My Folding Bike Review Videos 

One of the reasons I like your channel is you are open and up front without hidden agendas. Looking forward to the reviews.

i appreciate bikers like you that actually ride bikes long distances.

About 18 months ago, maybe even longer, I wanted a second folder. I was already watching you get into the folding bike part of biking with your Brompton. And when you started your "torture test" of the Zizzo Liberte, it really piqued my interest. The reason is that many years ago, I'm 73 now, I electrified a Dahon Speed 7 that I had been riding for many years. Then I updated it from a 36 volt mid drive to a 48 volt mid drive. When people saw it, they asked where they could get one. They didn't exist, that's why I built it myself. But now, just the cost of the bike is more than lots of cheap electric hub motor folding bikes. So the zizzo, being about half the price of the Dahon could really put a good folding bike more in reach for people who wanted the folding bike benefits PLUS all the benefits of mid drive power. So after you gave your "review" of the zizzo liberte, I bought it to electrify. I just want to reassure people that first and foremost, you know about folding bikes from the standpoint of riding the daylights out of them. And I trusted your opinion to base my "fairly expensive" e-bike build on relative to the cheap, heavy hub motor stuff out there. I don't sell bikes, I help people through the process of building their own e-bike. And I can say that whether it's electrified, like the ones I have, with a mid drive set up, or just plain pedal power, the zizzo liberte is a very lightweight, easy to handle fun bike to ride. And it's easy to pack, I keep one in my car when I travel. It's great for touring an area I want to explore. I did add a more comfortable spring seat with a little padding, and some Schwalbe Big Apple Tires which really help the ride quality IMO. I'll be following these reviews you are doing to see what your evaluations are of the models you test. The thing I know for sure is I can trust you to be honest about whether or not a particular bike is something worth considering. A lot of people around my age want to get back on a bike. They see an e-bike as a way to enjoy riding a bike without becoming exhausted in the process or simply not having the strength to ride places they want to go. But the "folding e-bikes" I see are big, bulky and VERY HEAVY, for an old person to try and deal with. With the battery removed, the Zizzo is light enough for most people to handle easily...even old folks like me. I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, it's not flat by any means and I need a little help. The mid drive motors on the Dahon and Zizzo put that "help" right under my feet when and where I need it and leave me free to just ride, like a non-powered bike on the flats. I'm not trying to go 30 miles an hour. I can if I want to. I want to enjoy a bicycling experience. I really want to thank you for providing the experience you have on the bikes you ride. It's been vital in my selection process and I just wanted to let people know you're the real deal, legit in what you say about wanting to give people the benefit of your experience, not "sell" them something. It's easy for people to think, "who is this guy?" Is this comment some kind of shill? Not at all. I'm a real person. I watch Brian's videos. I ride bikes. I'm going to do a video with me and my Zizzo folding mid drive e-bike in the next couple of days and I'll send you the link to it so people can see I'm real, you're free to use it if you want to. Like you, I'm not trying to sell anything. I just want to help people get what they need to be able to do what they want to do. Thanks. Enjoy the ride ! ! !

Truly honest reviews,that’s what we want,keep posting Brian. ❤

Your channel was a huge help for me to find a solid, affordable folding bike with long-term viability (yep, the Zizzo Liberte!), with all of the benefits and drawbacks openly demonstrated. Not just that, but your videos are really just chill to watch, seeing the outdoors in motion is refreshing. You clearly put effort into film quality and editing, and your opinions and thoughts (which always sound genuine to me) are interesting to hear. I came for the reviews, and even though I've already had my bike for almost a year, I'm sticking around for the down-to-earth blogs. Cheers!

I would definitely describe myself as bike-polar. Keep posting!

Doing that 20 mile commute to Aurora in the Winter on the Zizzo is about best positive review I can imagine. I commute 6.5 miles each way either on a Brompton or a Giant hybrid. 6.5 miles is fairly easy. 20 miles just seems too much. I don't think I could do it. But that means the Zizzo is more durable than I am. Oddly enough I'm looking for another folding bike with a derailleur because I don't know how to fix a flat on the rear tire of the Brompton and most local bicycle mechanics seem wary of fixing it themselves.

glad you're back! great content. I bought the Liberte based on your early review a couple years ago. it's been good for me. now I have two Liberte's and one 2023 Forte.

Hi Brain. By watching your videos made me want a folding bike. I got a Gocycle and love it. Keep up the great content

Welcome back Brian. Looking most forward to this aspect of your videos..- Have fun. Be safe.

