> Our review guidelines
You need a folding bike.
Maybe it’s for commuting or biking vacations.
But you don’t want to spend big money. Where do you look?
Check out Citizen bikes. Citizen makes a diverse range of affordable folding bikes to suit most purposes.
Whatever your folding bike needs, Citizen can probably fulfil them.
Let’s go…
Top Picks:
- Citizen Seoul 20” Folding Bike (Best For Adventure)
- Citizen Rome 16” Folding Bike (Best For Air Travel)
- Citizen Barcelona 20” Folding Bike (Best For Comfort)
- Citizen Gotham 24-7 24” Folding Bike (Best For Speed)
- Citizen Milan 20” Folding Bike (Best Low Maintenance)
- Citizen Miami 20” Folding Bike (Best Value)
- Citizen Tokyo 16” Folding Bike (Best Budget Commuter)
7 Citizen Folding Bikes Reviewed
Much of the Citizen range is covered by our reviews below.
Citizen Seoul 20” Folding Bike (best for adventure)
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- No of Gears: 7
- Weight: 27 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
The Citizen Seoul 20” Folding Bike strikes a good balance between weight and comfort. It has an aluminum frame to help get its weight down to 27 lbs, while a steel fork absorbs vibration from road surfaces.
As a lightweight bike kitted out for fair weather riding, this is the perfect bike for taking on vacations or mixed transport adventures. Its gearing will help you over varied terrain.
This 7-speed bike has a 14-28t freewheel at the rear, but its 52t chainring gives it a bit more fast-riding potential than some other Citizen bikes. The lowest gear is akin to a 34/28t gear on 700c wheels, making it useful for hills.
The folded size of this bike is 33” x 26.5” x 19”, so it’s not the most compact Citizen bike. But it’s manageable for lifting onto trains or carrying up steps (roughly the same weight as a small suitcase full of clothes).
What We Like
- Weight – not too heavy for most healthy adults to lift or carry.
- Gears – a range that allows good progress on flat roads and helps with hills.
- Comfort – a steel fork absorbs road vibration.
What We Don’t Like
- Size – folded size is okay but bigger than some other Citizen bikes.
Citizen Rome 16” Folding Bike (best for air travel)
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- No of Gears: 1
- Weight: 20 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
Not many folding bikes are lightweight or compact enough to fit into a suitcase for air travel. The Citizen Rome 16” Folding Bike is such a bike, and Citizen will even sell you a suitable case as an optional extra.
This bike goes all-out to achieve low weight with an aluminum frame and fork, single-speed gearing with a belt drive, and alloy mini V-brakes. The Citizen Rome also features lightweight Airless Muffin tires to eradicate punctures.
The 26” x 27” x 10” folded size of the bike compares favorably to most folding bikes. It’s still a bit bigger than Bromptons which cost two or three times more, but the weight is lower than that of a typical steel Brompton.
The obvious downside of this bike is the lack of gears, which makes it a flat urban bike as the name suggests. Bottom line: it’s a fun folding bike you can take anywhere in the world.
What We Like
- Lightweight – not many folding bikes are lighter than this one.
- Travel-friendly – fits into a suitcase of 62 linear inches as checked luggage.
- Puncture-free – airless tires eliminate puncture repairs.
What We Don’t Like
- Gear – only suitable for moderately flat terrain.
Citizen Barcelona 20” Folding Bike (best for comfort)
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- No of Gears: 3
- Weight: 31 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
Probably the most relaxed ride you’ll get from the Citizen range comes from the Citizen Barcelona 20” Folding Bike. This bike promotes an upright posture and a natural position for your wrists and hands with its swept-back handlebar.
The Barcelona is another Citizen bike that’s easy to mount and dismount, too, because of its step-through frame. That frame is made of aluminum to help keep the bike’s weight down, though a heavier steel fork adds comfort.
Extra equipment like a rear rack, fenders, and a chainguard also bumps the weight up, though the bike is not unduly heavy overall.
The internal gear hub on this bike needs less maintenance than a derailleur system and lets you change gears when stationary. The gearing errs towards easy pedaling, in keeping with the bike’s laid-back design.
What We Like
- Comfort – multiple features add to the comfort of the ride.
- Mounting – an easy bike to hop on and off of with its step-through frame.
- Extras – practical extras make this bike ideal for daily chores or slow commutes.
What We Don’t Like
- Bias – the casual gearing and upright posture aren’t ideal for sportier riders.
Citizen Gotham 24-7 24” Folding Bike (best for speed)
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- No of Gears: 7
- Weight: 30 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
One of three Citizen Gotham models is the Citizen Gotham 24-7 24” Folding Bike. This bike is unlike any other in the range, mainly because of its bigger 24” wheels.
A plus side of those bigger wheels is more stable, less “twitchy” steering. This is a drawback often linked with bikes that have 16” or even 20” diameter wheels. Bigger wheels also roll more easily over obstacles, so they feel a tad smoother.
This is a bike that has a “fast” top gear, as well, measuring 89 gear inches. That comes about because of the bigger wheels and the comparatively large 52t chainring.
