Is the £299 Aldi Classic Lightweight folding bicycle any good for commuting? 

Raise the seat back up when it’s still folded then you can wheel the bike while using the seat as a handle. Works pretty well.

Just went to the post office and back on the bike, brilliant, couldn’t ask for better, the traffic was horrendous through the town but I just flew past it all, it’s saved me time, petrol and was a nice little exercise workout. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Just bought one, your information for folding really helpful, thanks 👍

Thank you very much for reviewing this bicycle . Just bought 2 of them on sale in Ireland . 149 euro reduced from 350 . Yet 2 cycle it . But can hopefully cycle back from pub after 3/4 pints every now and then in my town Galway . Easy to set up and folds neat for boot of car when ever needed

Thank you for the review, very helpful

New to the channel - suddenly realised I knew where you were riding as it’s just down the road.

Make a video where you build a bike for the same price with purchases made from either the second hand market and/bike co-ops. That would be interesting!!

Nice tour of Cirencester, lol. Good value it seems. cheers. Would be good to see you do some reviews of other folding bikes and not just Brompton.

Yes. It's good enough for many everyday purposes.

£200 at the moment (Sep 2021), so if it was a good buy at £300... very tempting. Nice review, thanks.

Nice trip round Cirencester...

Fantastic video mate

Helpful Customer Service

Guess what? This was back on sale at Aldi for just £199, so if your hits on this video are suddenly flying up, now you know why. Mine came without pump, bag, etc. - just the bike, lights, bell and rear rack. I've had it about a week, been on a couple of 10k runs through Surrey - it probably isn't gonna get me up Whitedown Lane but it's not a bad little ride. I agree it's a bit weak in 7th, 6th is a bit sloppy and I get a bit of knocking. Steering very direct like you said, took a bit of getting used to coming from a full suspension 27 gear Trek MTB but it seems like a decent deal for the money. Great review, convinced me to buy!

It looks good, especially for the price. A Danon has similar quality, but it's still more expensive

Also sold as A Raleigh Evo 2, its a cracking bike.

Raleigh evo 2, cracking little bike

David, I wonder if you find out the cause of the knocking? It would be great if you might be kind enough to reply, thanks for a great video and taking the time to post!

Thank you , it needs to be low maintenance as not mechanical minded and the local bike shop is closed so I have to factor that in

Thank you for taking the time to review this bike. No, its not a Brompton and no it's not the lightest or probably the best built, but if it gets someone out of their car and off their backside to do some exercise, then why not. Aldi is the perfect place to offer these kind of bikes, it might make some 'middle aged' shopper think about getting out on a bike again, any bike... (Brompton owner).

I bought one to convert to electric with a YosePower kit, it all worked perfectly. I’ve removed the kit now and I’m planning to do The Way of The Roses on it.

I have a similiar bike from Halfords. Stuck a SWYTCH battery and motor replaces front wheel and its a folding e-scooter now :D

Looks like Cirencester to me! Love that place

Good review.

I saw a guy on something similar the other day, smaller wheels but.he was flying along. It might've been an bike. You'd think you could make that bike in the UK for that price or £50 more. I'd like it if it has a hub gear like alpine. It does fit the brief as you say, light, gears, transportable, cheap.

Perhaps, if the seat or the handlebars were left extended after folding the bike, the seat/handlebars would serve as a pusher for rolling the folded bike around.

Great review subbed! The quality audio really helps, can I ask what camera and mic you were using Thanks Tony

looks good value for a folder.

Cheap and in stock... I hope they sell loads of these!

You comment about not having little push wheels (like a Brompton) is a bit unfair, if you need to push the bike when folded just leave the handle bars in the vertical position. Works ok for me!

I bought it last year. It does the job for me. I wonder if I can attach an easy wheel to it to carry it around easier as it's too heavy to carry.

