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The fBIKE folding bike (Direct 6-Speed) has been designed with the wider population in mind, it is perfectly suited to your average rider.
Whether this is somebody who is looking for a bike to use on their daily commute or somebody seeking out a folding bike for pleasure rides throughout the city.
The fBIKE can certainly tick all of these boxes.
Similarly, due to the small price you can pick one of these beauty’s up for, you will be able to experience the same sort of quality that you would receive from a Dahon or Allen-Sports but at a fraction of the price.
1. FBIKE FOLDING BIKE
Our Rating
PROS
- High-quality Shimano components
- Extremely affordable
- Easy to assemble
- Fairly lightweight
CONS
- The design may not appeal to all
OUR VERDICT
“A great entry-level bike that is likely to appeal to the masses. Capable of performing at an exceptionally high level and the aesthetics are the only downside for me!”
fBIKE Folding Bike Review
With there being simply so many different folding bike manufacturers out there today, it can be hard to discover what brand and indeed what model of a folding bike is right for you.
The fBIKE Direct 6-Speed folding bike has been specifically designed to make that decision easier for you.
fBIKE has been around for quite a while and whilst they do not produce the volume of folding bikes that some of the more premium brands do, they are always there ensuring that each of their bikes is of the highest quality possible.
“I loved the fBIKE Direct and feel that it is often overlooked when in reality it is a true high-performance entry-level folding bike!”
The brand themselves have an interesting story behind them, they were originally founded here in America (Massachusetts) and were a family-run business for many years.
Knowing this it then becomes clear to all why their bikes remain some of the finest constructed models around.
Their business originated with the intention of providing a fully customized, high-performance folding bike to the masses at an affordable price – and we think that they’ve done a brilliant job at this.
Performance
Being a folding bike enthusiast by nature, I’m generally quite picky when it comes to bikes, however, I was extremely surprised when I first unboxed the fBIKE – it has everything that a bike two or three times its price would have.
Test Ride
Firstly, it weighs in at around 30 pounds, this is certainly a manageable amount and this means that it can be easily transported throughout the city when you’re not riding it.
It has a total of six gears and some fantastic front and rear derailleurs that really do shift seamlessly.
The 16-inch wheels are perfect and they are compounded by some high-performance Kenda road tires too.
The wheels are very stable on the road and when combined with the frame and forks of the fBIKE Direct you won’t really feel any vibrations at all.
I regularly describe folding bikes as being “smooth”, but I really do mean this when I say it today.
It is for this reason that I think it would perform equally well both in the sprawling streets of a city and in a mountainous countryside scene too.
While a more seasoned rider may wish to pick out a slightly more expensive folding bike, you would be mad to not take a look at the fBIKE before making your purchase.
This bike can be folded down in under 20 seconds, making it perfect for those of us who find ourselves constantly on the move.
It’s made out of quality aluminum and various forms of metal alloy that ensure it will resist an awful lot of damage too.
It’s small enough to stick into the back of your car or truck without issue.
I feel like I could spend all day speaking about all the benefits of the fBIKE Direct and still not do it true justice.
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Specifications
- Gear Speeds: 6
- Folded size: 22″ x 14″ x 30″ (55 x 35 x 76cm)
- Weight: 30 pounds (13.5 kg)
- Tires: 20″ x 1.75″ Kenda
- Frame: Steel
- Folding time: Approx 20 seconds
- Height limit: 6′ 3″ (190cm)
- Maximum capacity: 225 pounds (100kg)
- Included accessories: Bell, front and rear fenders, rear rack
Concluding Remarks
Overall I think that this bike could be perfect for such a diverse array of people that it’s hard to pin down the target audience that fBIKE was going for when they first released this gorgeous bike.
Whether you are a student, somebody who regularly cycles to work, or somebody looking to get fit or have a bit of fun – this could be the perfect budget-level folding bike for you.
Mark Plummer
Mark Plummer is an experienced bike mechanic who has built, repaired, and customized thousands of bikes over the years. A former mountain biking athlete, his cycling adventures have taken him all over the globe from the mountains of Scotland to the South Island of New Zealand. These days he enjoys the benefits of commuting to work and touring on his Dahon and Brompton folding bikes.This free cheat sheet will help you choose a folding bike by providing quick information on the 7 key considerations when buying a foldable bicycle!
