Had tern d8 link. good bike. Nice and light. You can pick up a good bike secondhand. I pack mine for airline by wrapping in a tent or a tarp using packaging tape
I have a 6-speed Brompton and I LOVE it! I agree it is a GREAT urban bike. I’ve taken it on a plane a couple of times in a soft case without much trouble. I’ve used it on a multi-day bike tour from Montréal to Quebec City (and back on Via Rail). And for most the last 10 years it has been my primary bike for short trips around town. I never have to carry a lock, since I just bring it in with me. It’s easy to bring on a bus or a train, or throw it in the trunk of a car if my trip ends up being multimodal. I can even drag it around on its tiny wheels as a small shopping trolley when I’m grocery shopping.
I have one of the "cheap" folders, and it is the only upright bike in my collection (not counting my wife's bike) (my three other bikes are recumbents). I used to have an 8 mile commute, mostly flat, and I found the 3 speed folding bike was perfectly up to the task. Not as comfortable as a recumbent, but perfectly capable. I did end up changing the chainring, as "mostly flat" can also be stated as "some hills," and I was more interested in being able to pedal the hills easily than going fast.
Something that's rarely mentioned when it comes to folding bikes, is that they're great for wearing medium-long skirts/dresses. Especially Bromptons. Better than step-troughs even, as these require skirtguards to avoid accidents. Here the frame and chain are so low and the wheels are so small that there's no risk of getting fabric stuck in while riding. It makes the bike fit really great in your everyday life because you don't have to worry about what you're wearing.
@@2710cruiser Hm, this has never happened to me. I'll keep an eye on my larger trousers from now on then. Hope things went ok and that you didn't get injured!
An extra benefit not mentioned is that folding bikes adjust easily to suit people of widely differing heights so they're great for sharing between family members or as a loaner for visitors or friends.
That's one of my main reasons, finding a bike to fit right was so hard being very short unless I wanted to spend loads of money for a brand with wider size ranges
I love folding bikes. I wish I got one years ago. I chose Brompton. I often go to the grocery store, fold it up and roll it around like a grocery cart, dropping my groceries into the front bag that can stay attached. After paying, roll it out, open it up, again while the bag stays attached and ride my shopping cart away. I have taken my bike into grocery stores, hardware stores, and coffee shops. No issues. In fact, staff often ask me questions about the bike or make very positive comments about it. I also like how when my Brompton is folded up, all the greasy parts are in the middle of the bike so that if I were in a business, train or a bus, I don’t have to worry about me or another passenger brushing up against the bike and getting grease on their clothes. My Brompton is small enough to easily keep inside my house, throw in my car, and is very comfortable to ride. I have no issues on long commutes. Anyone thinking of a bike for commuting around a city, running errands, etc, take a look at folding bikes. They are so convenient.
When I had a bike parked on the street and locked up stolen, I thought...there must be a better way to deal with this, and so I ended up with a Tern DLink 8 very similar to Tom's video. Then there was the opportunity to buy a second hand Brompton and both are excellent (one more affordable than the other), but the Brompton it's so easy to store everywhere that is my prefered one. All errands that are less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) or less, are done by folding bicycle.
@@JacqueeLukawski357 Hi. I use Brompton Messenger Metro - Large, and Brompton Borough Basket Bag - Large. Both are great bags. I also carry a reusable grocery bag rolled up and tucked into my frame in case I venture out without a bag and make an unexpected stop somewhere to pick something up.
Another benefit for multimodal transit is that some cities require buying a separate bike ticket when the tires exceed a certain size. For example, in Munich, bikes with tires less than 20 inches and folding bikes can be taken on transit free of charge! Love the channel by the way.
I bought my Brompton for my life in NYC and it's perfect for that. I've take it on ferries, subways, and commuter trains. In personal cars and Taxis. It fits under my desk at work and wherever else I need it to go. And it feels so quick and zippy compared to the local bike share bikes.
In NYC, a folding bike would be amazing with the versatility of mixed-mode commuting. You could bring a normal bike on the subway but you would definitely be hogging space.
@@tthomas184 A Brompton would be fine at any time. Those things are absolutely tiny. If you're standing on a bus or train you just keep it between your legs so it doesn't get in the way.
One thing that rarely gets mentioned is that at age 73 l find the 20” wheels and small frame to be a easier bike to get on and off, and the more upright position to be more comfortable. The ride is probably a bit more harsh and squirrelly, but at the same time it feels just safer to ride than my 26” wheel bike.
People keep doing the mistake of buying “men” specific bike frames (diamond), when they should get female specific (trapezoid), this solves 99% of all problems. A full sized bike is still superior in many aspects, not just comfort
@@Shifter_Cycling I mean.. I live in London, UK - and there is a reason the brompton, which folds so small!, was invented here. Big city, lots of people in small apartments with no storage, rampant bike theft issue, and loads and loads of underground trains. The brompton/train/brompton route is fantastic. You can always bring it in with you.. it's got small wheels on the rear rack that let you even use it as a grocery cart in supermarkets. I brought it to YYC the last time I was there. Did you know that Safeways have these weird shopping carts with a shelf in the front that is exactly the right size for you to put a Brompton in? perfect! thanks safeway!
Can you lift it over the turn bars? Or are those just not what is used where you live I couldn’t fit a folding bike on a bus, here. Can’t get it over the knee-to-armpit bars turnstiles, and no way to pass it below as something’d have to be the height of your chins to pass underneath
@@lorenzo_br5803 you could do that with a brompton, they are quite compact, though not super light. But we don't have turnstiles.. we have flappy 1/2 door barricade thingies, which is easy with a brompton. .. and there's always a larger disabled/ people with baby buggy/push chair gate - they're bigger
@@NunontheRun The Sidewinder rollers make them as easy to roll as a rollerbag. Cheapskates like me can even take an old roller bag and get the same advantage.
My main bike is a folder and I love it. Before Covid I had a 10 min ride to my local train station, 40 mins on the train, and 15 mins to my office. It was super easy with the bike. I wasn't allowed to bring the bike into the office, but we had a secure location to lock the bike, so that was fine. Have been working from home for nearly 3 years, but I still love my folder. I have ridden thousands of KM on it, and quite a few longer journeys without any problems. Mine is a Fuji Origami, which has to be the best name for a folding bike.
One of the big things is its a lot more acceptable to bring folding bikes into stores and restaurants now. Lots of people riding giant electric scooters helping break the ice for us haha.
@@InnuendoXP I have two electric scooters. One is small and can be put into a shopping cart or under a subway seat. The other is also foldable but is much larger, and unless you're The Rock, it's just not practical to move it around and put it under things like subway seats (assuming it would fit). I had the same experience with a folding mountain bike years ago, which was much too heavy and difficult to fold. Long story short, weight and ease of folding are really important. We shouldn't just focus on whether something is foldable; is it practical to fold and carry on a daily basis?
I cycled through France for a month with my tent and summer dresses on my brompton. A big plus is that you can adjust the seat height so that you can cycle almost sitting up straight (like a Dutch bike) which is really great to relieve neck and back pain for long journeys 😊
Ah yes - the wonders of "folding bike camping". At first I didn't believe it to be possible but yes, I too managed to go camping with my Brompton. I mean I thought it must be possible but actually doing it? Wow, just wow. Is it the best bike to carry a lot of luggage? Nope. But it's the bike that I can easily take on any train, any coach, any plane without any additional cost (or: nope, not _this_ train) to the starting point (without a car).
In the Netherlands many folding bikes have straps attached to them so you can carry them like a backpack. Folding bikes are a common sight in train stations because you are not allowed to take regular bicycles on trains in the Netherlands.
I got fed up with having my bikes stolen every few months (despite multiple heavy duty locks and chains). So I bought a folding bike, and just took it everywhere with me. On the train it went on the luggage rack, at work I parked it under my desk and at home I stored it in the cupboard under the stairs. I’ve had it for 15 years.
