Equipment: Folding bikes in the test - what you should consider when making your choice

Carrying your own bikes on board is ideal, making the crew self-sufficient. The opening hours of the bike hire company, availability of the equipment and its condition no longer affect anyone. The models are also becoming increasingly comfortable and therefore more suitable for longer tours and are hardly inferior to their big sisters. And the equipment, including a perfectly fitting saddle, is determined by the owner. All good reasons for having your own on-board bikes. They should take up little space below deck or in the back box and therefore be small and foldable, while light weight is required for easy handling.

The market for folding bikes is growing, and in metropolises such as London, home of the classic Brompton, commuters are increasingly fond of the handy bike to cover the remaining distances to and from the underground. Demand has increased supply and, together with supply bottlenecks and inflation, driven up prices. Cheap folding bikes are available for less than 300 euros and usually come with a decent frame and a proven folding mechanism, but the equipment is lacking. If you don't just want to go to the bakery near the harbour, but want to explore a city, a coast or an island as suggested on the previous pages, good gears, a comfortable saddle, lights, safe brakes, mudguards and a pannier rack are essential. The disadvantage of small tyres can be compensated for with the wide balloon models, which also defuse uneven tracks and gravel.

This is expensive, and a comfort model will quickly add between 700 and 1,000 euros to the on-board budget. The winners of the YACHT equipment test, such as the Brompton or the Tern, which can be easily reduced in size, double this amount. Increasingly, foldable e-bikes are also an alternative and are able to increase the range of action or take the fear out of long climbs. In terms of price, inexpensive e-models are hardly more expensive than a good standard bike, but the weight and dimensions remain disadvantageous for on-board use.

Brompton C Line

The Brompton is the folding classic from England, and even the three-speed version is comfortable to ride. In addition to the pannier rack, a handlebar bag can also be fitted, turning the Brompton into a load donkey. There are various equipment variants to choose from. The universally talented 18-inch bike is suitable for long distances and even rides well on gravel, even if it tends to vibrate.

• + High quality, proven, durable
• + Balanced driving characteristics
• + pannier rack, mudguards included
• - High price

Order:

• Price: from 1,500 euros >> available here
• Pack size: 60 x 30 x 61 cm
• Weight: 12 kg

Tern BYB P8

Narrow and, at 20 inches, quite large wheels offer comparatively comfortable rolling resistance, but less good suspension. Nevertheless, the Tern rides very well. The ingenious folding mechanism, in which the frame is folded in two places, ensures a good pack size. Also suitable for short day trips.

• + Good driving characteristics
• + Very good folding mechanism
• - High price
• - Little suspension due to tyres

Order:

• Price: 1,900 euros >> available here
• Pack size: 80 x 39 x 54 cm
• Weight: 16 kg

NCM London

Large battery, comfortable saddle, suspension fork and seat post and a very large display with speed and mileage: the London is also ideally equipped for long tours and rides almost like a large bike. The downside: at 24 kilograms, it is the heaviest model in the test. Comfortable folding e-bike at a fair price.

• + Rides like a big wheel
• + Large battery
• + Attractive price
• - Quite heavy and bulky

Order:

• Price: 1,200 euros
• Pack size: 87 x 41 x 71 cm
• Weight: 24 kg

More about on-board wheels:

• Accessories: Folding e-bike - practical test of the Jeep Foldbike FR6020
• Hydrobike Manta 5: Foiling bike for pure riding fun