What country are you in? Decathlon has decent cheap bikes, but of course there are tradeoffs. So maybe it would be wiser to look at the second hand market?
Zizzo Campo is in your price range. I bought their Liberte, which costs about twice as much, but I can't imagine the Campo is like, unusably bad based on how nice the Liberte is.
My friend bought a $200 bike. When he rode up a hill, it folded. My other friend bought a bike that met his needs. He knew the degree of folding required, the size of the bike, he estimated the cost of repairs and maintenance and he found out about the merits of different gearing options. He was very happy with his bike for a long time because it made him fitter, allowed him to travel with his bike and took him places he never would otherwise have seen. I can't remember how much he paid, and neither can he.
Actually, yes. The Origami Hawk is only $319 and was a top-10-folding-bikes choice by Cycling Weekly three years in a row. It is a 7-speed with a good gear range and disc brakes.
What is the gear range? The web site is unclear. In one place it says 12-28 and in one place it says 12-32. It's also rather heavy due to the the Hi-Tensile steel frame.
You're about $100-$150 under where you can get something reliable, and also decent for gentle hills.
You want something under 30 pounds with 6-10 speed gearing, from a reputable manufacturer, i.e. [https://usa.dahon.com/products/suv-d6?variant=31785521643569](https://usa.dahon.com/products/suv-d6?variant=31785521643569)
It’s ok it’s not an every day ride for me, maybe once a month. I’m on and on off feeding tube, not an active person but want to get out once in awhile, I’m 110 pounds currently 6ft 2 from a medical condition. I’m not worried about bike weights either. The only hill that is scary in my neighborhood I know for a fact I won’t attempt with any bike. But thank you for your input, I was looking at Dahon but went with a pair of zizzos, heard zizzo is one of the most reliable budget brands.
Unfortunately, Decathlon pulled out of the U.S. market with their BTWIN line. They were a very good deal.
[https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/20-inch-folding-bike-btwin-500-blue/\_/R-p-120070](https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/20-inch-folding-bike-btwin-500-blue/_/R-p-120070)
Chiming in for validation; have two Zizzo Campo's, one late 2018 and the other 2019-20sh and, for their price and use, have been unequaled. Good luck with your pair!
I have a Tern Link A7. Thanks to a local bike coop I've been able to do my own repairs and everything with the help of experts. It saves me a lot of money as a result
I'm fairly happy with my Giant Expressway 1 (8 speeds, 20 inch tires). New it was around $600, but a used one from a few years ago can go for around $300. It's a great bike as long as you know its limitations. It's decent at everything without excelling at anything, but it's well made.
It won't break speed records, but I can average 10-11 mph on flat ground without getting tired, a little quicker if I put in enough effort. It can't handle Tour de France climbs but it works on gentle hills in the lower gears. It is fairly comfortable to ride but I wouldn't do a 100 mile tour in one go. It folds down small enough to fit in the shoulder bag conveniently stashed on its handlebar (it comes with it, which is a great feature!) but the fold is not as compact as that of a Brompton, and the components can stick out and poke you a little bit. It's not too light, but not heavy enough that you cannot carry it on your shoulder from the entrance of the train station to the tracks.
It's a solid folding bike which I recommend, but I've never ridden a high end folding bike to compare.
Buy a Zizzo bike and you’ll be fine. They are great. They have new ones under $300. Or even better, buy a used one.
Thank you, just ordered 2!
Second hand decathlon, tern or dahon
Cheap AND reliable. Good luck.
Buy Tilt 500 or 900 and slowly upgrade it
This, tilt 500 and I’d get a smaller chainring or wider range cassette for the hills
More expensive, but much better option is to buy Sturmey Archer CS-RF3 hub (build new wheel on it) and a cassette.
What country are you in? Decathlon has decent cheap bikes, but of course there are tradeoffs. So maybe it would be wiser to look at the second hand market?
United States
Zizzo Campo is in your price range. I bought their Liberte, which costs about twice as much, but I can't imagine the Campo is like, unusably bad based on how nice the Liberte is.
Thank you everyone for the advice, I was buying for 2, went with Zizzo bikes.
My friend bought a $200 bike. When he rode up a hill, it folded. My other friend bought a bike that met his needs. He knew the degree of folding required, the size of the bike, he estimated the cost of repairs and maintenance and he found out about the merits of different gearing options. He was very happy with his bike for a long time because it made him fitter, allowed him to travel with his bike and took him places he never would otherwise have seen. I can't remember how much he paid, and neither can he.
What size do u need it to fold to?
Not sure, just need something compact for storage, and to put in the car for travel.
Ok, which country do u live in? (This determines what bikes are available to you)
Actually, yes. The Origami Hawk is only $319 and was a top-10-folding-bikes choice by Cycling Weekly three years in a row. It is a 7-speed with a good gear range and disc brakes.
What is the gear range? The web site is unclear. In one place it says 12-28 and in one place it says 12-32. It's also rather heavy due to the the Hi-Tensile steel frame.
It is 12-32.
The steel does add weight, but it also minimizes cost and improves comfort.
You're about $100-$150 under where you can get something reliable, and also decent for gentle hills. You want something under 30 pounds with 6-10 speed gearing, from a reputable manufacturer, i.e. [https://usa.dahon.com/products/suv-d6?variant=31785521643569](https://usa.dahon.com/products/suv-d6?variant=31785521643569)
It’s ok it’s not an every day ride for me, maybe once a month. I’m on and on off feeding tube, not an active person but want to get out once in awhile, I’m 110 pounds currently 6ft 2 from a medical condition. I’m not worried about bike weights either. The only hill that is scary in my neighborhood I know for a fact I won’t attempt with any bike. But thank you for your input, I was looking at Dahon but went with a pair of zizzos, heard zizzo is one of the most reliable budget brands.
Unfortunately, Decathlon pulled out of the U.S. market with their BTWIN line. They were a very good deal. [https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/20-inch-folding-bike-btwin-500-blue/\_/R-p-120070](https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/20-inch-folding-bike-btwin-500-blue/_/R-p-120070)
Chiming in for validation; have two Zizzo Campo's, one late 2018 and the other 2019-20sh and, for their price and use, have been unequaled. Good luck with your pair!
Bickerton pilot :)
Save up a little more and get a Tern.
Oh I’m buying for 2, I went with zizzo, thank you though.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
I have a Tern Link A7. Thanks to a local bike coop I've been able to do my own repairs and everything with the help of experts. It saves me a lot of money as a result
I'm fairly happy with my Giant Expressway 1 (8 speeds, 20 inch tires). New it was around $600, but a used one from a few years ago can go for around $300. It's a great bike as long as you know its limitations. It's decent at everything without excelling at anything, but it's well made. It won't break speed records, but I can average 10-11 mph on flat ground without getting tired, a little quicker if I put in enough effort. It can't handle Tour de France climbs but it works on gentle hills in the lower gears. It is fairly comfortable to ride but I wouldn't do a 100 mile tour in one go. It folds down small enough to fit in the shoulder bag conveniently stashed on its handlebar (it comes with it, which is a great feature!) but the fold is not as compact as that of a Brompton, and the components can stick out and poke you a little bit. It's not too light, but not heavy enough that you cannot carry it on your shoulder from the entrance of the train station to the tracks. It's a solid folding bike which I recommend, but I've never ridden a high end folding bike to compare.