freakin’ Rob English. Ha, like having Mies Van der Rohe build your toolshed.

His folders: https://www.englishcycles.com/cat/cu...s/travelbikes/

[lafish]

We owned a Bike Friday New World Traveler (or something like that) for a number of years. Took it to France and had a great time, took it to Kauai, ditto, and I rode it as a normal bike around Marin County for many miles. As a travel bike, as a normal bike, it’s great. I don’t think that model was meant to be a quick-fold take it on the train sort of bike, but their design, their workmanship and their customer service are all top notch.

[45K10]

Awesome comments!
Thanks everyone for the great input.
I didn't think about the weight of a folding e-bike and her having to lug it around on the train so that option could be a non-starter.

Thanks again!

[blakcloud]

There is a saying in the folder community, "you buy a Brompton for the fold and you buy anything else for the ride."

The beauty of the Brompton is the easy fold. It folds in thirds vs halves for most other folding bikes. Takes about 15 seconds to open or close. The weight is an issue except as mentioned above the titanium model. Rolling the bike works in most cases. There is a top tube handle option which would be helpful.

I own and have commuted on my Brompton even in the winter with studded tires. For commuters, this is the bike I recommend. Brompton also make an electric version which might be an option. (My neighbour loves hers).

The biggest drawback are the 16" wheels and the ride. It is twitchy to ride and uncomfortable. I can last about an hour before discomfort sets in. There is a new model that just came out, a gravel version, with 20" wheels, so heavier but more comfortable. That bike weighs 30 pounds, so a little to heavy to carry.

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by blakcloud

The biggest drawback are the 16" wheels and the ride. It is twitchy to ride and uncomfortable.

I only have experience test riding a Bromptom, but I came to a similar conclusion. Seemed exceedingly twitchy, especially at low speed. Almost seemed like it handled as if it had very high trail. IDK, but it was not my cup of tea....