One thing about foldies is that it takes off all limiters to how far you can travel. I went out withy Brompton, got lost and just folded the bike at the nearest bus stop and took the metro back
I love folding bikes, at the beginning I was afraid by the size of the wheel, but I really love it because thanks of his small size, I could use it more in the city than a regular bike. For example, I could hang out with my friends and I don’t have to worry if its to late go back riding or having extra beers, I just ask for a cab or uber, put the bike in the trunk and that’s it! Also, to travel by bus to another city it’s much easier, you have the bike to ride to the hotel, going around saving money. Best wishes from Mexico :D
I've been following this channel since the beginning and I've gotta say, seeing the improvement in production quality and your on-camera personality has been great! Keep it up Tom, proud of ya.
I don't think its any accident that the most famous folding bike came out of the UK. Storing a bike in a smaller home or on a canal boat is super convenient and being able to take it on short public transport journeys makes so much sense here in our little island
One thing I love about bicycles in general is the fact that you can make these kind of purchases on a whim, because of how much cheaper they are than cars. Especially with financing these days it can be super super affordable to buy a folding or E bike just on a whim, unlike with a car were you might need to save up a ton and still take out a massive loan.
Folding bikes are awesome! I always thought they would be a bit of a compromise, since they’re smaller than regular bikes. But when I got a folding bike I realized that it rode wonderfully. I now take my folding bike everywhere and enjoy every minute of it.
Another niche-benefit (that I would love to experience not owning a folding bike) is that while you mention it being easy to carry into your workplace, the same is true at home! I live in an apartment building and navigating the regular bike through a tight corridor into the bike storage in the basement is a bit of a hassle that would be easier if it folded. But more than that, it would be really handy if I could get my bike into my apartment to do some maintenance work instead of having to do it in the basement or outside under the elements. My options with a non-folding bike is a dangerous and uncomfortable attempt at cramming it into the small elevator, or carrying it up several flights of spiral stairs. With a fold it would be a quick fit in the elevator and easy to navigate through corridors and doorways!
Since the wheels are smaller on a folding bike it is also shorter, which makes it easier to navigate around corridors and into elevators and even storage inside appartments etc even in the unfolded position. However, as great as folding bikes are, there are other bikes with only the "small wheels hence shorter" feature, notably the Is:y brand.
That’s why I’m thinking about getting one. I live in a small apartment over a garage and have to keep my mountain bike in the bedroom closet, and it’s too difficult getting it up and down the stairs all the time. I’m thinking about getting a Zizzo.
Thank you for the inspiration and advice! I just started riding a folding bike as part of a multimodal commute to work. Luckily the weather has been great. I live on a mountain in BC, so I drive down the mountain, park at the rec centre, bike to the commuter bus, ride the bus to a neighboring town, and then bike the last 10 minutes to work. So far so good. It is fun, and I can feel the big smile on my face for most of the bike trip.
Recently when I was in Spain, the foldable was a game changer. So versatile because beyond just riding through the city you can fold it up, take it on subways or busses and put it inside buildings for easy of mind against theft.
Great review ! I bought a folding bike a few years ago with the idea of using it when travelling by train, living in France this is a very common thing to do. Most regional trains accept regular bikes but when using the high speed trains (TGV), there are very few to no bike spaces, you have to pay for them and it's not cheap. A folding bike is treated as a suitcase as long as it's packed with some sort of packaging, can be a basic slip cover. I end up using it rather frequenly, living in the countryside I wouldn't have expected that but it's really practical to go to the next city and not worry about parking it or getting it stolen. It's also good if you end up having to change your plans during the day, for any reason, you can just hop on a bus or a train that you didn't expect to take in the first place. Hassle-free.
If I had to commute more regularly to work I would seriously consider purchasing one of these. Thanks for the informative video. I hadn't heard of this brand before and it was nice to see all the thought they put into its design.
As someone who's folding bike-curious, I found this video very helpful when it comes to considering my transportation options! Not to mention, this is one of my fav Shifter videos!
I've been enjoying mine for years. It goes on the bus, train, taxi, underground, lifts/elevators, escalators, in my tent when camping and even inside in some meetings. It's great for shopping with a rack and panniers or even a trailer for bigger stuff. Next time I take the train to Paris my bike is coming with me.
I recently got an escooter because it’s nice and easy to get on and off of transit. I definitely prefer a bike to getting around locally, but for trips around Calgary, I scooter to a C-Train station, get closer to my destination and scooter from there.
@@Shifter_Cycling I couldn't agree more. And bringing something compact onto the train or bus is a lot more considerate of other passengers' space. I used to commute with a full-sized mountain bike and always felt guilty. Now I have a small, foldable e-twow scooter and it's not getting in anyone's way.
I got a Vello Alfine11 about 6 Months ago. Living in Vienna/Austria I‘m riding the Vello for almost every distance, short and long. I also did a bike packing tour around 630km not too long ago. Had no problem at all. So riding a folding bike means beeing flexible whenever you want and not making compromises when it comes to comfort. Overall I did over 1.600 km since april this year. Best option in an urban environment!
You hit all the big points for sure! I don't consider the slight slowness of the bike to be a downside for myself -- lack of infrastructure means its unsafe to go fast in my city, and I want to avoid sweating when I get to work anyway. The uprightness they tend to encourage is nice too, given that I'm a commuter and don't want to lean forward and mind the angle of my back. And as someone who's 5 feet short, the highly adjustable seat is a godsend!
Your reactions while in traffic... this is soo me. My biggest fear is to have to drive around the city whole day, every day! Thank God my wife likes that and I'm playing 3rd kid in the family :D
Just bought a Dahon Mariner D8 for work - I teach, mainly kids, cycling and safe cycling on the roads here in the UK. Our weather is very unpredictable and often wet and I decided that it was just dumb to ride for miles in the pouring rain then do a days work and ride home again. So I fold the bike up and throw it in the back of my van and arrive at work, at whichever school I'm teaching at, fresh and dry. I love the way it rides which I was not expecting and am already thinking of customising it to my needs and wants - I'm a convert.
My brompton is how I get around the city - it's easy to take on the bus or the train (usually goes on the floor or the seat next to me on an emptier bus), it fits under my desk or the table, or just inside the doors at the hardware store; it just ends up being really convenient, while also allowing me to carry stuff that my electric skateboard wouldn't via the magic of a milk crate. It is also _amazingly_ convenient on both inter-urban buses and trains, and I have definitely taken it to Bellingham, Portland, and Pullman from Seattle without too much difficulty, and I have a bike once I get there!
I've been trying to see any other good folding bikes on the market. Other than the Singapore company Mobot that has the same mechanism (I think because Brompton's patent expired?) everything else doesn't pack as small or fast or as easily transportable as the Brompton's. Brompton's are also steel, I think they will last for a very long time. The only downside are the 16" wheels. One thing to mention is that Brompton's have a massive aftermarket community to change frames or gear type to accommodate a lot of different needs. Regardless, Tern seems to be the next best budget with a longer reputable history than Dahon.
@@MrMikeDao I agree. The Brompton folded size means it is in a league of its own. You can much esier carry it to public transport, and also travel. You don't need to pay for oversized luggage.
I think those bigger bi-fold ones are not good for plane travel, but the tri-fold ones like the Brompton or the Tern BYB are. That extra compact fold really makes a big difference.
@@thelaw_00 I don’t think they’re that expensive honestly. The car I had before I stopped driving cost about 16 times more than my Brompton did. Plus all the other associated costs. It depends where you live, but for most people, a good quality bike is relatively peanuts.
@@thelaw_00 you pay for quality as well. Bromptons are made really well and can handle many folds and unfolds. Not sure if the cheapo folders can match that.
