Folding bike conversions need small-wheel motors, compact batteries, and weight-conscious component choices. Here are the kits we recommend.
Folding bikes are excellent candidates for conversion — they're typically used for short urban commutes where a motor makes a huge difference, and their small wheels mean a hub motor spins faster and delivers more torque at the wheel than on a 700C bike. The challenge is finding kits that fit the small wheel sizes (16", 20") common on folders, and choosing components light enough that the bike still folds and carries easily.
Most folder conversions use a front hub motor — it's the easiest install, doesn't interfere with the folding mechanism, and small-diameter front wheels give hub motors a torque advantage. Mid-drives work too but are harder to fit on the narrow bottom brackets found on many folders.
Our Picks
BAFANG 48V 500W Front Hub Motor Kit (20"/26"/700C)
★★★★☆ 4.4- Power500W
- Voltage48V
- Torque35 N·m
- Price$229 - $299
Genuine BAFANG quality at hub-motor pricing. Front-hub installs take 30 minutes with basic tools. Perfect entry point for first-time converters.
BAFANG 48V500W Front Hub Motor Kit 26"/700C
★★★★☆ 4.3- Power500W
- Voltage48V
- Torque35 N·m
- Price$219 - $289
Bare-bones BAFANG front hub kit for 26" and 700C wheels. Cheaper if you already have a battery and display.
Folder Considerations
Folding bike conversions present several unique constraints.
- Wheel size: Most folders use 16" (Brompton), 20" (Dahon, Tern, Bike Friday), or 24" wheels. The BAFANG 500W front hub is available in 20" — perfect for most folders. For 16" Bromptons, you'll need a custom wheel build or a Brompton-specific kit (not covered here).
- Bottom bracket: Many folders use a narrow 68mm or even proprietary bottom bracket. Check your bike's specs before ordering a mid-drive. The BAFANG BBS02B fits standard 68mm — most folders are compatible.
- Weight: A folding bike is meant to be carried. Adding 8kg of motor and battery to a 12kg folder makes it a 20kg folder — you'll feel that climbing subway stairs. We recommend keeping total system weight under 7kg, which means a 500W motor + 48V 10-13Ah battery.
- Folding mechanism: Front hub kits don't interfere with folding. Rear hub kits may require cable disconnects to fold. Mid-drive kits generally don't interfere with folding, but check that the motor housing clears the fold.
- Battery mounting: Folders have limited frame space. Hailong-style down-tube batteries fit most folders with a standard frame. For Bromptons and very compact folders, you may need a rear-rack battery — those are heavier and affect handling.
Final Thoughts
A converted folder is the ultimate urban multimodal vehicle — ride to the station, fold, hop on the train, unfold at your destination. Get the right small-wheel hub kit, keep your battery small, and you'll never need a car for city errands again.