How To Choose The Best Mens Folding Mountain Bike?

Getting a properly fitting mens folding mountain bike is the most important thing to consider before you drop in on a new ride. Wondering how to pick the suitable size MBT? Read this article and we’ll walk through the process together.

Part 1: What Is The Best Mens Folding Mountain Bike in 2022?

There is a reason that most people prefer mens folding mountain bike: it is all about convenience and compact design within a bike to get you anywhere without a hassle! If you’re into biking, and you don’t have enough storage at your place, the folding MBT becomes a perfect choice The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) defines MBTs as “rugged and meant for off-road use, but you can use them on pavement, too”. But what is the best foldable MBT today? According to recent research, Montague Paratrooper folding mountain bike is the most popular bike among biking lovers. So let’s take a look at Montague Paratrooper folding mountain bike features, that made this bike bestselling over the years.

Montague Paratrooper Folding Mountain Bike

This is the best overall and standard foldable MBT with ideal pedals, derailleur, shifters, suspension mechanism, and disc brakes for its all-terrain performance. Montague Paratrooper folding MBT has what it takes to be your most dependable bicycle for action with its great design, structure, and frame. This bike has a folding mechanism that works smoothly and its folded position maintains securely.

In terms of safety, you can confidently rely on its front fork suspension mechanism and disc brakes. This bicycle’s braking system provides sufficient and sturdy stopping power for your quick stopovers. Meanwhile, there are fewer vibrations when heading on rough trails with its hardtail suspension. Furthermore, enough padding on the saddle helps you ease your lower back from off-road trails. The important downside of this is its aluminum pedal, which you can later upgrade in the future.

The classic folding MBT from Montague, the Paratrooper is strong, rugged, and ready for anything. This bike’s patented folding design was advanced under a grant from DARPA to permit airborne soldiers to drop out of airplanes and into battle. The Paratrooper Montague folding MBT offers 24 speeds, powerful front suspension, mechanical disc brakes, and a rack stand for hauling gear. Deal with any terrain, carry your gear, and fold it to store in your trunk. This best overall bike has great key features including sturdy pedals made from aluminum, a mudguard, rack stand, mechanical disc brakes, and strong suspension.

mens folding mountain bike

Pros & Cons

The first significant benefit of the Paratrooper is its folding mechanism which is solid and responsive. Second, it has an excellent front fork shock-absorbing system, which is a great feature for beginners. Paratrooper’s efficient space-saving feature is a wonderful option for those who don’t have enough storage. This is my favorite as I don’t have a lot of space to store my bike inside my home. Lastly, it has durable wheels and rims that make mountain biking, or off-road riding more enjoyable. The only seatback of it is the aluminum pedals which can still be improved.

Part 2: How To Choose The Best Suitable Folding Mens Mountain Bike For Myself

As a bike purist, I have been riding the same bike I got for my 10th birthday. Up until recently, I understood that although my bike still got me where I needed to go, it was time for an upgrade. Therefore, as a total beginner, I found out that picking the right bike isn’t as easy as I thought. From frame and wheel size to extra features, here I show you how to find your perfect ride. If you are a beginner as well, this guide will help you pick the perfect folding mountain bike mens.

If you walk into a local MBT shop or surf on the net for a cool foldable men’s mountain bike, you will have a wide variety of options. There will be different kinds of folding MBTs and probably you will be looking to buy one of those popular folding mountain bikes for men. When you choose a foldable men’s mountain bike, there are typically seven main features that you should look for to see which one suits you the most. Here are the six important criteria that you need to look for in a mens fold up mountain bike:

  • Price Matter

The first important thing is to calculate how much you want to spend on your purchase. Folding mountain bike mens prices range quite a bit from a hundred bucks to several thousand depending on your choice. Beginners can expect to at least spend a few hundred bucks on their new folding MBT.

Don’t forget that you can find decent, affordable folding mountain bikes second-hand. For instance, the store I visited specialized in recycling people’s old bikes. As a result, there were a lot of mid-range options between 200 to 300 bucks. Once you discovered what kind of folding mountain bike you need and what quality level you’re looking for, it’s time to dig into the specialties.

  • Frame Size

The second thing that you need to check is the frame size of the folding mountain bike men’s. Please note that these bikes pretty much come in a single size. Although, it is quite low and somewhat like children’s bikes, it is adjustable so that also taller people can use them. You can simply use an online bike size calculator to choose the right size. That will help you pick the right bike frame. Don’t forget that your ideal frame size is based on the type of foldable mountain bike you choose, your height, and your inseam. Inseam is the length from your crotch to the ground.

I’m not a tall person, but a 26 inch mens folding bike was an ideal choice for me. A 26 inch mens folding bike is very popular as it works for many people who are 4’10-5’7 or 147 cm to 170 cm. It works very well for people whose leg inseam is 25-30 inches, or 63-76 cm as well. Nevertheless, the frame size can need adjustment depending on your height. Lastly, use a bike size calculator to determine your MBT frame size, otherwise, the wrong size bike can be uncomfortable and hard to control.