I've got a carera intercity 8 speed folding bicycle 13.6kg for £375 from halfords a week later it went up to £400

Nice review, only surprise was the speed of turning blind corners in the under road tunnel. Lucky no pedestrians or elderly pedestrians.

New bike arrived 2 days ago. Couple of very minor issues with the bike. It is an ORUS folding bike, widely sold on the internet. Instructions are very poor as others have noted. The packaging was only just adequate.Though I am a regular cyclist, I am no mechanic so I am looking for instructions as to how to make it ready for the road and to fold it up neatly! It will do the job I bought it for, taking on and off trains to get into the country rather than risking my life on the A6 out of Stockport! Would I buy it again, no, I think I would use my local bike shop, where the bike would come ready for the road and I could take it back for advice/servicing etc. It is not a bad bike by any means (as the clip above demonstrates) and I could end up liking it!

Aldi have this on sale now for £249.99, think I'll buy one right now before they sell out.

For £375 you can get a Carrera intercity folding bike at Halfords. It's the best budget folder I've ever rode. And I've owned a Dahon and a Tern. And the Carrera is my favourite bike.

Was curious how folding bikes hold up in the areas I’ll be riding in and you’re literally doing it in cirencester so that answers that question

Really useful review, did you ascertain what was causing the knocking?

Can you chose when to use the battery or not and is there levels of assistance provided.

I managed to get this from ebay, reconditioned/as new for £134, was a little bit disappointed with the weight (it’s my first folding bike), and mine didn’t have a pump included, but I took it for a spin around the block and it was alright, it will definitely save me time going to/from the tube station (a 17 minute brisk walk), I’ve bought two strong bike locks which I hope will be a sufficient deterrent for a thief. I think I’ll have to take it with me on the tube when I work night shifts, I’m just hoping that it won’t be too burdensome carrying it when changing from one line to another. But for £134 how can I complain.

I like the coca cola font!

describing a bell 02:54 and showing a hinge... ;-)

Great review Dave. Did you actually use the pump though? It’s utter shite! Also of the two we got, both needed every brake block aligning, all 4 wheels truing, And both shifters indexing. So non-mechanical folks should budget another £20 for their LBS to do the bizzo. Also there’s the storage bag you forgot. One of ours had failed zip stitching, and one of the tubes punctured immediately due to the rim tape having sharp edges - so Aldi gave us £60 back! Don’t be afraid to call about issues to get cash back, as they don’t do warranty or parts work so it’s either return or refund. The manual says they are supported via Moore Large, who are probs the importer.

Hi,great video just received mine today (£125)x2 and I can't seem to align the stem and the handlebars they are offset.any ideas? Thanks in advance

Hi thinking of getting one. Can you advise? It’s only for short distance. Good video

hi david this might sound like a daft question but how do you pump the tyres with the pump you get given with the bike?

What a bargain. The Brompton brigade will be crying in their lattes at this upstart competitor.

Similar to a cheaper Tern or Dahon. For the price don't expect a Brompton or Bike Friday.

Just bought a folding bike last week and im never going back to the larger framed standard bikes..its a Carrera 8 speed , £400 . So fast and light ..

I have a secondhand (rather old) folding Raleigh. I love it but it's sooo heavy!

Get some bmx wheels on there with some nice tan walls and you have yourself a winner 🚴🏼😂

I have just bought this bike. After having to wait for new pump I was ready to go but feeling nervous about taking it out. Not tetchy at all but if I hold the front wheel still, the handlebars move from side to side, worried if I hit something this could be dangerous, should it be like this?

How safe is handlebar catch and what’s gearing like for hills?

Looks okay, all the folding bikes tend to creak a bit. I had a cheap Emelle single speed folding bike off amazon years ago for £100 and that was actually pretty good. The only thing I would worry about would be wheel strength and bottom bracket but these can be improved or replaced when needed.. I would upgrade tires to schwable and get the wheels trued but other than than it will last years. I got a cheap apollo bike for £89 from Halfords 15 years ago and that is still going great eating up 25 miles a day, the truth is you don't need to spend loads on a bike at all. Maintenance is everything though.

