Originally Posted by
mulleady
I say at $124 try the Kent!
I rode in the charity ride that Nekohime put together recently, and had the opportunity to ride her Kent. I would say that at $124, it is a good value. But it might not be appropriate for everyone. I'm only 5'8", and the seat-to-handlebar distance of the Kent made it feel really cramped to me. For a six-footer it might be even more so. The riding position seems to exacerbate the gearing as well, which can be described as anything but athletic. I really recommend that, even more so than for other folders, it's important to see this bike before riding. It does fold into a very compact package, and the built-in handle on the frame makes it easy to handle while folded.
Meanwhile, Ragekage, I definitely hear you when you say it's tough to find a bike shop that has folders on the floor to test ride. Do some online research, narrow the field, and then post again, asking about specific bikes. 16" or smaller really is better where multi-mode commuting is concerned.