The Greatest Folding Electrical Bikes of 2024

Folding e-bikes have been a mainstay for city-inhabiting commuters for some time now. For these residing in minimal sq. footage, folding bikes make holding a motorbike at residence simpler. In addition they simplify the bike commute, becoming extra simply on public transportation or in an workplace. And once you’re heading out on the highway, they are often stowed inside an RV or automobile’s trunk.

With the proliferation of folding electrical bikes in the marketplace, discovering the correct one is extra of a problem than it was. With that in thoughts, we gathered 5 of the very best fashions in the marketplace to check and examine facet by facet. Whether or not you’re in search of a premium journey just like the Tern Vektron S10, a budget-friendly mannequin just like the Ride1Up Portola, or a flexible all-rounder just like the Rad Energy RadExpand 5 Plus, we’ve received you coated.

The Greatest Folding Electrical Bikes of 2025

Folding Electrical Bikes Comparability Chart

How We Examined Folding Electrical Bikes

That is GearJunkie, and we love gear. Massive shock, proper? Our love of drugs extends to bicycles of every kind, and we’ve been testing and reviewing electrical bikes for over a decade now. From electrical cargo bikes to commuters, searching e-bikes and eMTBs, we’ve examined nearly each kind of electrical bike in the marketplace. We acknowledge that not everybody has the luxurious of testing quite a few bikes earlier than they purchase, so we’re right here to assist with a comparative overview of 5 of the very best folding electrical bikes in the marketplace.

Our Knowledgeable Tester

Our lead tester, Will Porter, has been using bikes for 3 a long time, tackling every kind of disciplines, from highway to gravel to mountain, with a wholesome dose of commuting sprinkled in over time. He has frolicked in NYC, the place he discovered the true which means of sq. footage (or lack thereof), so he is aware of what a folding bike must make sense in small areas. 

Will is a frequent GearJunkie contributor. He has been testing and reviewing merchandise of every kind for a few years, and his overview expertise has given him a fantastic capacity to scrutinize and examine the merchandise he checks. Along with folding electrical bikes, Will has contributed experience to purchaser’s guides on subjects starting from the very best sun shades for working to GPS watches, together with in-depth opinions and occasion protection.

Our Testing Course of

To begin, we gathered up this choice of 5 of the very best folding electrical bikes in the marketplace. Every mannequin was shipped on to Will, who obtained and assembled every mannequin simply as another shopper would. After assembling every bike, trying via the consumer manuals, familiarizing himself with every mannequin’s controls, and making consolation changes, he set off for the true take a look at of any bike — real-world using.

Will rode this fleet of folding e-bikes for a lot of miles throughout 4 months, taking them on the streets, again alleys, grime roads, and dusty trails of Boise, Idaho, and Los Angeles. He made frequent journeys to the grocery retailer, rode on a busy river stroll, and ran numerous errands on these bikes. They navigated brewery parking heaps and sketchy bike lanes and received their justifiable share of using only for enjoyable.

Will rode these bikes within the rain, left them out within the solar, and stowed them away (folded, in fact). Whereas using, he paid shut consideration to every bike’s energy output, velocity, e-bike controls, dealing with traits, consolation, parts, and the efficiency of the whole package deal. Since these are folding bikes, he made certain to fold and unfold them quite a few instances, decide them up, carry them, and cargo them into the backs of autos to get a really feel for his or her weight and portability as a folding bike. We additionally thought-about the worth in relation to efficiency to attempt to decide which bikes present the very best bang on your buck.

Purchaser’s Information: How To Select a Folding Electrical Bike

Like another kind of motorbike, selecting the best folding electrical bike could be a problem. There are many components to think about when discovering the very best mannequin to fit your wants and meet your price range. Beneath, we’ll cowl necessary product concerns that will assist inform your buy choice.

Unsure if a folding electrical bike is best for you? If you happen to’re in search of one thing totally different, we’ve received you coated with complete guides to the very best electrical cargo bikes, environment friendly commuter bikes, and even electrical bikes for searching. Don’t neglect to guard your head with a high quality bike helmet, safe your bike with a robust bike lock, and preserve these tires inflated with a useful bike pump.

