I'm new to this, but Zizzo folders in 20" wheels are pretty reasonably priced.

You're asking for everything on a very meager budget. Maybe you'll get lucky, but more likely, you'll have to compromise.

For compact and easy to fold, it's hard to beat a Brompton.

For off road, the Bike Friday Al-Packa is great.

For 500, See what's available used near you and just ride that.

I think you should add a few more requirements for the price. Maybe tires that are fast, comfortable, never deflate, and can float across waterways? 😅

Zizzo Liberté

Dahon has a couple of bikes in that price range, but I don't know how they'd perform off road. Looks like Downtube has one as well.

Most folding bikes are not built for off road, and most high quality ones are well over $500. You might want to look for a used one.

300 pound rider will be a tough constraint. Origami Bull is the only one that comes to mind.

I have the coral color Forte and really like it. I weigh about 240 so I needed the sturdier model for outside riding. I also have a Campo which is only used on an indoor stand for exercise and it seems fine for me used that way. I have a 10 inch tablet mounted on the handlebar and watch youtube trail and road riding videos while exercising and it is fun for me...in a bit of overkill I have a Lectric brand ebike which also can be folded and find it useful too. With two bikes for outdoor riding I can invite a friend who doesn't have a bike for rides. Zizzo bikes are great imo...I recommend the brand highly. Good luck with your biking...

As far as I know, the Zizzo Forte is the only one in your price range with a 300 lb weight limit. I have a Zizzo Campo that I ordered from Amazon, and the build quality was surprisingly good for the price point. I think you'd be pretty happy with the Forte.

I don’t think you’ll go wrong with Zizzo, Dahon, or Origami. Zizzo is often said to be the best budget folder so I’d probably just get the Forte. I have an Urbano myself and I like it a lot. (I got mine for 300 used.)

My shipping requirements were much like yours (almost exactly the same, in fact). I went with the Forte and I am extremely happy with the choice.

Dahon, Zizzo, and Origami all make decent stuff.

I would also add Tern, Brompton, and the Priority Folder to the list of brands/bikes to consider if you're in the US market.

I have no real need for a folding bicycle, but I have been fascinated by the folder just on general design / specs / price. Upright riding position, Nexus 8, not too heavy, well under $1000. But not having ridden a folding bike before, I do wonder about the actual riding experience, especially performance on hills (both up & down!), and how compromised the rack seems with respect to panniers etc.

I would love to get one, but in 230lbs and am always skeptical of folding bikes at my weight, given the seatpost distance from seat to collar and the strain it would be

Great points here. I had those idea that the folder might also be pretty darn cool if it didn’t fold - just a minivelo option.

I also thought it would be rad if Priority could slap a Pinion 9-speed into the frame.

Good call on the bag and the dynamo hub.

Not many people talk about the folder which is a shame. I went back and forth about getting and ultimately found a good deal on a Bike Friday but I’ll always wonder about what could have been.

I'm very surprised to hear this. I've been asking around about the Folder and there's a dearth of information. Even Priority couldn't answer all my questions. It seemed to me like the folded geometry was very awkward due to the way the wheels flare out. It also seems quite heavy to me. I feel like I would miss disc brakes as well. Thanks a lot for the review! I wish I'd seen this sooner, I might have bought it for my summer vacation.

i love mine but im already thinking about an alfine 11 hub for the steep hills where i live

+1 for the trolley thing, check out seatpost wheel casters tho

Used Dahon mariner owner here and I absolutely love mine.

Zizzo liberte and Urbano are good bikes.

No problem! Zizzos seem to be pretty well regarded. This video from I Bike Unfolded on Youtube gives a pretty good discussion about the two bikes I mentioned and is what inspired me to pull the trigger on the Zizzo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAuZp5Fv5S0

I found a retrospec judd on FB marketplace for 100$ and it's been a workhorse. I see similar deals on a regular basis. Best of luck!

I’m not an avid cyclist but am pretty impressed with the feel of my wife’s zizzo campo, especially at the $230 price Amazon had on it.

Love my Zizzo Urbano. $429 gets you the decently good drivetrain of their fancier model a little cheaper due to some heavier cranks and bolt on wheels. If you don't mind a $479 price tag and would prefer a pound lighter bike with quick release wheels you could get the Zizzo Liberte.

I'm a long time cyclist and have a pretty low tolerance for poorly functioning, cheap bikes and I have been very happy with the Zizzo, even at their cheap price.

The Zizzo Forte has a 300 pound limit and wider tires than most. Used ones are $250 or so in my area.

