The World’s Lightest Folding Bike

Cycling is an increasingly popular form of transport in cities around the world, and folding bikes offer a convenient solution to urban commuters who lack storage space either at home or at work.

The team behind the Hummingbird claim it is the lightest folding bike on the market, weighing in at just 6.5 kilograms. That’s less than the minimum required weight of a racing bike on the Tour de France. For commuters that carry their folding bikes on public transport at some point in their journey, the reduced weight is a real boon.

© Hummingbird

Not only has the Hummingbird reduced its weight to the greatest possible extent, it hasn’t sacrificed function to do so. Its performance as a bicycle is not impaired by the lightweight, carbon-fiber frame, which in fact reduces the vibrations the rider feels as they ride along. Instead of offering a folding bike that is heavy and clunky to improve comfort, the Hummingbird maintains performance while fine-tuning the folding bike idea for a commuter audience.

The majority of folding bike owners do not cycle from door-to-door, but rather use their bike in conjunction with public transport. As a result, the weight of the bike is of paramount importance. While other brands offer folding bikes that attempt to be all things to all men, the stripped-down Hummingbird could attract a new generation of cyclists to folding bikes.

With two wheel sizes (16 inch and 20 inch), the option of one or five gears, and four color schemes, there are options to make the Hummingbird your own. During a successful Kickstarter campaign, the single-speed, 16-inch Hummingbird was selling for $2,250, and the first bikes are scheduled for delivery this year.