For most people, spending over $400 for a folding bike is ridiculous. Particularly if you are a city dweller, you often use the bike for multi-modal commuting and you might not need extra features or premium materials of expensive bikes. That’s the reason why there are still a lot of low-budget folding bicycles out there. We are taking a look at the new Durban Bay 6 in the review.

As it was mentioned above, Durban Bay 6 folding bike would be the perfect choice for urban riders. The folding bike of this type is suitable for float roads only. With Durban Bay 6 folding bike you may find it hard to go up the hills and overcome other types of challenges on your way.

Durban Bay 6 folding bike would be a great choice for cyclists who are planning to use a bike for short distance riding trips. However, Durban Bay 6 is obviously not the perfect bicycle for long distance travels. The bike is not suitable for mountain trips.

If you take a look at the bike’s images, you’ll definitely like the design of Durban Bay 6 folding bike. It’s fair to say that Durban Bay 6 is a well-designed folding bike. Also, you should know that Durban Bay 6 folding bike comes in several colors – black, white, blue and red. So, you’ll be able to pick a bike that’s suitable for your color preferences.

Durban Bay 6 folding bike’s frame is made of steel. The bike comes with high-tensile anodized steel frame. That’s the reason why the bike is too heavy. It’s clear that Durban Bay 6 folding bike is not a good option if you are looking for a lightweight bike. There is no question that you’ll find it difficult to carry Durban Bay 6 folding bike. So, you’ll definitely need to consider other options if you would like to travel with a bike.

Keep in mind that Durban Bay 6 folding bike has 6 speeds only. That means that Durban Bay 6 is not a high performance folding bike. However, you’ll certainly find it easy to ride the bike of this type in urban areas.

It’s also important to point out that Durban Bay 6 is an easy to use bike that folds/unfolds very well. Actually, it doesn’t take a cyclist too much time to figure out how Durban Bay 6 bike is folded and unfolded. The bike’s folding/unfolding process is simple. On average, it takes a cyclist no longer than 15 seconds to fold/unfold a bike. Plus, you are likely to be able to fold/unfold Durban Bay 6 bike fast and easy.

Durban Bay 6 is known for being a budget friendly bike. It makes a lot of sense for you to consider this model if your budget doesn’t allow you to purchase more expensive folding bikes. The bike costs around $210 on Amazon. On the other hand, low price negatively affects the quality of a bike. That’s why the Durban Bay 6 bike’s parts are not sturdy. So, they may wear out quickly. Now, let’s take a closer look at Durban Bay 6 folding bike.

$210 at Amazon & Prime Eligible

Unboxing and Assembly

Specifications

• Colors: Black, White, Red and Blue
• Weight: 32 lbs (14.5 kg)
• Folded dimensions: 33″ x 25″ x 14″ (84 x 63.5 x 35.5 cm)
• Frame: High-Tensile Steel Frame with Durban B-Type Latch
• Fork: High-Tensile Steel Fork
• Speeds: 6
• Wheels: 20″ Alloy Rims / 20×1.5 Tires / UCP Spokes
• Handlepost: Durban B-Type Steel Handlepost with Security Lock
• Saddle: Durban Comfort Saddle
• Seatpost: Steel Seatpost (Size 550mm)
• Chain: KMC
• Crankset: 52T Steel
• Brakes: Alloy V-Brake
• Brake levers: Alloy
• Shifter: Shimano RS-35
• Derailleur: Shimano TZ-50 (6 Speed)
• Freewheel: Shimano 14-28T
• Pedals: Foldable and come with Reflectors
• Kickstand: Steel
• Mudguards: Steel
• Rear rack: optional
• Maximum rider weight: 210 lbs (95 kg)
• Suggested rider height: 4’8″ – 6’3″ (1.40 – 1.90 m)
• Carton dimensions: 32.3″ x 13″ x 25.6″
• Shipping weight: 37.6 lbs

Folding & Unfolding

Performance

Actually I had some good initial impressions with the Durban Bay 6. My bike is the red one and it looks quite attractive. The bike includes a kickstand, foldable pedals, fenders and a rear rack which you might have to buy as extra accessories on most other folding bikes. I also love that the handlepost height is adjustable for different riding positions and the Durban B-Type latch makes the bike look much cleaner.

Unfortunately, as soon as I started using the bike, I figured out it has some significant issues. Firstly, I really hate folding and unfolding this bike because the frame hinge is quite stiff. Besides, I have to use a lot of force to open or close the latch but this can be fixed by adjusting the screw on the frame. You can tighten or untighten the screw to find your ideal pressure, make sure to adjust again if you see any looseness or movement on the frame. You also need to be extremely careful because the latch is so vulnerable after you unfold the bike, there is nothing holding the latch, so it is free to move around and might be broken easily.

Another issue is that the bike is so heavy, this is actually one of the heaviest folders I’ve ever tested. Additionally, it is quite bulky when being folded and you will need to use the included strap to secure wheels.

When testing the bike, I always keep in mind that this is a budget bike, therefore, all those aforementioned issues can be accepted if it can deliver a smooth and responsive riding experience. However, I am disappointed in this aspect as well. Actually it is not horrible but it is falling short as compared to most other folders. It is alright on flat roads but you will meet a huge challenge when climbing just 15-degree hills.

Images

Test Ride

Conclusion

Pros

• Low price
• Good design
• Accessories are included

Cons

• Stiff frame hinge
• Heavy and bulky
• Poor riding performance

If you are looking for an affordable folding bike for short commutes and don’t mind the heavy weight, the Durban Bay 6 might be a good choice for you. It would be nice for you to use this bike for traveling around the city or in its surrounding areas every day. However, you should know that the quality of Durban Bay 6 folding bike’s parts is not good enough. That means that the bike may need frequent repairs if you choose to use it on a daily basis. Plus, the bike doesn’t perform well if you need to climb the hills frequenty. If this is something that doesn’t sound good to you, then we would recommend you to consider other folding bikes.

Regular Price: $399

Special Price: $210 at Amazon & Prime Eligible

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