Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more
On the hunt for a portable, space-saving, folding electric bike? Our e-bike experts bought and tested 7 of the best folding models head-to-head to help you find the model that precisely fits your needs. After unboxing and assembling each bike, we spend weeks putting them through rigorous tests across performance areas you care about most. We charge up and assess these bikes for their ride quality, range, power, portability, user-friendliness of their interfaces, and ease of assembly. The results of our testing period inform our ratings so you can find the bike that best matches your style, whether you seek an all-around commuter, a hip and smooth ride, or the most performance per dollar spent.
Good looks, very smooth ride, frame-integrated battery, streamlined design, excellent range, comes fully assembled
Great price, no assembly required, Class 2 and 3 capable, wide range of fit, loads of features, nice ride and power
Quick acceleration, solid range, loaded feature set, accommodates vast range of rider heights, lighter weight and smaller folded size than other top performers
Great distance range, throttle cruise control, lots of features
Adventure-ready, excellent range, rugged, top-notch control and handling, stable, comes with useful features
Cons
Heavy, less compact when folded, limited features
Falters in its range, smaller battery, modest portability
No suspension fork, slightly higher price, slightly narrower tires
Slightly twitchy handling, battery rattle, inaccurate speed reading on display
Not for tall riders, fairly heavy, more involved assembly, mediocre display and controls
Bottom Line
For the smoothest ride around town with the convenience of a folding model, this bike is eye candy that also performs
A near perfect match of performance and price, this model will appeal to most riders seeking a quality folding e-bike
Combining great speed, power, and range with a suite of useful features, this model achieves excellence for those seeking reliable, regular use while also being more easily portable than other top-rated competitors
A mid-priced, well-featured folding electric bike with a great distance range
The fat bike-esque build and components of this bike make this folding model ready for any adventure you are
Fenders, rear rack, front and rear lights, folding design, front suspension, mounting points for racks, baskets, and a bike lock, IP-65 rated for water resistance
After weeks of testing these bikes side-by-side, the most impressive, all-around performance came from the Blix Vika+ Flex. This model has the range for long commutes and all the features you can want, including integrated front and rear bike lights, a USB charger for your mobile phone, a cargo rack, and fenders to keep your clothes clean on your way to work or play. The Vika+ Flex has plenty of power and a max speed of up to 24 mph, while the hydraulic disc brakes control your speed smoothly and effectively. A smaller battery helps it keep its weight down compared to other top performers, along with a smaller folded size that makes it notably more easily portable than the over 60-pound models we tested. Its assembly is also easy-peasy, just a 15-minute affair. Tall riders will appreciate the height range on the seat post, which gave our six-tool lead tester enough room to extend his legs while pedaling fully.
This model has no significant drawbacks, though we have some minor critiques. It handles well and has a comfortable saddle, but without a suspension fork or very wide tires, the Blix doesn't offer the dampest ride. And while it has an impressive range, a few other bikes bested the Blix by a few miles in our range tests. You can perhaps find an e-bike that can (barely) beat out the Blix in a single category, but across all performance, areas combined, this bike comes out on top, earning our favor as the most complete, ride-ready folding electric bike.
Our testers unanimously agree that the Lectric XP 2.0 is award-worthy. It covers the most important bases well, with a respectable range, great ride quality, and best-in-class power. It is Class 2 and Class 3 capable, and we hit 28 mph in the highest pedal-assist mode in its Class 3 settings, impressing with its 500-watt motor. A suspension fork and 3-inch wide knobby tires provide a smooth ride over varied surfaces, and a large range of fit ensures that users of varying heights can ride comfortably. It also includes integrated lights, fenders, and a cargo rack. Assembly is a piece of cake, and the large, integrated display screen keeps your speed, distance, and other data available at a moment's glance. Lectric offers this bike at a very reasonable price, which we feel is an excellent value.