You get the tool that fits the job. Foldies are specialized. They do some jobs well when selected with care. Brommies hold their value very well as an offset.
@@whazzat8015 I'm beginning to realize cyclists are very attached to the 'ie' suffix. Fixie, foldie, brommie- it's starting to get on my nerves, albeit for no good reason.
I first watched this video a while ago and liked it, but it helped me in a unique way recently. I found a folding bike at a thrift store and having watched this video, I knew (mostly) how to fold the bike to bring it home with me :)
This is a great and authentic review! Absolutely agree that folding bike is for the city. I'm a Tern Link D8 folding bike rider. I ride it in the city for leisure, light errands, or commuting. I really enjoy the ride when I ride this bike! It's more like a tool for me (with the accessories) rather than just a bike.
Good vid, Tom. My wife, adult son, and I just got back from a weekend camping excursion at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. We took my Dahon Mariner D8, Mariner D7, and Vitesse D7 folding bikes along with us and a ton of camping gear and it all fit in my '22 Subaru Forester. There's a beautiful and very fun shared use trail that runs through part of the park, essentially through a forest, on which these bikes are perfectly well suited. The path is smooth, paved, and well kept, which was perfect for these bikes. Like you found, it's a different story when flying with a 20" bike, so for my fall 2025 633km "Four Rivers Ride" in So. Korea, I may be purchasing a Brompton to simplify bike transport. Cheers!
I have the zizzo forte and I just upgrade the crankset, the chainring, and the freehub body to accommodate an 11 speed crankset and it's a beast. Lots of elevation changes in Boulder and I was maxing out all over the place. But, I love this bike and how simple it is. Just leave it in my office and don't have to worry about it being stolen. I even take it with me inside grocery stores if I'm doing a quick run. Also, perfect for not having it get exposed to weather because I can just take it inside my apartment and it fits in a little corner. Just gotta put down a towel or something if you ride it through the snow.
Good luck with this brand? Thinking about one for a long enough commute I have where I don't want to walk when I rarely have to travel for work. Seems not expensive enough to worry about any wear and tear, but good enough for the job.
@@briand8862 Hey! Yeah it's perfect for that. I sadly never use it because of the upgrades I made. It was a headache and I just realized I was loving cycling and have now gotten 2 fixed gear bikes and moved on from the zizzo. That being said, I still keep it in my office for runs to the grocery store for lunch and such and for visitors to my lab. Just accept it as the small, light, and portable bike that's not made for you to go faster than it needs to and get you point to point. It's an amazing bike that I'm sad I've out grown but it's what got me into being active in the first place. Customer support from Zizzo has also been amazing!
Thanks for the video! Welcome to the fold! Thanks for showing how nice multimodal works and bringing the bike inside. Haven‘t flown with mine yet, I think I‘ll get a proper bag. Also this seems easy to carry by putting the saddle on your shoulder
First off, I love your videos, Secondly, your information and videos have helped me start commuting to and from work. (3.5 mi) either way. I recently bought a Fiji Marlboro unlimited Mountain bike and I did some research to surprisingly find, my bike folds!. Now I don't fold it bc I don't need to, but I was shocked to find my full sized adult bike can be folded down.
Bought a used Dahon Mariner years ago when doing 3-6 month assignments all over the country...would mail the folded bike to whatever hotel or apt they put me up in, so always had a bike to enjoy off duty. No longer travelling for work and have since got a recumbent, but still have the Dahon for visitors to use...great reliable and fun little bike.
I already knew that you could do all this, but watching your clips and seeing you doing it for real makes me more sure about getting a foldable bike. ☺️
I rode a Tern Node D8 from Andermatt in Switzerland back to London over the summer..... incredible bike....carried luggage, was on and off trains, ferry and aeroplane, at hotels and campsites. 1200 km on the bike and all I had to do was oil the chain ....love a folding bike :)
I live in Singapore. During COVID, folding bike gain alot of traction among the locals as it is one of the allowed activities then. Folding bikes are preferred as public transport allows them if they are folded and apartments in Singapore are generally small
I have a folding bike and love having it. It's got 26" wheels so it rides like a regular bike but it folds in half. I live on Long Island and I take my foldy with me on the train. Non-folding bikes aren't allowed on the train at rush hour but my foldy can always go on the train and I then I ride 4 miles to work. The best part of having my foldy is the flexibility of what train I can take. My local/walkable train runs hourly at rush hour but there are 3 other train branches within 4 miles of my house that run much more frequently. So I pretty much take any train home from the city and I'm within a 20-25 minute bike ride from home. My foldy has made a huge difference in my commute time.
Tell you what, I've done some quality touring on a foldie and it was awesome. The best part being should you feel beat, you could always fold her up and catch a bus😊
I have a very old folding bike (70s or 80s) and I rarely fold the thing but it is just a blast to ride around! Really fun with its super low step through and funny 20 inch tires 😊
I was curious about folding bikes for years. bought a couple used off craigslist and never looked back. I’ve had 12 different folders, mostly older, vintage models. Lots of great options out there now, these bikes are amazing for road trips, and if I ever get down to one bike, it will almost certainly be a folder
I have a folding bike and it has made riding with my young kids in a medium/large city much easier. Good turning radius to circle back for them and easy to get on and off over and over again.
Folder owner here. I have a Brompton for commute and an Airnimal for sport. I live in a flat with limited storage space so the only reasonable option was getting a folder.
Don't have a folding bike but have an ebike with 20-inch tires and literally love them. They make it jumpier which is great for commuting (avoiding cars, potholes, and debris in the road) and trails (roots, rocks, jump, sharp corners). I put 6000km on the same tires in under one year without a single puncture/damage to said tires. I do strongly believe being able to turn on a dime is why.
I have 4 folding bikes, so you can say that I got the bug. The latest ones are a Brompton and a Brompnot. They are the perfect city bikes. Super portable, easier to carry than a bifold, and fun to ride.
As someone who's used several folding bikes, I think it's worth noting the difference between a 16 folder like the Brompton and a 20-inch folder can be substantial depending on your uses. For me in NYC, I'd argue it's as big as the difference between a 20-inch bike and a 700c. I don't feel comfortable bringing 20-inch folding bikes into many venues in NYC. The Brompton, on the other hand, is closer in size to a carry-on suitcase and few places bat an eye. Hospitals, restaurants, bars. Every once in a while someone will give you a weird look but getting the bike cover will often do the trick. I also like that it feels more nimble than a big bike in many situations, and it feels quicker to start from a dead stop.
Great points. The nice thing about folding bikes is the variety. There are so many options that you should be able to find one to suit your needs. Thanks for sharing.
@@mranonymous8815 I have yet to meet such places. The 20" wheels have been, on buses, trains, including the underground, in doctor's office, café , supermarket, IKEA, camping in tents etc. I haven't taken it on a plane but I know it's possible by others as long as it's packed as luggage.
Great choice of hubs! I don't own a folding bike, but my favorie bike has both a dynamo hub and an IGH and I love it. It is so much more convenient to have lights and a transmission working perfectly all the time, I wish they woud be more popular in North America. I would clearly have a similar setup if I had a folding bike but I must say, I wish I'll always have the space to keep my current bikes, at home and at my office.
I love your channel! I'm also yyc based and was considering a TH-cam channel but felt like incouldnt do it living in calgary. Boom here you are inspired! Thank you!
I have a tiny apartment and my foldie lives inside with me...reassuring not to have to leave it outdoors! I do recommend getting a tube of gritty lubricant to deal with the inevitable sliding down of the seat post. I also take extra time as I'm setting up to double check that everything's locked in place.
