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Finding the best bikes for apartments can be tricky because of the limited space and sometimes grueling stairways.
After moving to the city, my first bike was an old Diamondback mountain bike with dual suspension. The bike was too big for my humble abode, and I had to give up my balcony to make a home for it. After a couple of months, I sold it because my lower back reported the abuse of navigating my elevator-less existence on the third floor.
The best bikes for apartments are:
- Eurobike G4
- Schwinn Loop
- Dahon Mariner D8 Brushed
- Tern Node BYB S11
- Tern Link C8
- Montague Boston
- WeThePeople Envy
- Haro Midway Cassette
- Mafiabikes Kush 2
- Mongoose Legion L40
- Kink Liberty
- State Bicycle 4130 The Matte Black
- All-City Cycles Super Professional Single Speed
With so many bikes to choose from, it is essential to properly peruse our list to figure out which of the bicycle characteristics we consider resonant with your specific requirements. I have relished holding up my personal experience against professional recommendations, tested reviews from places like CyclingNews and theCoolist, and other customer reviews.
However, before jumping onto the web or jogging to your local retailer, you should always use the manufacturer’s bike size chart for all the bicycles on this list. You should check in with some bike shops around your area to get a fitting. Knowing your bike fit is essential to enjoy your new, apartment-cognisant bike comfortably.
6 Best Folding Bikes For Apartments
Folding bikes are probably some of the best bikes for people living in apartments because they can be folded down and stored indoors. It’s not only safer to have your door indoors instead of the balcony (for those living outside of New York, of course), but it helps protect your bike from the wear and tear of the sun.
1. Eurobike G4
Weight: 38 pounds
Material: High carbon steel
Wheel size: 26 inches
Maximum load: 330 pounds
Height capacity: 5’5’’ to 5’9’’
Folded size: 37.8 inches by 33.5 inches by 15.7 inches
The Eurobike is a folding bicycle for those who don’t plan to compromise on their bicycle aesthetics and their bicycle fit. The Eurobike is a full-sized mountain bike with 21-speed gears, disk brakes, and dual suspension. It’s the whole nine yards when you are pressed on space.
For taller people, the bike comes in 27.5-inch and 29-inch wheel sizes. The tires hold pressure, and the bike doesn’t stand on its own. You can remedy the tire issue by replacing them with better ones. The Shimano TZ50 derailleurs are lower-end but acceptable for the price tag.
The bike is excellent for people that enjoy riding over different terrains. The dual suspension is good enough for rougher terrain, and the Shimano EF500 dual-disc brakes also respond fast enough during city commutes. The bike folds to a storable size; a small compact desk.
2. Schwinn Loop
Weight: 34 pounds
Material: Aluminum
Wheel size: 20 inches
Maximum load: 230 pounds
Height capacity: 56 to 74 inches
Folded size: 29.7 inches by 28.5 inches by 17.2 inches
The Schwinn Loop is a great commuter bike that stays true to the folding bike spirit. The bike folds to a compact brief-case size but retains the ability to offer a smooth ride with its SRAM MRX 7-speed shifters. The affordable price tag of this bike reflects the MRX line from SRAM but is not enough to detract from its handiness.
This Schwinn model is older and less streamlined than newer folding bikes like the 25-pound Brompton C Line. It isn’t the fastest, but it’s acceptable for city commutes. The bike's unique design looks great in your apartment without seeming like unnecessary clutter.
However, the bike's weight makes it not great to carry upstairs, and its ability to not fold tight adds to the discomfort. The attached rear-carrying rack on the bike is strong enough to hold backpacks or small luggage. Finally, the bike comes with a Nylon storage bag if you prefer putting it out of sight.
