Best folding e-bikes: weight, fold size and real range compared

A folding e-bike solves a specific problem: you don’t have room for a full bike, or you need it in a car trunk, an apartment closet, a boat or a train. I’ve tested eight of them. Some are great bikes that happen to fold. Others are great at folding and just OK as bikes. The trick is knowing which trade-off you’re making before you buy.

Here’s what I’ve learned, with the specs from each maker and the results from my own riding at about 6’1” and 200 lb.

The short answer

The Ziprs F1 and original Aventon Sinch are both excellent, but you can only find them used now. I cover them below because they show what to look for.

The folding bikes I’ve tested, side by side

“Not tested” means I didn’t run a full range test on that bike, so I won’t put a number there.

Weight is the number that decides if you’ll actually fold it

Every one of these bikes folds. The question is whether you’ll want to lift it. Here’s the honest picture:

• Around 40 lb, like the ONEBOT S7, most adults can lift it into a trunk or carry it up a few stairs. It also rolls on a small wheel when folded.
• 60 to 70 lb, like the Gyroor, Rattan and EP-2 Pro, is heavy. I called the EP-2 Pro heavy to lift, even folded. Most of these let you remove the battery first, which helps. Rattan lists its battery at 9.2 lb on top of the 64 lb frame.
• Over 80 lb, like the Luckeep, you’re folding it to store it, not to carry it.

The reason folding fat tire bikes are so heavy is the stuff that makes them ride well: 4 inch tires, a big battery, a 750W motor, a steel or aluminum hinge strong enough to be safe. You can’t have all of that and 40 lb.

A quick test before you buy: find something in your house that weighs what the bike weighs and lift it to the height of your trunk floor. If you wouldn’t do that twice a day, buy the lighter bike or plan to leave it unfolded most of the time.

Folded size and car fit

I’ve tried most of these in the trunk of a Tesla Model 3, because it’s what I drive and the trunk opening is not huge.

• The Engwe EP-2 Pro fit in the trunk.
• The Aventon Sinch fit in the trunk, barely. I said I wouldn’t do it every day.
• The Ziprs F1 fit easily, and I said you could take it on a bus.
• The Rattan LF 750 Pro folds small enough to fit in a sedan.
• The ONEBOT S7 has folding pedals and fits in a small sedan’s back seat.
• The Gyroor C5 Max folds into a slimmer package than the Tesgo STT.

Things that make a fold easier day to day:

• A magnet or latch that holds the halves together. The Ziprs F1 uses a magnet, which I want every brand to copy. Without one, the bike flops open while you carry it.
• A roller wheel. The Ziprs and ONEBOT both have one, so you can push the folded bike instead of carrying it.
• Folding pedals and a folding or telescopic stem. The Luckeep has a telescopic folding handlebar.

Range: rated vs. what I got

Rated range is usually the best case: a light rider in a low assist level on flat ground. My tests are at about 200 lb, often on throttle only, which is the worst case. Real riding for most people lands somewhere in between.

Of the folders, the Sinch beat its rating (42 miles against 40). The Rattan got 27 miles throttle-only, which I found really impressive for its size. The EP-2 Pro got 23 miles throttle-only on hilly ground. If range is your top priority, the Luckeep’s two batteries are the biggest pack I’ve seen on a folder, at 960Wh combined on one of Luckeep’s pages.

Worked example: will it cover your commute? Say your round trip is 14 miles with some hills, and you use throttle a lot. Take my worst-case result for a bike and keep a 25 percent buffer for cold weather and battery aging:

• Rattan LF 750 Pro: 27 mi × 0.75 ≈ 20 mi. Covers 14 with room to spare.
• EP-2 Pro: 23 mi × 0.75 ≈ 17 mi. Covers it, barely, and you’ll charge every day.
• ONEBOT S7: a 36V 5.2Ah pack is about 187Wh, roughly a quarter of the Rattan’s 624Wh. I wouldn’t count on it for a 14 mile hilly round trip. I said it’s not for long commutes.

