Best Folding Mountain Bikes Reviewed & Comparison (2024)

A folding mountain bike might have been a funny idea a decade ago. But now? They’re so popular to everyday commuters looking for sustainable ways of traveling in the city as well as for street riding, trail riding, free riding, or just for going cross country.

But how do make a good investment? We thoroughly tested & reviewed the best folding mountain bikes today’s market has to offer. See which one suits your needs, style, and budget most!

Best Folding Mountain Bike: Top 5 Reviews

01 Xspec 26″ 21-Speed Folding Mountain Bike for Adult

Why It Stands Out to Us

We start the first review with this fantastic folding mountain bike from the guys over at Xspec. The large wheels combined with very high-quality brakes give you excellent stopping power.

Plus, it’s a very robust one. Thanks to the durable steel frame, this bike is a complete trooper and will last you for a long time.

Our Experience with the Xspec 26″ 21-Speed

• When you’re riding your bike in the mountains, braking power is sometimes more important than speed. Thankfully, we didn’t have any trouble with the braking with this one. The disk brakes performed admirably and stopped us exactly when we needed to.
• There is a 21-speed shifter that helped us zoom around with ease. And dare we say it was also very fun. At the end of the day, you want to have fun riding a mountain bike. And this one delivered us that.
• The material used is also solid. Its frame is made from steel which made us feel like it was very well built. Although we didn’t abuse the bike, we have a pretty good feeling it will last you for a long time.
• Mountain terrains are hardly smooth. That wasn’t a major issue for us either. The very high-quality suspension managed to give a smooth ride without breaking our backs.
• The max weight capacity of this one is 220 pounds which is pretty impressive. That’s something a lot of our testers liked too. And you can also fold it in a matter of minutes without any tools.

What We Didn’t Like

• It’s a pretty heavy bike, and that might make it a bit cumbersome if you need to push it around.

Who Is It Great for

Anyone who is looking for a solid bike with a well-built steel frame, great brakes, and a superb suspension can go with this one. It checks all the boxes that make it one of the best folding mountain bikes.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• A lighter build while maintaining durability is the only small improvement we can think of.

Our Recommendations

• Get this one if you’re in the market for a high-quality folding mountain bike that just works. You won’t regret it. Just be mindful of the weight.

Specifications

Pros

• Very durable build-quality
• Great suspension
• Powerful brakes
• Pretty cool design
• Large 26” inch wheels

Cons

• A bit heavy

02 Angotrade 26 inch Electric Bike Folding Mountain E-Bike

Why It Stands Out to Us

If you need a little bit of oomph from your bike to tread on those tricky terrains, this battery-powered folding mountain bike will be right up your alley. We loved the powerful large battery and the extra boost it gave us.

And the brakes are just phenomenal as well. This one gets an easy recommendation from us.

Our Experience with the Angotrade 26-inch Electric Bike

• Right out of the gate, we loved the electric motor. It gave us quite a bit of boost when we were riding it in the mountains. There are three riding modes you can choose from, and the speed can go from 25 – 35 Km/h.
• The lithium battery is a pretty large unit itself. It’s rated for 36V and is an 8 Ah battery. We were able to ride for quite some time. The charging did take a bit long, though. Anywhere between 4 – 6 hours is what you can expect when it comes to charging the battery.
• Brakes are just as good as our previous pick. There are front and rear brakes. Since these are mechanical disc brakes, they will help you stop on a dime. The moment we put on the brakes, the deceleration was apparent. Needless to say, we loved the brakes on this.
• A bit of mindfulness is important here since there are batteries and chemicals involved. We constantly had to check that no children were near the batteries. Also, the manufacturer recommends not to touch the batteries without a cloth or a glove. That’s probably a good idea.

What We Didn’t Like

• The long charging hour can be improved, although it isn’t too long. The included fast charger does help, though.

Who Is It Great for

Riders who want a little bit of extra power when mountain biking will love this battery-powered bike.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• A faster charger or a more efficient battery/motor will do wonders for this bike. Don’t get us wrong. It still is pretty good as is.

Our Recommendations

If you’re someone who prefers a little bit of help from technology, this bike will be the perfect unit for you. Remember to charge the batteries and keep them away from children, though.

Specifications

Pros

• Durable build
• Powerful motor
• Includes battery charger
• Very good brakes

Cons

• Takes a bit longer to charge

03 OBK G4/G6 26″ Full Suspension Folding Mountain Bike

Why It Stands Out to Us

A top-notch folding bike for mountain riding that comes with all the tools you need to assemble it in the package. And that’s basically what this bike from the guys over at OBK is.

