Folding Bikes: Just unfold and go!

By Jennifer Donahue

Scott Kralik of Seattle is an avid cyclist, but it wasn’t until he traveled to China that he considered buying a folding bike.

“I saw small bikes and folding bikes all over the place,” says Kralik. “I have a fairly small house and I thought a folding bike might be easier to store.” He also liked the idea of being able to take his bike onto the bus.

After considerable research, Kralik settled on a Brompton, a folding bike built in England, and considered by many to be the gold standard for folding bicycles.

“Almost immediately I stashed my full-size bike in the attic,” says Kralik. “The Brompton was so convenient; I just didn’t need my other bike anymore.”

One year later he sold his car and bought a second Brompton. “I have not for a moment regretted getting the folding bike; it’s just terrific fun!”

Sales of folding bikes are increasing, and not just in the Northwest.

“We sell our bikes all over the world,” says Hanna Scholz of Bike Friday in Eugene, Ore. Part of that growth may have to do with rising numbers of people commuting by bicycle in general.

Joshua Hon, vice president of Dahon and son of founder David Hon, says that his company’s bikes sell best in urban areas where storage space is at a premium and people are more likely to use their bicycles for commuting.

“In Asia, folding bikes make up 20 to 30 percent of total bike sales (where bicycles are a big part of daily transporta-tion),” says Hon. In the U.S., folding bikes are still considered a niche market, but a growing one, he adds.

Why choose a folding bike?

People are drawn to folding bikes for a variety of reasons. For urban commuters, a folding bike is easy to take into the workplace, on a bus or train. Bike Friday’s “tikit” urban bicycles fold in 10 seconds flat, and stow in a bag that can be carried right into an office.

“People who live in cities in small apartments also appreciate the ability to store their bike in a small space,” says Scholz.

Many folks enjoy taking their bikes when they travel. Folding bikes can often be accommodated by a standard suitcase, so you avoid excess baggage charges (and the headaches associated with lugging a full-size bike packed into a box). Because they are so compact, folding bikes can fit into the trunk of a sub-compact car, eliminating the need for a bike rack.

“Being able to toss two bikes into a car trunk and drive to the beach for a bike ride is just a lot easier with folding bikes,” says Hon.

Scholz agrees. “Our customers want to have their bikes with them in lots of places. A folding bike does that much better than a non-folding bike.”

Kralik took his folding Brompton to Canada in September 2009. He took the train to Vancouver and the Brompton fit in the luggage rack in the train car.

“I rode around Vancouver for a day, then took the ferry to Salt Spring Island and rode around there for a few days, says Kralik. He then ventured to Vancouver Island and ended his journey by taking the ferry back to Seattle. He never once got into a car.

But do they handle like full-sized bikes?

“Our bikes handle just as well or better than non-folding bikes in the same price range,” says Hon. Folding bikes have come a long way in the past few years, with companies offering everything from high-end custom bikes to entry-level options.

“The difference is like night and day,” adds Hon. “If you go back even five to six years, our product is almost unrecognizably better.” Dahon’s internal mission is to improve its bikes by 15 percent each year — whether that improvement comes from lighter weight, better handling, easier folding, or a lower price.

The leading manufacturers all feature the same riding position and handling characteristics similar to that of a full-size bicycle, but not quite the same. It’s not really possible, given the different geometries and wheel sizes involved, to replicate it exactly. Many small-wheel folder-bikes can feel a bit “twitchy” and demand a lot of attention from the rider and require quite a bit of getting used to. The trick is to design a bike that folds up easily and compactly, but still approximates the ideal handling of a full-size.

With that said, folding bikes can also come with some cool technology, if that’s your thing.

Dahon, which is based in Los Angeles, seems to have perfected the marriage of form and function with its new IOS XL. Not only is it a super-stylish ride, it also has integrated lighting and a bike pump which is hidden in the seat post. Dahon offers add-ons such as the BioLogic Bike Mount for iPhone 4 which works in conjunction with the BioLogic ReeCharge. Riders can go all day using the iPhone GPS and other cycling-related app’s and never run out the battery.

Bike Friday builds all of its bikes in Eugene, Ore. using as many local components as possible. They offer standard models as well as customized built-to-order bikes. New for Bike Friday this spring is its belt-driven Carbon Drive tikit on several of its bikes.

Brompton makes three types of folding bikes, with different handlebar styles designed for different types of riding. All of Brompton’s bikes are built by hand in West London, England, using primarily high-tensile steel alloys. Wheel size varies by model and manufacturer.

What about cost?

Folding bikes are like most other things in life. You can get an entry-level folding bike for around $400, but if you want to spend more for a custom bike with all the bells and whistles, it’s not hard to do. Dahon brand bikes start at $379 for the Eco 3, and top out at $2,499 for the Mu EX, which features Sram Red. Its IOS XL starts at $1,600, while a Brompton will easily cost you more than $1,000.

Dahon now also sells a full-on competition mountain bike, the Flo, which can be taken apart in about 20 minutes and transported in its own Airporter suitcase. Plan to spend $2,800 (suitcase included).

Cyclists in the market for a folding bike should weigh their riding habits when making their choice. Some things to consider are ease of folding, compactness, wheel size, comfort, handling and weight.

Be watchful of an increase of folding bikes on Northwest roads. It’s happening.

“Practically every time I take my bike out, somebody will stop me to ask about it,” says Kralik.

Resources

Bike Friday: www.Bikefriday.com
Brompton: www.brompton.co.uk
Dahon: www.dahon.com
Giant: www.giant-bicycles.com
KHS: www.khsbicycles.com
Strida: www.strida.com

Some local shops that carry folding bikes: Clever Cycles, Portland: Angle Lake Cycle, Sea-Tac; Kirkland Bicycles; Montlake Bicycle Shop, Seattle; Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life, Eugene.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy:

Cycling Features Recent Articles