Folding Bikes: Urban Practicality or Just a Toy?

When we ride our folding bikes around the neighbourhood, we get a lot of questions about them: how well do they ride? Are they easy to fold? How much do they cost? In this video we cover our experiences with folding bikes (specifically the Zizzo Forte and Via), after about 500 kilometres of use so far.

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[brucesmith]

Big advantages of folding bikes is taking them with you on mass transit. The city where I live has no restrictions on folding bikes provided you are not blocking other passengers. A regular road or mountain bike has limited hours (weekends) when the bike is permitted on the train. So if part of your commute involves a train/subway, the folder is advantageous.

[joelcruz]

I bought a folding bike so I can throw it in my 18 wheeler. Makes it easier to venture out of truck stops. Plus it adds a little exercise since we spend a lot of time just sitting.

[jjdtierney]

Several years ago I switched to riding a folding bike from a road bike. I originally bought the folder because I'd planned to travel with it and thought it would be handy for flights, trains, and even hitchhiking if necessary. I had no intention of replacing my beloved road machine with it. However after riding it for a couple of weeks I realised that I generally enjoyed the folder more than the road bike and also that there were a few advantages over the other bike.

I had bought one of the last Xootr Swifts before these went out of production for a clearance price of US$699. This is a 20" wheel folder of which I'd already read many reviews and I knew it was likely a good option for me. Many reviewers were impressed with its performance. It was also a huge bonus that it mostly uses standard bike parts, so replacing and modifying the bike is a breeze. Unlike most other 20" folders it doesn't have a heavy hinge and locking mechanism holding the bike together in the middle of the frame, but instead uses the seat post and two quick release seat post skewers to hold the bike together. This reduces overall weight and also ensures that the frame is stiff. In fact my Swift is stiffer than the road bike I used to ride, which is unusual for a folder. The fold isn't the most elegant, but it does reduce sufficiently to easily fit the back of a small car or in one instance into the small luggage space of a TGV train in France. Anyway, I digress...

My 20" Swift folder is very nice to ride. I live in a mountainous area (La Alpujarras in Granada, Sierra Nevada Spain) and my little bike climbs very well. I regularly use it on rides which I cover more than a hundred km and gain more than 1500 meters. I've covered more than 200km in a single day and climbed more than 2000 meters on it. The small wheels are like an extra low gear and these eat up the steep inclines very well. I'm kind of competitive with roadies on the up and ups. Coming down is fun, but I tend to relax, let the lycra zip by and just ride the bike more slowly. My fastest Strava time on the Swift in a descent was over 90km/h, but on average I rarely exceed 70km/h and this is fast enough as I really don't fancy crashing at anything close to these speeds. There's very often a death drop into the abyss at one's elbow in these mountains, which I prefer to avoid. I run a 58t chainring on the front to give me more gear inches, but descending and flat riding is where the bike is a little slower than a 700c road bike. At very high speeds (over 40km/h) the smaller wheels just don't hold momentum as well as larger wheels. However it's easy to maintain pace up to that speed. Another disadvantage of the bike is that it isn't very aero. Basically I can keep up with the fastest of the fast of the carbon-lycra crowd so long as someone is in front of me or I'm in the middle of the peleton. I cannot maintain being in front breaking through the wind for very long at racing speed.

I'm a bit of a nut case, but it gives me pleasure to push the roadies on such a little bike and I know what a 20" bike can do well and where it falls slightly short in terms of performance. One area almost any half decent 20" folder can beat a road bike is in a high traffic urban environment. On advantage of having smaller wheels is that these accelerate up to speed much more quickly than on a bike with larger wheels. So in a city situation where a cross town journey is making a series of 200 meter sprints between traffic lights, the folder usually gets there first. Also, even though my folder has the same wheelbase as my road bike, it's still significantly shorter, which in addition to the more responsive handling afforded by smaller wheels makes it great for nipping in and out of traffic.

Sadly, folding bikes have yet to catch on (except in far away places with excellent public transport.) But even in a car dependent North American city a folding bike makes a lot of sense, and for a lot of people it might be the best option available. If only they could see past it's diminutive looks these would be an epiphany for many. Well designed and constructed 20" folders can offer performance and flexibility in a package that has a small footprint. Whether wanting a bike one can bring inside after commuting, something that will fit in a tiny apartment, or something that rides well that will fit in a small car, there are many advantages and few drawbacks.

In the Netherlands folding bikes are free to take on the train and can be taken in the rush hour (weekdays 6:30-9:00, 16:00-18:30). Normal bikes can only be taken outside the rush hour and it costs €6/day. This is pretty much their main advantage here because in some cities local public transit can be lacking.

[ab-tffl]

As someone who lived car-free for several years, my biggest use of folding bikes was picking up and returning rental cars. Ride the bike one way, fold it up and put it in the trunk of the car for the drive back. Avoids the expense of Uber and the time of riding the bus. For car owners, folding bikes are also good for taking cars to or from repair shops, for similar reasons.

The only big negative, in my opinion is the cost. I spent a lot of money on my folding bike, thinking I would use it much more than I actually did, and I don't think I've ridden it enough for the saved Uber rides to come anywhere close to the up-front cost of buying the bike. Still, if you can find a cheap one somewhere, it's worth considering.

[codex]

In the Netherlands these are really common. Great for cycling to the trainstation, get on the train and go to work on the rest of the trip. They aren't more expensive than normal bikes either over here.

[keptkozy]

Had my 3rd hand Zizzo Forte for a year now living car free around NYC. I won't go to a solid frame again unless I move out of the city. The ability to go from bike, to train, to rental car and up my narrow stairs is priceless.