The XP 2.0 falls short of the competition in the range department due to its moderately sized 460.8 Wh battery. Only using the throttle (no pedaling), we only got 20.7 miles down our range test track. We expect to go even further by utilizing the pedal-assist modes. Despite its space-saving folding design, it still weighs over 60 pounds, meaning it can still be challenging to move around or load for transport. Still, electric bikes are expensive, and if you want to pay significantly less than average while getting above-average performance, the Lectric XP 2.0 is our recommendation.
The smoothest and coolest bike in the bunch is the Aventon Sinch Step-Through. This bike feels top-notch with 4-inch wide tires and a suspension fork that absorbs the bumps and cracks in the road. It handles well at high speeds and produces very little noise. The excellent ride quality will continue for over thirty miles on a single charge; this model's range tested as one of the best in its class. The Aventon is plenty powerful and also quite easy to assemble. The high-tech display screen and great controls are a boon for user-friendliness. When it comes to street appeal, this bike has it. We love the streamlined design with the frame-integrated (yet still removable) battery and the look of the tan-wall tires. We enjoyed time in the saddle on this bike.
The biggest disadvantage of the Aventon Sinch is its significant weight. Folding bikes have portability as a large part of their appeal, and this model's nearly 70-pound weight makes it tough to lift in and out of car trunks and trailers. Its folded size is also one of the largest we measured, though it can still more easily fit where non-folding bikes cannot. We were disappointed at the lack of included features, although Aventon sells accessories to customize your ride. Yet, for the smoothest and most stylish ride in a category not known for either, the Aventon Sinch will satisfy.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on April 25, 2023, the Aventon Sinch 2 has been released with additional features like a rack, fenders, 8 speed drivetrain and additional range.
If it was a contest based on looks alone, the Sinch Step-Through would take the win. It also happens to have the smoothest ride of all with a suspension fork and big cushy tires.
For those seeking a folding electric bike that's more adventure-ready than the competition, the Rad Power RadExpand 5 fits right into that wheelhouse. With its knobby, extra-wide tires, this bike crushes on pavement, fire roads, mixed conditions, and even smooth trails. Wide handlebars contribute to controlled and stable handling, adding to the damp and pleasant ride quality. The feature set also shows this bike's versatility in urban environments, with integrated lights, fenders, and a strong rear cargo rack. The 750W motor easily pushes this Class 2 bike along at up to 20 mph using the throttle or 4 levels of pedal assist. Most impressively, this bike stunned in our range test, gobbling up over 31 miles on our standardized test track thanks to its large capacity 672 Wh battery.
With a recommended user height range of 4'10" to 5'10", the RadExpand 5 has a fairly wide range of fit, though it is less than ideal for taller riders. While functional, the LED display is quite basic compared to the screen-equipped competition. As with most fat-tire bikes, the wide knobby tires create a louder hum while underway compared to models with narrower or smoother tires. While it does fold down to reduce its size significantly, it's among the largest in its folded position, and at 64 lbs and 8 oz, it can be challenging to carry or load into a vehicle. These minor drawbacks aside, we recommend this adventure-ready model for those seeking a versatile bike that's as adept at riding across town as it is tackling dirt roads from your RV.
When it comes to spending the least on a folding electric bike while still receiving functional performance, the Ancheer Folding model is our recommendation. You won't go as fast or far with this model, but it's reliable. It's not the fastest or most powerful, but it still gets up to around 17.5 mph using the throttle or pedal assist. We like that this bargain model, equipped with mechanical disc brakes, doesn't skimp on stopping power. It also comes with a front light (separate batteries required), fenders, a bell, bike tools, and pedals that fold in to increase its portability.
The Ancheer Folding certainly isn't flawless. While serviceable, the range, power, and ride quality are below average due to its smaller battery and motor. The smaller 16-inch wheels don't handle as well as 20-inch models, and the height adjustment was insufficient for our six-foot-tall tester — tall riders should look elsewhere. The LED display is basic and lacks a speedometer, though it works fine to know which setting you are in and the remaining battery life. This is the most adequate model we've found in this price range. For bargain hunters looking for a folding electric bike for shorter trips and occasional use, the Ancheer is an affordable option.