Get a human powered bike. I lost 40 pounds with my “3d treadmill.”

Engwe do some really good folding E-Bikes but you'd have to add a bit onto your budget

I am a former “roadie” who has dialed it back a bit and enjoys exploring cities on folding bikes. I think the best bang for the buck is the Zizzo Liberte. The gearing is right there for the majority of people, it’s about as light as you were going to get even that twice that price point. They were running a sale recently. Tern makes a very nice folding bike as well, but considerably more expensive.

Check Origami Bicycles. They are out of Richmond. All their folding bikes have disc brakes, some with hydraulic disc.

Another vote for a Brompton if you specifically want a folding bike. That thing holds value and is a dream to fold. I’ve had a few others and none held up to the Brompton. It’s worth the trade off for disc brakes imo.

Why do you need disc breaks??

If you absolutely want disc brakes then that rules out a Brompton (unless you're willing to spend.a fortune on after market mods). I'd look at some of the options from Tern, which makes several folding models with disc brakes, maybe the Verge D9: https://www.ternbicycles.com/us/bikes?filter%5B0%5D=bike_type%3A1491&filter%5B1%5D=folding_type%3A1499&filter%5B2%5D=folding_type%3A1500&filter%5B3%5D=folding_type%3A1501

Dahon also has some disc models: https://usa.dahon.com/products/launch-d8?variant=32282540081201

Edit: the Tern Verge S8i is a little over your budget but has some higher spec parts, and a belt drive: https://www.ternbicycles.com/us/bikes/472/verge-s8i

Maybe check out Bike Friday, they have some nice looking bikes, with lots of customising options.

Check out the refurbished bikes at Zizzo. Mine was just like new with a couple of minor cosmetic scratches and scuffs.

Why not keep your Campo and upgrade as needed? Most parts are standard issue, and most bearings are the cup and cone type which are easily serviced for dependable  longevity. If yours is a 2019-20 model its probably an aluminum framed one, something you will not find in the current model or any sub $300 bike. If needing a folder, I'd suggest keep and upgrade the current one. I have two aluminum framed/non adjustable stempost Campos and for the same use as you; will not replace them until their frames break!

1. For bike recommendation, you’re in the USA I assume?

2. Do you need a folding bike? If you just need a bike that can get smaller for storage sometimes, just removing a front wheel gets a normal bike quite compact.

I live in New York City as well and 20-in folding bikes don't fold up as small as you would think.

The most affordable bikes are used bikes. IMO, the standard bifold 20” folding bike has changed very little over time. If you’re a casual user, outside of ease and convenience of getting a new bike, there is little gained over getting a good condition used bike.

Omg,  this zizzo started me on the path to Lectric xp 3.0, a trike for my husband so I don't ride alone, bought a truck so we could carry the bikes, added more range to our bikes, traded in the first truck for a nicer one (we never had a truck before and we loved driving around all the time), built a detached garage for the new truck and bikes, bought a second bike for me, Lectric Xpeak, then another bike because the Xpeak has a lot of issues, and, oh, I forgot to say that the zizzo was so bad I had to return it to Amazon (chain was so loose it would fall off after half a revolution of the pedal, brake rotors warped from the factory, a complete disaster). Good luck with yours, I have almost 3000 miles in 2.5 years ( weekend rider) and don't regret a thing.

I have the electric version of the forte and it's awesome! after maybe 6 months of ownership and 1300 miles, I have gotten really quick at folding and unfolding. if I'm really trying I can probably do it in about 20 seconds.

I have one and love it. I did an ongoing review thread on it here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/1305489-zizzo-forte-review.html

The folding/unfolding is not super quick, but you do get faster. One thing I still haven't gotten down is how to get the magnets to catch when the handle post is folded down.

You might find it's easier to carry up the stairs UNFOLDED, then fold it when you get up there. If not, invest in a couple of velcro straps to hold things together once folded. When carrying it unfolded, it's easier to do it from the non chain side, so you're less likely to grease your pants on the chain.

It FEELS fast, but isn't. I'm easily 2 mph faster on my gravel bike and probably 3 mph faster on my road bike, but on the Forte, I don't care. I'm sitting up straighter and looking around more. Speed isn't really the point on this bike. It's still easily 3X faster than walking though.

As for the shifting, it sounds like it might just need some adjustment to account for the initial cable stretch. If not, look and see if the derailleur hanger piece got bashed out of shape. The derailleur guard was an extra part to buy, but I bought it. You may want to buy one and bolt it on too.

Watch this video beginning to end:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkZxPIZ1ngY