The 3 Best Folding Bikes of 2025

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If folding size trumps all, this notably compact model leaves the competition in the dust — as does its price.

The Brompton C Line 6-Speed is a great, but pricey, pick for those seeking go-anywhere capability.

Its folding mechanism is innovative. The rear wheel rotates under, the front wheel tucks into the side, and the handlebars fall sideways and lock into place. The typical fold-in-half frames of our other picks look clunky and huge by comparison.

It folds smaller than other bikes we tested. The folded C Line 6-Speed stands 3.4 inches shorter and measures 2 inches narrower and 8.1 inches shorter front to back than the Dahon Mariner D8. If you want to tuck your bike under your desk or bring it into stores with narrow aisles, then smaller is, of course, better. For RVers and boaters, this bike, which has 16-inch wheels, can squeeze into tight spaces where a 20-inch wheeled bike may not fit.

It has a great front luggage system. This allows you to clip a number of well-designed bags from Brompton and other makers to the front of the bike; the bags can even hang out there (albeit a bit awkwardly) when the bike is folded.

It feels almost like a real bike. One of the biggest factors is the wheelbase being as long as — or even longer than — most full-size bicycles. This, along with a well-balanced geometry, creates a very stable ride and sure handling, even at higher speeds, despite the small wheel size. Some of the other folding bikes we tested and rejected had much shorter wheelbases, which made it seem like we were riding a bike for kids and not just a small-wheeled bicycle.

Despite the bike’s small wheels, we didn’t feel like we were sitting low to the ground. But the ride was somewhat stiff, mostly due to the high-pressure, low-volume tires — we noticed every little bump, including the seams in the sidewalk.

It has a greater gear range than our other picks. Despite having only six speeds, the C Line model is configured with a three-speed internally geared hub (gears 1, 2, 3) and a rear derailleur that shifts between two external gears on the rear hub (called “+” and “–”). This unorthodox gearing arrangement on the bike provides a wide range of gears (good for climbing hills and going fast on the flats) and enables the compact fold. (Brompton also offers the C Line, the company’s original folding bike, in two other variants: a cheaper 2-Speed version and a pricier 12-Speed version.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The shifting itself takes some getting used to. You aren’t supposed to pedal when changing the internal hub gears, but you do need to pedal when changing the two external ones. It may take a ride or two for that to come naturally.

And that big gear range has some tradeoffs. Some riders said they perceived a big difference between the gears and sometimes “felt like Goldilocks,” forever looking for the gear that was “just right.” This is because the hub has such a big jump between gear ratios. You can shift the outer cogs to split that difference, but it does mean two shifts may be needed to find that perfect gear.

It’s not as light as you might expect, despite its size. At Amy’s weigh-in, the Brompton bike, which has a steel frame, weighed more than 26 pounds — just a pound or two lighter than the Dahon Mariner D8 and the Tern Link D8.

And it’s expensive. Both Brompton bikes we tested had the same six-speed drivetrain, but their handlebars were different: One had sport-style straight handlebars, the other had taller “medium-height” handlebars (your choice). Each usually sells for about $1,850.

Unlike our other picks, it has no kickstand. Instead, you have to flip the back tire into a half-fold position then reach down and release a safety latch if you want to stop the bike and have it still stand up. A kickstand is just easier, and it isn’t hampered if you have something strapped to the rack.