Another excellent use for a folding bike is that last mile of commute, after you've parked your car somewhat far from work because either there's no parking in the city center or because there's free parking further away from your work. A folding bike that fits in your trunk enables you to save on parking as well as save time in getting to work. For example, if parking right in your work building costs $10 per day, and you have the option of parking for free some several blocks away from work, you will make back your investment of say a $300 folding bike in 30 days, not to mention saving on gas, time, and it is also healthy for you!
Excellent video! My first experience with a folder was a "Fold N Go" years ago, and it only had 12 inch wheels! The most memorable use was the time I did a weekend sound engineering at a campground having a women's event, and I was the ONLY male staying there! I packed the bike with my equipment, and used it for getting around the campground to avoid, um, entanglements 😉 Fast forward many years, and now my favorite bike is a RadMini folder. It's huge compared to the Tern, bigger than an Onyx RCR moped, but it fits in the hatch of my car like it was made for it. The main reason I went for a folder in the first place is to avoid the bike rack, and the RadMini takes to modifications well, so it works out perfectly for out of town group rides. I'm surprised you only have one bike of that brand, because... "One good Tern deserves another".
In London you can't take a normal bike on the bus or on the train/tube during rush hour. They also make great pub bikes as you don't have to lock them up outside and worry about them getting stolen. Edit: I don't ride a folding bike myself but I know/have met a lot of people who ride Bromptons for the reason mentioned above. They're expensive but very compact and well engineered.
My mother bought en electric folding bike to put in the car when she visits friends, relatives or just want to make a bike tour somewhere else. When her sister tested it at the first visit, the sister and her husband instantly bought 2 for themselves :D Btw. the bike is put into a compact car - a class that is so small afaik it's not even sold in the US.
I have been riding a Birdy for more than ten years. I was folding it quite rarely, but just the small form factor and the option (like for getting a lift) if need be is enough reason for me that I'd still go for a foldable again, if I wouldn't be riding an EUC.
Good to know this size feels like a regular bike. I really want a folding bike because in Taiwan I take the bus and subway everyday. It would be great to carry a bike with me
A note of caution for folding bike on bus rack, you may want to shift to smallest cog to prevent the bus bike rail from bending your rear derailleur! Get a suspension seatpost if you can't handle the shock of the smaller wheels as well (Suntour one is good)
For a person who travels a lot and loves to ride their bike, a folding bike is perfect. It can sit in the truck bed when traveling or in the rear compartment. It is easy to get in and out of the room I'm staying in as well as the elevator.
We picked up a couple of Giant expressway folding bikes through a friend in Hong Kong as they were not available in Canada. We then installed CYC Motor X1 Stealth Mid-Drive motors with a thumb throttle and a 14ah battery. They are fantastic. If it wasn't for the battery you would almost never guess they were now DIY eBikes. The motor fits perfectly inside the little frame triangle with a millimeter to spare. And they fold up perfectly with everything installed. Now we have 9 levels of pedal assist and power to spare. They are so much fun to ride.
Private pilots love them because you can zip over to the FBO and friends’ hangars. Plus, if you fly somewhere on a beautiful day, you take it with you, then have transportation once you land. 🧡
If u r gonna b flying alot, look into Bike Friday (based in Oregon). Their bikes are built for flying. You do need to take the bike apart but it is much simpler than taking apart a full size bike. Bonus, their bikes are built for touring so comfort is there for u. We love ours.
So these bikes are extremely capable. I've used a 14inch Ebike in a Tbay winter and it worked out surprisingly well, and have done 3 day bikepacking trips on a 16" folding bike. Never really folded them a whole lot unless I was putting it in a car or getting on transit but I love that I can go about normal bike speed with extra effort and it takes up a smaller area indoors. So for a winter commuter where you want to store it indoors and have it take up less indoor space without fancy vertical wall mounts it works great. I find I can usually bring a folder indoors and most stores won't take issue Also loved the traffic scene lol
I have a folding bike and I used mine for catching the train. In Perth (and I'm guessing all Australian cities) you can't bring a full sized bike on a train during peak times so a folding bike is the perfect solution.
I had a dahon d7 as my main commuter for a couple of years, they're faster than people think, good fun tucking in and drafting someone in full racing gear. (Remembering to sit up straight and hide the effort I'm putting in if they turn round)
I only own folding bikes, because my elevator is small and it's really difficult for me to get in with a regular bike. I bought a brompton this year mainly because the elevator at work is half the size of mine, so going to work every day to fight with my bike in a tiny elevator was really stressful, so I was choosing to go by bus instead and that made my life really sad. I wanted my commutes to be nice and easy, because I do that twice, several days a week, every week. That's a lot of time in my life! Also I am thinking of installing dynamo lights because I want to have it always ready and easy for me to go out with it.
I was amazed when I first used a folding bike. It is much smaller and it folds but riding experience is same as a regular bike. Just like you said, I wouldn't notice it was foldable if I were blindfolded.
I live in an area where the roads are treacherous and I don't have any direct access to bike paths so I bought a couple of folders so I could easily drive places to take my child riding. I can easily fit both in the trunk of my Accord.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed experimenting with a folding bike. Have you ever tried one?
Where's ye Brompton?
Had tern d8 link. good bike. Nice and light. You can pick up a good bike secondhand. I pack mine for airline by wrapping in a tent or a tarp using packaging tape
I have, a Brompton, and found it too twitchy for me.
I have a 6-speed Brompton and I LOVE it! I agree it is a GREAT urban bike. I’ve taken it on a plane a couple of times in a soft case without much trouble. I’ve used it on a multi-day bike tour from Montréal to Quebec City (and back on Via Rail). And for most the last 10 years it has been my primary bike for short trips around town. I never have to carry a lock, since I just bring it in with me. It’s easy to bring on a bus or a train, or throw it in the trunk of a car if my trip ends up being multimodal. I can even drag it around on its tiny wheels as a small shopping trolley when I’m grocery shopping.
I have one of the "cheap" folders, and it is the only upright bike in my collection (not counting my wife's bike) (my three other bikes are recumbents).
I used to have an 8 mile commute, mostly flat, and I found the 3 speed folding bike was perfectly up to the task. Not as comfortable as a recumbent, but perfectly capable. I did end up changing the chainring, as "mostly flat" can also be stated as "some hills," and I was more interested in being able to pedal the hills easily than going fast.
Something that's rarely mentioned when it comes to folding bikes, is that they're great for wearing medium-long skirts/dresses. Especially Bromptons. Better than step-troughs even, as these require skirtguards to avoid accidents. Here the frame and chain are so low and the wheels are so small that there's no risk of getting fabric stuck in while riding. It makes the bike fit really great in your everyday life because you don't have to worry about what you're wearing.
Yes, have heard of this. I think he would have a better experience on a brompton.
I beg to differ… my pants do get trapped in the chain once in a while with my brompton
@@2710cruiser Really? How?
@@lsamoa I think the bottom of my pants flapped too much that it gets caught in the crank set
@@2710cruiser Hm, this has never happened to me. I'll keep an eye on my larger trousers from now on then. Hope things went ok and that you didn't get injured!
An extra benefit not mentioned is that folding bikes adjust easily to suit people of widely differing heights so they're great for sharing between family members or as a loaner for visitors or friends.
I didn't realize this. Thanks for sharing!
I’m thinking, what would be the downside of a folding bike vs a step through?
@@spikethea2630 There's low step folding bikes
That's one of my main reasons, finding a bike to fit right was so hard being very short unless I wanted to spend loads of money for a brand with wider size ranges
I'm 6'2 and my wife is 5'3. Our foldies fit each of us well.
I love folding bikes. I wish I got one years ago. I chose Brompton.
I often go to the grocery store, fold it up and roll it around like a grocery cart, dropping my groceries into the front bag that can stay attached. After paying, roll it out, open it up, again while the bag stays attached and ride my shopping cart away.
I have taken my bike into grocery stores, hardware stores, and coffee shops. No issues. In fact, staff often ask me questions about the bike or make very positive comments about it.
