How To Fold an Electric Bike

Written by: Rémy Rossi | January 17, 2024 | Time to read 3 min

Some folding e-Bikes are a total breeze to collapse down while others require a bit more elbow grease. I’ll show you how to fold an electric 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.

Aventon Sinch folding e-Bike when folded

Folding a bike may be one of my least favorite tasks, but don’t be put off by my petty pet peeves. Many of the best folding electric bikes make it painless to collapse it down to a small unit that’s easy to store or transport. There are several reasons to own a folding electric bike that make the folding process totally worth it for the right riders.

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Advice before you start

1. Release the center frame latch

2. Fold the bike in half

3. Release the steerer tube latch

4. Rest the bike on its built-in stand

Careful when lifting

Key Takeaways

Advice before you start

My #1 tip when it comes to folding an e-Bike is to be prepared for the extra weight. E-Bikes are larger and heavier than standard bikes, and this applies to folding bikes too— and perhaps even more so.

Wrestling that additional heft around, along with heavy-duty hinges, requires a bit more muscle and focus to ensure you don’t hurt yourself. After folding your e-Bike a few times, you’ll get the hang of it and learn how to leverage the bike’s own weight to assist in the folding process.

Be patient, ask a friend to help you, don’t throw your back out, and watch out for pinched fingers.

1. Release the center frame latch

There will be a large latch positioned somewhere in the middle of the bike. Pull that lever (there may be a secondary button to push at the same time) to start folding the bike. You’ll want to be standing on the opposite side of the latch so the bike starts folding in on you— this offers better leverage.

Rider releasing the center frame latch of Aventon Sinch folding e-Bike

That central part of the frame is likely the spot that the battery fits into so make sure there aren’t any exposed cables that may catch on something. If you need to remove the battery, this is the time to do it.

2. Fold the bike in half

Rider folding Aventon Sinch e-Bike in half

Continue folding the bike in half with one hand on the front of the bike and one hand on the rear end. I tend to squeeze the front brake lever to ensure the front wheel doesn’t move and I can roll the back of the bike forward, folding itself more as the rear wheel rolls. Try pushing your knee into the hinge for a bit more oomph if necessary. Opening the hinge is the hardest part because you have the least amount of leverage— once the bike is halfway holding, closing it the rest of the way is pretty easy-going.

3. Release the steerer tube latch

Folding Aventon Sinch e-Bike steerer tube

Once the bike frame is folded in half, it’s time to fold down the steerer tube— that’s the long vertical tube underneath the handlebars. There'll be a latch near where the tube meets the frame. Release the lever and the handlebars will swing down near to the front tire. You can turn the front wheel and handlebars slightly to push them as close together as possible to save space.

4. Rest the bike on its built-in stand

Most folding e-Bikes have a small stand built into the frame underneath the pedals. This allows you to rest the bike upright when it’s folded. Some models even have a wheel there to facilitate rolling the folded unit around or scooting further into a vehicle trunk. You may need to adjust the pedal rotation to ensure the bike is firmly on its stand. You can also lower the saddle to make an even more compact e-Bike and some models have foldable pedals for that extra bit of space savings.

Careful when lifting

Some lightweight e-Bikes weigh close to that of standard bikes, but many folding e-Bike weigh quite a bit. Take precautions when lifting a husky e-Bike into the trunk of your car or rolling it around to its final resting spot. The folded mass of cables, spokes, and wheels can be a bit unwieldy, so I recommend asking someone to help you out or simply going about it cautiously. Pinched fingers are just the worst.

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Key Takeaways

Prepare for Extra Weight: Folding e-Bikes are heavier than standard bikes, requiring care, proper technique, and sometimes help to fold and lift safely.

Follow the Folding Steps: Release the frame latch, fold the bike in half, collapse the steerer tube, and use the built-in stand for stability.

Prioritize Safety: Avoid pinched fingers, secure cables, and adjust components like pedals for a compact and injury-free fold.

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Advice before you start