Includes front and rear light set.
Hi-Ten steel frame. The easy lateral-fold system means the bike takes up little space: at home, at the office, in the boot of a car or in a camper... you'll forget your bike is even there. Once folded, the bike's volume is reduced by 70%. The frame locking mechanism makes the bike easy to handle when it's folded, and easy to store away.
FORK
Hi-ten steel fork for greater durability.
DRIVETRAIN
This single-speed drivetrain is designed for various riding conditions. Not too difficult to push off when stopped, and lets you go fast on flat terrain.
165 mm cranks, 44-tooth chainring, 16-tooth freewheel cog.
Metres of development: 3.80 m travelled for one turn of the crank.
BRAKES
Steel V-brake and callipers guarantee effective and progressive braking.
HANDLEBAR / STEM / STEERING
Steel low-rise bars with a rise of 60 mm to adjust your position on the bike to suit your body and make the bike easier to handle. Handlebar width: 560 mm.
Folding, non-adjustable stem made from aluminium for increased rigidity.
Distance from saddle to handlebar: 540 mm. Bottom bracket to saddle distance: min. 480 mm - max. 700 mm.
SADDLE / SEAT POST
Comfortable, seamless foam saddle and steel seat post (diam: 31.6 mm).
WHEELS
20-inch, single-wall rims. Steel hub.
TYRES
20 x 1.75 gumwall city tyres.
We have designed these tyres to provide the best balance of performance and traction.
CRANKSET
B'Twin City. Non-folding pedals.
Cranks: 165 mm.
Double chainwheel guard.
ACCESSORIES / EQUIPMENT
Front and rear battery-powered lights. This bike is compatible with the TILT transport cover and the B'Twin pannier rack for folding bikes. The front of the bike can be equipped with an additional VIOO Clip light as well as the LED light from the Tilt folding bike (which can be ordered from our after-sales service). Compatible with the Tilt 120 mudguards (available from our after-sales service).
VISIBILITY
This product has a hook for attaching a Vioo Clip, an LED light that can be clipped on anywhere and unclipped in an instant. With a red or white light that can be used in continuous or flashing mode, the Vioo Clip makes you clearly visible from up to 120 m away. Battery life is 9 hours in flashing mode, 4½ hours in continuous mode. Easy to recharge via a USB cable (sold with the VIOO Clip).
RIDER WEIGHT / HEIGHT
Weight 13,2 kg.
Recommended for users of the following height: 1.45 m / 1.78 m.
Top comments
Besford
9 May 1712#10
This is the normal price.
Better than other folding bikes at this (very low) price point, but you really need to be wary. Lack of gears is a major limitation, steel frame heavy, pedals don't fold (in fact the whole bike doesn't fold very small) and this bike is very 'short' - making an awkward riding position for most people. Don't buy before trying!
Handy for a few hundred yards from your motorhome/boat to the shower block but don't even think of carrying it onto the train twice a day as part of your commute!
I'd suggest a thorough read through reviews too - many happy owners but also many unhappy ones.
Unfortunately decent folding bikes, suitable for regular use, are £300+ (and many over £1000). Dahon probably the best value. Derailleur gears probably not the best on a folder either (very susceptible to being knocked out of adjustment) but hub gears do add a lot to the cost.
Worth looking for second hand - lots of these things are sold by people who thought they were a handy idea but never use them. Beware seized hinges from lack of use though!
If you want a new folding bike for £130 I doubt you'll find better than this (hence I voted hot) but that doesn't necessarily make it a good buy.
DonkeyKonk
8 May 174#1
Perfect for picking up my Uptown Girl
Muig1972
9 May 173#12
You've got to admire the effort he's making to be seen, by wearing that fluorescent armband though.
Latest comments (33)
joaopedropalma
3 Jun 17#33
heavy and single speech...
bonzobanana
24 May 17#32
Get your money back and move on. If this was a supermarket bike the bike snobs would have chimed in with comments about BSO's but as its their chosen budget bike brand no such comments.