What is the maximum user weight? Many thanks

I paid £180 on eBay £20 off with special offer coupon...so I bought two £360. Normal price £199 on eBay saving £100 on aldi's price + another £40 of special offer coupon. Same bike called orus.

My experience has been mixed with foldies. The cheap ones stink. I had a Tern Node D7i which was great but the hub gearing makes it a massive pain in the arse to repair and/or service. My Teen Eclipse P20, two days in, is unbelievably fast and right now a great bicycle.

Unexpected. I have a Dahon Mu LT 11 which is a really highend version of that style of bike. Also a Tyrell CSI, which is like in between that bike and a full road bike, and also a Canyon Grail. I actually really like riding the Dahon. Its fast up to about 30km and feels very solid. My only issue with folding bikes are the creaks. No matter what I do I can't stop the folding bits from creaking. That and also the tiny wheel size doesnt deal with the roads where I live, that is what pushed me to a grail lol.

I have just brought mine. Looks good and enjoyed your video. I have a question I am having trouble putting on the peddles? Don't feel they are on properly or safe?

Good looking bike :) Still a bit expensive for me!

I'm wondering what's under the classic frame stickers, looks like an Orus, that is sold on Amazon.

Just for info today (11/09/21) Aldi have reduced the price to £125 plus £10 delivery - just bought one :)

Hi mate, a couple things/specs/tips worth noting: funny that youtube has suggested me this video cos i can tell it's actually a bike i see in italy, probably made in a (good) factory near mine actually! Labelled ORUS and also "Discovery" (not to e confused with other "Discovery" bikes oj amazon etc.) - just for the record As "Orus" it goes from 179 euro in some big stores/discounted, to 400 and even 500 around Europe, ebay (uk too)... (i'll link your (good) video to my friends who own one) - it doesnt have an upwards extendable head stem (but you seem to be ok with it and anyway it's easy to upgrade, and alsi, this can actually prove more stable/stiff than a two-tubes one) - i would have taken note of what sprocket cassette (freeewheel i think) it has in the rear. Can't make it out from anyone yet. I will check in a big store. However it looks like a classic 14-28. The first thing i'd do is upgrade with a .sunrace 13-34, an even better upgrade would be 11-34 (even if thar might mean finding only cassettes so having to replace the hub - but if you're jotnin a very hilly area, no real need to). The front crankset looks good to me, anywhere near 48 teeth is good. 52-3 would be best, but let's be honest, these are still city bikes, not roadies. - i'd be curious about the hubs, if they roll well, but frim your test ride i'd say so - the bike looks like it has a decently long wheelbase, so good stability and nearer to a standard bike feel, and that'd be worth noting too. Strong front hinge - same I think i'll get one and if anything, will be good value for money for the spares - but i'm positive i'll have good fun on it as whole bike first :) Cheers!

How many kg can this bike take ?

Hi David , May I ask how tall you are , as i am considering buying one of these , but am quite tall .

Mine is very stiff to fold up any suggestions and how do you use your brakes when they are situated under the handle bar xx

Hi, that was really helpful. Have just ordered one, wish I had watched this first! But for £259, reduced, its a second bike for travelling on trains etc.

Hey great video, I've not had the best start with this bike. I've needed to order a replacement pump as the one you get with it is really poor. Also the handle bar rotated during my first ride. Does anybody have any tips to stop that happening? This seems to be a huge safety issue.

I'm looking to buy one. Aldi don't know if/ when it will be available. Any suggestions?

What is the maximum height a person can be on the bike please? You look pretty tall in the video.

Hi! I just bought this bike but I can't seem to fold the top bit...its also very wobbly any tips?