The weight limit is 300 pounds here. That’s pretty impressive and is one of the highest on this list.

Our Experience with the OBK G4/G6 26 Folding Mountain Bike

• Some of you might be annoyed at the fact that you need to assemble this bike. But let us tell you, right now, it wasn’t any hassle. The bike came almost fully assembled. And all the tools we needed to get up and going were right in the package. If you’re somewhat handy, you can easily do it.
• What’s impressive is its size. The 17” steel frame can fold up easily. This will save you space, and that’s exactly what it did for us. We were able to take it with us on mountain riding sessions without any troubles.
• The steel frame also makes it quite robust and durable. And for a bike that you will ride on the mountain, robustness is a must-have!
• A 21-speed shifter is in charge of the speed. It felt quick and snappy and shifts pretty fast as well.
• We just have to talk about the suspension here. It almost felt like we were riding on clouds. Okay, that might have been a bit of an exaggeration right there. But the point still stands, the suspension is very good, and the ride was comfortable.

What We Didn’t Like

• All is good, but there is a small gripe. As good as the suspension is, we don’t feel like it did quite as good of a job on rough trails. That was a bit disappointing.

Who Is It Great for?

• Riders who are looking for a compact and well-built mountain bike that can be easily folded up should take a closer look at OBK’s offering here.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• Making it more rideable on rough trails will be a welcomed improvement. There isn’t much wrong with it other than this small gripe.

Specifications

Pros

• Very compact frame
• Solid build-quality
• Fast and snappy shifter
• Good suspension

Cons

• Doesn’t perform quite as good on rocky or rough tracks

04 Columba 26 Inch Alloy Folding Bike w.18 Speed & Double Suspension

Why It Stands Out to Us

We have checked out e-bikes, bikes with large wheels, and even heavy ones. How about a folding mountain bike that’s very lightweight? Columba must have some fairy dust and magic at their production facilities because this is one of the lightest bikes you can get.

Our Experience with the Columba 26 Inch Alloy Folding Bike

• Let’s get right into the weight of this thing. It’s only 34 pounds. Yep, you heard that right. With such a low weight, you can carry this thing with ease when you need to.
• On top of that, the alloy frame folds super easily, which makes it even more portable. One thing is for sure, you won’t have trouble taking it from place to place.
• Speaking of that frame, the alloy it uses is very durable and robust. The brand didn’t skimp on build-quality for the sake of lightness. We felt confident when riding this thing, and it held up pretty well for us.
• The body spring suspension was also a charm. It provided a pretty comfortable ride for the most part, even on rough terrain. You can ride this bike on both smooth roads and hilly areas. This gives it some versatility.
• Assembly was easy as well, just like most of the bikes in this list. We only needed a couple of minutes, and voila! We had a fully assembled bike ready to go.
• A nifty little feature we appreciated was the storage compartment. It’s large enough to hold small things like a water bottle.

What We Didn’t Like

• The pedal quality wasn’t that great. That’s the only small problem we have with this one.

Who Is It Great for?

Anyone looking for a very portable and lightweight folding mountain bike needs to give this one a closer look.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• A better pedal in future revisions is something we would love to see.

Our Recommendations

If you’re the type of person who likes lightweight mountain bikes, this is a no-brainer. We are sure you will love it just as much as we did.

Specifications

Pros

• Durable alloy build quality
• Great suspension
• Good brakes
• Folds easily
• Very easy to assemble
• Super lightweight

Cons

• Pedals aren’t the best

05 Eurobike 26 Inch Mountain Bike Folding Bicycle 21 Speed 3 Colors

Why It Stands Out to Us

This one makes our list for its good build quality and cool features like double disc brakes. If you’re a tall person, this can be the perfect choice for you.

Our Experience with the Eurobike 26 Inch Mountain Bike Folding

• First thing first, does it fold? Yes, it does. In fact, it was very easy to fold and took us just a couple of seconds.
• Assembly was easy as well. The bike already comes almost 85% assembled. The rest we managed without any hassles.
• Even the double-disc brakes were impressive. They are efficient and pack quite the stopping power. We didn’t feel like we were about to lose control of the bike at any point.
• It features a 21-speed gear system which will give you riding ease and also makes it very fun. And that’s always a plus in our books.
• Another thing you might like is the fact that taller people can ride it with ease. We sure liked our taller team members being able to test what it’s made of.
• The frame is made from steel. That meant very good endurance. Wear and tear were not an issue. Of course, don’t expect it to last forever. But it should last you for quite a while if you take good care of it.

