Are you looking for a way to make your commute more efficient and sustainable? Look no further than folding ebikes! Folding ebikes provide all the convenience of a regular bicycle, but they’re more portable, with the added benefits of being electric-powered, allowing you to travel further distances with ease. In this blog post, we will be discussing the top 5 folding ebikes that are sure to make your commute easy like a Sunday Morning.
Thanks to the innovative designs of companies like Blix, Rad Power Bikes and Lectric Ebikes, you can purchase foldable bikes that are reliable, fun and loaded with cool features. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or something a little more luxurious, there’s something on this list for everyone.
The Main Benefits of a Folding Ebike
One reason electric folding bikes are gaining in popularity is because they take up less space when folded so they can be more easily stored inside a house. For example, they can be put in the corner of a garage, inside a large closet or stored in a heavy duty storage bin, making it easy for two people to lift into a truck or van (like a beer cooler). Many containers even come with wheels, so they can be rolled around with ease.
With a few exceptions, like the Jetson Bolt or the Gocycle G4 most electric foldable bikes come with heftier frames and fat tires. Ebike manufacturers like Blix, and Lectric Ebikes have made a conscious effort to design versatile folding ebikes that can be ridden comfortably on paved roads and dirt trails. Lots of these ebikes can handle cargo payloads of between 250-300 total pounds and include mounting points for a multitude of accessories. This makes sense because why go through the trouble of just making a small foldable ebike when you can offer one that’s more swiss army knife than letter opener.
There are a lot of folding ebikes out there to choose from so to make things easier we compiled a list of some of our favorites. They vary widely in price point and functionality, with some more focused on hauling power or ride performance and others more concerned with practicality.
Here are our Top 5 folding ebikes for 2023
- If you’re looking for a compact folding ebike check out the Vika+ Flex ($1899) by Blix Bikes. Jump to review
- If you want the fattest tires and biggest battery, try the RadExpand 5 ($1649) by Rad Power Bikes. Jump to review
- If you want a folding ebike with maximum stopping power, check out the ESPIN Nesta ($1099). Jump to review
- If you want a more powerful motor and higher quality components, try the Aventon Sinch ($1599). Jump to review
- If you want both build quality and budget-friendly price, try the Lectric XP 3.0 ($999). Jump to review
- And here are our three honorable mentions:
Blix Vika+ Flex
The Vika+ Flex has one of the most compact designs of all the folding electric bikes on our list but it also has some of the most impressive components. In fact, Bicycling.com named the Blix Vika + Flex its Best Value Folding Bike in 2020. Right away you’ll notice that the Vika+ Flex offers a slim frame and is on the lighter side of things at only 55 lbs. According to Blix Bikes it can be folded in under 20 seconds and for an extra $69 Blix will supply you with a convenient carry bag for your bike so you can easily slump it over your shoulder for transport.
With a 500W motor, and a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain this bike does well on hills, where its slimmer 20×2.4 inch tires provide tons of ride stability and flexibility. In addition to the standard LED lights and rear brake light, the Vika+ comes with reflective sidewall tires for a safe evening riding experience. On top of one of the bigger batteries available in this class at 614 watt hours, this ebike makes hydraulic disc brakes standard.
You can grab a Vika+ Flex for $1899. It’s one of the more expensive options on our list, but it’s a very well put together ebike that is complete with everything you need for a truly pleasurable urban riding experience.
RadExpand 5
When Rad Power Bikes releases a new ebike model they tend to set the tone for the industry in terms of bike specs and price point. For foldable electric bikes, like the RadExpand 5, that pricepoint is $1649 and what you get for that price is a 750W motor, a 672-watt hour battery, mechanical disc brakes, and a rear rack, lights and fenders standard. In short, you get a lot for your dollar when you purchase a RadExpand, now on its 5th ebike iteration.
Like other Rad models, its designers focused more on comfort, safety and pragmatism with the design of this folding ebike. There’s one frame and it’s a step-thru, which should appeal to a wider range of riders. Not only that but the BMX-style handlebars offer more comfort than the straight handlebars you usually see on folding electric bikes. The handlebars are also adjustable. There is no suspension on this ebike, which some riders may knock Rad for but that also means the bike weighs less and comes at a more affordable price tag- not necessarily a bad thing.
In addition to the aforementioned mechanical disc brakes (with 180mm rotors), the RadExpand 5 comes with a 7-speed drive train, which comes in handy when you’re carrying an extra (small) passenger or heavier cargo. Perhaps best of all, when you purchase a RadExpand 5 you benefit from one of the largest service networks among any of the top ebike brands, which should give you peace of mind should you run into mechanical problems. That and Rad’s commitment to making safe, approachable ebikes for all types of riders is why a lot of customers keep coming back for 2nd or 3rd bikes for their friends and family. It’s also why we had to include the RadExpand 5, from Rad Power Bikes, on our list of best foldable electric bikes!
