Hidayah Salamat picks five foldable bikes for an alternative morning commute.

The Brompton

One of the most renowned foldable bikes in the world, the Brompton bike is London’s pride and joy, with a steel frame that can take weights of up to 110kg and its own exclusive range of front and rear luggage options. Comes in single to six speeds, three different handlebar options, three sizes and a myriad of colors. $1,750 upwards from Diginexx.

The Strida LT

This one’s an excellent entry-level option, especially since you don’t have to clean it—it runs on a Kevlar (synthetic material that’s stronger than steel) belt system, and is therefore chainless (and greaseless). This single speeder runs on 16-inch wheels and folds and unfolds in under 10 seconds—seriously impressive. Available in four colors alongside accessories such as a bike stand, aluminum pedals and travel bags. $750 (excluding accessories) from Diginexx.

Dahon Vector X10

If your ride to work takes you off the pavement and onto the tarmac a lot, this model by the world’s biggest manufacturer of folded bikes is probably your best bet. Its strong frame (the result of a hydro-formed design) and 10 speed options mean the quality of your ride isn’t too far from that of a road bike. $2,799 from Life Cycle.

Alex Moulton TSR 2

Alex Moulton models are touted as the Rolls Royce of foldable bikes, what with the classy brown leather saddle and excellent features. This one, for example, has a kick-shift two-speed gear and an integrated back pedal brake for ease of switching from one terrain to another. We also like how the bike is designed to be compatible with most cycle parts. $2,500 from Life Cycle.

YikeBike

We’re not going to lie—we’re a little wary of this one. Its design and built mean you probably won’t get much exercise out of it and it works more like a Segway than a bicycle. But damn it looks cool. At 10kg, it’s possibly the lightest electric folding bike in the world, and collapses up real good too, so you definitely won’t have issues with taking it on the MRT. $4,988 from EV World.

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