What We Didn’t Like

• The lever which you fold the bike with sometimes interferes during riding. This made it a bit annoying.

Who Is It Great for?

Riders who are looking for a great quality bike that they can take with them without worrying about anything else will love it. Also, if you happen to be on the taller side, you will appreciate this one as well.

What Could Be Improved and Why

• A better design for the lever or placing it somewhere where it won’t interfere while riding is the only improvement left to make this bike a perfect one.

Specifications

Pros

• Solid steel build
• Easy to assemble and fold
• Good for tall people
• Can handle daily wear and tear well

Cons

• Lever for folding the bike sometimes interferes when riding

Best Folding Mountain Bike: Buying Guide

1. Gears

Gears are important. It’s as simple as that. You will notice mountain bikes that come with lots of low gears. This is because these low gears make it easy to climb steep paths and trails, which is quite common on a mountain trail.

The more gears you have, the more options you have. However, it can also get a bit complicated for the rider. We suggest not to go for one that has anything below 18-speeds.

2. Size of the Bike

Then there is the size of the bike. The right size bike will help you feel more at home and comfortable riding. Bikes aren’t actually a one size fits all affair. There are different rider heights and frame size factors you need to think of. So, make sure to get the right size for you.

3. Material

Material, especially for the frame, is pretty important since it can dictate how durable the bike will be. And you want your brand-new bike to be durable, don’t you?

• Aluminum

Aluminum is a pretty good choice for lightweight bikes. They are also durable. So, you aren’t missing out on much.

• Steel

Steel sort of hits the middle ground of lightweight and durability. It’s one of the most common materials on our list. That’s because steel frames handle general wear and tear very well.

• Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is another super cool material you can choose. It’s very lightweight and also super tough. Any of the three will be a good choice, really.

4. Folding Technique

• Half/Mid

This is the most common folding technique. It’s pretty self-explanatory. The bike will fold around the middle and uses a very strong hinge. The hinge will also have clamps with quick-release features.

• Vertical

Just think of it as a mid-fold but vertically. That’s pretty much it. This method uses two hinges on the tube and chain.

5. Compact Vs. Full Size

You can go for compact or full-size bikes. Compact ones will have wheel sizes of 16″ to 20″. Full-size ones will have more standard 26″ wheels. These may also come with clamps.

6. Brakes

Good brakes are important to help you stop when you need to. It gives you more control of your bike and allows you to ride more confidently. Front and rear disc brakes are the best options.

7. Suspension

Suspension is another important aspect. A good suspension will also give you more control and will make riding the bike much more comfortable. This is especially true for hilly and bumpy tracks.

8. Handlebars

A good handlebar is always nice to have. Look for a comfortable position. It should be a neutral feeling.

9. Comfort

Speaking of comfort, you should consider how comfortable the bike is to ride. The seat padding, size, and also the frame will contribute to this factor. Even your height will come into play.

What you need to remember here is to make sure you get one that’s comfortable for you to ride. That’s the ultimate goal.

10. Pedals

You can have different types of pedals as well. You can go for clipless pedals or a platform pedal. Platform pedals make it easier to get off your bike. But it can sometimes be easy to lose your footing.

Clipless ones actually have clips that use cleats to attach the pedals to your shoes. Yes, we know. The name is confusing. These pedals are a bit difficult to get off from but keep your feet secure.

11. Price

The price range can vary from $100 up to $500. You need to strategize here. Don’t pay for gimmicky features you don’t need or anything that won’t help you with performance, durability, or comfort. Just get the best one you can afford.

12. Warranty

When you’re buying anything, a good warranty is always nice to have. Look for a warranty that gives you coverage for 1 to 3 years. That’s the sweet spot.

Mountain Bike Size Chart

Rider Height	Frame Size (Inches)	Frame Size
4’10” – 5’2”	13” – 14”	XS
5’3” – 5’6”	15” – 16”	S
5’7” – 5’10”	17” – 18”	M
5’11” – 6’1”	19” – 20”	L
6’2” – 6’4”	21” – 22”	XL
>6’4”	23” +	XXL

FAQs

1. Are folding bikes good for long rides?

Ans. Yes, they are! They are just as good as full-sized non-foldable bikes. And the fact that you can fold them is always a plus. It makes them portable too.

2. Are folding mountain bikes capable of climbing uphill?

Ans. It depends on the bike itself. Mainly the gears, rider, and also hill steepness will determine whether you can climb uphill or not. But generally, you can.