http://www.autoexpress.co.uk SpecialIssue 97
Foldingbikestested PRODUCTS
TomBarnard
Verdict
FOLDINGBIKES
Which foldable cycle is best forthe daily commute?
PRODUCTGROUPTEST 31|7|2019
Everyweek,weextensively test all thelatestcar kitfromtyres to trimcleaners.
Logontowww.autoexpress.co.ukto look through ourhuge online test archive
WITHparkingcostsattrainstations
andincitycentresclimbingeverhigher,
manydriversareswappingtotwowheels
forthelastpartoftheirjourney–acost-
effectiveDIYparkandridescheme.
Afoldingbikewillfitinyourbootand
cantakeyouthelastmileorsotoyour
destination,allowingyoutoparkwhere
it’scheaper,orevenfree.There’salso
noracksneeded,orfiddlystraps,clips
orlockstobotherwith.Butwhichshould
youchoosetoeaseyourcommuting?We
swungalegoversixtofindthebest.
Howwe
testedthem
EACHbikewasjudgedonwhatitwaslike
toride,itscollapsedsizeandhoweasyit
wastofoldandopen.Thebikewillhave
tobeliftedoutofaboot,sotheweight
andeaseofcarryingwerealsojudged.
Featuressuchasmudguards,stands
andsuspensionaddedpoints,whilethe
currentpricewasalsotakenintoaccount.
THEBromptonM6Lcostsmorethanfour
timesasmuchasthesecond-placed
bike,butforthedailycommuterwhois
constantlyusingit,it’sworththeextra
–andit’llholditsvalueifyouselliton.
TheCarreraTransitisagreat-value
alternativeforoccasionaluserswhodon’t
foldasoften.Andthesameistrueofthe
B-Twin,whichjustmissedapodiumplace.
1BromptonM6LBlackEdition
2CarreraTransit
3BromptonM3L
B-TWINistheownbrandof
FrenchsportsstoreDecathlon.
Ithasareputationforbuilding
greatbikesatkeenprices–and
theTilt120isourbestbudget
buy.Itfeelssolidandwellequipped,withmudguards
andastand–althoughaluggagerackisextra.
Thesixgearsarewellchosenandmeanyou’llbeableto
venturefurtheroutoftown,butthisistheshortestbike
here,whichmakesitfeelalittletoouprightfortallriders.
However,itfoldsquicklyandcanbeeasilywheeled
alongwhenfoldedbypushingitwiththesaddle.
B-TwinTilt120
Price:£179.99Weight:14.5kg
Gears:SixRating:★★★★★
Contact:www.decathlon.co.uk
WHILEtheCarreraTransit
(opposite)isdesignedfortown
riding,theIntercityismeantto
bemorecomfortableoverlonger
rides.It’sfractionallylarger,and
hasaconventionalDerailleur
andcassetteratherthantheTransit’shubgears.
Itcandoaprettygoodimpressionofatouringbike
asaresult,anddoesn’tfeeloutofitsdepthoverdouble-
digitmileages.Mudguardsandarackarestandard,but
foldingtheIntercityistricky,andtheclipswhichhold
ittogetherwhenfoldedaren’tasneatastheTransit’s
magnets.Wecan’tseewhyitcosts£96more,either.
CarreraIntercity
Price:£350Weight:13.6kg
Gears:EightRating:★★★★★
Contact:www.halfords.com
ECOSMO’SLightweightAlloyis
oneoftheweb-basedcompany’s
priciermodels,butat£220looks
goodvaluewhencomparedtoitsrivalshere,especially
consideringthealloyframe,mudguardsandrack.
Itrideswell,withstrongbrakesandsevenShimano-
brandedgears.Thegearingisalittlelowthough,leaving
yourlegsspinningdownhills.Ourothercomplaintsare
thatitdoesn’tfeelassolidasitsrivals,isn’ttheeasiest
tofoldanddoesn’tlocktogetheroncecollapsed.
Ecosmo
Lightweight
AlloyFolding
Price:£219.99Weight:13.5kg
Gears:SevenRating:★★★★★
Contact:www.ecosmobike.com
