Best electric folding bikes under £2,000 2023 – portable e-bikes on a budget | electric bike reviews, buying advice and news

by Rebecca Bland Jan 17 2023

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Best electric folding bikes under £2,000 2023 – portable e-bikes on a budget — MiRider 2021 - full bike threequarter.jpg, by dave atkinson

Our guide to the best electric folding bikes under £2,000

By their nature, folding bikes are easily transportable, and electric folding bikes (for the most part), are the same, albeit with a few extra kilos. These types of e-bikes work well as multi-modal commuting bikes, or as standalone runaround types. The compactness varies, as does the type of fold the frame uses, but you can usually expect to be able to carry an electric folder onto public transport without too much hassle. It's worth mentioning at this point that if your budget can stretch a little further, we've also got a broader guide to the best electric folding bikes covering more expensive options.

The wheels might be smaller than an average sized electric bike and the batteries tend to offer a little less range, but electric folding bikes are great for short rides for purpose or leisure. Most if not all come with hub driven motors, which means the motor is in the wheel, but it can be front or rear-mounted. You’ll also have a choice of gearing too. Some operate a single-speed drivetrain, whereas others have three-speed derailleur gearing, or hub gears.

Folding e-bikes are often pitched as ideal commuting bikes for those who use trains or buses as part of their journey, but they can be so much more. Choose one that fits your budget and your riding style and there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the longer route home from the office in comfort.

Best electric folding bikes under £2,000

1. MiRider One – from £1,595 (best overall)

Now in its second edition, the MiRider One (2021) comes with a smaller, lighter rear hub motor as well as some upgrades to the wheels compared to the 2020 version. It’s not the lightest electric folder to ever sit on our scales at 17.65kg, but it is one of the best overall. The new motor comes with 15% more torque than the old one (up to 40Nm), which is noticeable on steeper hills as well as longer ascents.

It’s easy to fold and wheel about when compacted, and it can fit in the boot of a car – even small ones like a 1992 Peugeot 205 (with the seats up!). It’s also quirky and has retained the looks that made it popular in the first place. For us, it’s pretty hard to beat at this price, and the warehouse is in the UK so you’ve got local(ish) customer service if you need it.

For more detail, read our review of the MiRider 2021.

2. FLIT-16 - £1,999 when on offer (best lightweight folder)

There’s a few technicalities with this bike, but we liked it so much we had to include it. Firstly, it’s not in stock at the time of writing, but you can put yourself on a wait list. Secondly, it was under £2k the last time it was available... but it was on sale. Essentially, if you can find it on sale, snap it up.

The Flit-16 ideal for train commuters who want to ride the rest of the way to work, thanks to its light weight and compact folding dimensions. It’s only available as a single-speed but our reviewer didn’t find a hill that defeated it. The range from one battery charge could be as high as 40 miles over flat terrain, meaning you likely wouldn’t have to charge it daily for your commutes.

For more detail, read our review of the FLIT-16.

3. Raleigh Stow-E-Way - £1,399 (best under £1,500)

At under £1,500 this folding electric bike represents pretty good value. It’s not the lightest at just over 20kg, but it does come equipped with 20” wheels, LED lights, mudguards, a rack, and a kickstand – essentially everything you need to get started.

It’s powered by a rear TransX hub motor, and paired with a 250Wh battery. It’s not going to give you masses of range, but for a couple of short commutes a week or leisure rides it’ll be enough. There’s also a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain which is relatively rare on folding e-bikes, so perhaps one of the better options for hilly areas.

For more detail, read our review of the Raleigh Stow-E-Way.

4. Dallingridge Oxford – from £1,099 (best around £1,000)

Another 20” wheeled competitor, the Dallingridge Oxford is one of the better ‘cheaper’ folding electric bikes. The model we tested had a 504Wh battery but for a little less, you can swap that out for something smaller. The Oxford also comes with 6-speed Shimano Tourney gears, which makes it more appetising for hilly areas.

That being said, there are some compromises to be expected at this price point. At 22kg it’s not exactly lightweight, so perhaps not the easiest for lugging around tube stations. The folding design could also do with a locking mechanism of sorts when in use, but the motor’s responsiveness and overall ride quality make it worth a look if this is where your budget lies.

For more detail, read our review of the Dallingridge Oxford.

5. Fiido D11 - £999 (best under £1,000)

A classy but practical electric folder, this is our pick of the bunch under £1,000. It folds easily, making it ideal for mixed transport commutes. While it may weigh 19kg, the battery is easily removed from the seatpost for charging. (This also means you don’t have to haul the bike indoors to do so.) Removing the battery also brings the weight down to 13.5kg, which is more manageable for carrying.

The motor is rear-hub mounted and paired with a 417Wh battery, which our reviewer found extended to about 50km of mixed assist use on flat terrain. It’s a short, sitting-upright sort of position on the bike, so best suited to short journeys rather than long-distance riding, but ideal for commuters who need a little something to get them from A to B.