3. Dahon Mariner D8 Brushed
Weight: 26 pounds
Wheel size: 20 inches
Material: Aluminum
Maximum load: 232 pounds
Height capacity: 4’8” to 6’4”
Folded size: 31.9 inches by 12.99 inches by 26.2 inches
This little commuting package packs a sizable punch with a high-end Shimano Ultegra cassette and an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain. The ergo comfort saddle is quite forgiving for longer commutes, especially considering that the stock saddle isn’t as ergonomic as some other bike saddles at that price range.
The Mariner D8 is Dahon’s best-selling folding bike on their line. The bike offers a smooth ride over rocky city roads, and the fenders help against rain splashes. Shifting gears over different road inclines is fluid.
The best thing about this bike has to be the tight fold it holds and is beautiful to display even while folded. The brushed aluminum adds a little steampunk to your apartment aesthetics; however, the bike welds are more exposed because of the same reason.
Built with quality material, going upstairs or constantly putting it in and out of a lift shouldn’t damage the bike, primarily because of this brushed coat version.
4. Tern Node BYB S11
Weight: 28 pounds
Wheel size: 20”
Material: Aluminum
Maximum load: 231.5 pounds
Height capacity: 4’10” to 6’5”
Folded size: 13 inches by 31.9 inches by 20.1 inches
The Tern claims that this bike is made 30% smaller than your typical 20-inch bike, and it does fold relatively small, but it could still help to fold a bit smaller with such an audacious claim. The BYB becomes a tad awkward to lug around if you are on the vertically challenged side.
The three-fold system that allows for a more compact folded bike doesn’t seem to work against the strength and stability of the frame and folds in under a minute once you master the art of the fold.
Tern also reports that the trellis-style frame is less flexible than other folding frames; however, we couldn’t dare test this claim ourselves. The important thing is that the bike supports a fair amount of weight without compromising on ride quality.
Even though the folding system takes time to get used to, the rigid clamping mechanism becomes a quicker ordeal than the twisting hinges on competing models.
The bike also comes equipped with high-end 11-speed Shimano Ultegra shifters, which offer some of the best transitions on any folding bike, heck, on most normal 20-inch bikes. The chainguard also doesn’t hurt–literary.
5. Tern Link C8
Weight: 28.2 pounds
Wheel size: 20 inches
Material: Aluminum
Maximum load: 231.5 pounds
Height capacity: 55.9 inches to 74.8 inches
Folded size: 15.6 inches by 31.5 inches by 28.7 inches
The Link C8 is the predecessor of the BYB S11 and a much more affordable offering from Tern. The bike doesn’t compromise on its younger sibling's quality build and assembly. The quick folding bike can be folded down to a brief-case size and effortlessly stored under a desk in a cabinet.
It may not have a complete chainguard like the BYB S11, but it still has quality fenders on both wheels to protect your clean clothes from small water splashes on the road. The stock Impac BicPac tires cushion the rider from rocks and little potholes, but they aren’t grippy enough over slippery surfaces.
The bike has some of the best handlings on any 20-inch entry-level bike, and you don’t feel the stiffness that you would be stuck on with other same-generation folding bikes. Because of the miniature wheel size, people often struggle to paddle more than they would on bigger-wheeled bicycles.
The 8-speed Shimano TX gears are a step above the TZ series, but they aren’t hassle-free and sometimes feel stiff during gear shifts.
6. Montague Boston
Weight: 25 pounds
Wheel size: 29 inches
Material: Aluminum
Maximum load: 250 pounds
Height capacity: 5’1” to 6’4”
Folded size: 36 inches by 28 inches by 12 inches
The Boston is a full-sized hybrid bike crossed with stringent space requirements. This single-speed, artisanally crafted masterpiece comes in two frame sizes. The 19-inch and 21-inch frames are already more comfortable than some competing 20-inch folding bikes.
Boston made a single-speed bike that allows the rear wheel to operate as a standard fixed gear wheel, always requiring paddling from the rider and not allowing for free coasting; and also engineered some magic to let the rear wheel operate independently.
