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All sorts of interesting one- and two-wheeled vehicles crisscross the streets of my city, including an increasing number of increasingly affordable, portable transport. Spandex-clad cyclists take advantage of protected lanes, electric scooters fly over sidewalks (and anywhere), and occasionally, an odd unicyclist or one-wheeler will break up the predictability. I particularly like to watch foldable e-bike riders who go from trail to train, transforming their personal transit into a cube to carry through a crowd. This now-you-see-it now-you-don’t collapsible electric bikes offer power assistance for commuting or errands without taking up valuable real estate in an apartment or townhouse. These flexible options also can often fit into an SUV or RV without purchasing a heavy-duty and often expensive rack. We’ve rounded up the most reliable options from the best folding electric bikes to match every riding style and need.
How we selected the best folding electric bikes
I’m still hunting for my spirit bike, like the one in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. In the meantime, I’ve owned and tested many different bikes—electric and not, folding and not—on my commute. I’ve combined this experience with that of the PopSci team and conducted extensive research into expert and customer reviews to select the models on this list.
The best folding electric bikes: Reviews & Recommendations
An electric folding bike must balance having enough oomph to make it to work and back and being easier to store and transport than a full-sized e-bike. Collapsible models tend to have shorter wheelbases, lower standover heights, and an upright riding position so you can see clearly in traffic or on crowded paths. Wheels are usually 16 to 20 inches in diameter, which results in feeling more of the bumps and cracks of the road. Skinny tires…
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