What is the name of the type of bicycle that has small wheels and is foldable?

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What is the name of the type of bicycle that has small wheels and is foldable? Folding bicycle.

A folding bicycle is designed to collapse into a smaller shape for carrying and storage. Hinges, folding handlebars or stems, and adjustable seatposts allow the bike to fit more easily into apartments, cars, trains and other confined spaces. Many models use small wheels, but folding is the defining feature—not wheel size alone.

The idea has a long history. William Grout is credited with an early folding bicycle in 1878, and Emmit G. Latta filed an American folding-bicycle patent in 1887. Military forces later adopted folding designs, including the British BSA airborne bicycle used by troops during the Second World War. The modern compact folder took shape in the 1980s, especially through Brompton and Dahon designs.

Small wheels can make a folded bicycle more compact and maneuverable, but not every small-wheel bicycle folds. Conversely, some folding bicycles use relatively large wheels to improve ride comfort. “Portable bicycle” is a related term, usually emphasizing low weight and easy carrying, while “cargo,” “recumbent” and “tandem” describe other design purposes.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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