5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying My Folding E-Bike
Written by: Rémy Rossi | January 17, 2024 | Time to read 3 min
Measure twice, cut once. You don’t need to read this article twice, but a once-over will help if you’re thinking about buying a folding e-Bike!
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
Avoid total collapse when buying a folding e-Bike by doing a bit of research beforehand. The fact that you’re here means you’ve already done your homework so it’s not necessarily you that I’m worried about.
Folding e-Bikes can be a great solution for some riders, but definitely aren’t for everyone. I recently talked about who folding e-Bike are for and if folding e-Bikes are really worth it. In this article, I’ll walk you through five things you should know before closing the deal on a folding electric bike.
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1. Foldability and portability are two different things
Folding e-Bikes— as with most electric bikes— are heavy. At least, they are heavier than their acoustic counterparts without a motor and battery, and this has consequences for the portability factor which is a much-touted benefit of folding models. Plus, folding e-Bikes may even take on slightly more weight because of their hinges and unique collapsible design features.
A folding e-Bike is never going to be as portable as a compact, non-motorized Brompton that easily squeezes onto the bus or subway car. However, some of the best models from top brands like Tern and Brompton (they make electric models now) get pretty dang close. In general, though, you’re probably getting a folding e-Bike more for its boost than for its lightweight portability.
Bigger folding models are a long way off from being conventionally portable but still have other advantages. Compared to standard e-Bikes, folding e-Bikes can make it easier to store the bike or transport it in a car. Consider your cycling routine and think about whether a folding e-Bike would work in your home, office, car, or wherever you need to put your bike.
2. The bike rack vs. car trunk puzzle
Okay, so there are several pieces to the puzzle of how to best fit your e-Bike into your car, if that’s something you’ll be doing. The first part is that heavy e-Bike require a special bike rack with higher weight capacity, and those can get really expensive. A folding electric bike, however, can collapse down and fit into the trunk of a car. That said, some of the larger models can’t fit into the trunk of smaller vehicles like a sedan.
I think you get the picture— it’s important to do some calculations and planning to figure out just how compatible your vehicle, current bike rack, or potential folding e-Bike are with each other. The ability to squish a folding e-Bike into a car can really come in handy, but it isn’t a sure bet.
Bend your gaze to these folding e-Bikes at Upway!
3. Taller riders beware
Folding electric bikes are designed to fold down to the smallest footprint possible, so they have some size-shrinking tips that may not be suited for taller riders. For example, there are typically smaller-diameter wheels, seat height limits, and a shorter steerer tube. That’s not to say tall cyclists can’t ride folding e-Bikes— I’ve seen it and there are models that are plenty large enough.
But many models may not be able to accommodate riders past the 6-foot mark. But feel free to do some test rides or look up the manufacturer’s size recommendations on the specific model.
4. Folding e-Bikes come in all flavors
Folding bikes reach a ceiling when it comes to performance since they have to fold in half (race bikes, of course, wouldn’t do this), but the sky’s the limit for quality— the fanciest folding bikes are able to save weight, are super easy to fold, and come with fantastic design you’ll be thankful for every time you ride. If you want some quick recs, I’ve selected the 5 best folding e-Bikes of 2025!
5. Do you actually need a folding electric bike?
This last point is maybe the most important one. Give a hard think about whether or not it actually makes sense for you to buy a folding bike. You may be better served by a non-folding model or simply a lightweight, compact e-Bike.
Would a folding e-Bike fit in the space at home or the office that you have in mind? As mentioned, you’d probably be compromising on weight and high-spec components if you choose a folding model, but this can be well worth the trade-off for space-conscious riders.
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Key Takeaways
- Portability Isn’t Guaranteed: Folding e-Bikes are easier to store than regular e-Bikes but heavier and less portable than traditional folding bikes.
- Car Compatibility Varies: Folding e-Bikes can fit in car trunks, but larger models may not work with smaller vehicles.
- Size and Fit Matter: Tall riders may struggle with folding e-Bikes, and a compact non-folding e-Bike might be a better option for some.