No freehub soundcheck? 😢😊

Does anyone know the max psi of the tyres? Thanks in advance

Hi there I'm in 2 minds whether to get this bike I can pick 1 up for £100 in good condition. But the only thing that concerns me is that clicking noise on your video. Any comment would help thanks.

If you have a look on the Tredz website there’s a folding bike called the Freespirit Ruck 20w 2020. It’s £380 - pretty sure it’s exactly the same bike!!!

Have you thought of adding MTB SPD's to a folding commuting bike?

Not as compact as a Brompton but not bad if you’re tight on budget. After trying this, I realised why Brompton is much much more expensive. If you have the budget for a Brompton, I suggest go for it because it’s worth it. This one isn’t so bad but you might have countless frustrations if you’re comparing it with Brompton.

can baby seat be added to this bicycle?

No Deep section wheels 😞

14:45 Just bought one of these second hand and I can only get it half unfolded and its stuck!

Thank you for this video. I think I’ll pay a bit more and get a Dahon personally.

How is it half a year on?

Does is fit in a bag?

Can you recommend?

Tour de Cirencester.

Worth checking your local Halfords some I believe still have stock of the Carrera Intercity and Transit, the Intercity is £375 and the Transit is £325 both are higher quality folding bikes. The intercity is freehub based so has much faster high gearing, 11T vs 14T I think and of course much stronger as a freehub and the Transit has a 3 speed Nexus which limits the gear range but suits a folding bike very well. These Aldi bikes would be closer to £200 before the pandemic. It's clearly a generic bike from one of the big Chinese manufacturer's like fuji-ta. The Classic logos look to be actual stickers rather than transfers. Still with all that said an excellent and fair review but I just can't get my head around this pandemic pricing. What is the maximum rider weight? It can be quite low on some folding bikes and considering some people want to use them to collect shopping etc that is important info I feel. For me the only issue with the bike is the low grade freewheel based drivetrain which limits an already low geared bike because of the small wheels to and even slower high gear because freewheels start at 14T or at least high quality Shimano units do. If you want a higher top speed you can possibly swop the freewheel for a model with 11T but it may not last as long and probably a better option for lighter weaker riders as they are only made by lower grade brands like DNP. However on these smaller wheels with lower gearing I think they tend to last a bit longer so might be an ok option. Alternatively just buy a 20" wheel with a freehub and fit a 7 speed cassette. Taylor's wheels in Germany do them fairly cheap and will pretty much turn this cheap folding bike into a decent model with snappy shifting, higher strength and faster top speeds.

My chain keeps slipping off. Any suggestions welcome(other than to keep putting it back on).

How tall are you? Thanks!

I had a cheap 6 speed folding bike it was good. But it got dirty fast because the drive train is so low to he road. I had to clean it fully and lube it once a week. If you are looking for a folder get a 3 speed internally gear hub its way way easier to maintain and clean.

Nice city. Where do you live?

Can you tell me how many teeth on the front sprocket please?

I’ll say it. America needs better bikes like these. For most commutes, these are perfectly fine

Don't get too excited. It's no longer available. Like most things Aldi and Lidl do, it's a short run and that's it.

Just bought a foldie for £2,600 much the same design.

Try wearing mens leggings for riding they are more comfortable than shorts. Great review.

I bought one it was hopeless very slow. Unpractised. Couldn't make it up my driveway

Just bought this bike for £50 second hand, its OK wouldn't have paid full price. Pedals are strange, gears fail often and build quality is generally poor but does the job

No offence, but I am pretty sure it is not an "Audi" bike! ( big fan though! by the way: Porsche did cool bikes years ago...

What’s the maximum speed it goes

MONTAR EN UNA BICICLETA 🚴‍♂️ ES DISFRUTAR SIN CON TAMINAR NUESTRO PLANETA 🤷‍♂️🌎🚴‍♂️🌳🚴‍♂️🏡🚴‍♂️🌲🚴‍♂️🌎🚴‍♂️🌳🚴‍♂️🏡🚴‍♂️🤷‍♂️