If you have strong legs, you’ll be able to ride at a fair pace on this bike without furiously spinning the pedals. The Citizen Gotham 24-7 is also a comfortable bike thanks to its steel fork and 1.5” wide Kenda tires.
The price you pay for all the above is a larger 36” x 29” x 17” folded size. This is some 10,000 cubic inches larger (approx.) than the Citizen Rome, for instance. Choose this bike if ride quality is more important than folded compactness.
What We Like
- Speed – a high top gear for fast riding on flat roads or down hills.
- Comfort – big wheels with 1.5” wide tires add comfort, as does the steel fork.
- Stable – bigger wheels avoid over-responsive steering.
What We Don’t Like
- Size – bigger wheels mean the folded size is also larger.
Citizen Milan 20” Folding Bike (best low maintenance)
- Frame Material: Steel
- No of Gears: 1
- Weight: 33 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
With its single gear, the Citizen Milan 20” Folding Bike is easier to maintain than many bikes. There is no derailleur system to get damaged, and you get to use a sturdy 1-speed chain that has less chance of breaking.
The Citizen Milan is also minimalistic with its brakes. There’s a rear coaster brake and a front V-brake for stopping power.
Although it’s not the lightest single-speed folding bike you’ll find, this steel bike is durable, comfortable to ride, easy to mount and dismount, and comes with fenders. An optional rear rack is also available.
This is a good choice for flat urban commutes or shopping trips.
What We Like
- Low maintenance – single speed means less scope for mechanical problems.
- Step-through – low frame is easy to mount and dismount.
- Value – good bike for the money.
What We Don’t Like
- Weight – on the heavy side for a single-speed folding bike.
Citizen Miami 20” Folding Bike (best value)
- Frame Material: Steel
- No of Gears: 6
- Weight: 32lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
The Citizen Miami 20” Folding Bike is a versatile bike with a 6-speed Shimano drivetrain. It can easily handle a few hills as well as flat roads. A metal shield protects the derailleur against knocks. This bike comes with front and rear V-brakes and steel fenders.
The folded size of the Citizen Miami is 35” x23.5” x 17”. It’s less compact than 16” bikes in the range (e.g., the similarly priced Citizen Tokyo).
Like all bikes in Citizen’s “Value Series”, this one’s made from steel. That makes it durable and compliant at the cost of some extra weight.
What We Like
- Price – an all-rounder offering great value for money.
- Protection – the vulnerable rear derailleur is shielded from knocks.
- Gears – a good gear range for easy to medium strength pedaling.
What We Don’t Like
- Weight – you can buy lighter folding bikes at a similar price.
Citizen Tokyo 16” Folding Bike (best budget commuter)
- Frame Material: Steel
- No of Gears: 6
- Weight: 30 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
Reasonably lightweight at 30 lbs is the Citizen Tokyo 16” Folding Bike, which also folds to a compact 31” x 22” x 14.5” size. This attractively priced bike is ideal as a low-cost commuter bike and has 6 gears so you can tackle varying terrain.
Though it’s not quite as low-maintenance as a single-speed bike, the Tokyo protects the rear derailleur with a shield. A walled front chainring stops the chain from slipping off. The bike folds and unfolds quickly.
Front and rear alloy V-brakes bring this bike to a safe halt without adding a lot of weight. Other features of the Citizen Tokyo include fenders, foldable pedals, and a kickstand for easy parking.
What We Like
- Compact – folds to a small size.
- Protection – the rear derailleur and the chainring are shielded.
- Quick – folds and unfolds quickly.
What We Don’t Like
- Wheel size – small 16” wheels won’t roll quite as smoothly as larger wheels.
Video: Rolling The Citizen Tokyo Folded Bike
Citizen Folding Bicycles: FAQs
How Far Can Citizen Bikes Go?
There is no limit on how far you can ride a Citizen bike. The parts of the bike that affect comfort become more critical the farther you ride (e.g., saddle, handlebar). You may need to make changes if you ride for more than a few miles.
Where Are Citizen Bicycles Made?
Citizen bikes are made in China to precise specifications.
Can You Buy Replacement Parts Ok?
Aside from the range of Citizen accessories available online, many consumable parts can be bought in bike stores. One part you may need to order through Citizen is spare belts for belt drives (we believe these are made by TopTrans).
Conclusion: Are Folding Citizen Bikes Any Good?
Citizen folding bikes are high-quality bikes sold at appealing prices. Their main competitor may be Zizzo in terms of pricing, but the Citizen range is more diverse.
Looking back at our reviews, the lightweight Citizen Seoul 20” Folding Bike wins our best adventure bike award for its portability and comfort. It also offers a useful set of gears that should give you the confidence to explore.
The Citizen Rome 16” Folding Bike is an innovative single-speed bike that’s perfect for air travel. Its belt drive is light and clean, and the Muffin tires are puncture-proof. You can fit this bike into a suitcase.
As a comfortable bike for casual rides, the Citizen Barcelona 20” Folding Bike is hard to beat. Its swept-back handlebar promotes an upright posture and is kind on your wrists and hands.
We hope this article guides you towards your ideal bike and inspires you to explore the Citizen range further. There are other models to consider, including two “London” e-bikes and alternative bikes from the “Gotham” series.
