Folding bikes have become increasingly popular over the years & for a good reason. they are easy to transport, they are perfect for commuting, & they can be stored in areas with limited space.
When it comes to commuting & transporting your bike around, non can match 16-inch folding bikes. They are the easiest to pick up, they offer the lightest weight option, & they are easy to maneuver in and out of traffic.
In order to make this process as simple as possible for you, we researched the market, surveyed user reviews, & tested on our own to create our list of the top 8 best 16-inch folding bikes in the market. So without further ado let’s take a look at the list.
Best 16 Inch Folding Bike:
- Brompton S6L – Best Overall
- Hummingbird Multi-Speed folding bike – Best Lightweight option
- Brompton B75 – Best All-round Pick
- Brompton Electric M2L Black 2-speed – Best Electric option
- ROME Citizen Bike 16″ – Best Lightweight Budget Option
- Brompton Explore Special Edition Folding Bike – Best For the Outdoors
- Fido DS2 Folding E-Bike – Runner Up Electric option
- ANCHEER Folding Electric – Best Affordable Electric Option
Best 16 Inch Folding Bike:
Brompton S6L – Best Overall
One of the most well-known brands & market leaders of lightweight quality folding bikes is Brompton & rightfully so, their bikes feature an innovative compact design equipped with quality features & materials.
The Brompton S6L being one of their most popular bikes compact in design & quite lightweight, the overall dimensions being 585mm high x 565mm long x 270mm wide. Once folded the bike is easy to pick up & is perfect to bring along in public or even private transport, the folded dimensions are also ideal to store in an office space or at home in a tight area.
The 16-inch wheels are perfect for maneuvering in busy traffic while keeping the bike as compact as possible. the bike is equipped with 6-speed internal hub gear perfect for everyday riding.
Key Features:
- Overall dimensions of 585mm high x 565mm long x 270mm wide.
- Steel frame & forks for added durability
- Equipped with dual-pivot caliper brakes for reliable stopping
- 6 speed internal hub gears
Hummingbird Multi-Speed folding bike – Best Lightweight Option
The hummingbird multi-speed folding bike is the ultimate city bike, designed to be ultra-light & compact. Weighing in at 18 lbs (8.2 kg), with folding dimensions of 17x60x20 Centimeters (46x23x8 Inches). If you’re looking for an even lighter weight option, then check out hummingbirds single speed option, weighing in at just 15 lbs (6.9kg).
It features a lightweight carbon fiber frame, quick release pedals with sealed bearings. The seat features high-density padding & an ergonomic cut for additional comfort.
Additionally, it’s equipped with a 4-speed Sturmey Archer internal gear hub, which features 46 gear inches in 1st gear, 59 in 2nd gear, 75 in 3rd gear, 96 in 4th gear. Since this is an ultra-light bike it has a weight limit of 243 pounds (110 kg).
Key Features:
- Folding dimensions of 17x60x20 Centimeters – 46x23x8 Inches.
- Weighing in at 18 pounds (8.2 kg)
- 4-speed
- Carbon fiber frame
Brompton B75 – Best All-round
Next on our list is the widely popular Brompton B75, the B75 is the most affordable option by Brompton. It is designed with city riding, it features a compact design with an overall folding dimension of 565mm in height, 585mm in width, & 270mm in depth.
The bike features a steel frame, & is designed with M-type handlebars for additional comfort while riding.
The 3 Speed hub gearing requires less maintenance & an overall great choice for everyday riding.
Key Features:
- Steel Frame & forks
- 3-speed hub gearing
- Brompton dual-pivot caliper brakes
- 16-inch wheels
- Folding dimensions: H: 565mm, W:585mm, D:270mm
Brompton Electric M2L Black 2-speed – Best Electric Option
Brompton bikes have always been excellent when it comes to being quite compact & easy to bring along wherever you go while providing a simple & comfortable experience, now combine that with the additional assistance provided by the 250w motor & you have the electric M2L 2-speed Brompton bike.
The Brompton electric line has been designed to add simplicity and comfort to your journey adding additional assistance during longer journeys or while riding up hills.
This specific model is equipped with a 2 speed while Brompton does provide a 6-speed option. The electric motor provides 3 levels of pedal assistance to best suit your riding style.
Key Features:
- Steel frame
- 3 levels of pedal assist
- 2-speed
- 16-inch wheels
- weighing in at 13.7 kgs for the 2-speed option & 14.5kg for 6-speed option
ROME Citizen Bike – Best Budget Lightweight Option
The Rome Citizen is a great affordable option with exceptional features. This lightweight bike weighs in around 20 pounds (9 kgs), with an overall folding dimension of 26x27x10 inches.
It’s designed with a 16″ ultralight folding frame, quick-release seat post allows for easy adjustability, with a maximum seat height of 38 inches & a minimum of 31 inches. Overall a great affordable option with low maintenance & a lightweight design.
Key Features:
- Bike weight of 20 lbs (9kgs)
- 16-inch ultra-light frame
- overall folding dimensions of
- 26x27x10 inches.