The folding takes less than the 20 seconds the specifications state. The only issue is that the wheel has to be removed, which could be a problem if you already have a bag on the other arm. However, it is better to have the wheel removed instead of awkwardly carrying an unbalanced weight with the big wheel still on.
Boston reflects their minimalistic design of the Montague bike in their use of rim brakes. Which could go either way for most people, but since Boston made this line for city riding, we would have appreciated disc brakes for this size bike.
5 Best BMX Bikes For Apartments
Many people grow up and forget their formative love for these tinier dynamites. BMXs aren’t only for the skatepark freestylers but can still be enjoyed by everyone, including you. We considered BMXs because of their slight build and practicality for living in an apartment.
The minimum storage requirement is our approximation of the bike’s overall length, floor to handlebar height, and handlebar width. The top tube length gets special attention because taller people need a longer tube length to compensate for those beautiful long legs.
7. WeThePeople Envy
Weight: 24.07 pounds
Minimum storage requirement: 54.1 inches by 28.15 inches by 20.8 inches
Wheel size: 20 inches
Material: Sanko Chromoly
Top tube length: 21 inches
With a shimmering rise and a wide handlebar in all of BMXing glory, the Envy has 2.35-2.45 inch wide tires that help smooth out your ride. The wide handlebars also help with stability and control as you soar through the streets.
However, this bike is also a single-speed demon and requires constant paddling and doesn’t come with an option to allow you to coast down the road. Like all BMX bikes, the Envy is built for harsh environments, and the Chromoly steel will weather the elements well, so you can keep it on your balcony covered with a small tarp if you trust your security.
The bike is also light and small enough to be hung on a wall rack as part of your apartment’s aesthetics without requiring industrial-level hooks. One of the few drawbacks of this bike is its hefty price tag; at around $1280, most people will overlook it as one for enthusiasts.
8. Haro Midway Cassette
Weight: 26 pounds
Minimum storage requirement: 54.2 inches by 30.5 inches by 27-32 inches
Wheel size: 20 inches by 2.4 inches
Material: Chromoly
Top tube length: 20.5 inches
Like the Envy BMX, Haro’s Midway Cassette comes with handlebars giving glory to the heavens and sealed bearings to help riders think less about maintenance and more about how shredding they look. The bike with its Chromoly frame also comes at under half the price of the Envy.
Haro didn’t skimp on design and parts to keep the price low, as the bike rides like some Shimano Ultegra groupset without the Shimano Ultegra groupset. Unfortunately, the paddles are plastic, unlike the nylon and fiberglass paddles of the Envy.
The cherry color version of the bike is also a sight to behold and will easily add flavor to your apartment’s decor.
9. Mafiabikes Kush 2
Weight: 26.46 pounds
Minimum storage requirement: 53.15 inches by 20.25 inches by 29.5 inches
Wheel size: 20 inches by 2.4 inches
Material: High tensile steel
Top tube length: 20.4 inches
This BMX is as good as its name implies. The 29-inch high bars have your typical 8.5-inch rise and sit pretty on a high tensile steel fork, so you know that if you start loving the BMX life and want to stunt, then you can worry-free.
The 2.4-inch crawler tires provide superb comfort on rocky street roads and will be as comfortable offroad. This entry-level BMX is even cheaper than the Haro Midway Cassette but easily competes with its quality frame and wheels.
Unlike similar entry-level BMXs, the decals on the bike’s frame are removable to allow you a more minimalistic aesthetics. Unfortunately, the bike has partially exposed bearings which isn’t the greatest of engineering for a bike that’s this low and meant to take abuse and dirt all day.
10. Mongoose Legion L40
Weight: 37 pounds
Minimum storage requirement: 56.2 inches by 33.8 inches by 28 inches
Wheel size: 20 inches by 2.3 inches
Material: High tensile steel
Top tube length: 20.5 inches
The Mongoose Legion L40 achieves everything that Kush 2 tried to achieve at this entry-price level. The bike has fully sealed bearings in its rear hub, meaning that it is ready to take any of the city punishment that you could potentially put it through without affecting the smoothness of the ride.