If you want a single speed folder best bet is convert one of your existing folders or just buy a cheap folder and then buy a secondhand bmx bike. Bmx bikes are often practically given away as children outgrow them but a good source for strong 20" wheels with single speed freewheels probably better quality than the Hoptown. Might even get something novel like a coaster brake on the rear wheel. BMX wheels are often a high spoke count too, you'll be able to ride it off pavements and generally abuse them without issues even cheap bmx bike wheels.
Also saw this bike on ebay. Not recommending it but a lot of bike for £180 as includes an aluminium frame in addition to a few upgrades like disc brakes compared to normal entry level folders.
Just though I'd add a couple of comments about this bike.
As I mentioned before, serves me well for a daily commute across central london i.e. fairly flat ride 2.5 miles. Goes quite slow, but I actually like that and enjoy the ride. Accelerates very quickly at the lights. No gears makes it much easier to stow in the hallway/office corner/car boot without much fuss. Can fit two in my car boot.
Change the pedals for folding ones (£10) and makes very easy to push through busy streets without grazing pedestrians. One our our bikes had a problem with the seat clamp, but decathlon fixed on the spot. I'm 6 foot tall, and personally fide the ride very comfortable ... but did add a cheap gel sale cover which also raises the seat a bit. I'm not fussed about mudguards as again add to awkwardness when folding. Best thing about the bike is the price/performance ratio - if it were stolen I'd just buy another one for 130. Try a test ride in the store.
And for the record I hired a brompton for a weekend and didn't get on well with it at all. Plenty of happy riders that have posted on the decathlon reviews site around Europe. Oh, and 73 percent of the 241 reviews rate 4-5 stars, so I'm not alone. Enjoy the ride.
bonzobanana to alandelone
22 May 17#28
If your happy with the bike that is all that matters but the geared version of the same bike has 372 of 422 which is 88% recommendation and has a slightly higher overall review score and that bike has a low end non Shimano derailleur which can be problematic and you don't see that on even cheaper competing folding bikes which have Shimano. You have to pay £249 to get a folding bike from Decathlon with a more reliable Shimano derailleur. I'm not a bike snob though or a bike brand snob and I resent the fact that a bike from a so called respectable brand can feature lower quality components than its competitors and charge more for it and somehow that's ok because people respect the brand.
Just by having a search for the hoptown manual (which I couldn't find except one for an older model) I came across this. Another frame quality recall for Decathlon.
I can't imagine there being a problem with the Hoptown though, being steel its unlikely there would be frame issues but overall I'm just not convinced of the quality and value of Decathlon's frames or the components they fit to their entry level bikes. It seems like they compromise frame strength to get a competitive low weight design too.
POWYSWALES to alandelone
24 May 17#31
Hi, got a replacement bike today but has the same clicking noise, but now I have a bigger issue, there was a little play in the bottom bracket which I thought not a problem I will just adjust the cup to take away the play, on loosening the locking nut I noticed the cup actually rocks on the threads and it was not that it needs adjusting. Sorry either the threads are damaged/poor match or the cup is just slightly to small for the BB frame threads. Begining to lose faith now in the quality of this particular folding bike.
bonzobanana
23 May 17#30
From what powyswales has put he really likes the bike too except for the quality issue likely to be the low end indian freewheel. I guess an upgrade there will sort out the issue but still think considering the basic cut-down nature of the bike which assuming is the same as the earlier Hoptown (made in China) they really could have afforded to include a decent single speed freewheel. I mean £130 for that bike is very good money for Decathlon. If your replacing the freewheel anyway with something decent you could have gone with another better value folding bike and just stripped it of all the stuff you didn't need and sold those bits on. The oslo explorer for £129 might fetch £30-60 for all the bits taken off you don't need to match the Hoptown.
alandelone
23 May 17#29
Far enough, but the post is about this particular bike, without gears.
I personally don't want derailleur gears on my folding bike, and this fits the bill. On my commute there are increasing numbers of people opting for single speed bikes, so geared isn't necesarily better. I also looked at the more expensive bike (+£50) but didn't like it, I also noticing the generic gears.
As you say the steel frame means its likely unaffected by the recall issues you mention with what appear to be mainly aluminium frames.