Brompton Explore Special Edition Folding Bike – Best For The Outdoors
The Brompton explore is designed to ride out of the city & into the outdoors. This particular bike is equipped with Brompton’s very own custom-made travel bag, one in front of the bike & another behind the seat adding to the adventure element.
This 6-speed bike features a 44t chainring, the lower gear range aids climbing as well as adding luggage to the bike. Additionally, the bike is equipped with marathon racer folding tires & and an overall comfortable riding position to enjoy the scenery.
Key Features:
- H Type handlebar offers additional comfort during longer rides
- rubber handlebar grips enhance comfort
- no mudguards reduce weight as well as the risk of drag
- lower gear range aids climbing and added weight of luggage
- Marathon Racer folding tires
Fido DS2 Folding E Bike – Runner up E-Bike
Next up is an electric option the Fido DS2 E folding bike, designed with a high-strength aluminum alloy frame easy to fold & can be stored comfortably with overall dimensions of 75cm x 35cm x 65cm.
Equipped with three riding modes, you will be able to choose between pure electric, electric-assist for a more relaxed ride, or pedal riding for a more exercise-induced pace.
The bike features a 250W high-magnification brushless motor allowing for a maximum speed of 25km/h. Additionally, it features a 36V 7.8ah lithium battery, the average charge time is around 4-5 hours.
Key Features:
- FIIDO Smart Chip
- Three Riding Modes
- aluminum alloy frame
- Shimano 6 Speed Shifter
- average charge time 4-5 hours
- IP54 Waterproof
ANCHEER Folding Electric Commuter Bike – Best Budget E-Bike
Next, we have the Ancheer folding electric bike, this is a great affordable electric option designed with commuting in mind. The bike features a durable steel frame & a 16″ double layer aluminum alloy wheelset.
The bike can be folded in a matter of seconds quite easily and comfortably. Additionally, the bike is equipped with a removable lithium-ion battery allowing for a maximum speed of 15.5 mph. The battery allows for 30 miles of travel in one charge. The average charge time of the bike is 4-6 hours.
The Ancheer is also equipped with front and rear disc brakes for reliable stopping power.
Key Features:
- The bike weighs around 37 pounds
- maximum speed of 15.5 mph
- travel 30 miles in one charge
- 4-6 hours of charging time
- Equipped with Front and rear disc brake
- High-strength carbon steel frame
What are the benefits of folding bikes?
Easy to transport: Folding bikes are incredibly easy to move around with, this includes public transport such as in the underground train stations, buses as well as private transportation a folding bike can fit in the boot of most cars.
Space saver: Folding bikes take up very little space, allowing you to store it virtually anywhere. Additionally, depending on your work station, most riders store their bike at their offices typically under the table, this also reduces the chance of your bike getting stolen.
Perfect for Commuting: As mentioned above folding bikes are ideal to bring along virtually anywhere, this allows commuters to bring their bike along to the train station or in a bus & then bike the rest of the way to your destination.
Buyer’s Guide: What To Look For When Buying A Folding Bike
Folding bikes come in various shapes & forms, what may be the best bike for someone else may not necessarily be the best for you. It comes down to how you will be using the bike. Some people can benefit from an electric bike whereas someone else can benefit more from a lightweight bike. This all comes down to your personal needs.
Weight
Weight is an important element to consider when looking for your ideal folding bike. Of course this depends on how you will be using the bike, if you will be lifting your bike and using public transportation such as trains, buses than you want a bike that’s as lightweight as possible.
This comes down to the frame, a premium carbon fiber material is ideal for a lightweight bike. Other features of the bike will also have an impact on weight, such as having fewer gears, although this will depend on whether or not you will be riding on hills or not.
Folded Size
Another important element to consider is the folded size of the bike, depending on weather you want to pop the bike in the trunk of your car or if you will just be lifting it around or storing it in your office or home.
Gearing
Gears are important especially if the bike has small wheels and since this is a guide to the best 16 inch folded bikes we assume you are looking for a. bike with small wheels. If you will be pedaling up & downhill often then you will benefit from a wider range of gears as opposed to someone who will just be ridding on a flat surface.
Price
Folding bikes aren’t cheap but there are some budget options on the market, & they fair pretty well. A budget bike can be the best bike for some riders depending on their needs, budget bikes will of course have less features & may weigh more than premium models but depending on your use case they can be perfect for you.
Electric Option
Electric bikes offer an advantage when it comes to climbing, although they do add more weight to the bike so if you will be lifting the bike around a lot you may want to look into a lightweight model.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it our top 8 best 16-inch folding bikes on the market. 16-inch folding bikes are best for commuters especially for those who need to maneuver around traffic or need to carry their bike around the train station, bus, or any other form of transportation.
Folding bikes come in different shapes & forms some bikes are designed for commuters in mind where others are designed more for an adventure. So what can be a perfect bike for someone else may not be the right pick for you. So before picking your bike ensure you know exactly what you will be using it for. All that’s left now is to select your bike and enjoy your brand new ride. Thanks for reading & happy riding!