Best Folding Electric Bikes: 7 Picks Compared
If you want the short version: the Aipas A2 is the folding e-bike to buy for most people. It has a 614Wh battery, a step-through frame and turn signals, and 144 owners rate it 4.6 stars. Just don’t expect to carry it up the stairs. At 65 lbs it folds so it can be stored, not so it can be lifted.
That is the thing nobody selling a folding e-bike wants to lead with. Take the seven bikes below: the lightest weighs 45 lbs and the heaviest 95, so most of them are about as heavy as a full-size e-bike. Folding shrinks the bike. It does not make it lighter. So the first question is what you need to do with it once it’s folded: roll it into a closet, lift it into a trunk, or carry it onto a train. Your answer picks the bike more than any motor figure will.
abouteBikes is reader-supported. We research products from their published specifications and owner feedback rather than testing them ourselves, and the links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How we choose what to feature.
Best for what
| Best overall | Aipas A2 | See on Amazon |
| Lightest to carry | Gotrax R1 | See on Amazon |
| Most compact | ANCHEER 14″ StreetRider | See on Amazon |
| Best value | Jasion EB6 | See on Amazon |
| Best for errands | GELEISEN PM-09 | See on Amazon |
| Best for rough ground | Jasion X Hunter ST | See on Amazon |
| Most range | Aipas F3 Max | See on Amazon |
Three numbers that matter more on a folder
Every folding e-bike listing leads with the motor. For a bike you plan to fold, these three figures matter more.
- Weight. This is the one to settle first. Most adults can lift about 45 to 50 lbs into a trunk without much trouble. At 60 lbs it’s a struggle, and at 70 you want two people. Only two bikes on this list come in at around 50 lbs or less.
- Folded size. Only two of these listings give a folded size at all. Measure your trunk or closet before you order. A few inches decide whether the lid shuts.
- Watt-hours. Volts times amp-hours. Small wheels and a compact frame leave little room for a battery, so this varies more on folders than on anything else, from 374Wh at the bottom of this list to 864Wh at the top.
The seven bikes
01
Best overall
Aipas A2
The most complete everyday folder here. It has a big battery for its size, a low step-through frame, and a lighting setup with a brake light and turn signals that most bikes at this level don’t bother with.
Motor
750W peak
Battery
614Wh
Range
Up to 62 mi
Weight
65 lbs
Key features
- Removable, lockable 48V 12.8Ah battery, IP65 rated
- 20 x 3in tires with front suspension
- Shimano seven-speed and mechanical disc brakes
- Headlight, brake light and turn signals built in
- Step-through frame, 350 lb maximum load, riders from about 4’7″
What stands out
- 614Wh is a lot of battery for a bike that folds
- Step-through frame makes getting on with a bag easy
- 144 ratings at 4.6 stars, so the problems would have shown up by now
What to watch
- At 65 lbs, it is a bike you fold to store, not one you carry
- Mechanical discs on a bike quoted at 28 mph
- Aipas’s own “real-world” figure is 30 to 50 miles. Plan on the 30
02
Lightest to carry
Gotrax R1
The lightest bike on the list and the one with the longest track record, with 617 ratings. If the bike has to go up a flight of stairs or onto a train every day, nearly 20 lbs less than the average here matters more than anything else.
Motor
350W (500W peak)
Battery
374Wh
Range
25 mi assisted
Weight
45 lbs
Key features
- Folds to 37.4 x 17.7 x 27.5in
- Aluminum frame, 20 x 2.6in tires
- Dual disc brakes, LED headlight
- UL 2849 certified
- 264 lb maximum load, riders from 5’3″
What stands out
- The only bike here most people can carry any distance
- More owner ratings than anything else on the list
- Published folded size, so you can measure before you buy
What to watch
- The title says 40 miles. The specification says 25 with pedal assist and 15.5 on throttle
- No suspension at all
- 180-day warranty and a 264 lb load limit, both the lowest here
03
Most compact
ANCHEER 14″ StreetRider
Small wheels and a short frame make this the shortest bike on the list at 49.2in long unfolded, and the least expensive. It suits short riders and short trips.
Motor
500W peak
Battery
374Wh
Range
20–50 mi
Weight
48.5–50.6 lbs
Key features
- 14in wheels, 49.2in long unfolded
- Front and rear suspension plus a sprung saddle
- Single speed, 20 mph top speed, cruise control
- UL 2849 certified
- Fits riders from 4’6″ to 5’11”
What stands out
- The shortest bike here, which helps in a small trunk or hallway
- 504 ratings, the second-most here
- A sensible first e-bike for a shorter rider
What to watch
- The listing gives two weights, 48.5 lbs and 50.6 lbs. Assume the heavier
- One gear, so the motor does all the work on hills
- If you’re over 5’11”, skip it
04
Best value
Jasion EB6
An aluminum folder that sits in the middle of this list on price and weight, and one of only two listings here that publishes a folded size. Owners like it (4.8 stars), though there are only 43 ratings so far.
Motor
1200W peak
Battery
48V (Ah not given)
Range
Up to 50 mi
Weight
59 lbs
Key features
- Folds to 36 x 19 x 29in
- Aluminum frame, 20in wheels
- Front suspension fork and dual disc brakes
- Seven-speed gearing, 25 mph top speed
- Arrives 90 percent assembled
What stands out
- Highest owner rating on this list
- Folded size is published, and close to the Gotrax’s
- Six pounds lighter than the Aipas A2
What to watch
- The title says built-in battery, but the bullet points say removable. Ask the seller before you order if you need to charge it indoors
- No amp-hour figure, so you can’t work out the watt-hours
- 25 mph doesn’t match any of the three US e-bike classes
05
Best for errands
GELEISEN PM-09
The only bike here that comes with a rear rack. For the grocery run and the commute with a work bag, that saves you buying and fitting a rack later.