ESPIN Nesta
One of the most powerful ebikes to make our list is the ESPIN Nesta, which sports a 750W (sustained) rear hub motor that produces 85Nm of torque. That’s a significant boost compared to similarly priced models from Rad, Aventon and Lectric. It’s also one of the only folding ebikes in that price range to include hydraulic disc brakes standard.
With its 8-speed drivetrain and outsized torque output the Nesta is easily one of the best hillclimbers among the ebikes we selected for this article. Another stand out offering is its 100mm air/oil suspension fork, which is uncommonly found at this price and smooths bumps better than spring forks. Speaking of smoothing out bumps, this bike also comes with cushy, 4-inch puncture resistant fat tires. Last but not least the ESPIN Nesta has the lowest standover height of all the bikes in our roundup, at 15-inches, which is good news for us riders who never have to pay for extra legroom on flights.
With a price tag of $1099 the Nesta is nearly the same price as the Aventon Sinch and the RadExpand, but unlike those foldable ebikes the Nesta, makes hydraulic disc brakes standard, boasts a more powerful motor, and comes with not one, but two racks. For these reasons it’s hard to deny this foldable ebike a place in our top five!
Aventon Sinch
Not to be overlooked on our list, ebike heavyweight, Aventon, also features a fantastic folding ebike, The Sinch. And as you would expect, it’s every bit as impressive as other Aventon models, like the Pace500 and Aventure. The Sinch, priced at $1599 at the time of this writing, comes in two configurations: a standard folding frame and a step-thru folding frame. The more distinctive frame design has a hummingbird-style tail and a 500W/700W (peak) motor while the step-thru version is very similar to the designs of other Aventon step-thrus like the Aventure, Pace and Level ebikes, only with a 500W motor.
Whichever frame style you prefer, every Aventon Sinch includes a 672 Watt-hour integrated battery, 20×4 inch fat tires, Tektro mechanical disc brakes, a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain, and 45MM front suspension. One of the things that’s great about Aventon is that they stick to good quality, name-brand components, which are pretty easy to find if you ever need a replacement. With its huge 4-inch tires and powerful motor, this ebike performs extremely well on hills or if you’re so inclined when blasting through rugged trails. Out of the box, this folding ebike goes 20mph but can easily be upgraded to 24mph (in pedal assist), using the LCD display or the mobile app.
Speaking of mobile apps, that’s another area where the Sinch shines, as all Aventon ebikes now come with a large, color LCD display that can be paired with the Aventon app. With the app you can change the bike’s top speed, you can choose whether you want your stats displayed in kilometers or miles and you can track your individual rides. If that’s not enough, the app also allows you to share ride info with other app users and can tell you not only how many total miles you’ve ridden or calories you’ve burned but also how many trees you’ve saved by reducing your CO2 emissions. There’s a lot to love about the Aventon Sinch.
Lectric XP 3.0
The Lectric 3.0 is a step up from its predecessor, the Lectric 2.0. This folding electric bike is the perfect companion for commuting, exploring the neighborhood or taking off-road. The upgraded model still features a 500W rear hub motor but with more torque at 55Nm and 1000W of peak power. The battery is 48V and 10.4AH with an upgraded 20 amp controller (up from 18 amps). Like the 2.0 this ebike can be ridden as a Class 1, 2, or 3 and can reach speeds of up to 28mph with its five levels of pedal assist.
The bike collapses down to a manageable size when required and has an LCD display with backlit buttons for easy visibility in low-light conditions. From day one Lectric Ebikes has made front lights, fenders, and a rear rack standard with every purchase and at only $999, you’d be hard pressed to find better value in a folding ebike.
Another notable upgrade with the 3.0 is 180MM mechanical disc brakes, designed to increase stopping power and the introduction of what Lectric is calling “Passenger Mode.” This safety feature is designed to regulate and limit the speed of the 3.0 when a passenger is riding on the back of the bike. That makes the Lectric 3.0 the safest model to date of all the Lectric Ebikes, and strengthens its standing as one of our favorite folding ebikes of 2023.
Honorable Mentions
If you’re addicted to speed and power, try the Volt 1500 D/S by Amp Rides
If you want a beach cruiser style, folding ebike, check out the Model F by Electric Bike Co.
If you’re looking for the lightest folding ebike at an incredibly affordable price, grab a Lectric XP Lite.
Conclusion
Folding ebikes have come a long way in the last few years so we hope you enjoyed this rundown of some of the absolute finest. If you’re looking for bigger batteries, 750W motors and 4-inch tires then you can’t go wrong with the RadExpand 5 or the Aventon Sinch. If you’re looking for a super affordable folding ebike but don’t want to sacrifice quality, design or reliability, then any of the Lectric models are for you. Finally if you’re looking for fully loaded foldable ebikes that include hydraulic disc brakes, we think the Vika+ Flex by Blix and the ESPIN Nesta are unbelievable options worth checking out!