Whether or not Latta was successful in building his invention is unknown, but he did eventually sell the patent to the Pope Manufacturing Company who manufactured bicycles and automobiles at the turn of the century. You’ll pay a premium for a Brompton, but in return you get a quality build, a multitude of spare parts, accessories and colour options, and the knowledge that you’ve bought from a brand still manufacturing in West London, where they’ve been since 1988.

Slightly cheaper parts that have given out over time. Of course I ride nearly every day, so it could just be they are getting a load more use than normal for my bikes, but I’ve been through 2 seats, 1 seat post, 3-4 chains, rear tyre, and 4 or 5 sets of brake pads in the 2.5 years I’ve had mine… Folding bike wheel size: Models with smaller wheels will be lighter and more compact when folded, but won’t gather as much momentum on the road. A folding bike with larger wheels will be much faster rolling once the wheels are up to speed - but will likely weigh more and will be a little more cumbersome to load onto public transport or haul up a few flights of stairs. The lightest folding e-bike we’ve seen actually available to buy is the A-bike at 12kg, but most models are over 15kg and over 20kg isn’t an unreasonable mass. A folding bike, for the majority of people, is about convenience – getting where you want to go on time, with the least hassle possible. Unless you’re entering an event such as the London Nocturne Folding Bike Race, or Bromption World Championship, you”ll generally be leaving the sporting aspect of cycling behind when you swing your leg over one of these. Aluminium is a very popular choice for its balance between weight and resilience - and also low price.Once a warranty claim has been placed we will review the claim and advise on an appropriate course of action, please do not return your item until you have spoken to an advisor. As a result, more commuters than ever are switching to bikes for their journeys. As well as keeping you fit, cycling to work is cheap and involves very little in the way of running costs. If you don’t live within practical cycling distance from work, then a folding bike will allow you to combine a drive or train journey with pedal power.

Because of what they do, folding bikes are popular among commuters who will opt for components that are easy to maintain and reliable. There's a 250 watt front hub motor and 375Wh battery. Gocycle claims a range of up to 80km, although we didn't achieve more than 44km on hilly commutes. As part of the WEEE regulations, all electrical and electronic goods produced after August 2005 that fall under WEEE regulations should be clearly marked with a crossed-out bin symbol which means they should not be included with household waste so that they can be recycled If you’re looking for something a little less ordinary, Dahon might have you covered. Folding bikes made by Dahon don’t all have small wheels – they have 16″ and 20″ options to get you rolling faster, and even some designed specifically for leisure riding, out of town and even on light toe paths.Many folding bikes feature hub gears – this means the shifting system is entirely sealed, cutting down on maintenance dramatically. Shifting on hub gears is often easier than using derailleurs for beginners, as there is no chain tension to worry about - you don't have to be pedalling to change gear. In addition, there's no derailleur to get bent or damaged, always a risk for a hard-working folding bike. The rest of this impressive folding bike is, as expected with Tern, specced highly with Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes making speed modulation and controlled stopping a breeze, and highly respected Shimano 10-speed Deore drivetrain also making an appearance. Like Dahon, there are a range of sizes and options available, from city inspired tiny folders like the Link models, to the Tern Joe, which has almost fill sized wheels.