For a very low price, the Ancheer Folding 16-inch provides serviceable performance for shorter trips around town, campus, or just for fun.
Credit: Laura Casner
Compare Products
We navigate through the weeds of the folding e-bike market to help you make an informed decision on your next purchase.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why You Should Trust Us
Since 2019, we have tested 52 different electric bikes across several e-bike categories. Here, we started this folding electric bike review with extensive research into the category, looking up specs and comparing models at multiple price points while reading feedback to glean what consumers want regarding performance. We then purchase our selection of top models, unbox them, and assemble them as we begin our extensive testing process. Each bike is charged and ridden repeatedly for several weeks as our testers incorporate them into daily life, using them on commutes to work and evening joy rides. We also set up standardized circuits to uniformly assess each model. After conducting all our tests, we compile notes and score each product across several predetermined metrics, resulting in a cumulative score for each bike in the test fleet.
Our testing of folding electric bikes is divided into six rating metrics:
Ride Quality (25% of overall score weighting)
Range (25% weighting)
Power (20% weighting)
Portability (15% weighting)
Interface (10% weighting)
Assembly (5% weighting)
Our team of e-bike testers is led by Jeremy Benson, our Senior Bike Review Editor at GearLab. Jeremy spends a large portion of his life atop two wheels, for work, fun, and training. Over the past three decades, Jeremy has competed as a Pro class athlete in grueling endurance bike and gravel races across Northern California, while also authoring and publishing a book on mountain biking in the Tahoe area, where he lives. He has professionally tested and reviewed electric and non-electric bikes of all forms with well over 100 different electric bikes, mountain bikes, fat bikes, commuter e-bikes, e-MTBs, and more in the past five years. Jeremy's vast experience building, fixing, and riding bicycles has produced a discerning eye and an uncanny ability to critically assess and highlight the differences in performance between models.
Riding bike paths around town is part of our overall assessment of these e-bikes.
We collapse and deploy these folding models multiple times to learn which models make it easy, and which do not.
The controls and display on the Lectric XP 2.0 were among the best in the test.
Analysis and Test Results
Our side-by-side testing reveals the advantages and disadvantages of each model, while also providing quantitative and qualitative data used for scoring each product comparatively. After the last test is conducted, each performance metric is weighted according to its relevance to the general user, and overall scores are tallied. Below we discuss the key areas of performance we assessed these bikes across, highlighting stand-out models in each one.
Value
Electric bikes of all forms start at a high price tier, and folding ones are no different. Paying more in this category tends to get you a more powerful motor and a larger battery, both of which improve acceleration, speed, and the all-important range. More expensive bikes tend to have higher-quality features and offer more sophistication in their user interfaces, such as LCD screens that track speed and display trip data. Bucking this trend, however, is the Lectric XP Step-Through 2.0. This model cost about half of the top-tier folding bikes we tested, yet its performance is within striking distance of the costlier models in ride quality, range, power, and user interface. For an even less, the Ancheer Folding 16-Inch is notable for being a serviceable folding electric bike at a bargain-basement price.
The Lectric XP 2.0 is a great folding model that performs above the asking price.
Credit: Jason Peters
Ride
Our Ride metric is all about the feels, and what the bike offers to make the ride simply more enjoyable. Each bike's design, components, and features combine to affect ride quality and convenience. We examine these aspects while riding every e-bike over varied terrain, from city streets to off-road trails. It's noteworthy that the larger 20-inch wheels universally scored higher in ride quality than the models with smaller wheels. We also test each model's handling ability at low and high speeds and assess their turning radii. Brake quality and smooth shifting also factor into play. Smooth rides that keep the rider comfortable and confident are the heart of this performance metric. Additionally, comfort plays a factor, as do included features that enhance the user experience.