  • Frame Material

Today mens folding mountain bikes for sale frames are fabricated using an array of metals and composites. The most popular materials include aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, and steel. Each frame material has its advantages and trade-offs that make it ideal for your riding category, goals, or budget. Steel is heavier than aluminum and more expensive to manufacture on a mass scale, ensuring aluminum remains the favorite option for most of today’s riders. Although steel is much denser and heavier than aluminum, it’s more resistant and durable.

  • Wheel Size

Another thing to consider would be the wheel size. This is significant as it will affect your overall ride. Smaller wheels are easier to steer, however, larger wheels are smoother. Moreover, the size of the wheels will affect the size of the bike when it is folded. So, if you don’t have enough space and want something that is extremely compact, smaller wheels are good. But larger wheels usually work better for a folding mountain bike.

  • Suspension

Suspension refers to systems that add more weight to your foldable MBT. As I’ve said before, folding bikes with larger wheels tend to have smoother rides in comparison with those with smaller wheels. Nevertheless, the suspension systems can help counter this by countering the friction of the smaller wheels. Therefore, if you want to choose a small folding mountain bike, look for suspension mechanisms in it.

  • Folding Method

The folding method of your MBT will all depend on your priorities. There are three folding methods of MBTs in the market: half-fold, triangle fold, and break away. The half-fold is very simple to disassemble but not very strong. Mountain bikes with a triangle fold are strong and easy to fold however, not easy to ride in some cases. Finally, those with the breakaway fold are the easiest to fold because they can be folded into an extremely compact size. The only downside of breakaway folding mountain bikes is that they are more difficult to reassemble.

  • Purpose

The last criteria is your purpose. If you want to just go on short journeys and leisure rides around the town, then the smaller and flimsier foldable MBTs are fine. You need MBTs with larger wheels and stronger frames for long tours and more active rides. The bikes that can be packed easily are the best choice if you want to take your bike along with you on public transportation or abroad. The type of folding mountain bike you’ll choose will all depend on your purpose, but most pros would suggest choosing the one that fits your needs and lifestyle rather than basing your choice on mere bike appearance.

Part 3: Does A Folding Mountain Bike Better Than A Regular Bike

Let’s look at the benefits and downsides of folding mountain bikes in comparison with regular ones to answer this question. One of the most disturbing things that may happen to a cyclist is having their bike stolen. If you don’t have enough space to keep your bike inside your home, then you should consider that a lock is not a good guarantee to keep your bike safe. In terms of security, folding MBTs are much better than regular bikes as they are compact and you can keep them inside your home easily. This is the most important advantage of folding MBTs over regular bikes. Moreover, Folding bikes are designed to transform from fully functioning bikes to a modest size. You can fold it up and put it in a closet, corner of your room, or under your desk.

On the other hand, the price of folding bikes is often higher than their regular bike counterpart. You’re paying more to own a bike that can fold like an origami piece and it weighs lighter too. I remember the first time I lifted a folding mountain bike, I was surprised by its weight. Therefore, it is completely worth the price for me. In addition, folding mountain bikes provide a bumpier, stiffer ride compared to other regular bikes. The reason mostly comes down to tire sizing. The most desirable tire sizes for folding mountain bikes are 16, 20, and 24 inches. These smaller wheel sizes don’t handle bumps as well as bigger wheels and they give a bumpier ride. To sum up, there is no better between folding mountain bikes and regular bikes. However, foldable MBTs are more popular for mountain biking.

Part 4: Final Thoughts

If you’re new to mountain bikes, or a road rider searching for the thrills of hitting the dirt and going off-road, it’s good to know what to look for when it comes to buying the proper MBT. So check out our best tips on choosing the perfect ride to get trail-ready.

Part 5: Related Questions

  1. Are folding mountain bikes for men slower than regular bikes?

Folding mountain bikes for men are not inherently slower than other bikes. They often feel slower, because of the rider’s position, smaller wheel size, and maybe gearing. Folding MBTs place you in a vertical position which is not perfect for speed, because of wind resistance. Most folding mountain bikes have smaller wheels that cause more tire resistance. At last, the gearing on many folding MBTs consists of a wide range to make hills easier, but this is not ideal for pedaling at high speeds.

  1. Is a foldable men’s mountain bike allowed on trains, buses, or subways?

This depends on your public transportation rules, but most public transportation systems allow folding MBTs.

  1. Is folding mountain bike men’s safe?

Yes, they are safe as long as you choose the right one for yourself. Following the weight restrictions, helps you not be exceeded your bike’s weight capacity. Folding mountain bikes do not break easily and they are structurally strong and crafted to be durable. Just try not to place too much weight on them.

  1. Does a mens fold up mountain bike look stupid?

Haha! I’ve heard some people suggest that folding MBTs make cyclists look like a clown. You should make your own decision about how they look. In my opinion, a mens fold up mountain bike doesn’t look stupid if you’re in normal street clothes.

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