I'm just sharing my experience, owning a couple of them. Best bet is always to take it for a spin before buying.
charliemike
9 May 17#20
Be wary of buying second hand from gumtree. I bought a folding bike from a Chinese guy. We did the deal in a public location. When I got the bike home, I realised the serial number had been filed off. I suspected it was stolen so I had to put the bike in a skip because I thought GCHQ might be following me and the FBI might take me down.
djgreeneyes to charliemike
10 May 171#22
Aloo_Paratha to charliemike
14 May 17#26
Sorry to hear what happened to you but I'm sure the seller's ethnicity was not a factor.
bonzobanana
11 May 17#25
I personally don't think its an intelligent post he writes likely better than other folding bikes at this price point after criticising its many failings. What is the factual basis for competing bikes at a similar price being inferior especially as he has mentioned so many failings of the Hoptown which many of the competing bikes don't have? His judgement seems to be based on brand rather than reality/evidence. Why is a brand with a known history of frame failures and using low end generic parts on their entry level bikes regarded as superior to other bikes at this price point? The logic seems to be that because their mid-range bikes are well regarded their entry level bikes must be better than the competition too but I know of no evidence that supports that, in fact the evidence seems to indicate the opposite.
Besford
9 May 1712#10
This is the normal price.
Better than other folding bikes at this (very low) price point, but you really need to be wary. Lack of gears is a major limitation, steel frame heavy, pedals don't fold (in fact the whole bike doesn't fold very small) and this bike is very 'short' - making an awkward riding position for most people. Don't buy before trying!
Handy for a few hundred yards from your motorhome/boat to the shower block but don't even think of carrying it onto the train twice a day as part of your commute!
I'd suggest a thorough read through reviews too - many happy owners but also many unhappy ones.
Unfortunately decent folding bikes, suitable for regular use, are £300+ (and many over £1000). Dahon probably the best value. Derailleur gears probably not the best on a folder either (very susceptible to being knocked out of adjustment) but hub gears do add a lot to the cost.
Worth looking for second hand - lots of these things are sold by people who thought they were a handy idea but never use them. Beware seized hinges from lack of use though!
If you want a new folding bike for £130 I doubt you'll find better than this (hence I voted hot) but that doesn't necessarily make it a good buy.
UncleWilly to Besford
11 May 172#24
How refreshing to see an intelligent and well-thought out post on a cheap bike thread rather than the usual "BSO" sneering we get from "proper" cyclists. Well done, sir!
alandelone
10 May 17#23
Normal price - I've been using this bike to commute across London for a couple of months. I like the simplicity of single gear and low maintenance. Bought one for my partner and both fit in the car boot for trips. Swap the pedals out for folding ones in the shop for £10 - they will fit for free. Prefer this to my much more expensive bike. Couldn't be happier for the money. Makes bromptons seem awfully expensive.
londongeeza
9 May 171#21
Cold. It's not a Penny Farthing
supermann
9 May 17#14
Shame the electric foldup isn't a little cheaper. Like the way the battery is in the frame.
jaydeeuk1 to supermann
9 May 172#19
Its 24v. Not very good on hills, not that quick, tiny battery, noisy and quite heavy - I know as I had one of these (albeit front hub). Was an **** to fold too and very bulky to lift.
Sold it for more than I paid 18 months later and upgraded to a cheapo £300 boardman hybrid comp (for the hydraulic disc brakes), added a BBS02 750w motor and battery (an hours work - if you know how to tie a shoe, you can fit a motor), about 1.5kg heavier than bike above but get much bigger range, travel at 30mph+ easily (but still give you a work out) and it will conquer any hill. Not road legal, but then I'm a bit of a loose cannon who likes to do 71 on motorways and take library books back a day late.