[stephenpipkin]

Thanks for this video. I bought a folding bike this year. Before this year, I always thought they were a ridiculous investment, but now that I have one, I love it. I usually keep it in my trunk, and whenever I see a trail or series of bike lanes I want to explore, I park, unfold, and take off. I thought the long distance would be a challenge, but last week, I was in Montreal for the Bike Festival and quickly completed the Friday night ride and the longer Sunday ride on the folder. The main drawback I found is the small wheels. I have a Tern Verge 9 with thin 20 in x 1.35 tires. It can pick up speed really quick but on patchy, uneven streets, the ride can feel more unstable than on a full-sized bike.

[redditchscroller]

Folding bikes are also useful for people with hip mobility problems who find it difficult to lift their legs over a conventional crossbar as they usually have a low stepover frame height.

[robvestrumhome]

We spent one summer driving across Canada in our Tesla, and we bought foldies so that we could bike around during times when we had to charge during the day. We ended up using our bikes way more than we anticipated, because cycling is such a great way to get around and the upright seating position is great for sightseeing.

[nickcalcperc]

This is the kind of video that a lot of other folding bike enthusiasts are missing on the platform. I love all the videos! Keep up the great work!

[IceCreamLover-jyfh]

I like your channel and am glad you guys talked about folding bikes! I got a folding bike a couple months ago for $30 from a thrift store. My dad and I had to fix it up but it works great now! It's a big upgrade having gears compared to my other bike, a single speed beach cruiser. The folder also is easier to take in and out of my apartment without having to worry about annoying my roommates if the bike is dirty

[wastelandking]

I have owned a Zizzo Urbano for nearly 9 months, and I can surely tell you that the overall practicality is very well worth any downsides a folding bike may have. I’ve used it a ton for commuting between towns and the workplace, and it takes up little space in my bedroom. The bike also feels sturdy in its construction, which surprised me for a relatively lower-cost folding bike. The problems I’ve had with it were either fixed by tightening up a loose part or flat-related. I also get a lotta compliments on my bike, since it’s a rather rare sight to see folding bikes, and it’s honestly hard to respond, but it’s nice to see folks enjoy the novelty of such a bike.

[drewsmith]

I didn't own a bike for many years because of fears it would just get stolen. Then I learned about folding bikes and how they are actually viable bikes. I settled on the Brompton because I figured if I was going to get a folding bike, it would be so that I can take it with me, and the Brompton just seemed like the easiest to fold and the easiest to carry and keep with you while folded. I have been so happy riding my own bike again for the past couple years. I agree with you regarding the feeling of unstability at higher speeds, but my Brompton is good up to about 25mph or so. Long distances are also a bit of an issue because of the riding position putting more strain on your tailbone instead of your sit bones, but I have done 50 mile rides on my Brompton and taken it more places because I was able to take it on planes, trains, and cars without needing to pay extra bike fares. I always miss my road bike if the ride is more than 20 miles or so, but if I'm just going somewhere in town instead of just riding for fun or exercise, I always choose my Brompton over my road bike. Those are my opinions about my bikes, but the best bike for you is the one that will motivate you to get out and ride😁

[stephenschuit]

I have 10-years experience biking with my Brompton around the world. Mine performs well under almost all situations ranging from a 5-day bike trip around one of Europe's largest lakes, to day-to-day biking around Portland, Maine. As you mentioned, it easily fits in my vehicle, on trains, planes and buses. I have 6-speeds which meets 95% of my requirements.
Every time I get on my Brompton folding bike a smile comes across my face. And that, is the bottom line.

[johnshuey]

I recently got a Zizzo Forte. It's not my first folder. I previous owned a very sturdy and inexpensive Columba which was a heavy folding cruiser masquerading as a dirt bike. It was too big folded to be practical in that regard. 

The Zizzo is decidedly inexpensive. It'll cost me about $1K w/ mods and gadgets (speedo, et al.). My dirt bike would cost about $3K to replace including that stuff. My road bike, maybe $2700. I'm here to tell you that the Zizzo works on high desert trails, though you have to walk around rock gardens. Mine is modified w/ wider tires and a lower gear. And, btw, I don't run out of high gear until maybe 24 mph and the brakes (dry) stop almost as well as the disc brakes on the dirt bike.

I got the Zizzo to carry in my RV.

[PercentScottish]

I have a Btwin Tilt 900 and I've been out on it so much since I got it in March. It's so handy to go on trains - in the UK folding bikes are allowed on trains and buses without pre-booking or paying extra. I just love it!

[KevinSmithGeo]

My apartment building doesn't permit full size bikes in elevators or stair wells. There's a shared bike locker on the ground floor but it's just a place for bike thieves to cut your lock in private. There was an experiment with dockless bike shares in the city (Victoria) but it was a complete disaster. So a folding bike was really my only option. I went with a Zizzo Urbano. So far I love it. The only real complaint I have is that it doesn't have room for paniers. I have a milk crate mounted on the back but when I load it up with groceries it's quite top heavy. Finding accessories that fit without hindering the folding mechanism can also be a bit of an annoyance. I'm still trying to find a good mirror.

[bromptoning]

We've had our Bromptons for 8 years and love them! We mainly got them for travelling, but also ride them around home because they're fun and fast. I also have a Strida for winter because it's the most rust-proof folding bike I've found. But when my mom was looking for a folding bike, she did not want to spend a lot of money, plus she doesn't plan on taking it on planes and trains, so I steered her towards buying a Zizzo. Now that we're all double-vaxxed, we're finally going to visit her and will have to do a video comparing our Bromptons and her Zizzo (she too has the blue Via).

[mikemiller]

Bought a Brompton a while back. It was quite expensive, but it’s a joy to ride. Easy to take on the train and transforms in less than a minute. It’s very useful for multimodal train / bike trips.