Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 773
Likes: 34
From: Merry Old England
Bikes: Muddyfox Evolve 200, Bicycles4u Paris Explorer, Raleigh Twenty Stowaway, Bickerton California, Saracen Xile, Kona Hoss Deluxe, Vertigo Carnaby, Exodus Havoc, Kona Lanai, Revolution Cuillin Sport, Dawes Kingpin, Bickerton, NSU & Elswick Cosmopolitan
What is your weight? Make sure the bike allows for that weight, ideally if the bike is old you may want to reduce the maximum stated if an aluminium frame bike as their strength weakens with age.
Some folding bikes do not have high weight limits, in fact they wouldn't be suitable for a lot of men who enjoy extra pies or are taller than average.
This is especially true of performance models that are designed to be fast commuting bikes and go for a lightweight design.
It's often the naff slow models with step through steel frames etc that have the highest weight limit.
The weakest folding bikes have something like a 60kg (130lb?) weight limit up to about 125kg maximum (somewhere around 270lbs). As you can see its a huge range. The strongest (not necessarily most reliable) would have 20" wheels and a steel frame.
Buying used is always a bit of a risk. You need to be sure you don't get a heavily worn drivetrain as it will cost a lot to replace. The frame could have had a hard life and be close to failure which is especially true of aluminium and its fatigue limits. I personally prefer clearance and shop display models at a discount which also offer full warranty making as much use of any further discounts as possible. If you can service the bike yourself consider one of the direct sellers who often can do decent bikes at low prices. We have a few people on this forum linked to such brands like 'downtube', 'Origami' and there are many others out there. I personally think both Tern and Dahon are over-rated especially Tern and think they don't offer a particular competitive price for what they supply. I'd rather have a Origami or Downtube bike myself which could actually be less than the secondhand price of a Dahon or Tern despite being brand new and fitted with better components. I also think the Euromini Urbano is a good bike for its price although there is some disagreement about that on these forums but it does offer a lifetime guarantee on a its frame, a good 250lb weight limit and has good quality components plus is lightweight for its price.