E-Bike Class

Earlier than you utilize an e-bike, it’s necessary to know the e-bike classification system and make sure the bike you purchase meets the laws for legally using on the roads, bike paths, and trails of your native space. Whereas electrical bikes are allowed in most locations today, sure states and areas have restrictions on prime velocity and motor energy. In some locations, velocity limits have gotten increasingly more widespread on bike paths because of the large uptick of e-bikes in use. We extremely suggest doing some research into the native laws relating to electrical bikes the place you reside and journey to make sure you are in compliance.

• Class 1: These bikes have a motor that gives pedal help solely with a prime velocity of as much as 20 mph.
• Class 2: These bikes have the identical pedal-assisted prime velocity of 20 mph, however they’re additionally geared up with a throttle. The throttle velocity can be restricted to a most of 20 mph. The throttle can propel you with pure electrical energy (no pedaling) and could also be useful for some riders when ranging from a cease with a loaded bike.
• Class 3: Class 3 bikes can exceed 20 mph as much as a max of 28 mph utilizing pedal help. Class 3 bikes could or could not have a throttle. If throttle-equipped, that maxes out at 20 mph.

4 of the fashions on this information are Class 2 and three bikes with a throttle, and they’re tremendous enjoyable and straightforward to journey, however the addition of a throttle could make some bikes really feel extra like using a moped than an precise bike. If you need one thing that feels extra like a daily bike, go for a category 1 bike, just like the Tren Vektron S10, that eschews a throttle and solely has pedal help. This can end in a extra pure feeling journey.

E-Bike Motors

Electrical bikes usually include both a rear hub (hub-drive) or a mid-drive motor. The overwhelming majority of folding electrical bikes have rear hub motors, however each methods work effectively and have their benefits and downsides.

Rear hub motors are aptly named resulting from the truth that they’re contained throughout the hub of the rear wheel. These present energy instantly into the rear wheel with help based mostly on both cadence sensors or torque sensors. Most hub-drive bikes additionally come geared up with a throttle to propel you ahead below full electrical energy. Typically talking, hub-drive motors are cheaper and have historically been thought-about decrease efficiency than mid-drive methods. Fortuitously, developments in torque sensors for hub drives are narrowing the efficiency hole.

Mid-drive motors are positioned in the midst of the bike across the cranks. These motors use torque sensors and ship the facility into the drivetrain, so the texture has usually been thought-about to be extra pure. Whereas some hub-drive motors can really feel jumpy, mid-drives are often fairly clean, with the facility ramping up in response to the rider’s pedaling enter. Nevertheless, most mid-drive motor methods don’t permit for using a throttle. Mid-drive motors are typically dearer and, due to this fact, are usually discovered on dearer bikes.

Battery and Vary

Vary is the gap you’ll be able to journey on a battery cost. When deciding what kind of e-bike you need, vary is likely one of the most necessary components. How far will you be using? If you wish to take your e-bike out for 30-mile adventures on the weekends, you’ll wish to ensure you have a motorbike with a substantial vary — particularly when you wish to make the most of the throttle or a excessive degree of pedal help. If you happen to’re simply taking fast journeys to the shop or to your child’s faculty, you’ll be able to in all probability get away with a shorter vary or cost your bike much less continuously.

A battery’s measurement is a crucial a part of the equation. That is usually listed in watt-hours (Wh), with greater numbers indicating a bigger storage capability. The scale of the battery isn’t the one issue at play. Energy consumption is instantly associated. Increased pedal help ranges and extra throttle utilization burn via energy extra rapidly. Likewise, using up hills, rider weight, pedaling enter, and even temperature can all play a task in how far your bike can go on a single cost.

Most manufacturers present a variety estimate, which is usually the utmost attainable distance that may be traveled below particular take a look at situations. These are often pretty unrealistic, however some are extra correct than others. A motorcycle’s show additionally offers info on remaining battery life whereas using, which is kind of helpful in figuring out how far you’ll be capable to journey. Simply keep in mind, an e-bike is way more cumbersome than a daily bike, so that you don’t wish to get caught using it residence with no battery. 

Controls and Show

Electrical bikes usually have a management unit that permits the consumer to shift between pedal help ranges, flip lights on/off, and make adjustments to the bike’s settings. These items are usually positioned on the handlebar subsequent to the left grip, the place they are often reached with the thumb. Whereas they’re often fairly comparable, they range barely in button structure and ergonomics, however typically talking, they’re all pretty intuitive and straightforward to make use of.