bonzobanana
9 May 17#18
Is it really heavier in actual component quality. By the time you strip out the additional accessories the bicycle4u bike has then you remove the freewheel, derailleur, gear selector, cables and other bits and pieces to make the bike as low spec as the decathlon model i suspect the weight will be around the same figure. You really have a choice of importers. The equivalent Decathlon bike to the bicycles4u bike is £180 but features inferior components like a non Shimano derailleur. Decathlon are a respected retailer for their mid range bikes which offer great value for the lycra brigade but certainly if anything their entry level bikes seem to be over-priced and poor value with lower end components than some other suppliers. Retailers rely on the stupidity of brand loyalty, all products should be assessed on individual merit. The Triban 100 is awful but the Triban 500 is great for example. As for quality there has been a huge 4 year recall on some Decathlon bikes because of low frame quality and considering the high failure rate of Dahon aluminium frames a clone of them in harder wearing steel seems pretty good although actually i believe many Dahon frames are bought in and Dahon's for the european market are made by max.com bikes in Bulgaria. The Dahon factory in China looks very low tech and the frame welding is by hand so hopefully they only make their steel frames there otherwise that would explain the high failure rate of many Dahon aluminium frames.
Imagine rising that thing if you're in shape and not too muscular.
niggle_dawson
9 May 17#16
I have the geared version. It's worth the upgrade. These prices are normal.
The bike can me wheeled on its wheel rather than carry it. For the bargain price it is good. Smaller and lighter costs.
It has mudguards, or mine does. Gears needed for hills.
bonzobanana
9 May 171#13
it's a cheap steel folding bike stripped to the bone with no gears, mudguards, rack etc and still weighs 13.2kg with all the normal options it would be up to 15kg plus. The geared derailleur version of this bike doesn't even have a Shimano derailleur but a lower end brand. I don't think their entry level bikes should be confused with their great value mid-range bikes. This is a low end bike, doesn't make it a bad bike but you should judge a bike by its component quality and specification not just the brand badge for what is a bike imported from the far east. Are you sure you want a single gear steel folding bike? Makes sense if you have no hills or very low gradients or you are of very high fitness but most people need gears hence why single gear bikes are the exception not the norm. Will it be for commuting and do you want to arrive in a sweaty mess?
Something like this is far better. Better component quality and spec. If you want it to weigh sub 14kg just remove the rack, mudguards, rear derailleur, kickstand etc to match the Hoptown.
Hmm, not sure why you think this is a better alternative: still steel and even heavier, though it does have a 'longer' frame (Dahon clone in steel?). At least Decathlon are a respected retailer and will take their bike back if you find it doesn't suit your needs.
Frying pans and fires! You won't get a decent folding bike new for under £300.
Muig1972
9 May 173#12
You've got to admire the effort he's making to be seen, by wearing that fluorescent armband though.
SeanUSX
9 May 17#6
Are these things any good for a couple of miles each-way commute?
Besford to SeanUSX
9 May 17#11
If you're small and fit. Seriously, great value but don't expect too much. You won't want to be lugging it far when folded. Be realistic.
Blasphemous
8 May 17#2
Looks cool.
KareemSaid to Blasphemous
9 May 171#9
Hmmm looks are subjective and I'm not sure how cool that guy looks. More like a bell end IMO.
However this is a cracking price for a folding bike from a very decent brand hot! Under a third of the price of Bromptons et al. A mate has a folding bike an ancient POS that he uses to ride to the beach when he can't park nearby - he keeps it in the boot.
_g_
9 May 171#8
I wonder if adding a geared hub to this would be cheaper than buying one that already has one.
Wheel speed doesn't really relate to speed unless you're forced to use the same gearing on every single bike.
scoshi
9 May 171#7
20" wheels means it'll be fairly swift and 13kg isn't bad - I was commuting on a similar sized 15kg folding bike 5 miles each way and it took about 25 mins.
It's not as cool as a BMX, but it's way better than walking!
bayhabourbutcher
9 May 171#5
too heavy - the weight will make this difficult to carry for a lot of people
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
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Opening post
Hi-Ten steel frame. The easy lateral-fold system means the bike takes up little space: at home, at the office, in the boot of a car or in a camper... you'll forget your bike is even there. Once folded, the bike's volume is reduced by 70%. The frame locking mechanism makes the bike easy to handle when it's folded, and easy to store away.
FORK
Hi-ten steel fork for greater durability.
