Folding electric bikes are revolutionizing personal transportation, offering unmatched convenience and versatility. If you’re seeking a compact, easy-to-store, and budget-friendly electric bike, a folding model might be the perfect solution. They eliminate the need for car racks and bulky storage spaces, fitting neatly into closets, apartments, or car trunks. You get many of the benefits of a standard e-bike, with the added advantage of portability. For city dwellers, students, commuters, or travelers, the Best Folding E Bike can be a game-changer.
However, the market is flooded with options, and not all folding e-bikes are created equal. This guide highlights the top folding electric bikes of 2024, categorized to help you find the ideal model for your needs, from budget-friendly to technologically advanced, ensuring you choose a folding e-bike that truly excels. We’ve evaluated models based on comfort, performance, technology, and overall value to bring you this curated list.
Our selection includes renowned brands like Lectric, GOTRAX, Heybike, and Ride1Up, all known for producing quality electric bikes at accessible price points. Forget about underwhelming rides – these are folding electric bikes that deliver on performance and practicality. Let’s dive into the best folding e-bikes of 2024.
Best Folding Electric Bikes of 2024: Summary
| Bike | Category | Price | Shop Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectric XP Lite | Best Budget | $799 | Lectric |
| GOTRAX F3 2.0 | Most Comfortable | $1299 | GOTRAX |
| Heybike Mars 2.0 | Most Fun | $749 | Amazon |
| Lectric One | Best Technology | $2199 | Lectric |
| Ride1Up Portola | Best Overall Value | $995 | Ride1Up |
Best Budget Folding E Bike | Lectric XP Lite 2.0
Man riding a Lectric XP Lite folding electric bike on a paved path through a park.
Simplicity Defined – An Ebike Everyone Should Own
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 – $799
When searching for the best folding e bike on a budget, the Lectric XP Lite 2.0 stands out as the top contender under $800. It embodies the core essence of personal electric vehicles: providing a simple, reliable, and low-maintenance mode of transportation for everyday tasks. Whether it’s a quick trip to the grocery store or a short daily commute, the XP Lite offers unparalleled convenience at an unbeatable price. Its user-friendly design and familiar bicycle form factor make it accessible to virtually anyone, allowing you to hop on and ride immediately.
The Lectric XP Lite 2.0 excels as a best folding e bike for its sheer practicality. It’s designed to be an essential tool for daily life, much like a reliable appliance. For its price point, it’s hard to argue against the sheer convenience it offers.
The primary limitation of the XP Lite, common among bikes in its class, is its size. Riders taller than 6’1″ or heavier than 200 lbs may find the bike a bit compact. However, with a maximum rider weight capacity of 275 lbs, it can still accommodate larger individuals who prioritize portability and affordability in a folding e-bike.
Our Review: The Lectric XP Lite – An Everyday Essential
Most Comfortable Folding E Bike | GOTRAX F3 2.0
GOTRAX F3 fat tire folding e-bike parked on a paved surface with grass in the background.
A Folding Ebike for Longer Rides
GOTRAX F3 2.0 – $1299
If ride comfort is your top priority, and you’re willing to accept a slightly heavier frame, fat tire e-bikes are the optimal choice. Among these, the GOTRAX F3 2.0 emerges as the most comfortable fat tire folding e-bike available. This makes it the best folding e bike for those who prioritize a smooth and enjoyable riding experience, especially on varied terrains.
The F3 2.0 has undergone a recent upgrade, boasting a refined, premium feel and a new color display, all while remaining under the $1,300 mark. It features a substantial 13.6Ah battery, larger than typically found in this price range, along with an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, a robust 500W rear hub motor, and an unlockable top speed exceeding 25mph.
The standout feature of the GOTRAX F3 2.0, and what truly sets it apart as a comfortable best folding e bike, is its torque sensor. Unlike cadence sensors that simply detect pedaling, a torque sensor measures how hard you pedal, providing motor assistance proportionally. This results in a more natural and intuitive riding experience, especially appreciated by riders seeking a traditional cycling feel with electric assist. This feature is rarely found at this price point, making the F3 2.0 an exceptional value for comfort-focused riders.
For those who enjoy extended rides, the GOTRAX F3 2.0 is the ideal companion. Its superior comfort and extended range are unmatched in its category. The added folding capability makes it a fantastic choice for travel, RV adventures, and camping trips, solidifying its position as a versatile and comfortable best folding e bike.
Our Review: Which GOTRAX Folding Ebike Should You Buy? Comparing the F1, F2 & F3
Most Fun Folding E Bike | Heybike Mars 2.0
Heybike Mars folding e-bike in orange color parked outdoors on pavement.
Speed and Versatility in a Very Affordable Package
Heybike Mars 2.0 – $749
If your criteria for the best folding e bike includes exhilaration and versatility, the Heybike Mars 2.0 is your go-to choice. Priced under $750, it delivers a thrilling ride and impressive off-road capabilities, making it exceptionally fun to ride.