The fork is built strong with hi-tensile steel, which is strong enough to take some serious riding. It only falters with its aluminum U-brake and brake levers, which is expected for a BMX and helps keep it light but could be problematic when riding in the rain.
The Legion L40 is a vast improvement from its L20 predecessor because of the sealed bearings and isn’t too much put to shame by the L60. This BMX could easily take the crown for the best entry-level BMX for its beautiful craftsmanship and the two color options, but it loses some points for being almost 10 pounds heavier than competing BMXs at the price point.
11. Kink Liberty
Weight: 27 pounds
Minimum storage requirement: 54 inches by 20 inches by 27-32 inches
Wheel size: 20 inches by 2.4 inches
Material: 4130 Chromoly steel
Top tube length: 20.75 inches
This BMX is one for the books. The combination of the Mission Foxtrot sealed 3/8" front hub axle, 14mm Mission Engage sealed rear hub cassette, and the Kink Sever 2.4-inch tires is deadly. The ride is as fluid as water, and the 4130 Chromoly tapered fork legs are light and responsive.
The 20.75 top tube length also doesn’t hurt for the taller folk and doesn’t mess up the reach, the reach being basically how stretched you feel on the bike. The reach situation also attests to the professional geometry specifications of this model. The bike’s geometry is everything in terms of comfort and fit if you didn't know.
Luxbmx totes the Kink Liberty for having one of the most custom-build looks and feel, and when you shop from them and ship your package with their deluxe shipping option, you get it fully assembled and looking as unique as you will on those streets.
2 Best Singlespeed Bikes For Apartments
We won’t even pretend that these are small bicycles; they are full-sized, but single-speed bicycles are light and will not be much of a grueling spectacle when you are going up the stairs for those of us who are unfortunate enough to be without lifts.
These fixed-speed bikes are beautifully crafted and make for incredible rides around town for those who don’t want to sacrifice their riding conventionality because of their apartment restrictions. Because of the simple drivetrain, the bike does take up less space.
12. State Bicycle 4130 The Matte Black
Weight: 23 pounds
Material: 4130 Chromoly steel
Wheel size: 29 inches
This drop-bar fixed gear (fixie) bike would be the bicycle of choice if the Men in Black cycled through the New York streets. This rendition of the bike’s line is made even simpler with its clean lines, and the bigger tires nonchalantly cruise through run-down city streets.
It doesn’t discriminate when it comes to rider height and comes in multiple sizes. Not all single-speed can easily move from tarred roads to dirt tracks, but the 4130 can and does it with finesse.
The redesigned geometry allows for larger tire clearance. Being able to use different tire sizes on the bike gives it fantastic versatility for such a welcoming price tag. The fork and seat can also be customized and adjusted for different rider heights on the fly.
The State Bicycle Company further makes the shopping experience unique by allowing you to tailor the bike. The wheels are also tubeless compatible, which saves you a ton of hassle and money later in trying to convert your tires to tubeless. No one wants to be changing punctured tubes in town.
13. All-City Cycles Super Professional Single Speed
Weight: 26 pounds
Material: Chromoly steel
Wheel size: 27.5 inches
The Super Professional name and $1299 price tag might confuse casual buyers for being too on the nose. But, this fixie is a significant mid-level upgrade and is a ride for everyone. The flat bars provide that all-necessary upright riding position through the city streets.
Everything on this bike that’s only meant to be functional, like the welds on the frame, is so lowkey that they almost appear invisible to the untrained eye. Just like some of the other feather-light bikes on this list that deserves to be showcased in your apartment, the Super Professional is right there with them.
The only issue with the geometry, flat bar, and tire setup is that the ride can become uncomfortable over long distances, but it is super fun offroad.
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