The cushiest ride accolades go to the Aventon Sinch. A modest but effective 45-mm of travel suspension fork dampens cracks and bumps in the road, and the bulbous 4-inch wide tires have a lot of air volume to further smooth out the ride. This bike is very stable, handling turns at speed and maneuvering around obstacles easily. The mechanical disc brakes aren't the most powerful, but they function well. It has a nice, comfy saddle, too. Our main gripe is that its height range is perhaps a bit more limited than Aventon suggests, as our six-foot-tall tester (with long legs) could have used a little more seat height adjustment. Also detracting from its score is a somewhat disappointing feature set that lacks integrated bike lights, fenders, or a cargo rack. Bonus points are scored here, though, by the sharp look of this bike and a quieter ride compared to the competition. Look good, ride good.
Wide tires, front suspension, and slick looks of the Aventon make it stand out from the pack when it comes to ride quality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Blix Vika+ Flex offers great ride quality via other avenues than the Aventon Sinch. With its greater range of height adjustments, tall and long-legged riders will likely feel that this bike fits them better, greatly impacting ride comfort. Its top-notch set of features also makes this model convenient as a regular commuter. We are big fans of bike lights that run off the bike's battery power, and this bike has them. The rear light also functions as a brake light as the dependable and powerful hydraulic disc brakes are applied. Other features like front and rear fenders, a rear cargo rack, a USB charger for your phone, and a bell are very handy additions as well. It handles quite similarly to the other top-rated models, though with a rigid frame and slightly narrower tires it can feel a bit jarring over rough surfaces.
The Blix Vika+ Flex provides a comfy ride for a wider range of rider heights, while also boasting a convenient feature set.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Rad Power RadExpand 5 also excels in ride comfort, bringing fat-bike vibes to this category. The fatty tires provide cushioning underneath, while the extra wide handlebars grant this bike very steady handling. This handling control is appreciated on city streets, but especially on trails and fire roads that often require more heads-up navigation around obstacles. This bike's off-road versatility really makes it shine. Another impressive model is the Lectric XP 2.0. Despite a lower price, it provides ample ride quality with a front suspension fork with 80 millimeters of travel. Both of these models also have useful features like lights, fenders, and cargo racks.
The RadExpand 5 loves swapping pavement for dirt or gravel, opening the door to exploring more trails and areas that other bikes won't handle as well.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Range
If you like long rides or have far commutes, hone in on this metric. Knowing an e-bike's range allows you to plan how far you can go on a single charge. We create a standardized range test by using the same course with the same rider (so rider weight is not a factor) for every model, starting with a full charge and riding until the battery is fully depleted. During this test, we record the distance traveled, elevation gain and loss, average speed, and elapsed time. We only use the throttle in this test to remove the variable of rider input through pedaling. Therefore, the results of the range tests represent the baseline of each bike's range potential. By utilizing the pedal-assist modes on these bikes, you can almost always extend the distances each model can cruise before the power runs out.
The large, 672-watt hour battery of the RadExpand 5 went the furthest in our range test. We hummed along at a fast average speed of 17.1 mph, traveling 31.2 miles with 1,627 feet of elevation gain while only engaging the throttle. Its power remained strong, too, until its final 1-2 miles, where it slowed down some. Most e-bikes drop off power significantly around 1/4 of the final battery life, making this model stand out even more.
Venture further from home confidently with the RadExpand 5 due to its impressive range.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Aventon Sinch and Rattan Folding bikes followed next in distance traveled in our range test, going 30.1 miles and 29.7 miles, respectively. The Aventon's battery is the same size as the RadExpand 5, and the Rattan's battery is a bit smaller at 624-watt hours. Also showing admirable performance in our Range metric was the Blix Vika+ Flex. Its 614-watt hour battery chewed up 27.5 miles and 1,470 feet of vertical gain while averaging 16.3 mph on our test course, also maintaining its power well until the end of battery life.
