Best Folding Electric Bikes

Even the biggest, leanest, meanest electric bikes are not that fast? Well, you can make an argument like that but that argument will not hold up against the SOHOO S126B-3 Folding Fat Tire Electric Bike. Unlike most e-bikes, this model's able to reach 25 mph with ease, which's huge since most electric bikes cap at around 20. The bike's brushless 500-watt motor is not that impressive on paper but, with its 915 peak wattage, the motor can output serious torque.

What's even more impressive is that the model's adopting fat tires, so the bike is lugging them too and they're not as lightweight as road tires. Sure, that attributes toward the weight but, measuring ~65 pounds, the bike's not as heavy as you'd expect considering the hardware and the wheels.

The multi-tooth, thick, wide tires will be improving the bike's mountain climbing ability and ensuring increased terrain adaptability, from hills with 25-degree inclines to trails and gravel roads. Most e-bikes do not feel comfortable leaving city roads but, with this one, you can tackle most terrains with poise and confidence. Thanks to the Shimano's 7-speed drivetrain, you'll be able to enjoy smooth and accurate shifting, so even the most dynamic grounds and altering terrains will not present any noticeable challenges. Also, because the tires are fitted with double-layer nylon puncture protection, you can ride without worrying about cutting them.

Now, somewhat going back, the aforementioned 65-pound weight, the high-strength aluminum alloy frame, and the fat wheels also contribute towards increasing the bike's load capacity, allowing this not-so-modest vehicle to accommodate individuals that hit above 320 pounds on weight scales.

The Swagtron EB7 Plus has swag for days but even settings its swag factor aside, the product has enough going for it. The model's 16-inch wheels make the bike portable, folding into this compact little package that's easy to carry. Sure, its 16-inch wheels cannot create the smoothest ride, that's where you need ~20-inch wheels. But the bike does come fitted with rear shock absorbers, smoothing out bumps that the small wheels alone cannot smooth. We're not talking about anything close to high-end MTBs' suspension systems. On the contrary, what we're dealing with here is quite primitive yet enough to let you hit sidewalk cracks and potholes without feeling every little bump. You can even hop off curbs, which is something that e-bikes like this one are not designed to do and the suspension should still be able to absorb most of the shock.

Power-wise, the 350-watt motor is not the biggest, baddest driving force we've seen yet, but the model's small wheels also translate into more torque, and the torque is quite noticeable. More often than not, the bike reaches its ~18.5 mph maximum speed on throttle alone and is even able to climb small hills without dropping that much speed. Sure, you won't be flying up the largest, steepest hills without pedaling, but small-time obstacles can be managed with throttle alone.

Foldable bikes are supposed to be compact but the Swagtron EB-5 Pro is tiny even compared to the most compact foldable e-bikes we've encountered before. With 14-inch wheels, the bike's footprint is less than anything most people have ridden before. Yet, the bike does not feel that small. The frame's design with comparable seating geometry to most mid-sized bikes (we're talking about seat height and distance from that seat to the handlebars) will allow you to ride the bike without noticing that much difference since it is only the wheels that are small here.

Besides, the bike's more than adjustable, with the seat going from "pretty low" to "way too high for almost anyone". Sure, people quite above 6 feet will look funny riding this mini e-bike with the elongated seat but you'll fit nonetheless and that's what matters. Plus, the battery's hidden inside the main frame, so most people won't even be able to tell that you're riding an electric bike.

From the specs standpoint, the model's motor measures 250 watts, the battery 36 volts, and the weight around 36 pounds. Despite the somewhat pedestrian motor, the bike can easily reach 15 mph, which is not bad all things considered. Sure, this e-bike won't be knocking anyone's socks off, but the acceleration is strong enough to enable comfortable and efficient city riding.

Solid e-bikes under $600 - do they exist? Well, with the Ancheer 250W Folding Electric Bike, there's at least one that we know of. Sure, we're not saying that the bike's been designed without trade-offs since the price demands them. First, the bike cannot go above 15 mph, which's not terrible but more expensive e-bikes can easily reach 18-20 mph, so we're not talking about lightspeeds here. Second, the 36-volt battery will only give you 15 miles before drying out, which is, again, not that bad since high-end models do not even go above 20 miles but those extra 3-5 miles make all the difference sometimes.

Are we done complaining? Yes, we are. The bike's not without its shortcomings but there are more strong points here than those shortcomings, much more. To start with, the front suspension fork contributes big time, softening the ride on the arms and making the entire riding experience that much more comfortable. Holding the front wheel on the ground, the fork provides improved handling, especially when you're cornering so that you're able to ride almost straight lines that you normally cannot on bikes without suspension forks. To add more, you'll be tackling most hills and bumps with ease thanks to the drivetrain that features 7 speeds, enabling consistent cadence despite the terrains' type and gradience.

The FIIDO L2 Folding Electric Bike looks boring. Having said that, with specs like these, who needs friends clout points? We'd argue that what's more important is that the bike is safe, efficient, and pretty relentless. More often than not, e-bikes' batteries give out before even hitting 20 miles. The model's 48-volt battery is not about that life. This thing can easily last 40 miles when you stick to the throttle-only mode and above 60 miles with you doing some pedaling. Sure, the same battery takes ~6 hours to recharge but that makes sense when you've been covering above 50 miles. To add more, the battery is adopting every protection feature in the book, including overcharge, overcurrent, high temperature, power failure, short-circuit protection mechanisms, and more.

Now, this is not the best exercise bike because, as you can probably tell from the pictures, the form is not that streamlined and the pedals are somewhat shoddy, so we'd recommend sticking primarily with the throttle mode.

At first glance, the 14-inch tires are not all that. But, with hub and rear shock absorbers, these tires can tackle most terrains without making you feel every bump. They're lightweight and make the bike quite speedy, which's not something you'd expect looking at the bicycle. Also, with anti-slip texture, the tires provide great traction, so you can even hit muddy grounds without worrying about slipping and sliding across the trails. Besides, with mechanical disc brakes both at the front and in the back, you can bring the bike to an abrupt halt in an instant. With sensitive brake levers, you won't need to press the brakes too hard, the most gentle squeeze will be enough to initiate them.