Honest hero! We need more folks with your attitude. Looking forward to the content whenever you have the space at your own pace. Sidenote: I just got back from Ride the Rockies. (Boxed up my road bike rather than bringing my Brompton along). Gosh the cold rainy weather was certainly a challenge. Our premier day going over RMNP was cancelled... Colorado has never looked so lush and green though!

I've enjoyed your videos and I've found them helpful. So, I'm trying to be helpful in return. Some things that might be worth considering in future folding bike reviews is that many people won't use a folding bike like you do, for long, daily commuting, off-road riding, touring, etc. Some folks might only use their bike occasionally and/or very casually and things like cost, storage space and simplicity might be their most important concerns. I E.G., I recently saw a used Dahon Piccolo w. 12" wheels & 3 speeds for sale on CL for $275. That might be a great bike & deal for someone who doesn't have a lot of $ and public transit doesn't get them door to door. So maybe when you're reviewing a bike, think about the use case, lifestyle and person the bike was designed for and how well the bike delivers on the design goals. Also, folding bikes are great for multi-modal trips, something I've never seen you do any videos on. There's also folding mountain bikes as well as folding cargo bikes that folks might be interested in. I think there's plenty of content to create if you really want to create a channel for folks to learn about and consider folding bikes, which I think are some of the most utilitarian and practical bicycles. I wish I knew about the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket when I used to travel for work. I would've loved to be able to get out for a brisk training ride after work and explore the town I was working in.

I know you’re saying to treat your reviews with a pinch of salt; but, to be fair - we all know you push these bikes to the limit, so if they perform, or they’re not up to the job, we also know you’ve proved it!

Thanks for your honesty.

thanks Brian, I'm a 70+ newb bike rider and i was going to save up for a p line but after seeing the liberte i've found my perfect folder. I use it with RTD to get around town.

I saw a 20inch ebike. I thought it would be about the size of the zizzo, but it seemed larger than a full sized MTN bike. Long story short I put a bafang on my zizzo and it's the perfect around town bike with a throttle for the big hills.

Thanks for your videos keep doing them i like your out spoken commentary, give us the truth and your on a winner.

"I bike unfolded" pops up inmy feed, it's gonna be a good day!

Always love seeing a new upload from you brian

I rode my Liberte this morning. Memorial Day rode the Urbano. Good stuff as usual!

Looking forward to the no bullshit honest reviews.

Can you make a review of the accessories you've used like racks and bags, and tire selection? I come from BMX and wonder what tires work well. What pressure do you typically run? Also, what tires do you mount off season? Just a thought for content when the weather flips...

What are your thoughts on some of Tern's mid to low-end bikes compared to similarly priced Dahon's and Zizzo's? I've been looking at the Link B8 and D8's myself but there's a distinct lack of reviews for them made anytime within the past couple of years. On that front your channel has been an amazing resource for this bike niche, it's hard to compare many of these bikes with the lack of information out there.

Really like your approach to bike reviews, looking forward to the next ones! Also, what rear rack and panniers do you have on the Liberte?

Appreciate your honest reviews 👍

Can you review the Birch folding bike. Keep the content going....

Thanks for all your work reviewing these machines. If you can borrow or rent a Zizzo, Ferro, someday, would appreciate your view on it. Just an entry bike, I know, but seems it would do well with slow upgrades. That's the only way I could get a folder. I have lots of bikes but no folder.

I'm wondering what you used for the 2nd front gear and how to attached it to your zizzo.

Good on u mate! I will watch your your review vids

Thanks great video can’t wait to see your next one 👊🏻

Awesome…see you in 12 months

Love your videos. Keep posting =)

Where is beans

Why don't u work on modifying zizzo parts? Like suspension fork, change front wheelset to electric?

Hi Brian nice to see you again :)

I can imagine that you would soon not have enough room to keep all those bicycles those companies are sending you. Do you send them back?

Hi Brian, what was the cause of your accident with the Bike Friday a few month ago?

Do a video about how you bike in bad weather.

Good to see you again, keep 'em coming!

Though they're money Tern folding e-bikes are good.

I through you crashed that , but never said how or what happened?

Still waiting for the '23 Zizzo Forte Review 😊

The tern eclipse 20 is better than the brompton

where's beans??

Brian my advice to you…get a girlfriend…..obssesing over material things isn’t going to bring happiness.