I also like how when my Brompton is folded up, all the greasy parts are in the middle of the bike so that if I were in a business, train or a bus, I don’t have to worry about me or another passenger brushing up against the bike and getting grease on their clothes.
My Brompton is small enough to easily keep inside my house, throw in my car, and is very comfortable to ride. I have no issues on long commutes.
Anyone thinking of a bike for commuting around a city, running errands, etc, take a look at folding bikes. They are so convenient.
I don't trust locking a valuable bike up, and that's an excellent way of shopping without the stress of wondering if your bike is still there.
When I had a bike parked on the street and locked up stolen, I thought...there must be a better way to deal with this, and so I ended up with a Tern DLink 8 very similar to Tom's video.
Then there was the opportunity to buy a second hand Brompton and both are excellent (one more affordable than the other), but the Brompton it's so easy to store everywhere that is my prefered one.
All errands that are less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) or less, are done by folding bicycle.
what kind of bag do you use on the front please?
@@JacqueeLukawski357 Hi. I use Brompton Messenger Metro - Large, and Brompton Borough Basket Bag - Large. Both are great bags.
I also carry a reusable grocery bag rolled up and tucked into my frame in case I venture out without a bag and make an unexpected stop somewhere to pick something up.
Another benefit for multimodal transit is that some cities require buying a separate bike ticket when the tires exceed a certain size. For example, in Munich, bikes with tires less than 20 inches and folding bikes can be taken on transit free of charge! Love the channel by the way.
Here in Austria- I pay 1,30 for the Ticket and would pay 2,5 for the bike on the train- so yeah- the folding bike is a no brainer
Same in Italy, a double ticket on Trenitalia if you have a regular bike
I bought my Brompton for my life in NYC and it's perfect for that. I've take it on ferries, subways, and commuter trains. In personal cars and Taxis. It fits under my desk at work and wherever else I need it to go. And it feels so quick and zippy compared to the local bike share bikes.
In NYC, a folding bike would be amazing with the versatility of mixed-mode commuting. You could bring a normal bike on the subway but you would definitely be hogging space.
Did you ever try to bring it on a nyc bus? I've wondered if that's doable.
@@AssBlasster Definitely not during rush hour.
@@tthomas184 A Brompton would be fine at any time. Those things are absolutely tiny. If you're standing on a bus or train you just keep it between your legs so it doesn't get in the way.
@@cmmartti 👍
One thing that rarely gets mentioned is that at age 73 l find the 20” wheels and small frame to be a easier bike to get on and off, and the more upright position to be more comfortable. The ride is probably a bit more harsh and squirrelly, but at the same time it feels just safer to ride than my 26” wheel bike.
Bless
To be riding at that age.
@@mahmoodlebanonyou must be fairly young. 73 is nothing. And look what Mick Jagger is doing at 80!
People keep doing the mistake of buying “men” specific bike frames (diamond), when they should get female specific (trapezoid), this solves 99% of all problems. A full sized bike is still superior in many aspects, not just comfort
??? What ???@@mahmoodlebanon
Awesome. Keep riding and best wishes.
Seeing Tom in a car was a mental flash bang for me lol. Love the content as always!
Hopefully the first and last time you see me in a car!
It was funny though, how he lost his mind
You should upload it as a short or to Twitter!
I just rode my old Brompton to where I am and tucked it safely away in the corner. It's normally my public transport bike.
Love it. Folders are amazing for getting around cities in a multi-modal way
@@Shifter_Cycling I mean.. I live in London, UK - and there is a reason the brompton, which folds so small!, was invented here. Big city, lots of people in small apartments with no storage, rampant bike theft issue, and loads and loads of underground trains. The brompton/train/brompton route is fantastic. You can always bring it in with you.. it's got small wheels on the rear rack that let you even use it as a grocery cart in supermarkets. I brought it to YYC the last time I was there. Did you know that Safeways have these weird shopping carts with a shelf in the front that is exactly the right size for you to put a Brompton in? perfect! thanks safeway!
Can you lift it over the turn bars? Or are those just not what is used where you live
I couldn’t fit a folding bike on a bus, here. Can’t get it over the knee-to-armpit bars turnstiles, and no way to pass it below as something’d have to be the height of your chins to pass underneath
@@lorenzo_br5803 you could do that with a brompton, they are quite compact, though not super light. But we don't have turnstiles.. we have flappy 1/2 door barricade thingies, which is easy with a brompton. .. and there's always a larger disabled/ people with baby buggy/push chair gate - they're bigger
@@NunontheRun The Sidewinder rollers make them as easy to roll as a rollerbag.
Cheapskates like me can even take an old roller bag and get the same advantage.
I really appreciate the folding compatibility with public transit.
My main bike is a folder and I love it. Before Covid I had a 10 min ride to my local train station, 40 mins on the train, and 15 mins to my office. It was super easy with the bike. I wasn't allowed to bring the bike into the office, but we had a secure location to lock the bike, so that was fine.
Have been working from home for nearly 3 years, but I still love my folder. I have ridden thousands of KM on it, and quite a few longer journeys without any problems.
Mine is a Fuji Origami, which has to be the best name for a folding bike.
One of the big things is its a lot more acceptable to bring folding bikes into stores and restaurants now. Lots of people riding giant electric scooters helping break the ice for us haha.
Haha, so true! Thank you giant electric scooters!
Surprised they haven't made "those" foldable with how long their base is compared to the classic Micro kick scooter.
@@InnuendoXP I have two electric scooters. One is small and can be put into a shopping cart or under a subway seat. The other is also foldable but is much larger, and unless you're The Rock, it's just not practical to move it around and put it under things like subway seats (assuming it would fit). I had the same experience with a folding mountain bike years ago, which was much too heavy and difficult to fold. Long story short, weight and ease of folding are really important. We shouldn't just focus on whether something is foldable; is it practical to fold and carry on a daily basis?
I cycled through France for a month with my tent and summer dresses on my brompton. A big plus is that you can adjust the seat height so that you can cycle almost sitting up straight (like a Dutch bike) which is really great to relieve neck and back pain for long journeys 😊
Ah yes - the wonders of "folding bike camping". At first I didn't believe it to be possible but yes, I too managed to go camping with my Brompton. I mean I thought it must be possible but actually doing it? Wow, just wow.
Is it the best bike to carry a lot of luggage? Nope. But it's the bike that I can easily take on any train, any coach, any plane without any additional cost (or: nope, not _this_ train) to the starting point (without a car).
In the Netherlands many folding bikes have straps attached to them so you can carry them like a backpack.
Folding bikes are a common sight in train stations because you are not allowed to take regular bicycles on trains in the Netherlands.
SOOOOO awesome!!!
I got fed up with having my bikes stolen every few months (despite multiple heavy duty locks and chains). So I bought a folding bike, and just took it everywhere with me. On the train it went on the luggage rack, at work I parked it under my desk and at home I stored it in the cupboard under the stairs. I’ve had it for 15 years.
One thing about foldies is that it takes off all limiters to how far you can travel. I went out withy Brompton, got lost and just folded the bike at the nearest bus stop and took the metro back
I love folding bikes, at the beginning I was afraid by the size of the wheel, but I really love it because thanks of his small size, I could use it more in the city than a regular bike. For example, I could hang out with my friends and I don’t have to worry if its to late go back riding or having extra beers, I just ask for a cab or uber, put the bike in the trunk and that’s it! Also, to travel by bus to another city it’s much easier, you have the bike to ride to the hotel, going around saving money. Best wishes from Mexico :D
I've been following this channel since the beginning and I've gotta say, seeing the improvement in production quality and your on-camera personality has been great! Keep it up Tom, proud of ya.
Well, this is a wonderful note to receive. Thank you!
