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I have never had a folding bicycle before, but my current circumstances make me want to try one.

I want a folding tourer, with small wheels.


Considerations:

I am a Clyde.

I usually ride a GT for the extra stiffness the triple triangle imparts. So, if anyone happens to know of an extra stiff framed folding tourer, I'd be very interested in hearing about it.

I ride very upright. Think Mary Poppins. I usually have to add a stem riser of some sort to my bikes.


I am willing to deal with looking like a bear riding a bicycle, but I would welcome recommendations as to makes/models people might recommend.

Additionally, I am looking for a manufacturer that is available in Europe/Ukraine, or England*.

Knowledge of which manufacturer sells in those markets may help me track down a shop to purchase it at.

Many thanks!


* Yes, I realize that technically, the UK is in Europe!


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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.

How much of a Clyde,under or over 300lbs/136kg? That will probably be the biggest determining factor. Also,how important is the fold? Does it need to fold quickly,or do you just want to be able to get it to fit in luggage? Depending on these two criteria,you might want to consider a regular bike with couplers that allow it to be disassembled.

Excellent information! THANK YOU!

I don't have panniers here, my Ortliebs are in the US, and I may never go back there to get them. I was expecting to buy a pair of Ortliebs for the rear, I am rather ignorant of the limitations of panniers on the front of folding bikes.

I had assumed that I would most likely be going with a 20 inch wheeled bike, I think you have confirmed that that is what I should choose.

Again, thank you!

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Speed of disassembly I don't really think is an issue, I will probably only be folding it infrequently, but I am looking for it to be compact, so am looking for a smaller wheeled bike for this bike of mine. For the next year and half, I am looking at trying to squeeze it into the back of one of our ambulances when we change locations here in Ukraine, and they are already pretty full with our medical, military, and personal gear. And, if I purchase it in England, I will need to fly with it to Poland, and take it on the train or bus from Warsaw to Lviv or Kyiv, so I need something that can become pretty compact. Smaller than a 26", 650B, or 700C wheeled bike.

I am hovering around 250 pounds these days, 6' 2" and shrinking. Broad shouldered too, so I usually run rather wide handlebars.

THANK YOU!

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Brompton max is 242lbs/110kg,so 250 should be well within tolerance.

250lbs isn't a "Clyde" ... Have you considered the beefy, crazy expensive Brompton G series? It's definitely compact, for a 20" wheeled folder. It would be much easier to store in the vehicle. It would probably be less expensive for you to purchase in the UK, and I believe you being a first responder might warrant a discount.

Stay safe over there!!!

If considering cost-effectiveness, if you don't want to buy the outrageously expensive Brompton, I think you can learn about the Litepro S9. This bike has a high cost-effectiveness, with an aluminum alloy frame that is lightweight and portable. YouTube has their in-depth review, and their official website allows you to purchase it directly. There are also more affordable 20 inch steel frames to choose from. They can also DIY modify it, saving even the cost of modification.

I have a 20"/406 wheel bifold, 4130 chrome moly steel frame, usually better for fatigue life, but aluminum frames are better than they used to be, gusseting has been added.

Mine was 7 speed, not low enough for hills. I added 2X crank, but this took some engineering as the frame has no front derailleur bracket, and the combination of fat seatpost/seat-tube, plus clamp on FD adaptor thickness, made positioning the FD far enough inboard difficult. Careful grinding of the FD inner cage lip where it interfered, solved. But a folder frame with a road-style FD bracket ("braze-on", actually welded) makes things easier. These days, most folks just mount a wide-ratio cassette for lower gearing, I recommend minimum 400% range. My 2X gearing is 50/34 11-30, 21-85 gear inches. When I replace the cassette I will go to a 34T low cog. The rear derailleur is a "mid" (GS) length, which has more than enough capacity, but more ground clearance than a long cage.

A rear rack to hold panniers is easy, provided it mounts far enough back for heel clearance when pedaling. Front panniers mount on dedicated 20" racks, though I used a cheap "brake post" rack and added wood sticks to keep pannier out of spokes and hung panniers. Cargo area above the front rack deck is fantastic for large parcels.

Here are helpful pics:
Loaded touring, note rear rack position, I needed to buy extra long rack stays and adapt to rack:


Panniers off and folded on train luggage shelf; If space was tight, it could go vertical in a bag or trash bag over top, to keep oily chain off others' luggage; I plan to go back to waxed chain, cleaner:


This is a Kevlar cable (stiff as steel), tight, that I added to mimic the effect of a steel cable there on Dahon bikes with Deltech; It transforms bending stress at folding hinge to compressive shear, this improves frame strength and reduces torsional flex of frame under climbing. This helps to bring the frame closer to a fully triangulated frame like a Bike Friday Diamond Llama or All-Packa, but at much lower cost. (before tying off line ends):

See if you can find a EuroMini Forté. EuroMini is the Euro version of the ZiZZO brand we have in the USA, and the Forté is their heavy duty model. It is a bi-fold design with extra reinforcement plates and a steel fork instead of aluminum. Double walled wheels and wide-ish tires. (1.95")

Look elsewhere in this subforum to find my review on the Forté. I just love it.

The Marino model is the same, but with a louder color and corrosion-resistant hardware.

If budget is not a huge issue, a Tern Vektron would be nice, but I don't think you'd be allowed to take the battery back and forth by plane, unless it's a military plane and they have lighter restrictions on lithium batteries.

Quick-detaching bags on the head tube and rear rack on my ZiZZO Forté. You can see the reinforcement plates welded on below/in front of the hinge, below the main tube at the head tube, and at the junction of the main tube & seat tube.

You can see that the handle post / stem telescopes up for a more upright posture. The seat post is only long enough for you to get full leg extension with maybe a 32" inseam. You'd likely need a longer seatpost.

The bike is rated to carry 300 lbs, which would allow you to have some luggage too. The empty luggage shown adds probably 7 lbs.