What are the best folding bikes?

[Kell]

Unless you're somewhere dry, I guess. The running gear is so low to the ground that everything gets filthy in inclement weather, and wears quickly - hub gears are where it's at for year round small wheeled bikes.

That's a good rationale, but the argument falls down with the 6-speed brommie. I wish they did do a bigger range of gears in a hub.

 

[John the Monkey]

That's a good rationale, but the argument falls down with the 6-speed brommie. I wish they did do a bigger range of gears in a hub.

IME, they're six speed until the 2nd week of winter. After that, pick a sprocket & stick with it.

(I only have a 6 because Brompton wanted £75 more for a 2010 3 speed than the 2009 6 speed I saw in the shop was going to cost).

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'm considering Giant Expressway 2.

 

[Ridgeways]

As 'The Doctor' says, there is no one right answer, it depends on the use you want to make of it. If pure rideability was the criterion, I would have plumped for the Moulton AM series, that was a real eye-opener for efficiency and comfort. I would not call them properly a folder though - more of a break-apart for the car boot, and not that compact either. But they were a magnificent ride if you could afford them.