DRIVETRAIN
This single-speed drivetrain is designed for various riding conditions. Not too difficult to push off when stopped, and lets you go fast on flat terrain.
165 mm cranks, 44-tooth chainring, 16-tooth freewheel cog.
Metres of development: 3.80 m travelled for one turn of the crank.
BRAKES
Steel V-brake and callipers guarantee effective and progressive braking.
HANDLEBAR / STEM / STEERING
Steel low-rise bars with a rise of 60 mm to adjust your position on the bike to suit your body and make the bike easier to handle. Handlebar width: 560 mm.
Folding, non-adjustable stem made from aluminium for increased rigidity.
Distance from saddle to handlebar: 540 mm. Bottom bracket to saddle distance: min. 480 mm - max. 700 mm.
SADDLE / SEAT POST
Comfortable, seamless foam saddle and steel seat post (diam: 31.6 mm).
WHEELS
20-inch, single-wall rims. Steel hub.
TYRES
20 x 1.75 gumwall city tyres.
We have designed these tyres to provide the best balance of performance and traction.
CRANKSET
B'Twin City. Non-folding pedals.
Cranks: 165 mm.
Double chainwheel guard.
ACCESSORIES / EQUIPMENT
Front and rear battery-powered lights. This bike is compatible with the TILT transport cover and the B'Twin pannier rack for folding bikes. The front of the bike can be equipped with an additional VIOO Clip light as well as the LED light from the Tilt folding bike (which can be ordered from our after-sales service). Compatible with the Tilt 120 mudguards (available from our after-sales service).
VISIBILITY
This product has a hook for attaching a Vioo Clip, an LED light that can be clipped on anywhere and unclipped in an instant. With a red or white light that can be used in continuous or flashing mode, the Vioo Clip makes you clearly visible from up to 120 m away. Battery life is 9 hours in flashing mode, 4½ hours in continuous mode. Easy to recharge via a USB cable (sold with the VIOO Clip).
RIDER WEIGHT / HEIGHT
Weight 13,2 kg.
Recommended for users of the following height: 1.45 m / 1.78 m.
Top comments
Better than other folding bikes at this (very low) price point, but you really need to be wary. Lack of gears is a major limitation, steel frame heavy, pedals don't fold (in fact the whole bike doesn't fold very small) and this bike is very 'short' - making an awkward riding position for most people. Don't buy before trying!
Handy for a few hundred yards from your motorhome/boat to the shower block but don't even think of carrying it onto the train twice a day as part of your commute!
I'd suggest a thorough read through reviews too - many happy owners but also many unhappy ones.
Unfortunately decent folding bikes, suitable for regular use, are £300+ (and many over £1000). Dahon probably the best value. Derailleur gears probably not the best on a folder either (very susceptible to being knocked out of adjustment) but hub gears do add a lot to the cost.
Worth looking for second hand - lots of these things are sold by people who thought they were a handy idea but never use them. Beware seized hinges from lack of use though!
If you want a new folding bike for £130 I doubt you'll find better than this (hence I voted hot) but that doesn't necessarily make it a good buy.
Latest comments (33)
If you want a single speed folder best bet is convert one of your existing folders or just buy a cheap folder and then buy a secondhand bmx bike. Bmx bikes are often practically given away as children outgrow them but a good source for strong 20" wheels with single speed freewheels probably better quality than the Hoptown. Might even get something novel like a coaster brake on the rear wheel. BMX wheels are often a high spoke count too, you'll be able to ride it off pavements and generally abuse them without issues even cheap bmx bike wheels.
Also saw this bike on ebay. Not recommending it but a lot of bike for £180 as includes an aluminium frame in addition to a few upgrades like disc brakes compared to normal entry level folders.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162416094566
As I mentioned before, serves me well for a daily commute across central london i.e. fairly flat ride 2.5 miles. Goes quite slow, but I actually like that and enjoy the ride. Accelerates very quickly at the lights. No gears makes it much easier to stow in the hallway/office corner/car boot without much fuss. Can fit two in my car boot.
