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Want a folding bike you can ride within an hour of opening the box? This Best Choice Products 20-inch folder surprised me.
I’d recently bought another folding bike from Best Choice Products and liked it, so I picked up this silver Shimano 6-speed version for about $115. It turned out to be nearly fully assembled. That model isn’t on Amazon anymore, so the button goes to a current 20-inch 7-speed folding bike. Here’s what’s different and how it rode.
- Arrives almost fully assembled
- Folding pedals snap and lock
- Adjustable main fold latch
- Spring-loaded pin locks the fold
- Kickstand, mudguards and rack included
- Twist shifter is easy
- Less foam packaging
- Brake pads and levers needed adjusting
- Front reflector came loose
- Handlebar latch is hard to work one-handed
- You need a wrench to set latch tension
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Out of the box: basically assembled
The description said assembled, which I figured meant the major parts. This one legitimately was assembled. You can pretty much put the whole thing together with a pair of scissors by cutting off the zip ties. Then you pump up the tires.
If I’d known, I would have bought this one first. It was cheaper than my other folding bike, and it seems to have all the same features.
Things to adjust first
The brake pads may need to come down a little to sit on the flat surface of the rim, and the brake levers point straight down, so you may want to loosen them with an Allen key and rotate them up. The front reflector was attached but not tightened, so tighten it or it’ll flop around.
For dialing it in, I needed about a 5.5 mm Allen key for the brakes and brake levers and a 4 mm for the Shimano shifter on the handlebars.
A better folding latch
The handlebar fold latch is different, not better or worse. It took a little doing to close and open, and it’s hard one-handed, but a plastic collar helps lock it closed. Tension levers for the handlebar and seat post tightened up better than on my other bike.
The main frame latch is much better. It has a tensioning adjustment, which my other bike doesn’t, and a spring-loaded pin that pokes through the base. Even if the latch isn’t fully closed, the bike won’t fold open. You may need a wrench to set the tension, but after that it’s easy.
Pedals, kickstand and rack
The pedals have a release so you can fold them down out of the way, and they snap and lock into place. On my other bike you’d have to unscrew them. It also has a kickstand, installed mudguards, and a rear rack with a spring-loaded clamp. A plastic foot under the frame seems to protect the gears when it’s folded.
Ride test
It’s awesome. It was way easier to set up than my other bike, and easy to dial in. It runs great. The twist shifter feels kind of like a motorcycle throttle.
Being able to adjust the main clamp is a huge advantage. On my other bike that latch is so stiff it’s almost impossible to open or snap shut. This one rides within an hour, and it made less of a styrofoam mess too.
FAQ
Does this folding bike come assembled?
Mine was nearly fully assembled. I cut the zip ties, pumped the tires and made a few adjustments.
What tools do I need?
I used about a 5.5 mm Allen key for the brakes and levers and a 4 mm for the shifter. You may need a wrench for the fold latch tension.
What kind of shifter does it have?
A Shimano twist shifter on the handlebar.
Do the pedals fold?
Yes. They have a release and snap down out of the way.
How much did it cost?
About $115 when I bought it.
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