OK it's not the lightest at 16kg but it does have a stronger steel frame that should last longer than aluminium frames which eventually suffer fatigue. Comes with a rack and mudguards so will make a good little commute to the shops bike.
Top comments
bonzobanana
17 May 179#4
I prefer steel myself because I'm a heavy rider but aluminium only really suffers from fatigue after shocks so that could be a mountain bike used off road, or a small drop like cycling off a pavement edge or of course a very heavy rider. For those normal to light in weight who simply use an aluminium framed bike on the road such a frame could last multiple lifetimes.
Steel folding bikes can be weak though. I noticed the Argos one's only go up to 75kg mostly which is very low. I've seen a model on ebay as low as 65kg. There is no information as far as I can tell what the weight capacity of this bike is.
I think the Oslo Explorer is one of the best deals for folding bikes currently. It has a weight capacity of 115kg, some decent components although broadly similar to this bike and only £4 more at £129 delivered. Choice of colours too plus half a kilo lighter. More importantly height adjustable handlebars which are not only important to creating a good fit for the rider but when you fold the bike it makes it easier to fold the handlebars down too. I'd definitely pay the extra for the Oslo. The one thing that makes me think the compass might have a good weight capacity as well is the high spoke count on the wheels.
This is the Argos bike that only has a 80kg weight capacity (4kg less than the average male weight in uk) and looks very similar to the Compass and still has the high spoke count, so if there is a weakness its likely in the frame.
All comments (30)
CampGareth
17 May 17#1
Added bonus of a steel frame is that you can fit an electric motor and it probably won't bend everything out of whack. I'm looking to do that with mine since there are some hills in my commute.
JJ69 to CampGareth
17 May 172#6
most electric bikes sold in the UK are aluminum you dont need to have a steel frame... though there are other benefits of steel.
QuantumInfo to CampGareth
17 May 17#9
how do you do that?
jaydeeuk1 to CampGareth
17 May 17#12
If you do i can highly recommend the bafang bbs02 48v 750w motor. Pair it up with a 30q battery to get best from it. Really simple to fit and easy to program to kick out 1500w, around Belper I find cars get in my way. Peddle nice and easy and I get 25-30mph, some effort 35mph+.
Forget front hub based motors if you're wanting to zip up hills, they're rubbish on anything but flats.
linhang90
17 May 171#2
Folding bike?Very heavy at 16kg
POWYSWALES to linhang90
17 May 172#3
It's not the lightest folder but if you don't have to carry it much I doubt you will notice, you could try riding it in just your underpants if your that keen to save weight.
bonzobanana
17 May 179#4
I prefer steel myself because I'm a heavy rider but aluminium only really suffers from fatigue after shocks so that could be a mountain bike used off road, or a small drop like cycling off a pavement edge or of course a very heavy rider. For those normal to light in weight who simply use an aluminium framed bike on the road such a frame could last multiple lifetimes.
Steel folding bikes can be weak though. I noticed the Argos one's only go up to 75kg mostly which is very low. I've seen a model on ebay as low as 65kg. There is no information as far as I can tell what the weight capacity of this bike is.
I think the Oslo Explorer is one of the best deals for folding bikes currently. It has a weight capacity of 115kg, some decent components although broadly similar to this bike and only £4 more at £129 delivered. Choice of colours too plus half a kilo lighter. More importantly height adjustable handlebars which are not only important to creating a good fit for the rider but when you fold the bike it makes it easier to fold the handlebars down too. I'd definitely pay the extra for the Oslo. The one thing that makes me think the compass might have a good weight capacity as well is the high spoke count on the wheels.
This is the Argos bike that only has a 80kg weight capacity (4kg less than the average male weight in uk) and looks very similar to the Compass and still has the high spoke count, so if there is a weakness its likely in the frame.
linhang90
17 May 17#5
*****me goes to post a **** tv deal shouting at people for not voting hot saying "if u dont watch tv much its still a good deal"*****. Lol nvm this bike being the lightest,its the heaviest i've seen for this size.. that being said i still voted hot for the effort u made.
Lol...When u post a deal and be rude at people for simply commenting
bonzobanana to linhang90
17 May 171#8
You see these comments quite a lot but really most of the steel folding bikes are a similar weight and the aluminium models only half a kilo to a kilo lighter. Often the issue is some supplier's fit rear racks, kick stands, adjustable height handlebars, chain guards etc and add weight. To my mind this is brilliant you get those accessories thrown in which might cost £40-50 extra if you wanted them added and you always have the option of removing them to lower weight if you want to, even selling on what you don't need, racks cost about £15 new. Some of the folders have quite robust steel long mudguards, other's have flimsy plastic mudguards which break easily. 16kg is an approximate figure its probably 15kg something in weight and if you want it sub 15kg or even possibly sub 14kg just remove as much as you can that you don't need. Some of the steel folding bikes that have very low rider weight limits compared to those with high rider weight limits only seem to vary by about a third of a kilo which I personally don't think is a big deal. I'd rather have the stronger frame.
