Folding Bikes Tested

Beat the jams with a bike that fits in your boot. We pick from 10 of the latest folding cycles.

Auto Express Car Reviews

April 2009

Commuting can be stressful, and the best way to beat the traffic is to park and ride – with a folding bicycle. Not only are they easy to collapse and small enough to fit in the boot of your car, they will also help you cut through the jams and reduce your carbon footprint. And on top of that, by parking out of town and pedalling the last few miles to work, you’ll be keeping yourself in shape, too!

But which bike should you go for? Buyers have an array of options to pick from, and the choice can be confusing. So, we put 10 to the test, both on the road and in a closed boot, to see which makes most sense for drivers.

The Test

although every cycle we tested fitted in our test car’s boot, some did so leaving more space than others – so we awarded points to bikes
with more compact designs.

Each product has its own unique folding mechanism, but we looked for the simplest and most effective systems. We also marked every model on ride comfort, build quality and ease of movement when folded. Unusually, cost wasn’t a factor in this test, as most bikes can be tailored to its owner, so their prices fluctuate wildly.

Dahon, 01233 731234, www.dahon.co.uk
Brompton, 020 8232 8484, www.brompton.co.uk
Airnimal, 01954 782020, www.airnimal.com
Tikit, 01225 442442, bikefriday.com/tikit
Birdy, 01225 442442, www.birdybike.comBirdy
Mezzo, 01225 442442, www.mezzobikes.com
Dahon, 01233 731234, www.dahon.co.
Raleigh, 01773 532600, www.raleigh.co.uk
Strida, www.strida.co.uk

Verdict

It was tough at the top, as there is a raft of high-quality bikes in this group. But the Birdy Lite came up trumps, securing our Best Buy award thanks to its fantastic all-round abilities. Taking the runner’s up position was the Mezzo D10, with its innovative locking clasps and shapely frame. For those who prefer not to turn heads on their daily commute, the Airnimal Joey has a conventional-looking design, and is a great choice, which is why it slots neatly into third place in our test.