Check out these 5 all-road folding bikes

Folding bikes are fantastic for commuting, especially for those who mix transit modes and cycle shorter distances. But what about when you want your folding bike to do more, go more places, and handle the more varied terrain?

Not all cities are created equal, and cyclists know this better than anyone. Some street patterns are flat, smooth, and meet at right angles. Wide avenues are arranged in grids. Bike lanes and multi-use paths are woven thoughtfully together. Signage is clear and logical. Public racks stand in front of every municipal building. Think of Minneapolis, a city you could confidently navigate on a beach cruiser.

But other cities are hilly, confusing, and riddled with potholes. Cyclists must contend with narrow streets and surreal intersections. The shoulder – if it exists – is a river of shattered glass. You can barely ascend certain inclines in the easiest gear, never mind when they’re paved with cobblestone.

Bike manufacturers have long dabbled in designs that are (a) tough enough for a post-industrial urban landscape but (b) also fold. After all, it would be great to ride a commuter that can handle any terrain, from broken sidewalks to tram tracks, but is also fast on the flats and easy to stow. Most folding bikes are too dainty for thick tires, disc brakes, and dynamic cassettes.

So what’s out there? The options tend to be limited and expensive. For the curious, though, such bikes do exist.

Bike Friday All-Packa

This folding “adventure bike” has wowed critics around the world. The disc brakes and 2.4-inch-thick tires are ready for almost any surface, and the attractive alt-bars are designed for multiple hand positions on long rides. Given the 20-inch rims, reviews have remarked a great deal about the All-Packa’s impressive speed. Bike Friday is best known for its touring models, and the All-Packa was built for back-country bikepacking. But there’s no reason this little rockstar couldn’t carry you to the office, then fit under a desk. The only drawback is the price tag, at about $2,500 U.S.

Bike Friday All-Packa

VELLO Gravel

You almost never see drop-bars on a folding bike, so the VELLO Gravel raises eyebrows the second it appears. Founded in Vienna, Austria, in 2014, VELLO has produced a diverse fleet of folding bikes, from the reasonably traditional Alfine to the Titanium-framed VELLO Rocky. Like any gravel bike, the VELLO Gravel is designed to take on just about any road surface, and critics have praised its build quality. Again, you’ll spend a pretty penny: €2,290, with significant shipping rates outside of Europe.

VELLO Gravel

Montague Navigator

If the Montague bikes are good enough for paratroopers, they should be able to handle anything. Based in the Boston area, Montague has developed rugged folding bikes since the 1980s; they even won a grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a military-grade design. Montague has a unique (and patented) folding mechanism and full-size rims. While the company has several models intended for urban commuting, the Navigator’s wide tires and 27 gears can tackle any type of road, and its built-in “RackStand” can both carry luggage and keep the bike upright. It’s also a comparative bargain, at around $1,200 U.S.

Montague Navigator

Flatbike Road Warrior

At first glance, the Road Warrior looks like any other high-quality gravel bike, with drop bars, 700c rims, and hydraulic disc brakes. Look closer, though, and you’ll see it swings in half. Flatbike specializes in full-size folding bicycles for a range of needs, from urban bike paths to alpine singletrack. The Road Warrior is sturdy and speedy, and it’ll fit into almost any car trunk. Again, brace yourself for the price tag: Road Warriors start at $2,180 U.S.

Flatbike Road Warrior

Dahon GB-2

This last entry is mysterious, as the GB-2 isn’t available in North America and is hard to track down anywhere. That’s a pity, because Dahon is one of the OG of folding bike brands, dominating the market since the 1970s with its trusty, small-wheeled commuters. The Dahon Mariner is widely considered the best all-around folding bike on the planet right now, and we’d be ecstatic to see this full-size, drop-bar gravel bike emerge from the shadows. The GB-2 was the apparent follow-up to a GB-1, but neither model seems to be listed for purchase.

Dahon GB-2

Do you know of another durable folding bike that should be added to this list? Let us know!