Originally Posted by Reddleman

A couple of questions that might help guide you on your search:

1) Folding bikes generally exist on an axis where the smaller they fold, other compromises occur. For example, a 16” wheeled bike like a Brompton can fold up quickly into a small package for commuting by train, but may not be so comfortable for longer rides on rougher terrain. What sort of riding are you looking to do?

2) Do you have any existing bike bags like panniers etc that you want to use on your folding bike?

In terms of choices of decent folding bikes in Europe, as well as 16” wheeled Bromptons you also have 20” wheeled bikes from Tern, Decathlon, and Vello.

Others here will be able to tell you about Brompton, so I’ll leave that to them.

Tern makes a range of folding bikes with a reasonably high max weight - have a look on their website to see if it’ll be enough for you and your luggage. If you’re looking for a sat up position, a Tern Link C8 with its telescopic handlepost might do the trick. You might need to replace the flat handlebars with a more swepback set, but that’s not impossible to do. I’ve done a fair bit of tinkering with Tern Link bikes in recent years in part to use them touring, so your proposed use isn’t out of the question.

I’ve heard good things about Decathlon’s range of folding bikes and their value for money, so they might be worth investigating.

Vello is an Austrian company which makes steel framed folding bikes that according to reviews are quite a stiff ride. They can take panniers at the rear and Brompton style front bags. I’ve not found much out there on the internet in English about them though.

Most folding bikes don’t come with a great range of gears for touring. 20” wheeled folders can be upgraded to solve that limitation with either a wide range cassette and derailleur designed for mountain biking, or with a double chainset designed for road bikes. The former is simpler if you don’t mind the reduced clearance to the ground and don’t go seriously off-road.