For more detail, read our review of the Fiido D11.

6. Mycle Compact Plus - £1,399 (best for carrying luggage)

Following on the heels of the Mycle Cargo, is the slightly more portable Mycle Compact Plus electric folding bike. It’s got a mid-frame folding design, and weighs about 24kg. This does mean that it’s not ideal for taking on the train. It's perhaps more for chucking in the boot of a car for a leisurely ride elsewhere.

It comes with a weight carrying limit of 120kg and the included rear rack can hold up to 25kg, making it great for carrying the weekly shop or other goods in panniers and bags. For your money you also get mudguards, a kickstand, front and rear lights, and front suspension. It’s certainly worth a look if a cheaper, compact carrier is what you’re after.

For more detail, read our review of the Mycle Compact Plus.

7. Volt Metro - £1,799 (best equipped for utility)

With integrated Spanninga lights, a rear rack, a kickstand and mudguards, it’s hard to beat the practicality of the Volt Metro. And at just shy of £1,800, it’s pretty good value, too. The Volt Metro is powered by a 250W rear-hub mounted Spintech motor, and is paired with a removable 504Wh battery which Volt claims can provide up to 50 or 60 miles of range in favourable conditions.

While we haven’t reviewed the Metro ourselves, we have tested a few of Volt’s other bikes like the Volt Connect and Volt Alpine, both of which impressed our reviewers so we have no doubt the Metro would be of a similar quality.

If you have a Brompton you already like...

8. Cytronex Brompton £1,145 (best Brompton conversion kit)

If you’ve already got a folding bike (namely, a Brompton), and fancy giving electric a go, there’s no better kit than the Cytronex Brompton conversion kit. A UK based company, Cytronex offers you the chance to turn your unassisted Brompton into an electric version through a geared front hub motor and a bottle shaped battery atop the top tube.

Our tester was impressed by the quality of the build, and how lightweight (3.2kg) and neat it was when fitted to the test Brompton. The motor is nice and quiet during operation, and our tester calculated they could get about 25 miles of assistance from one battery charge on a very hilly Pennine test course.

For more detail, read our review of the Cytronex Brompton.

How to choose from the best electric folding bikes under £2,000

Which cheap electric folding bike is the best?

It’s hard to define which electric folding bike is the best, let alone what is considered to be cheap. It’s better to look at whether you’re getting value for your money, rather than what will work for a few months and cost a couple of hundred pounds. In the long-term, it may well work out cheaper to spend a little more now and buy something of better quality.

Figure out what your electric bike needs are and work from there. We have plenty of buying advice articles to read through to help you narrow down your options. If a cheap electric folding bike is what you’re after, then there are a few suggestions under £1,500 on this list, and even one or two below £1,000 to get started with.

What size wheels do electric folding bikes have?

You’ll likely see a variety of wheel sizes on folding bikes. The smaller, more compact electric folding bikes tend to have the smaller wheels - think 16”. Whereas, the larger, slightly less compact folders have bigger wheels, like 20”.

This does mean there’s a trade-off in terms of comfort versus the ability to cram your bike onto a train or bus. The larger wheels will offer a nicer ride, whereas the smaller 16” wheels are more compact and thus generally feature on lighter, more portable folding bikes.

What kind of gears are on electric folding bikes?

Again, this depends. You’ll see some electric folding bikes with derailleur gears, and anything from three-speed to seven- or eight-speed drivetrains. Alternatively, some use single-speed operations, and others use hub gears. It all depends on the brand and, perhaps importantly, the price.

Hub gears are a bit more durable as they’re hidden from the elements, whereas derailleur gears are more exposed and open to damage from getting bashed into things when the bike is being carried around or stored on public transport.

How do electric folding bikes fold?

Many electric folding bikes simply fold in half. A mechanism hinges the frame in the middle and the handlebars fold down for a more compact fold. The seatpost also tends to use a quick-release mechanism so you can easily lower it when folding the bike.

There are, of course, exceptions to this. Some electric folding bikes fold in multiple places, which can make them more compact when folded, yes, but it also means there are more steps involved in getting them to that size.

What kind of motors are on electric folding bikes?

With weight a big factor on electric folding bikes, you are unlikely to see heavier, mid-drive motors being equipped. Instead, most folding bikes will use a hub driven motor in either the front or rear wheel. These are generally lighter, and won’t get in the way of the folding mechanisms.

What kind of mileage range do you get on electric folding bikes?

Typically because of the size and weight of an electric folding bike, their batteries are a little bit smaller. This does mean that the range can be less than on bikes with larger capacity batteries. Think more in the 20-50 mile range than beyond that. If you need something to go further, then consider looking at other, non-folding e-bikes.