I agree he's come a long way
@@Shifter_Cycling Maybe try an insta 360 camera.
I don't think its any accident that the most famous folding bike came out of the UK. Storing a bike in a smaller home or on a canal boat is super convenient and being able to take it on short public transport journeys makes so much sense here in our little island
One thing I love about bicycles in general is the fact that you can make these kind of purchases on a whim, because of how much cheaper they are than cars. Especially with financing these days it can be super super affordable to buy a folding or E bike just on a whim, unlike with a car were you might need to save up a ton and still take out a massive loan.
Folding bikes are awesome!
I always thought they would be a bit of a compromise, since they’re smaller than regular bikes. But when I got a folding bike I realized that it rode wonderfully. I now take my folding bike everywhere and enjoy every minute of it.
Another niche-benefit (that I would love to experience not owning a folding bike) is that while you mention it being easy to carry into your workplace, the same is true at home! I live in an apartment building and navigating the regular bike through a tight corridor into the bike storage in the basement is a bit of a hassle that would be easier if it folded. But more than that, it would be really handy if I could get my bike into my apartment to do some maintenance work instead of having to do it in the basement or outside under the elements. My options with a non-folding bike is a dangerous and uncomfortable attempt at cramming it into the small elevator, or carrying it up several flights of spiral stairs. With a fold it would be a quick fit in the elevator and easy to navigate through corridors and doorways!
Since the wheels are smaller on a folding bike it is also shorter, which makes it easier to navigate around corridors and into elevators and even storage inside appartments etc even in the unfolded position.
However, as great as folding bikes are, there are other bikes with only the "small wheels hence shorter" feature, notably the Is:y brand.
@@user-jk2zm7uq5s Tern also makes a lot of great non-folding bikes with 20" wheels, including ones with electric assist.
That’s why I’m thinking about getting one. I live in a small apartment over a garage and have to keep my mountain bike in the bedroom closet, and it’s too difficult getting it up and down the stairs all the time. I’m thinking about getting a Zizzo.
Thank you for the inspiration and advice! I just started riding a folding bike as part of a multimodal commute to work. Luckily the weather has been great. I live on a mountain in BC, so I drive down the mountain, park at the rec centre, bike to the commuter bus, ride the bus to a neighboring town, and then bike the last 10 minutes to work. So far so good. It is fun, and I can feel the big smile on my face for most of the bike trip.
Recently when I was in Spain, the foldable was a game changer. So versatile because beyond just riding through the city you can fold it up, take it on subways or busses and put it inside buildings for easy of mind against theft.
Great review !
I bought a folding bike a few years ago with the idea of using it when travelling by train, living in France this is a very common thing to do. Most regional trains accept regular bikes but when using the high speed trains (TGV), there are very few to no bike spaces, you have to pay for them and it's not cheap. A folding bike is treated as a suitcase as long as it's packed with some sort of packaging, can be a basic slip cover.
I end up using it rather frequenly, living in the countryside I wouldn't have expected that but it's really practical to go to the next city and not worry about parking it or getting it stolen.
It's also good if you end up having to change your plans during the day, for any reason, you can just hop on a bus or a train that you didn't expect to take in the first place. Hassle-free.
If I had to commute more regularly to work I would seriously consider purchasing one of these. Thanks for the informative video. I hadn't heard of this brand before and it was nice to see all the thought they put into its design.
Thank you for watching, and for contributing! I appreciate it very much
As someone who's folding bike-curious, I found this video very helpful when it comes to considering my transportation options! Not to mention, this is one of my fav Shifter videos!
I've been enjoying mine for years. It goes on the bus, train, taxi, underground, lifts/elevators, escalators, in my tent when camping and even inside in some meetings. It's great for shopping with a rack and panniers or even a trailer for bigger stuff. Next time I take the train to Paris my bike is coming with me.
I recently got an escooter because it’s nice and easy to get on and off of transit. I definitely prefer a bike to getting around locally, but for trips around Calgary, I scooter to a C-Train station, get closer to my destination and scooter from there.
Scooters and bikes are both great for multi-modal commutes. It just makes it that much easier to use transit 👍
@@Shifter_Cycling I couldn't agree more. And bringing something compact onto the train or bus is a lot more considerate of other passengers' space. I used to commute with a full-sized mountain bike and always felt guilty. Now I have a small, foldable e-twow scooter and it's not getting in anyone's way.
I got a Vello Alfine11 about 6 Months ago. Living in Vienna/Austria I‘m riding the Vello for almost every distance, short and long. I also did a bike packing tour around 630km not too long ago. Had no problem at all. So riding a folding bike means beeing flexible whenever you want and not making compromises when it comes to comfort. Overall I did over 1.600 km since april this year. Best option in an urban environment!
You hit all the big points for sure! I don't consider the slight slowness of the bike to be a downside for myself -- lack of infrastructure means its unsafe to go fast in my city, and I want to avoid sweating when I get to work anyway. The uprightness they tend to encourage is nice too, given that I'm a commuter and don't want to lean forward and mind the angle of my back.
And as someone who's 5 feet short, the highly adjustable seat is a godsend!
Your reactions while in traffic... this is soo me. My biggest fear is to have to drive around the city whole day, every day! Thank God my wife likes that and I'm playing 3rd kid in the family :D
About 2 months ago I bought a second hand folding bike and I am very satisfied with it, it feels wonderful to go to work on it.😁
Just bought a Dahon Mariner D8 for work - I teach, mainly kids, cycling and safe cycling on the roads here in the UK. Our weather is very unpredictable and often wet and I decided that it was just dumb to ride for miles in the pouring rain then do a days work and ride home again. So I fold the bike up and throw it in the back of my van and arrive at work, at whichever school I'm teaching at, fresh and dry. I love the way it rides which I was not expecting and am already thinking of customising it to my needs and wants - I'm a convert.
"Go buy a bike! Why do you do this to yourself" is also me every time I have to drive a car.
Hilarious reactions while driving a car. I feel the same way at times. Especially for short car trips.
My brompton is how I get around the city - it's easy to take on the bus or the train (usually goes on the floor or the seat next to me on an emptier bus), it fits under my desk or the table, or just inside the doors at the hardware store; it just ends up being really convenient, while also allowing me to carry stuff that my electric skateboard wouldn't via the magic of a milk crate.
It is also _amazingly_ convenient on both inter-urban buses and trains, and I have definitely taken it to Bellingham, Portland, and Pullman from Seattle without too much difficulty, and I have a bike once I get there!
I agree! Mine is now my only bike. I hope he can try one too
I loved having the bike in other cities. If only my city had better passenger train service to other cities I'd be so pleased!
I've been trying to see any other good folding bikes on the market. Other than the Singapore company Mobot that has the same mechanism (I think because Brompton's patent expired?) everything else doesn't pack as small or fast or as easily transportable as the Brompton's. Brompton's are also steel, I think they will last for a very long time. The only downside are the 16" wheels.
One thing to mention is that Brompton's have a massive aftermarket community to change frames or gear type to accommodate a lot of different needs.
Regardless, Tern seems to be the next best budget with a longer reputable history than Dahon.
@@MrMikeDao My old bike is steel but no Brompton. It's not as compact as 16 inch wheel tri-folder either but it gets me up hills.
@@MrMikeDao I agree. The Brompton folded size means it is in a league of its own. You can much esier carry it to public transport, and also travel. You don't need to pay for oversized luggage.
I love mine. I got it two weeks ago and it has made a huge difference in my multimodal commute
I think those bigger bi-fold ones are not good for plane travel, but the tri-fold ones like the Brompton or the Tern BYB are. That extra compact fold really makes a big difference.
Yeah those tri-folds are really cool but damn they are really expensive
@@thelaw_00 I don’t think they’re that expensive honestly. The car I had before I stopped driving cost about 16 times more than my Brompton did. Plus all the other associated costs. It depends where you live, but for most people, a good quality bike is relatively peanuts.