Change the pedals for folding ones (£10) and makes very easy to push through busy streets without grazing pedestrians. One our our bikes had a problem with the seat clamp, but decathlon fixed on the spot. I'm 6 foot tall, and personally fide the ride very comfortable ... but did add a cheap gel sale cover which also raises the seat a bit. I'm not fussed about mudguards as again add to awkwardness when folding. Best thing about the bike is the price/performance ratio - if it were stolen I'd just buy another one for 130. Try a test ride in the store.
And for the record I hired a brompton for a weekend and didn't get on well with it at all. Plenty of happy riders that have posted on the decathlon reviews site around Europe. Oh, and 73 percent of the 241 reviews rate 4-5 stars, so I'm not alone. Enjoy the ride.
Just by having a search for the hoptown manual (which I couldn't find except one for an older model) I came across this. Another frame quality recall for Decathlon.
https://www.btwin.com/blog/blog-and-news/blog-news-mtb/product-recall-rockrider-540-and-520/
I can't imagine there being a problem with the Hoptown though, being steel its unlikely there would be frame issues but overall I'm just not convinced of the quality and value of Decathlon's frames or the components they fit to their entry level bikes. It seems like they compromise frame strength to get a competitive low weight design too.
I personally don't want derailleur gears on my folding bike, and this fits the bill. On my commute there are increasing numbers of people opting for single speed bikes, so geared isn't necesarily better. I also looked at the more expensive bike (+£50) but didn't like it, I also noticing the generic gears.
As you say the steel frame means its likely unaffected by the recall issues you mention with what appear to be mainly aluminium frames.
I'm just sharing my experience, owning a couple of them. Best bet is always to take it for a spin before buying.
Better than other folding bikes at this (very low) price point, but you really need to be wary. Lack of gears is a major limitation, steel frame heavy, pedals don't fold (in fact the whole bike doesn't fold very small) and this bike is very 'short' - making an awkward riding position for most people. Don't buy before trying!
Handy for a few hundred yards from your motorhome/boat to the shower block but don't even think of carrying it onto the train twice a day as part of your commute!
I'd suggest a thorough read through reviews too - many happy owners but also many unhappy ones.
Unfortunately decent folding bikes, suitable for regular use, are £300+ (and many over £1000). Dahon probably the best value. Derailleur gears probably not the best on a folder either (very susceptible to being knocked out of adjustment) but hub gears do add a lot to the cost.
Worth looking for second hand - lots of these things are sold by people who thought they were a handy idea but never use them. Beware seized hinges from lack of use though!
If you want a new folding bike for £130 I doubt you'll find better than this (hence I voted hot) but that doesn't necessarily make it a good buy.
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/e-co-electric-bike-249-99-sports-direct-delivered-1846286
Sold it for more than I paid 18 months later and upgraded to a cheapo £300 boardman hybrid comp (for the hydraulic disc brakes), added a BBS02 750w motor and battery (an hours work - if you know how to tie a shoe, you can fit a motor), about 1.5kg heavier than bike above but get much bigger range, travel at 30mph+ easily (but still give you a work out) and it will conquer any hill. Not road legal, but then I'm a bit of a loose cannon who likes to do 71 on motorways and take library books back a day late.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/the-worlds-lightest-bike-36902/
Puts into perspective how heavy this bike is.
Imagine rising that thing if you're in shape and not too muscular.
The bike can me wheeled on its wheel rather than carry it. For the bargain price it is good. Smaller and lighter costs.
It has mudguards, or mine does. Gears needed for hills.
Something like this is far better. Better component quality and spec. If you want it to weigh sub 14kg just remove the rack, mudguards, rear derailleur, kickstand etc to match the Hoptown.
https://bicycles4u.com/collections/folding-bikes/products/oslo-explorer?variant=836214267
Frying pans and fires! You won't get a decent folding bike new for under £300.
However this is a cracking price for a folding bike from a very decent brand hot! Under a third of the price of Bromptons et al. A mate has a folding bike an ancient POS that he uses to ride to the beach when he can't park nearby - he keeps it in the boot.
Wheel speed doesn't really relate to speed unless you're forced to use the same gearing on every single bike.
It's not as cool as a BMX, but it's way better than walking!