Motor
350W
Battery
374Wh
Range
25 mi assisted
Weight
62.7 lbs
Key features
- Steel rear rack included, 300 lb total payload (rider plus cargo)
- 20 x 3in tires, front suspension
- Six-speed gearing, 20 mph maximum
- UL 2849 for the bike and UL 2271 for the battery
- Step-through frame for riders from 5’0″
What stands out
- Rack, fenders and horn in the box
- Two separate safety certifications, which is rare on Amazon
- 20 mph cap keeps it a straightforward Class 2 bike
What to watch
- 15.5 miles on throttle alone is short
- Nearly 63 lbs with one of the smallest batteries here
- Less-known brand, so check parts availability before you rely on it
06
Best for rough ground
Jasion X Hunter ST
Four-inch fat tires, suspension at both ends and hydraulic brakes. If your riding includes gravel, sand or broken trails, this is the folder built for it, and the battery hides inside the fold, where a thief can’t get at it.
Motor
750W (1400W peak)
Battery
624Wh
Range
55–70 mi
Weight
71 lbs
Key features
- 20 x 4in fat tires
- Front fork and four-link rear suspension
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 85Nm of torque, seven speeds
- Battery can only be removed with the bike folded
- UL 2849 certified
What stands out
- One of only two bikes here with hydraulic brakes
- Full suspension at a mid-range price
- The fold-to-remove battery is a smart theft deterrent
What to watch
- “30+ mph” is faster than any e-bike class allows. Check what the throttle does before you ride it on the street
- The listing calls a 71 lb frame “lightweight”
- Rider height is 5’4″ in the bullets and 4’6″ in the spec table
07
Most range
Aipas F3 Max
The biggest battery on this list by a distance, with hydraulic brakes and proper full suspension. It is also 95 lbs. It folds so it fits an RV or the back of an SUV. You will not be carrying it anywhere.
Motor
1800W peak
Battery
864Wh
Range
Up to 85 mi
Weight
95 lbs
Key features
- 110Nm of torque
- Front fork and hydraulic Horst-link rear suspension
- 180mm hydraulic disc brakes
- 20 x 4in fat tires, 500 lb maximum load
- Fits riders from 4’7″ to 6’5″
What stands out
- 864Wh is 240Wh more than anything else here
- The best brakes and suspension on the list
- Highest load rating here
What to watch
- 95 lbs is more than two Gotrax R1s
- “Fits most car trunks” assumes you can lift it into one
- A Class 3 claim on a bike this heavy and powerful. Check your local trail rules
All seven, side by side
| Bike | Best for | Battery | Claimed range | Weight | Folded size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aipas A2 | Best overall | 614Wh | 62 mi | 65 lbs | Not listed |
| Gotrax R1 | Lightest to carry | 374Wh | 25 mi | 45 lbs | 37.4 x 17.7 x 27.5in |
| ANCHEER 14″ | Most compact | 374Wh | 20–50 mi | 48.5–50.6 lbs | Not listed |
| Jasion EB6 | Best value | Not listed | 50 mi | 59 lbs | 36 x 19 x 29in |
| GELEISEN PM-09 | Best for errands | 374Wh | 25 mi | 62.7 lbs | Not listed |
| Jasion X Hunter ST | Best for rough ground | 624Wh | 55–70 mi | 71 lbs | Not listed |
| Aipas F3 Max | Most range | 864Wh | 85 mi | 95 lbs | Not listed |
Four things to check before you buy a folding e-bike
Lift something that weighs the same
Before you order, pick up a suitcase or a bag of dog food that weighs what the bike does and lift it to the height of your trunk. If that’s hard, the bike will be harder, because it’s an awkward shape and the chain gets on your clothes.
The hinge is the part to watch
A folding frame has a hinge in the middle, and a hinge is a place for play to develop. Check the latch is fully closed every time you unfold it, and check it for movement once a month (our maintenance checklist covers how). If a used folder has any wobble at the hinge, don’t buy it.
Speed claims and your e-bike class
Three bikes here quote 28 mph or more. The three-class system allows 28 mph only with pedal assist, and 20 mph on a throttle. The X Hunter’s “30+ mph” is outside all three. Our guide to e-bike classes explains where each one is allowed to go.
Battery certification
Four of the seven state UL 2849 certification, and the GELEISEN adds UL 2271 for the battery itself. The two Aipas bikes and the Jasion EB6 don’t mention either in their listings. A folder usually lives indoors, so it gets charged indoors, which is exactly why certification matters. Our battery safety guide covers where and how to charge it.
The bottom line
Buy the Aipas A2 if the bike will live in an apartment or a garage and mostly roll in and out. Buy the Gotrax R1 if you really will carry it, up stairs or onto a train, because nothing else here is close on weight. Buy the F3 Max only if it will live in an RV and you want the biggest battery you can get.
If you’re not sure a folder is right at all, our frame types guide sets folding against step-through and full-size. And whichever you buy, buy it somewhere with a returns window and use it in the first week.
How we choose
We don’t ride every bike on this site. What we do is read the specification properly (battery in watt-hours, weight, folded size, brakes, certification) and set it against what owners consistently say once the bike has been in use for a while. Where a claim looks optimistic, we say so.
That makes these pages a shortcut through the spec sheets, not a substitute for a test ride. Buy from somewhere with a returns policy, and use it.
