Electric bikes take some of the effort out of the daily commute, as well as giving you a bit more power for any long, leisurely journeys you're making. Storing them isn't the easiest, although a foldable electric bike can be a solution if you're short on space. You get a motor to help you with the pedaling, along with a frame that folds down to make it easy to stash in a luggage rack.

That said, there are some downsides to a foldable electric bike that you'll want to be aware of. Convenience does come with a few compromises, because a bike that folds isn't necessarily going to be easy to carry. The smallest models could involve sacrificing something, whether it's comfort or battery capacity. You've also got the price to consider, especially if you want the most ultralight bike you can find. Before you pick one up, here are some of the disadvantages you'll want to weigh up.

You'll need to separate bikes you can fold from bikes you can comfortably carry, because rarely will these two meet. A foldable electric bike needs a motor and battery, while its frame is going to need hinges and locking hardware. All of these contribute to the weight, even if it ends up taking less space.

Here's an example. Lectric, which makes electric bikes, lists its folding XP4 with a 500W motor at 62 pounds , and that's without the battery. Adding that into the mix adds another seven pounds, taking it up to 69 pounds, or 31kg.

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