Bonzo Banana

You might want to consider a steel framed folding bike. They tend to be stronger and give more warning if the frame is going to fail. However such bikes are normally at the bottom end of pricing for mass produced bikes and normally have the lowest quality components fitted to the frame. Ideally you'd want a steel frame, double wall wheels and decent freehub based drivetrain. I suppose you could buy 2 folding bikes and swop out the components to give you exactly what you wanted and sell on the folding bike you have spare (i.e. aluminium frame but entry level parts). 10% over the maximum weight limit given should be ok for a while anyway. 240 would probably be ok with 265lbs especially if you treated it well.

edwong3

I think one of the reasons why I don't participate in this group very often anymore is because of what I privately call, "Escalation of Recommendations". Someone posts they just need a very basic, affordable folding bike for riding in the neighborhood, at the park, to pick up a couple of items at the grocery store a few blocks away etc. and the answers slowly but surely start to point to the pricey "boutique bikes".

For uses like the ones aforementioned, I don't think high-end components are going to make much of a difference, but will sure spike up the cost quite a bit.

The OP just wants a bike to ride locally and close to home. To be quite frank, any decent steel framed bike would work and still keep well within budget.

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

avole

The main concern is and has been the load carrying ability of the bike. I don’t see that as being off topic, nor a reason to recommend « boutique » bikes, which is why few if any have been recommended in this thread.

Bonzo Banana

There are entry level bikes using weak, short life components and there are one step up bikes that start using better quality components like entry level freehubs, double wall rims etc. For me the entry level components are false economy for most people especially heavier riders. Unless the rider is both light in weight or rides rarely and in decent weather only I would advise against entry level. In the US folding bikes with decent components seem to start around $250-300 and in the UK maybe £220. I would consider those prices extremely affordable especially with the savings compared to using motorised or public transport. Sometimes they can pay for themselves in a few months.