The Mars 2.0 is equipped with 4-inch wide fat tires and 65mm of front suspension, effectively absorbing bumps and vibrations even at high speeds. These wide, knobby tires make it one of the most capable off-road folding bikes in its class, ready to tackle trails and uneven surfaces with confidence.
Beyond its off-road prowess, the Heybike Mars 2.0 boasts a suite of quality components: a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain for reliable shifting, a clear black-and-white center-mounted display for essential ride information, and upgraded hydraulic disc brakes for powerful and consistent stopping power.
The Heybike Mars 2.0 has impressed with its performance, especially considering its affordable price point under $1200. It stands out as one of the best folding e bike options for riders seeking a genuinely fast and engaging e-bike experience without breaking the bank. For even greater value, a slightly cheaper version with a 750W motor is available for under $1000, still offering more power than many competitors in its price range and guaranteeing a fun and energetic ride.
Overall, the Heybike Mars 2.0 is a robust and fun best folding e bike that offers exceptional performance at a surprisingly low price, readily available on Amazon.
Best Technology in a Folding E Bike | Lectric One
Lectric One folding e-bike in black color showcasing its compact folded handlebar profile.
The Most Intuitive Electric Bike Ever
Lectric One – $2199
For riders who appreciate cutting-edge technology and seamless integration, the Lectric One is the best folding e bike in terms of technological innovation. Lectric has gone all-out with this model, incorporating high-end components typically found on much more expensive bikes.
The Lectric One features a Pinion automatic shifting gearbox, which intuitively shifts gears for you, and a Gates carbon belt drive, eliminating the need for chain maintenance and providing a smoother, quieter ride. It also packs a powerful 1300W max power motor, a long-lasting 14Ah battery, a vibrant color display, and premium hydraulic disc brakes, all integrated into a surprisingly lightweight and portable folding design.
It’s important to note that the Lectric One does not fold at the frame; only the handlebars fold down. While this means it’s not as compact as other folding bikes on this list, the folding handlebars significantly reduce its height, making it easier to fit into smaller cars and storage spaces. Despite not being a full frame folding e-bike, its compact handlebar design still contributes to its versatility and makes it a contender for the best folding e bike for those with limited storage.
The Lectric One offers an incredibly intuitive riding experience. Automatic shifting is a revelation, simplifying riding and enhancing enjoyment. The belt drive further reduces maintenance, eliminating chain cleaning and lubrication, and the enclosed drivetrain protects components from damage during transport.
Lectric has combined these advanced features with their signature polished frame and design, resulting in a high-quality and aesthetically pleasing e-bike. The price of $2200 is remarkable, considering the top-tier components included. Purchasing these components individually would likely cost significantly more than the complete Lectric One.
The Lectric One is not only a top best folding e bike but also one of the best e-bikes overall. For riders seeking a premium, technologically advanced, and exceptionally smooth riding experience, the Lectric One is an unparalleled choice.
Our Review: The Lectric One, “It’s Gonna Spoil You”
Overall Pick for Best Value | Ride1Up Portola
Ride1Up Portola folding e-bike in gray color parked against a wall in an urban setting.
Just a Little Bit Better at Everything
Ride1Up Portola – $995
For the best folding e bike that offers exceptional value for money, the Ride1Up Portola is our overall top pick. True to Ride1Up’s philosophy, the Portola delivers more features and higher quality components than competitors in its price range, making it an outstanding value proposition.
Priced under $1000, the Portola outperforms similarly priced folding e-bikes in several key areas. It boasts a more powerful motor, larger and more responsive brakes, longer suspension travel for enhanced comfort, an extra gear for greater versatility, and a higher rack weight capacity for carrying cargo.
The Ride1Up Portola exhibits a level of refinement and quality far beyond generic, budget-oriented folding e-bikes often found online. From its thoughtful design and clean welds to its sleek paint finish, the Portola exudes quality and attention to detail.
Small but significant details elevate the Ride1Up Portola as the best folding e bike for value: the secure and easy-to-use folding handlebar mechanism with an added safety lock, comfortable locking palm rest grips, and ergonomically positioned shifters and brakes that are easily accessible without hand repositioning. These thoughtful design elements demonstrate a meticulous approach to every aspect of the bike.
The Portola represents the pinnacle of value in folding electric bikes, embodying Ride1Up’s commitment to offering more for less across their entire product line. It’s the ideal choice for riders seeking a well-rounded, high-performing, and affordable best folding e bike.
Our Review: The Ride1Up Portola – The Best Value Folding Ebike
Wrapping Up
These are our top recommendations for folding electric bikes in 2024. We are continuously testing new models and staying updated on the latest advancements in the e-bike market to bring you the best reviews and buying guides. If you have a particular folding e-bike in mind that you’d like us to review, please reach out and let us know!
For in-depth video reviews of each of these bikes, visit our YouTube channel. You can find direct links to all the bikes mentioned in this guide above, and explore more of our e-bike buying guides below to further assist your research.
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