@@thelaw_00 you pay for quality as well. Bromptons are made really well and can handle many folds and unfolds. Not sure if the cheapo folders can match that.
You get the tool that fits the job. Foldies are specialized. They do some jobs well when selected with care.
Brommies hold their value very well as an offset.
@@whazzat8015 I'm beginning to realize cyclists are very attached to the 'ie' suffix. Fixie, foldie, brommie- it's starting to get on my nerves, albeit for no good reason.
It’s frankly criminal that it took you so long to get one of these! Seems right up your alley!
I first watched this video a while ago and liked it, but it helped me in a unique way recently. I found a folding bike at a thrift store and having watched this video, I knew (mostly) how to fold the bike to bring it home with me :)
This is a great and authentic review! Absolutely agree that folding bike is for the city. I'm a Tern Link D8 folding bike rider. I ride it in the city for leisure, light errands, or commuting. I really enjoy the ride when I ride this bike! It's more like a tool for me (with the accessories) rather than just a bike.
Good vid, Tom. My wife, adult son, and I just got back from a weekend camping excursion at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. We took my Dahon Mariner D8, Mariner D7, and Vitesse D7 folding bikes along with us and a ton of camping gear and it all fit in my '22 Subaru Forester. There's a beautiful and very fun shared use trail that runs through part of the park, essentially through a forest, on which these bikes are perfectly well suited. The path is smooth, paved, and well kept, which was perfect for these bikes.
Like you found, it's a different story when flying with a 20" bike, so for my fall 2025 633km "Four Rivers Ride" in So. Korea, I may be purchasing a Brompton to simplify bike transport. Cheers!
I have the zizzo forte and I just upgrade the crankset, the chainring, and the freehub body to accommodate an 11 speed crankset and it's a beast. Lots of elevation changes in Boulder and I was maxing out all over the place. But, I love this bike and how simple it is. Just leave it in my office and don't have to worry about it being stolen. I even take it with me inside grocery stores if I'm doing a quick run. Also, perfect for not having it get exposed to weather because I can just take it inside my apartment and it fits in a little corner. Just gotta put down a towel or something if you ride it through the snow.
Good luck with this brand? Thinking about one for a long enough commute I have where I don't want to walk when I rarely have to travel for work. Seems not expensive enough to worry about any wear and tear, but good enough for the job.
@@briand8862 Hey! Yeah it's perfect for that. I sadly never use it because of the upgrades I made. It was a headache and I just realized I was loving cycling and have now gotten 2 fixed gear bikes and moved on from the zizzo. That being said, I still keep it in my office for runs to the grocery store for lunch and such and for visitors to my lab. Just accept it as the small, light, and portable bike that's not made for you to go faster than it needs to and get you point to point. It's an amazing bike that I'm sad I've out grown but it's what got me into being active in the first place. Customer support from Zizzo has also been amazing!
Thanks for the video! Welcome to the fold! Thanks for showing how nice multimodal works and bringing the bike inside. Haven‘t flown with mine yet, I think I‘ll get a proper bag. Also this seems easy to carry by putting the saddle on your shoulder
Welcome to the fold. Love it. 😅
First off, I love your videos,
Secondly, your information and videos have helped me start commuting to and from work. (3.5 mi) either way.
I recently bought a Fiji Marlboro unlimited Mountain bike and I did some research to surprisingly find, my bike folds!.
Now I don't fold it bc I don't need to, but I was shocked to find my full sized adult bike can be folded down.
He helped me a lot as well...hope you stick with it
I liked. Tanks for your vídeo. From Cucuta city Colombia 🇨🇴 South America
Bought a used Dahon Mariner years ago when doing 3-6 month assignments all over the country...would mail the folded bike to whatever hotel or apt they put me up in, so always had a bike to enjoy off duty. No longer travelling for work and have since got a recumbent, but still have the Dahon for visitors to use...great reliable and fun little bike.
I already knew that you could do all this, but watching your clips and seeing you doing it for real makes me more sure about getting a foldable bike. ☺️
where's my driving helmet? lololol i love it! keep at it Tom!
They are great for people who live in vans...... I'm Dutch and I love that I can leave my van at camp and cycle into Town
I rode a Tern Node D8 from Andermatt in Switzerland back to London over the summer..... incredible bike....carried luggage, was on and off trains, ferry and aeroplane, at hotels and campsites. 1200 km on the bike and all I had to do was oil the chain ....love a folding bike :)
I live in Singapore. During COVID, folding bike gain alot of traction among the locals as it is one of the allowed activities then.
Folding bikes are preferred as public transport allows them if they are folded and apartments in Singapore are generally small
I have a folding bike and love having it. It's got 26" wheels so it rides like a regular bike but it folds in half. I live on Long Island and I take my foldy with me on the train. Non-folding bikes aren't allowed on the train at rush hour but my foldy can always go on the train and I then I ride 4 miles to work. The best part of having my foldy is the flexibility of what train I can take. My local/walkable train runs hourly at rush hour but there are 3 other train branches within 4 miles of my house that run much more frequently. So I pretty much take any train home from the city and I'm within a 20-25 minute bike ride from home. My foldy has made a huge difference in my commute time.
Tell you what, I've done some quality touring on a foldie and it was awesome. The best part being should you feel beat, you could always fold her up and catch a bus😊
Very helpful, Tom--especially the air travel insight.
Um, for people without outdoor bike storage who live in flats, and people who do a commute that involves trains, basically.
I'm the first one. My kiddo wants me to go bike riding but I don't have a lot of space in my current apartment/flat.
A pretty reasonable discussion. I've wondered what folding bikes were for as well. Now I know.
I have a very old folding bike (70s or 80s) and I rarely fold the thing but it is just a blast to ride around! Really fun with its super low step through and funny 20 inch tires 😊
I was curious about folding bikes for years. bought a couple used off craigslist and never looked back. I’ve had 12 different folders, mostly older, vintage models. Lots of great options out there now, these bikes are amazing for road trips, and if I ever get down to one bike, it will almost certainly be a folder
I have a folding bike and it has made riding with my young kids in a medium/large city much easier. Good turning radius to circle back for them and easy to get on and off over and over again.
Folder owner here. I have a Brompton for commute and an Airnimal for sport. I live in a flat with limited storage space so the only reasonable option was getting a folder.
OMG the smirk at the beginning made my day! Your acting skills have really grown ;)
Don't have a folding bike but have an ebike with 20-inch tires and literally love them. They make it jumpier which is great for commuting (avoiding cars, potholes, and debris in the road) and trails (roots, rocks, jump, sharp corners). I put 6000km on the same tires in under one year without a single puncture/damage to said tires. I do strongly believe being able to turn on a dime is why.
I have 4 folding bikes, so you can say that I got the bug. The latest ones are a Brompton and a Brompnot. They are the perfect city bikes. Super portable, easier to carry than a bifold, and fun to ride.
As someone who's used several folding bikes, I think it's worth noting the difference between a 16 folder like the Brompton and a 20-inch folder can be substantial depending on your uses. For me in NYC, I'd argue it's as big as the difference between a 20-inch bike and a 700c. I don't feel comfortable bringing 20-inch folding bikes into many venues in NYC. The Brompton, on the other hand, is closer in size to a carry-on suitcase and few places bat an eye. Hospitals, restaurants, bars. Every once in a while someone will give you a weird look but getting the bike cover will often do the trick.
I also like that it feels more nimble than a big bike in many situations, and it feels quicker to start from a dead stop.
Great points. The nice thing about folding bikes is the variety. There are so many options that you should be able to find one to suit your needs. Thanks for sharing.
Even with the size difference, I take my bike all the places people take Bromptons and get no complaints.
