Folding bikes HAVE to be carried at some point - whether to hang onto a bike rack, take into a hallway or carry onto a train.
Bike designers have developed the folding mechanisms to be simple and fast. But if you've ever tried lugging a 21 Kilo lump of metal around a crowded Underground, it's no fun.
At PowaStation, we're finding that some people come in and ask for a folding bike not because they actually need it to fold, but because they perceive it to be lighter.
The truth is, they're not much lighter at all:
 |
| ThreeeBike Mini E (best of class) 20Kg with battery, 17Kg without |
 |
| Wisper 805Fe 22Kg with battery, 19Kg without |
 |
| Byocycles Chameleon 20 24Kg with battery, 21Kg without |
 |
| Green Zebra Classic21.5Kg with battery, 18.5Kg without |
The Brompton Sparticle or Nano is probably the lightest yet, weighing in at about 19Kg with battery, about 14Kg without - but they are kits, which won't suit many users.
Manufacturers, here's your challenge: Build us a folding bike with a 24 or 36 volt, 250 watt, 10 Amp hour spec, with hub gears, weighing less than 15 Kilo all in, at below £1500, and we'll sell them in droves!