We were surprised to find the Rattan Folding near the top of the charts in our range testing.
Credit: Jason Peters
Power
Our Power metric takes acceleration, top speeds, and overall power output of the throttle and pedal assist modes into account. A powerful motor helps in traffic conditions on the road, and really improves riding in hilly areas. Our tests measure time from a complete stop to reaching top speed, as well as uphill speed tests. Smooth acceleration also scores bonus points here, as too-aggressive acceleration can feel jumpy. Having more levels of pedal assist allows the rider to fine-tune their speed to match their effort, too.
The Lectric XP 2.0 stands out in this metric, boasting a top speed of 28 mph in its Class 3 configuration with the pedal assist (it can also be configured to Class 2 status) from its 500-watt motor. Its five levels of speed assist give the rider a great range of controlled support while pedaling away. When pedaling, the pedal assist kicks in quickly within a quarter rotation of the cranks. It accelerates eagerly from a stop up to 20 mph (its top throttle-only speed) quickly and maintained an average of 15.5 mph on our uphill test.
With a 500W motor, the XP 2.0 feels impressively powerful. It can also be configured as a Class 3 bike with pedal-assisted speeds up to 28 mph.
Credit: Laura Casner
The Blix Vika+ Flex is another powerful model, hitting 17 mph in our uphill test and having five levels of pedal assist that can support up to 24 mph (if you adjust the speed limit in the settings). The RadExpand 5 has a larger 750-watt motor. It somewhat surprisingly did not outperform the other top models in our acceleration and uphill tests, though it hung with them. It has four levels of pedal assist. The Aventon Sinch and Rattan Folding performed admirably in our Power metric, too, getting up to 20 mph in about 12 seconds from a dead stop and both having five levels of pedal assist. We feel confident that any of these top five performers in this metric have adequate power for the needs of most riders.
Whether starting from a stop or charging uphill, the Blix Vika+ Flex has adequate power to keep you moving quickly and keeping up with the flow of traffic.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability
The portability of folding electric bikes is a significant part of their appeal to many riders. The ability to quickly fold, store, and later deploy this model allows it to be packed into a car trunk or stuffed into smaller storage spaces. While all models here pack down much smaller than non-folding bikes, we found large differences in this metric, mostly due to weight but also in their collapsed size. Smaller, lighter bikes fared better here, as they are easier to carry up stairs or lift into a trunk or RV.
The most portable folding e-bike tested is the Swagcycle EB5 Plus. Its 14-inch wheels contribute to a small compact size (26 x 15.6 x 23.6 inches), and it only weighs 37 pounds, roughly half that of the heaviest models in our test fleet. This bike is the most manageable if you plan to take it on public transport or carry it into an office or classroom. The Ancheer Folding 16-inch model also packs up relatively small (29.5 x 15.3 x 33.4 inches) while weighing more (47 pounds).
The Swagcycle EB5 is all about convenience. This bike packs down very small, and its low weight helps its user pack it up stairs easier than heavier models.
Credit: Laura Casner
Another impressive model here is the Blix Vika+ Flex. Yes, it's heavier than the abovementioned models at 51 pounds 14 ounces, but it's also much more manageable than the other top-rated models that all weigh over 60 lbs and it folds down smaller too. Its pedals fold inward in its collapsed format, saving some space. It also has small magnets that help hold the bike in its folded formation, and a bottom bracket allows it to stand on its own when collapsed. If you don't want to sacrifice performance and portability is a concern, the Vika+ Flex is our pick.
Compact-mode of the Blix, complete with a stand to keep it upright.
We like that the pedals fold to decrease the folded width of the Blix and making portability more convenient.
Most e-bikes have removable batteries. Removing the battery can knock off a few pounds during transport, and it also means that you only have to carry the battery, not the entire bike, to a power source to charge it.
