Best Folding Bikes Under $200

Best Folding Bikes Under $200 (March 2024)

For bikers looking for portability and convenience, finding the best folding bikes under $200 is key. Folding models are lightweight, easy to use, and most importantly, easy to transport from one place to another. Often called “folders,” folding bikes have undergone extensive renovations and transformations. Folders used to be bulky, heavy, and awkward to ride. As biking technology increases and the demand for convenience rises, folders have become much more streamlined, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to operate.

A good part of these changes also stems from tightened airline restrictions on bringing bikes—those that could be compactly folded up could travel free of charge. During the early 90s, folders began to experience a revival in form, innovation, and convenience. Today, there are over 150 different models and types of foldable mountain bikes. Thanks to a few decades of innovation in materials and basic construction, the folding mechanism found in the bikes of today are much more efficient than early models, offering higher performance, increased comfort, and lighter weights.

Advantages Of Folding Bikes

Compared to conventional bikes, these bikes come with a few key advantages. These benefits can create new possibilities for travel and road experience, allowing bikers to bring their rides along with them wherever their path may lead. These advantages are: No booking restrictions With very few exceptions, folders don’t require any necessary booking arrangements to be brought along on public transportation systems. This includes ferries, subways, railways, buses, and airlines. Enhanced protection against theft Of course, conventional bikes and folding bikes alike all have the potential to be stolen, and for the most part, chains and locks help prevent that. Unfortunately, even the sturdiest lock can be broken. These bikes allow for users to easily keep an eye on their bike, bringing it along to offices, stores, or restaurants. Increased storage space

Folding Bikes Wheel Size

Consider wheel size when looking for your ideal folding bike. It makes a difference in the folded size as well as what kind of terrain the bike is best suited to. Most folding bikes use 20-inch wheels to ensure they fold down to a manageable size and stay relatively light when commuting or traveling on public transport. If you plan on riding longer distances, 700c wheels will offer a smooth ride and maximize your pedaling input—but at the expense of a smaller size when folded down, and a lower weight.

Alternatively, a folding e-bike offers some pedal assist to save energy and make sure you don’t show up to work with sweaty clothes. If you plan to ride off-road, then a folding fat bike with 4-inch tires can smooth out a bumpy trail. Most of these bikes come as “one size fits all” with a lot of adjustability as you unfold them. Check for quick-release levers or simple adjustments so that the bike fits and rides well. A model with a lot of versatility may even be suitable for more than one member of your family.

Full Sized Folding Bikes

Not all folding bicycles aim to pack down as small as possible. Some folders arrive with full-size wheels that offer exactly the same riding position as their non-collapsible brethren, but they might not be the best choice if you have to battle busy rail networks twice a day. So consider your specific needs before you buy. The good news is that many folding bikes come with luggage racks or fixings. Other essentials such as mudguards and lights are readily available, and while you might have to forgo that water bottle cage, that’s no great hardship for short urban journeys. Some brands, such as Brompton, even have their own range of luggage, accessories and clothing, and want you to think of the brand as a lifestyle rather than ‘just’ a mode of transport. Folding bikes certainly do cultivate a keen following.

Your body might be a little oversized and you think that you would look like a circus elephant riding a folding bike. That’s not true. There are a lot of heavy-duty folding bikes built for big and tall cyclists, so you can take advantage of all benefits of a folder.

The Price Of Folding Bikes

Folding bikes can be found at nearly every price point, from a couple of hundred pounds up to the multiple thousands. It’s almost certainly a false economy to buy the cheapest one out there: the components and folding mechanism will be lower quality and heavier, they’ll wear out faster and your purchase is more likely to end up unloved in the shed or on a skip. On the other hand, you don’t need to buy a carbon-framed wonder-bike to get something that’s light enough to carry up a flight of stairs, or carry you and your lunch to the office. We're in the market for the best folding bikes under $200 on this particular article so we'll be focusing on finding the best value for $200.