Along with controls, the show is a essential characteristic that exhibits related info like pedal help degree, remaining battery life, velocity, distance, and many others. Typically, these screens are positioned in the midst of the handlebar the place they’re simple to see whereas using. In some circumstances, the controls and show are mixed right into a single unit, just like the Bosch Purion management/show on the Tern Vektron S10.

Portability and Weight

With the added weight of a giant battery, a motor, controls, and beefed-up frames and parts, electrical bikes are typically fairly heavy. This runs considerably counter to one of many major promoting factors of folding electrical bikes, which is portability and storability. For folding electrical bikes, particularly, it’s difficult to stability the added weight of e-bike parts and specialised folding body designs with the necessity for them to be simply moveable.

For most individuals contemplating a folding electrical bike, the power to fold it right into a smaller measurement for storage or transport is excessive on their checklist of priorities. In that regard, all the bikes on our checklist do effectively. Not solely do they fold in half on the body, however the handlebar additionally folds down to cut back their measurement to lower than half. Stuff it in a closet, the nook of your storage, the trunk of your automobile, below a desk, or onto a commuter prepare. They take up method much less house than full-size, non-folding bikes.

The diminished measurement is clearly crucial, however most folding e-bikes are nonetheless fairly heavy. The truth is, the Tern Vektron S10 is the lightest bike we examined by a big margin, and it nonetheless weighs 49 kilos. It’s a lot simpler to deal with than the Rad Energy or HeyBike, which weigh 72.5 and 75 kilos, respectively. Eradicating an electrical bike’s battery reduces the general weight by round 10 kilos or so, which might definitely make lifting them a bit simpler. Nonetheless, because of the form of a motorbike in its folded place, lifting this stuff could be fairly awkward. When attainable, we suggest enlisting the help of one other individual.

Match

All the folding e-bikes we examined have a one-size-fits-most design. They’re meant to accommodate a wider vary of rider heights by permitting for vital adjustability in seat peak and infrequently in handlebar peak, too. For probably the most half, riders between 4’10” and 6’0″ ought to be capable to discover a snug match on most of those bikes. In case you are on both the shorter or taller finish of the peak spectrum, it’s value trying into the mannequin you’re contemplating to make certain that it can be just right for you.

Of the fashions we examined, the Tern Vektron S10 has the widest match vary, which they declare is between 4’10” and 6’5″. In distinction, the Rad Energy RadExpand 5 Plus has the narrowest match vary, between 4’10” and 5’10”.

Parts

Excessive-quality parts, like brakes and gears, guarantee that your bike is dependable, performs once you want it, and is simple to take care of. Sturdy parts are significantly necessary for riders utilizing the bike extra continuously or in difficult situations. We favor bikes with name-brand parts, like Shimano or SRAM (all the bikes we examined had Shimano groupsets). Good parts can’t compensate for a weak battery or low carrying capability, however they’ll enormously enhance your journey high quality and lengthen the time between journeys to the bike store. 

All the bikes we examined have practical parts, however the Tern Vektron S10 stands out for its significantly good construct. This bike does have a premium price ticket, however the Shimano Deore drivetrain and Magura hydraulic disc brakes are a big step up in comparison with the opposite fashions we examined.

Carrying Capability

This can be a fairly self-explanatory characteristic, however it’s necessary to double-check earlier than you make any purchases. Take into account what you plan to hold together with your bike. If you happen to plan on actually packing your bike with gear, groceries, or presumably carrying a passenger, you’ll wish to be certain that it has a excessive weight capability.

Most producers checklist the overall weight capability of their bikes and a few will specify separate rider weight and cargo weight limits. All the folding electrical bikes we examined include a rear cargo rack, however the weight limits of these racks range between 59 and 150 kilos. Most of those racks are designed to pair with add-on baskets, baggage, passenger seats, and extra, and usually, manufacturers promote these equipment to suit their respective bikes. This makes it simple to outfit your bike with the add-ons you wish to fit your cargo-carrying wants. Some bikes even include equipment included, just like the Lectric XP 3.0, however this varies based mostly on sure promotional gross sales.

For most individuals, the 59-pound rear rack weight restrict of the Rad Energy RadExpand 5 Plus or the Tern Vektron S10 will probably be sufficient for errand runs and even loading a small baby right into a Thule Yepp seat on the again. If you happen to’re planning to haul some heavier cargo, nonetheless, the HeyBike Mars 2.0 and Ride1Up Portola’s rear racks can deal with a claimed 120 and 130 kilos, respectively. The Lectric XP 3.0 takes the cake with a 150-pound weight restrict.