It's probably people's obsession with bike weights that caused Argos to start stocking low weight capacity bikes which really are quite dangerous because these weaker bikes often weigh a little less than similar competing bikes and probably save money logistically too. I suspect many who ride them will be over the 75/80kg limit they have on these bikes. I think the lycra brigade and so called bike experts are making bikes far more exclusive by driving bike weights down meaning many people can't safely ride bikes because of lower weight capacities.
finnmaccool
17 May 172#7
Can't keep your spare fridge magnets on an aluminium bike.
commenter14
17 May 172#10
"commute to the shops"
Well that's not what commuting is, unless you work in a shop.
tenohfive
17 May 171#11
16kg? That's crazily heavy. I can't get past that. Although credit to GO for their description,
"Due to the weight it’s probably not a bike to be used daily, but would be ideal for some extra freedom on camping/caravanning trips."
The geared version of the same bike is 14.35kg not far off the 15.5kg approx of bikes fitted with rack and kickstand which are removable.
The geared version is £179 has a non Shimano low end derailleur, no handlebar height adjustment (except handlebar rotation) and look how exposed the saddle tube is to get anywhere near the handlebar height. It looks like a half-assed design just to have something different to sell and lets not forget Decathlon's history of designing their own frames in the far east. It will look seriously weird if you are short with the handlebar height fixed so high. Also looks like it would easily develop saddle movement with so little of the saddle tube in the frame.
There are many great value Decathlon bikes but surely those 2 hoptown models aren't included in that list.
Their previous range of entry level folding models were much better but they looked very generic chinese bikes which I guess why Decathlon created their own unique framed models to replace them.
POWYSWALES to tenohfive
17 May 17#18
Have just purchased one myself, really like the bike but it has an annoying clicking sound when peddling.
On a lighter note I've never seen anyone look anything other than ridiculous riding these! Just add hi vis waistcoat over suit and trouser clips to complete the look.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Top comments
Steel folding bikes can be weak though. I noticed the Argos one's only go up to 75kg mostly which is very low. I've seen a model on ebay as low as 65kg. There is no information as far as I can tell what the weight capacity of this bike is.
I think the Oslo Explorer is one of the best deals for folding bikes currently. It has a weight capacity of 115kg, some decent components although broadly similar to this bike and only £4 more at £129 delivered. Choice of colours too plus half a kilo lighter. More importantly height adjustable handlebars which are not only important to creating a good fit for the rider but when you fold the bike it makes it easier to fold the handlebars down too. I'd definitely pay the extra for the Oslo. The one thing that makes me think the compass might have a good weight capacity as well is the high spoke count on the wheels.
https://bicycles4u.com/collections/folding-bikes/products/oslo-explorer
This is the Argos bike that only has a 80kg weight capacity (4kg less than the average male weight in uk) and looks very similar to the Compass and still has the high spoke count, so if there is a weakness its likely in the frame.
All comments (30)
Forget front hub based motors if you're wanting to zip up hills, they're rubbish on anything but flats.
Steel folding bikes can be weak though. I noticed the Argos one's only go up to 75kg mostly which is very low. I've seen a model on ebay as low as 65kg. There is no information as far as I can tell what the weight capacity of this bike is.
I think the Oslo Explorer is one of the best deals for folding bikes currently. It has a weight capacity of 115kg, some decent components although broadly similar to this bike and only £4 more at £129 delivered. Choice of colours too plus half a kilo lighter. More importantly height adjustable handlebars which are not only important to creating a good fit for the rider but when you fold the bike it makes it easier to fold the handlebars down too. I'd definitely pay the extra for the Oslo. The one thing that makes me think the compass might have a good weight capacity as well is the high spoke count on the wheels.
https://bicycles4u.com/collections/folding-bikes/products/oslo-explorer
This is the Argos bike that only has a 80kg weight capacity (4kg less than the average male weight in uk) and looks very similar to the Compass and still has the high spoke count, so if there is a weakness its likely in the frame.
Lol...When u post a deal and be rude at people for simply commenting
It's probably people's obsession with bike weights that caused Argos to start stocking low weight capacity bikes which really are quite dangerous because these weaker bikes often weigh a little less than similar competing bikes and probably save money logistically too. I suspect many who ride them will be over the 75/80kg limit they have on these bikes. I think the lycra brigade and so called bike experts are making bikes far more exclusive by driving bike weights down meaning many people can't safely ride bikes because of lower weight capacities.
Well that's not what commuting is, unless you work in a shop.
"Due to the weight it’s probably not a bike to be used daily, but would be ideal for some extra freedom on camping/caravanning trips."
If I were desperate to spend as little as possible on a folding bike for the aforementioned use (hidden away in a caravan to save using a car to pop to the shops etc) I'd probably look at this one at 13kg:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoptown-300-folding-bike-grey-id_8352595.html
The geared version is £179 has a non Shimano low end derailleur, no handlebar height adjustment (except handlebar rotation) and look how exposed the saddle tube is to get anywhere near the handlebar height. It looks like a half-assed design just to have something different to sell and lets not forget Decathlon's history of designing their own frames in the far east. It will look seriously weird if you are short with the handlebar height fixed so high. Also looks like it would easily develop saddle movement with so little of the saddle tube in the frame.
http://www.bike-eu.com/laws-regulations/nieuws/2017/3/decathlon-recalls-2012-2016-e-bikes-10129228
There are many great value Decathlon bikes but surely those 2 hoptown models aren't included in that list.
Their previous range of entry level folding models were much better but they looked very generic chinese bikes which I guess why Decathlon created their own unique framed models to replace them.