[Top 10] Best Folding Cycles in India [Updated List 2018]
Folding bicycles are certainly a boon. With the overpopulated cities, roads dug up to no extent, commuting on the best folding cycles in India is certainly a bliss. It’s just perfect for commuters, urban dwellers and others who want a small, compact bike that’s easy to store and carry around.
7 min readSep 22, 2018
Before we get into the best folding cycles in India, let’s have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of folding cycles.
Advantages of the best folding cycles in India:
Inter mobility:
If you have a long commute, a foldable bicycle is ideal. Unlike conventional bicycles, foldable bicycles can be paired with other modes of transport. You can ride to the station, carry it on the train, get off and ride again to your destination. If your commute if pretty close, you can always carry it around.
A traditional bicycle would require you to board the luggage compartment, however, with the best folding bicycle, you can simply board any compartment in India and travel.
Space:
When it comes to storing a bicycle, foldable bicycles take up half the space as compared to traditional bicycles. You can fold them with ease and store them in any corner. With this advantage, you can take the bicycle with you to a restaurant, office or anywhere else.
Say goodbye to traffic:
Most of us are used to spending half of our lives in traffic.
Behind a windscreen, listing to the radio moving as slow as a tortoise.
But, if you have one of the best folding cycles in India, you will be cutting through traffic. While this is possible on traditional bicycles, a foldable cycle will go in places you could never imagine.
Looking to hit the road on your bicycle? Here are a few Bike to work cycling tips for you!
Carry your gym around:
Walking to your coffee machine doesn’t count as work. But staying active does.
However, if you’re riding a bicycle or a foldable bike to work, it’s considered a workout. Besides, you don’t have to find extra time in your schedule to squeeze your work. Just carry your gym on your folding bicycle wherever you go.
Get attention:
Spotting a foldable bicycle in India is a rare sight. If you have one already, you will know the attention the small frame and wheels get you.
Needless to say, a foldable bicycle in India also attracts people and unwanted questions that you are tired of answering already.
How much does this bike cost?
You can fold it also? And the list goes on!
Disadvantages of the best folding cycles in India:
Bumpy Ride:
Folding cycles have smaller wheels (12 to 20 inches). However, there are a few that come with conventional tyres sizes of 26 inches. Due to the smaller wheels, navigating on rough terrain covered with rocks, bumps and debris might be a problem. As you are already aware, city roads in India are covered with rocks, a foldable bicycle will be a problem.
Fast, Faster, Not!
Riding a folding bicycle to work or just around is fine but riding it for long distance is not. The smaller wheels are what makes it difficult to ride fast. also, it can get tiring until and unless you’re Pankaj Patil.
Price points:
You can expect to buy a folding bicycle in India anywhere starting from INR 15000. With this budget, you will also be able to buy a traditional bicycle. That being said, rationales bicycles are also available at a cheaper price than INR 15000. Here’s a list of the best bicycles under INR 10000.
So while you will be able to get a folding bicycle for the same price as a traditional bike, there are higher chances you’d be getting a lower-quality bike.
Now that you are aware of the advantages and disadvantage of the best folding bicycles in India, let’s have a look at some of the brands that are available.
Dahon Foldable cycles in India:
Dahon is a renowned foldable bicycle brand that has been around for the last three decades. The company is an industry leader in the manufacturing of folding bicycles and has sold over 5 million folding bicycles. The brand has also issued more than 220 patents that are used by 98% of all folding bikes made today.
Let’s look at some of the best folding bicycles in India by Dahon
DAHON SUV D6 ₹24,000:-
The SUV comes with compact wheels and a folding bicycle frame that makes it easy to store in seconds. The bike frame and fork is made from steel and comes with Shimano tourney (7-Speed) that makes it ideal for commute and on paved roads. The bicycle is suitable for men, women and children.
SUV D6 (2018) ₹26,700:
Another Dahon folding bike in India is the SUV d6 that comes with steel frame and fork. This bike like the above has the same specs as the Dahon. However, this is the 2018 model.
Vybe d7 ₹ 35,900:
The vybe comes in an alloy frame that is equipped with Dahon‘s Visegrip Technology. The bike again comes with Shimano tourney rear Derailleur and is equipped with Microshift shifters. This fading bicycle is ideal for Commute and Leisure. The Vybe 2018 model is also available.
Mariner D8 (2018)₹41,800:
The mariner D8 is a lightweight ally foldable bicycle that comes with visegrip technology. This bike is equipped with Shimano altus shifters and Rear Derailleur. The bike also comes with 20 inch SCHWALBE CITIZEN tyres.
Firefox Kompac₹ 14,700:
The lowest end foldable cycle by Firefox is the Kompac that comes with steel full suspension folding frame, allow rims and Shimano 6 speed REVO shifter.
Firefox Verge N8₹43,360:
If you’re looking for a high-end foldable bicycle, the Firefox verge N8 is for you. This bike is equipped with Shimano claris derailleur and a 11–32 T freewheel. This makes it way easy for people to shift gears and ride on flats and uphill with ease.
Firefox LINK D7i ₹ 73,330:
Firefox link D7i is another bike that makes to our list of the best folding cycles in India. The bike comes with a 6061 alloy frame and 20” Doublewall aluminum rims.
PPOF:
The PPOF (Pankaj Patil on Foldie) is India’s first foldable bicycle. The bike comes with an alloy frame, 7 speed Shimano Altus Gearset and kenda tyres. The bike also comes with alloy V brakes, and double walled rims that surely makes it the best folding cycling in India. You can read our interview with Pankaj Patil, founder of PPOF.
HOPTOWN 320 C1 20”₹ 14,999:
The B’twin Hoptown 320 consists of a steel frame and comes with Sunrace 6-speed derailleur. The bike comes with V-brakes that are pretty good when it comes to slowing down or stopping. However, the bike comes with grip shifter and single wall-rims that are surely not the best. You might want to read some reviews of the bike here.
The speciality of this bike is that it comes with a lateral folding system that reduces bike storage size by over 70%.
Brompton Black Edition £ 1,120.00:
If you’r taste is beyond the usual, consider looking at Brompton folding bikes. These bikes are available at pro cycles in Bangalore. However, will cost you a fortune!