Further Options

All the folding electrical bikes we examined include a number of helpful options included, which we admire. Entrance and rear fenders defend us from tire spray from puddles or if the roads are moist from a passing rain bathe. The above-mentioned rear racks can assist weight and extra cargo. Entrance and back lights assist us be seen by motorists and might also be helpful to assist us see our method if using out at the hours of darkness. Some bikes, just like the Ra Energy RadExpand 5 Plus, even have flip indicators on the rear mild to let folks know your subsequent transfer.

It’s value mentioning that whereas these bikes do have lights, they usually aren’t the brightest. If you happen to’re using at evening, we’ve discovered that it’s nonetheless greatest to make use of a further, brighter bike mild to light up the highway, path, or path if it’s truly darkish exterior.

Worth & Worth

The value of the folding electrical fashions we examined ranges from $945 to $3,299, and all of them are worthy contenders in their very own proper. When figuring out how a lot to spend, think about your private price range, how a lot you plan to make use of it, and what you’ll be utilizing it for.

Price range

Price range folding e-bikes value round $1,000, starting from roughly $900 to $1,300. Yow will discover bikes which are cheaper than this, however we haven’t seen many bikes that value a lot much less that we’d suggest. Fortuitously, e-bike motor and battery expertise are bettering quickly and trickling down. And, with numerous e-bike manufacturers competing on the decrease finish of the market, there are nice price range choices to select from and the costs are staying fairly affordable.

This worth vary is dominated by a number of main gamers who proceed to enhance their bikes whereas sustaining low costs that convey spectacular worth to customers. Most bikes within the cheaper price tier present an honest vary, ample energy, and respectable carrying capability. One space they lack is in refinement, with energy supply feeling a bit extra abrupt or the show being a bit extra primary. One other space you’re sacrificing is in parts. The cheaper the bike, the cheaper the components, which means it’ll have wheels, derailleurs, and brakes that aren’t as sturdy or dependable. You’ll lower your expenses upfront, however you’ll be able to anticipate much less exact shifting and customarily a little bit clunkier total efficiency.

Nonetheless, bikes just like the Ride1Up Portola ($995-1,195), the Lectric XP 3.0 ($999-$1,199), and the HeyBike Mars 2.0 ($999-1,099) are all actually spectacular machines for the worth. Whereas they might not have the very best torque sensors, most ergonomic shifters, or fanciest show screens, they’re completely practical and can meet the calls for of most customers simply high quality. Of the price range choices, we actually admire the Ride1Up Portola’s modern design and extra polished look.

Mid-Tier

Mid-range folding e-bikes will fall within the $1,300-$2,000 vary. This can be a nice candy spot for somebody who doesn’t wish to shell out the large bucks for a premium journey however will nonetheless be utilizing their bike continuously. Bikes on this vary often have one or two standout efficiency attributes or options that assist them stand out from the price range fashions however drive the worth up.

An ideal instance is the Rad Energy RadExpand 5 Plus ($1,899). This bike has assured and responsive dealing with and a cushty journey with entrance suspension and 4-inch broad tires which are succesful each on and off-road. What units it other than the price range area is the upgraded torque sensor, which offers a smoother and extra pure feeling of pedal help. Moreover, the Protected Defend battery tech is a pleasant security addition, and the controls and show are a step up, too. We selected the RadExpand as the very best total folding electrical bike for its very well-rounded efficiency, and we predict it’s the very best match for most individuals.

Premium

A premium folding e-bike will run you over $2,000. There aren’t many folding electrical bikes on this worth vary, however the ones you do discover at this worth level are geared up with greater high quality parts, are made by firms that basically know what they’re doing, and are designed to fulfill even probably the most choosy of biking lovers.

The Tern Vektron S10 ($3,299), for instance, is by far the most costly mannequin we examined, however for good cause. It’s not solely the lightest weight — 10 to 25 kilos lighter than the opposite fashions — and best to raise, carry, and transport, however it’s the one mannequin that has a mid-drive motor. Mid-drive motors should not solely dearer, however they supply probably the most refined pedal help for probably the most pure journey really feel. Add to {that a} part spec that features a dependable Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain, nice Magura hydraulic disc brakes, and a cushty efficiency saddle, and it’s simple to see why it prices extra. Sure, this bike is comparatively costly, however it has a design, components, and efficiency to justify the expense.

Incessantly Requested Questions