Recommend a folding bike for under $300?

August 4th, 2009

Hello, I'm looking for a folding bicycle, the most I'm willing to spend is 0, maybe 0.

So far I'm considering the Kent Superlite and the Kent Ultralite. But the idea of just having coaster breaks kind of makes me nervous.
I'd prefer hand breaks, I think.

What folding bikes could I buy with that kind of money? (Please give specifics, I don't wanna see another "Get a used Dahon" post. Or at least tell me where I could get a used Dahon.)

Thank you!

Yipes… FORGET the Kents. I had a hand in the initial development of those bikes (cast magnesium frame) but ended up rejecting it because of the poor strength of cast Mg and "noodly" ride. I guess someone went through my trash can and sold the idea to Walmart (who owns Kent).

Coaster brakes are actually superior to hand brakes when it comes to folding bikes. They are compact, require no maintenance, and don't depend on precise adjustments or proper grouping of levers, cables, housing, calipers, and attachment to frame to work flawlessly (except, of course with cheap bikes like Kent).

Having designed a whole fleet of folding bikes (9 models from $400 to over $2000) I can confidently tell you that you simply will not be able to find a reliable folding bike in your price range.

BEFORE you give me thumbs down for my "negative" answer I suggest that you take a ride on those Kents and take a ride on the next cheapest folding bike you can find… maybe a Fuji or a Giant (I don't like Dahon) at a local dealer. Ask to have the folding mechanism demonstrated, then YOU try it. You will immediately understand what I mean.