Ride quality: what folding costs you

Small wheels and a hinge in the middle change how a bike rides. What I noticed:

• Fat tires make up for small wheels. The 20 x 4 inch tires on the Rattan, EP-2, Gyroor, Luckeep and Tesgo absorb a lot. The Rattan handled snow, dirt and trail really well.
• Suspension varies a lot. The Gyroor has front and rear suspension and rode really smoothly. The Luckeep has a front fork plus a suspension seat post. The Ziprs has none; its ultra cushiony seat was enough on paved paths.
• Fit for tall riders. At 6’1”, the Rattan was really comfortable. On the ONEBOT S7, the seat was maxed out and the pedal stroke felt a bit short. On the Tesgo, my heels kept hitting the Y-shaped frame.
• Hinges and clips. On the Sinch my leg hit the folding clip on the center frame a few times.
• Hills. The 250W ONEBOT left me pedaling on any incline. The EP-2 Pro was slow from a stop on hills. The Ziprs’s 350W felt like 500W. My hills guide has more.

My picks

For a small apartment and paved paths: ONEBOT S7

At 40.1 lb with the battery, the S7 is the only folder I’ve tested light enough that I’d call it easy to carry. It folds with two latches, rolls when folded, and has a twist throttle that works from zero and a big rear shock. The quality impressed me for the price. It’s a short-trip bike: 250W, single speed, small battery.

For families and mixed terrain: Rattan LF 750 Pro

The Rattan has a rear seat with a backrest and footrests that my kids said was comfortable, and the fat tires handled snow and dirt. It fit me well at 6’1”. At $1,249 when I reviewed it, I felt the price was fair. Rattan now sells the LF Ultra instead, so check what’s current. The rear seat is snug for an adult my size.

For long range: Luckeep X1 Pro

The Luckeep has two batteries and a 120 mile pedal-assist rating on Luckeep’s spec page. I said your butt is going to be sore before you run out of battery. It also had plenty of power on steep inclines and hydraulic disc brakes. It’s heavy, the rear battery sticks out, and Luckeep’s own pages disagree on some specs.

For comfort: Gyroor C5 Max

The Gyroor is the one I’d pick over the Tesgo STT unless you strictly want speed. Front and rear suspension, a slim fold, and a 500W motor that was plenty for me. The charge plug kept falling out, the rear rack is flimsy and there’s no tail light.

Common mistakes

• Buying the biggest battery when you’ll carry it upstairs. Range adds weight. If you fold daily, weight matters more.
• Not measuring your trunk. “Fits in a sedan” depends on the sedan. Measure the opening, not just the floor.
• Riding with the hinge half-latched. Check every latch every time you unfold. On the Ziprs, the double lock on the center bracket confused me the first time.
• Expecting full-size ride quality from 16 inch wheels. Small skinny tires feel every crack. Fat tires or suspension help a lot.
• Buying a discontinued model new-old-stock without checking parts. The Ziprs company appears to be gone. Batteries and chargers can be hard to replace.

FAQ

What’s the lightest folding e-bike you’ve tested?

The ONEBOT S7, at 40.1 lb (18.2 kg) with the battery on its Amazon listing. Most fat tire folders I’ve tested are 63 lb or more.

Which folding e-bike has the best range?

The Luckeep X1 Pro, with two batteries and a 120 mile pedal-assist rating from Luckeep. Of the ones I range-tested, the Aventon Sinch went 42 miles and the Rattan LF 750 Pro 27 miles throttle-only.

Will a folding e-bike fit in my car?

The Engwe EP-2 Pro and Ziprs F1 fit in my Tesla Model 3 trunk, and the Sinch barely did. The Rattan fits a sedan. Measure your trunk opening and compare it to the folded dimensions on the maker’s page.

Are folding e-bikes good for heavy or tall riders?

Some are. The Luckeep X1 Pro is listed at 440 lb max load and the EP-2 Pro at 330 lb. At 6’1”, I was comfortable on the Rattan and cramped on the ONEBOT S7. See my heavy rider guide.

Are folding e-bikes less safe?

A folding frame from a reputable maker, latched properly, is designed to be ridden like any other bike. The risk is user error: a latch not fully closed. Check every latch before every ride.

Can I take a folding e-bike on a train or bus?

It depends on your transit system’s rules, especially about batteries. I said the Ziprs F1 is small enough that you could take it on a bus. Check your local rules first.