Folding bike recommendations appreciated!

[thistler]

I am looking for another folder but not sure what brands/models I should be looking at. I adore the Dawes Kingpins, but I need something lighter that I can comfortably carry up and down the steep cellar stairs. Both the kingpin and my BSA are too heavy for my old bones to lug up and down, so they live in the kitchen and piss off other family members. I will consider most brands including Brompton, but their price may be prohibitive. I'd like something to use on days out on the train, and could possibly be used for touring either with a trailer or panniers. It needs to be robust enough to ride on canal paths, cobbles, etc. 20" wheels would be fine if it folded easily and compact enough to take on the train without using the dedicated bike racks.

My budget is around £500 max so realistically a Brompton may be out. I would rather have an older proven bike than a shiny new thing that can't do what I need it to do. I live in Yorkshire so am looking for something with gearing suitable for hills.

I have been looking a Terns and Dahons and find myself going down rabbit holes and coming out none the wiser. Even using the search bar here hasn't helped. I would be very grateful for any advice!

 

[FrankCrank]

The Decathlon range of folders look nice, well made, and good value.
Something like this could be a starting point
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/folding-bike-fold-120-grey/120068/c443m8500543

 

[thistler]

thank you @FrankCrank! I had looked at that one but it weighs 14.5 kg which may still be too heavy for me to safely get up and down the cellar stairs. It looks like a nice bike.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Have you considered simply getting a storage box to neatly store your existing folder(s) in the kitchen? Something like this (no idea if it's good or not)...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rhinowalk-...-Transportation/dp/B0CSYL6D6F/ref=sr_1_7?th=1

The Carrera Intercity 2 spec for £450rrp is pretty good, you could lighten a bit by removing the stand and swapping to lighter tyres and TPU tubes. But as supplied it is ~15Kg
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/carrera-intercity-2-folding-bike-336635.html

The 2023 Intercity Disc 9 had a quoted weight of ~13Kg iirc, it has a lighter alloy fork, iirc @Drago on here removed the pannier rack and stand to drop it near 11Kg.

 

[Drago]

I weighed myCarrera Intercity Disc 9 at 11.6kg as supplied a goodly dollop lower than the quoted number. Folders arent likely to get much lighter than that without a significant boost in budget.

Bromptons have that great fold but, as you say, will be out of your budget. While they arent anvils theyre not especially competitive in the weight stakes either, and their clever wheel system isnt any use lugging them up the stairs.

The Disc 9 has quite a following, and those with a 9 tend to hold on to them. They do crop up on Ebay, Facebook Marketplade etc, often with very little use so its worth keeping ones eyes peeled.

The current intercity models look ok, but arent directly related to the Disc 8/9 models and Im not sure anyone on this hallowed forum has tried one yet...? They are unlikely to be hounds, but without knowing more I can't say for sure. Theres a Helfrauds on every street corner so it might be worth a visit to have a look and try picking one up.

 

[annedonnelly]

Or is there a way to get a bike up and down the cellar stairs without folding it? I've seen (and used) public staircases with a metal channel installed to wheel a bike up and down. I imagine that would depend on how steep the stairs are and how much space you've got.

I've sometimes found it easier to bump my Brompton up/down stairs in its bike form rather than folded.

 

[thistler]

Thank you for the replies!

The stairs to the cellar are narrow steep stone and I have to make a very awkward turn to get through the narrow cellar door that opens onto the kitchen. If I have help I can get a non-folding bike up and down the stairs, but both my husband and I end up with bloody knuckles doing it. The kitchen itself is tiny so no real room for one of those storage boxes - we live in a tiny old 5 room terraced house with no outside space. I am old enough to have to worry about falls and no longer can safely get either the Dawes or the BSA up from the cellar on my own, hence the BSA currently living in the kitchen folded but it causes a great deal of annoyance for my husband as it constantly needs to be moved to get to whatever is behind it.

The Carrera Intercity Disc 9 looks great - I will definitely keep my eyes open for one.

 

[EltonFrog]

Honestly, I think both the Dawes and the Raleigh are the wrong bikes for your circumstances. I've owned more than a few of these old shopping bikes over the years and, much as I love them, there's a reason they disappeared from the market: they're pretty rubbish.The Decathlon bikes are impressive for the money. They ride nicely and come with decent components, but they don't fold particularly well, which rather defeats the point of a folding bike.

Don't waste time and money experimenting. Buy a good used Brompton. It's the most practical, versatile folding bike out there, and its folding mechanism is in a different league. We've covered hundreds of miles on ours without any problems at all. On top of that, Bromptons hold their value exceptionally well, so if you ever decide to move it on, you'll get most of your money back. The same can't be said for the other brands.

 

[annedonnelly]

@Gunk was selling a Brompton that he'd refurbished.

 

[biggs682]

Try the intercity disc 8 ok not got the hydraulic brakes or 9 gears but has got adequate enough cable disc's and 8 speeds plus there seems to be a few more around on the second hand market .

@thistler now sure where you are based but here's a couple ?
Or if you are close to Wellingborough NN8 postcode drop me a PM and you can try mine

https://www.facebook.com/share/19T9pUnKAp/

https://www.facebook.com/share/19b7wLvHGA/

 

[Gunk]

@Gunk was selling a Brompton that he'd refurbished.

Now sold

 

[thistler]

Thank you all again! I am in West Yorkshire.

 

[Riverman]

thank you @FrankCrank! I had looked at that one but it weighs 14.5 kg which may still be too heavy for me to safely get up and down the cellar stairs. It looks like a nice bike.

Dahon has a Halloween sale on at the mo. If you can put up with 6 gears, then the HIT D6 is not a bad deal at £449. It's only 11.54kg and comes with a pannier rack. Personally I generally prefer folders that have at least 7 gears but really depends where you live and what you really want to do with it.

The Dahon Route also isn't bad at 499 and does have 7 gears but the similar Decathlon offerings are a bit cheaper I think, albeit heavier.

As an aside, I've nver quite understoo why they put disc brakes on folding bikes, especially ones with 20 inch wheels. I mean you want it to be as light as possible and as easy to fix as possible. Folding bikes do tend to get bashed about a lot.