Interface
The user interface consists of everything the rider uses to interact with the bikes. This includes the display, controls, and battery. Some models have basic displays with LED lights, while others shine brighter with LCD screens. The layout of controls and how intuitive they are factor into our Interface metric, too. Removable batteries also allow for off-bike charging and add security when locking up your wheels outside.
Our favorite user interface is on the Aventon Sinch. Its control unit on the left-hand side of the handlebar is easy to reach and manipulate while riding. The five single-function buttons are intuitive for toggling through walk mode, pedal assist modes, and changing data fields on the LCD display screen. The display screen itself is located in the middle of the handlebars. The speedometer and battery life are easy to read, and you can customize the in-field data extras to fit your needs (trip distance, average and max speed, trip time, calories burned, etc). This bike stands out for the Aventon app compatibility, where you can easily change the screen and bike's settings on your phone. We also like that the battery is integrated into the frame, adding to the bike's good looks. It is still easily removable to charge off the bike if desired.
We like the high-tech display on the Aventon, though some of the information displayed is a bit small.
Despite being hidden within the frame, the battery of the Aventon is easily removable. Locking the battery into the frame adds security, too.
The Blix Vika+ Flex comes in close behind the Aventon with a very visible LCD display screen, making the displayed data very easy to read at a glance. The three buttons of the control pad have a bit of room to improve ergonomically, but we like that we can turn the lights on and off with these controls, and operating them is intuitive. The built-in USB port is very convenient for charging a mobile phone while riding. The battery can be locked into place or removed for charging and security purposes.
The large, easy-to-read display of the Vika+ Flex.
LED lights on the side of the Blix's battery indicate remaining battery power.
The Lectric XP 2.0 impresses in this metric, too. We're glad Lectric didn't skimp here despite its lower price tag. The left-hand controls are intuitive and ergonomically placed, and the large 2 x 3-inch display screen has large text that we could read easily, even on bright, sunny days. This bike has a twist-throttle on the right handlebar, and you can set the cruise control to ride at a constant speed, too. Its battery is hidden in its frame, too, which helps in the looks department. The battery can still be removed once the bike is folded.
Lectric's display is easy to read, even in bright light, and shows all you need to know at a glance.
When the bike is folded, you can remove the integrated battery for security or charging off the bike.
Assembly
Ordering these folding electric bikes online means that they come in a box and require some assembly. This only happens one time for most users, so it's not a major consideration, but still a noteworthy one. If you are unfamiliar with bikes and their components, you may find it easier to select a bike with easy assembly. We timed how long it took us to get each bike set up from its boxed state to assess this metric, and noted the accompanying difficulty.
Three bikes took the lead in ease of assembly: the Aventon Sinch, the Lectric XP 2.0, and the Swagcycle EB5 Plus. These bikes do not require tools (beyond a bike pump) to assemble. Just open the box, remove the packaging, and unfold them. Handlebar and seat heights will need to be adjusted, but this is easily done with quick-release levers. Once you charge the battery, you are ready to ride. These bikes took roughly ten minutes to set up. Perhaps the most difficult part is moving them in their heavy boxes.
The XP 2.0 couldn't be easier to assemble. That's because it comes fully assembled. Simply remove the packaging materials, unfold it, and you're ready to go.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
The Blix Vika+ Flex falls closely behind, taking about fifteen minutes to set up and requiring only tightening of the handlebar and installation of the pedals. The most time-consuming model to assemble was the Rad Power RadExpand 5, but it comes with detailed instructions, tools, and only took us 45 minutes to complete.
Folding electric bikes can be a great way to get around, and their designs make them convenient for transport or those short on storage space.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Folding electric bikes provide a convenient solution for anyone looking to save gas and save space. The expanding e-bike market hosts a plethora of options, and we know you have specific needs you want to meet with your purchase. Our thorough testing process aims to narrow down your choices to help you make a swift, informed decision. We hope our efforts and analyses help you get outside with the wind whipping past your ears on the right folding electric model for you.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
