Electric folding bikes¹¹

Buying an electric folding bike: what to look for

An electric folding bike is an e-bike with a hinge in the frame. Folded, it fits in a car boot, under a desk or in the garage of a campervan. Two questions matter most when choosing. How often will you lift the bike? And how far do you ride in one go? A light folding bike is easier if you carry it onto a train every day. A heavier one often has bigger wheels and a bigger battery, for longer rides.

Which wheel size suits you?

Wheel size decides how small the bike folds and how it rides. With 14 inch wheels, as on the ENGWE T14, BOHLT R140, DYU D3S and Fiido D3 Pro, the folded bike is smallest. You will find 16 inch on the ENGWE Zip, the BOHLT R160 and X160 and the SKYJET 1S, among others. Most folding bikes have 20 inch wheels: big enough for a comfortable ride, small enough to store. Above that are the ENGWE X24 and X26 with 24 and 26 inch wheels.

How heavy is an electric folding bike?

It varies a lot. The ADO Air Carbon has a carbon frame and weighs about 16 kg. Many 14 and 16 inch models weigh around 17 to 19 kg. Folding fat bikes with wide tyres are among the heaviest: the OUXI Q11 weighs 43 kg. The weight of every bike is listed in its specifications. If you often carry the bike up stairs or onto a train, choose a lighter one.

Folding fat bike

Want the wide tyres of a fat bike, but the bike also has to fit in your car? Then a folding fat bike is an option, such as the OUXI Q11 or the Hitway BK10S and BK10S PRO. The two Hitways have 20 x 4.0 inch tyres. Wide tyres give more grip and cushioning, but also add weight: these three weigh 34 to 43 kg.

Is an electric folding bike allowed on the road?

In the Netherlands an electric folding bike follows the same rules as any e-bike. The motor may have at most 250 watts, assistance stops at 25 km/h and a throttle may not take you faster than 6 km/h without pedalling. Note the ENGWE X20, X24 and X26: they have a motor of 500 to 1200 watts. They are not allowed on public roads and are meant for private land only. This is also stated in each product description.

See also: ENGWE folding bikes | ADO folding bikes | JOBOBIKE folding bikes | Fiido folding bikes | OUXI folding bikes | Black Friday folding bikes