Folding Bike Features

Disc brakes are also beginning to appear on folding bicycle, and though usually heavier and more expensive, these will offer greater stopping power – especially in wet weather.

Many folding bicycles will have anything from 7 speed to 18 speed gearing systems. Some will be single speed models. It's quite common to find the higher number of gears like the 18 speed model on the full size frame folded bikes. The best full size bikes often double up as a mountain bike. The folding frame is one of the best features of these particular bikes as it was unheard of being able to have a full sized mountain bike fold its frame down to a portable, light weight size.

Some of the smaller folding bikes on the market take their inspiration from Brompton bike models. Easily folding frame designs with speed and weight in mind. These small best folding bikes often have an aluminum frame, front and rear fenders and an adjustable stem. Many have limited gearings (7 speed is popular) and some even have a coaster brake to limit the need for cable management.

Although a folding bike with a coaster brake might sound strange it's something that when you try, you'll quickly see the appeal.

We've found as many of the best folding bikes under $200 that meet our standards for recommendation. We hope you enjoy!

ZiZZO Via Folding Bike Image

ZiZZO Via Folding Bike

  • ✔ Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Frame
  • ✔ Pretty Much Everything On This Bike Is Aluminum So It's Extra Light At 27 Lbs
  • ✔ 7 Speed Shimano Grip Styled Shifter Gearing System
  • ✔ Front And Rear Mudguard/Fender

Lightweight, sleek design and affordable. What more is there to say about the Via. ZIZZO have lots of great folding bikes out there and the Via is amongst the best for sure.

ZiZZO Via Folding Bike - Read Review See The Latest Price On Amazon Now

The Via is designed for the rider that wants the best of both worlds: premium bike at an affordable price. More than capable it’s ready for any terrain you choose, 7 speeds to help you get moving forward, V-style brakes and Kenda 1.95 all-terrain tires to help provide you the most confidence on the road, and a lightweight aluminum frame for easy transport and the ultimate ride. The Via now features front and rear fenders, making it the perfect all-around bike even in the rain.

The EuroMini ZiZZO Via 27lb Folding Bike is a lightweight design, being available in either a black or a sky blue color choice.  Weighing only 27 lbs, the folding bike is a perfect size and weight for carrying onto public transport or storing in the car.  The bicycle suits riders who are under five-feet tall to riders who are up to six-feet and four-inches tall. Offering rust resistant wheels in addition to seven-speed options, this bicycle is a great choice for any terrain and any weather conditions.  Folding the bike for storage is quick and easy, taking only 30-seconds to complete.

Another highly regarded folding bike to demonstrate that there are so many great options for you to choose from. We like the Via because it's really light and folds away easily. Two key features we want to see in a candidate for best folding bike.


Why Choose A Folding Bike?

Bicycle is an integral part of life for many people nowadays. Being specifically designed for city cycling, a folding bicycle is even more so. On contrary to ordinary bicycles, folding bikes are much more space-saving and lightweight. Once folded, it's easy to carry it along to the shops instead of leaving it locked outside or bring home.

Are All Folding Bikes Made Equal?

Just because a bike is a folding bike, it doesn't automatically make it similar to other models. The folding aspect of the bike is unrelated to the other components and build, so don’t think that you can just purchase some random folding bike with good reviews and come out okay. Folding bikes are just like other types of bikes; they have their own characteristics and components that are suited for certain usages and styles of riding. So, if you end up purchasing a folding mountain bike, and you need it for commuting, you’re selling yourself short on your overall riding experience. For the most part, folding bikes are not inexpensive, so you need to be completely sure that you are getting the right one that is best for your needs, so you don’t end up getting half the value out of your $300.

Why Do You Need A Foldable Bike?

Commuting is by far the most popular reason that someone gets a folding bike. In most cases, riders seek out folding bikes if they regularly use multiple forms of transportation to get around their city.

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