But the brompton is a toy compared to the Tern folding e-bikes. 😁 I take my Tern for errands in NYC all the time. No way I’m leaving it alone.
@@krob9145 I'm pretty sure, there are places people take their Bromptons where you can't take your bike.
@@mranonymous8815 I have yet to meet such places. The 20" wheels have been, on buses, trains, including the underground, in doctor's office, café , supermarket, IKEA, camping in tents etc. I haven't taken it on a plane but I know it's possible by others as long as it's packed as luggage.
Great choice of hubs! I don't own a folding bike, but my favorie bike has both a dynamo hub and an IGH and I love it. It is so much more convenient to have lights and a transmission working perfectly all the time, I wish they woud be more popular in North America. I would clearly have a similar setup if I had a folding bike but I must say, I wish I'll always have the space to keep my current bikes, at home and at my office.
I ride a Term Node D7i, a pretty rare and unusual bicycle. 24’ wheels and hub gearing. I absolutely love that bicycle.
I love your channel! I'm also yyc based and was considering a TH-cam channel but felt like incouldnt do it living in calgary. Boom here you are inspired! Thank you!
I have a tiny apartment and my foldie lives inside with me...reassuring not to have to leave it outdoors! I do recommend getting a tube of gritty lubricant to deal with the inevitable sliding down of the seat post. I also take extra time as I'm setting up to double check that everything's locked in place.
Love to see that Tom and I are identical in that I immediately start complain about cars and car culture in the rare times I'm driving a car 😂
Another excellent use for a folding bike is that last mile of commute, after you've parked your car somewhat far from work because either there's no parking in the city center or because there's free parking further away from your work. A folding bike that fits in your trunk enables you to save on parking as well as save time in getting to work. For example, if parking right in your work building costs $10 per day, and you have the option of parking for free some several blocks away from work, you will make back your investment of say a $300 folding bike in 30 days, not to mention saving on gas, time, and it is also healthy for you!
Excellent video! My first experience with a folder was a "Fold N Go" years ago, and it only had 12 inch wheels! The most memorable use was the time I did a weekend sound engineering at a campground having a women's event, and I was the ONLY male staying there! I packed the bike with my equipment, and used it for getting around the campground to avoid, um, entanglements 😉
Fast forward many years, and now my favorite bike is a RadMini folder. It's huge compared to the Tern, bigger than an Onyx RCR moped, but it fits in the hatch of my car like it was made for it. The main reason I went for a folder in the first place is to avoid the bike rack, and the RadMini takes to modifications well, so it works out perfectly for out of town group rides.
I'm surprised you only have one bike of that brand, because... "One good Tern deserves another".
In London you can't take a normal bike on the bus or on the train/tube during rush hour. They also make great pub bikes as you don't have to lock them up outside and worry about them getting stolen.
Edit: I don't ride a folding bike myself but I know/have met a lot of people who ride Bromptons for the reason mentioned above. They're expensive but very compact and well engineered.
My mother bought en electric folding bike to put in the car when she visits friends, relatives or just want to make a bike tour somewhere else.
When her sister tested it at the first visit, the sister and her husband instantly bought 2 for themselves :D
Btw. the bike is put into a compact car - a class that is so small afaik it's not even sold in the US.
I have been riding a Birdy for more than ten years. I was folding it quite rarely, but just the small form factor and the option (like for getting a lift) if need be is enough reason for me that I'd still go for a foldable again, if I wouldn't be riding an EUC.
I recently house-sat for friends in the suburbs and had to drive into the city, and I had the exact same experience sitting through traffic every day!
I always take one travelling with me. I’ve rode 1000s of km through the world folding bike touring 👍
Good to know this size feels like a regular bike. I really want a folding bike because in Taiwan I take the bus and subway everyday. It would be great to carry a bike with me
Great information on flying with a bike.
A note of caution for folding bike on bus rack, you may want to shift to smallest cog to prevent the bus bike rail from bending your rear derailleur! Get a suspension seatpost if you can't handle the shock of the smaller wheels as well (Suntour one is good)
Do they make 600mm long suspension seatposts for dahons?
@@JGDpictures you will need seatpost extension tube for that.
Folding bikes are great here in Singapore. Its much more nimble, and is able to manoeuvre on pedestrian sidewalks.
For a person who travels a lot and loves to ride their bike, a folding bike is perfect. It can sit in the truck bed when traveling or in the rear compartment. It is easy to get in and out of the room I'm staying in as well as the elevator.
Excellent summary. I bought a used Brompton, like it. I'm looking forward to traveling by train with it.
I'm looking forward to a multi-city train tour as well. I think that's where it would shine.
We picked up a couple of Giant expressway folding bikes through a friend in Hong Kong as they were not available in Canada. We then installed CYC Motor X1 Stealth Mid-Drive motors with a thumb throttle and a 14ah battery. They are fantastic. If it wasn't for the battery you would almost never guess they were now DIY eBikes. The motor fits perfectly inside the little frame triangle with a millimeter to spare. And they fold up perfectly with everything installed. Now we have 9 levels of pedal assist and power to spare. They are so much fun to ride.
Private pilots love them because you can zip over to the FBO and friends’ hangars. Plus, if you fly somewhere on a beautiful day, you take it with you, then have transportation once you land. 🧡
If u r gonna b flying alot, look into Bike Friday (based in Oregon). Their bikes are built for flying. You do need to take the bike apart but it is much simpler than taking apart a full size bike. Bonus, their bikes are built for touring so comfort is there for u. We love ours.
Haha love the traffic clips, I'm the exact same whenever I get in a car in the city.
So these bikes are extremely capable. I've used a 14inch Ebike in a Tbay winter and it worked out surprisingly well, and have done 3 day bikepacking trips on a 16" folding bike.
Never really folded them a whole lot unless I was putting it in a car or getting on transit but I love that I can go about normal bike speed with extra effort and it takes up a smaller area indoors.
So for a winter commuter where you want to store it indoors and have it take up less indoor space without fancy vertical wall mounts it works great.
I find I can usually bring a folder indoors and most stores won't take issue
Also loved the traffic scene lol
Saludos desde Perú muy buen video. Un abrazo
they are for condo/apartment/ boating. I find folding bikes are a bit sensitive steering - quick, good up hills. good video, Cheers!
Your inner monologue while driving was great.
I have a folding bike and I used mine for catching the train. In Perth (and I'm guessing all Australian cities) you can't bring a full sized bike on a train during peak times so a folding bike is the perfect solution.
I had a dahon d7 as my main commuter for a couple of years, they're faster than people think, good fun tucking in and drafting someone in full racing gear. (Remembering to sit up straight and hide the effort I'm putting in if they turn round)
Bought a Swagtron EB5 electric last month, I never look back. Perfect budget e-bike for commuting.
My Brompton is actually an extension of my body. Sometimes it feels like an extra body part (instant wheels - yay!)
Love this feeling when it happens on a bike
I only own folding bikes, because my elevator is small and it's really difficult for me to get in with a regular bike. I bought a brompton this year mainly because the elevator at work is half the size of mine, so going to work every day to fight with my bike in a tiny elevator was really stressful, so I was choosing to go by bus instead and that made my life really sad. I wanted my commutes to be nice and easy, because I do that twice, several days a week, every week. That's a lot of time in my life! Also I am thinking of installing dynamo lights because I want to have it always ready and easy for me to go out with it.
I was amazed when I first used a folding bike. It is much smaller and it folds but riding experience is same as a regular bike. Just like you said, I wouldn't notice it was foldable if I were blindfolded.
I live in an area where the roads are treacherous and I don't have any direct access to bike paths so I bought a couple of folders so I could easily drive places to take my child riding. I can easily fit both in the trunk of my Accord.
wow 4:38 that's a no no for me. Thanks for the video. Great channel !
I always love to watch the shifter vlogs! love from India♥