EuroMini Folding Bike Review: Zizzo Folding-Bicycles Via

Last Updated on August 6, 2022 by Editorial Staff

As far as folding bikes go, the Euro-mini Zizzo Via is as close to perfection as it gets. It is a lightweight 20-inch bike with a snappy 7-speed Shimano crankset and a decent pair of alloy V-brakes. Without a doubt, the most impressive thing about the Via is its incredibly flexible build. It can fold down to occupy a 31×12.5-inch footprint and stand upright on its own using the seat post to form an impromptu tripod.

You can also adjust the height and length of the handlebars or fiddle with the seat post height to suit your build. It can accommodate riders from 4’8” to 6’3”. By the end of this folding bike review, you’ll understand why the Via is the only bike you’ll need to navigate a cramped urban environment.

Bike’s Performance

With its excellent components and surprisingly high-quality build, this folding bike delivers exceptional performance. It’s not as fast as a road bike or as cushy as a mountain bike, but it performs adequately on all types of terrains. The fact that you can put it in the back of an Uber or your trunk is what makes it an invincible urban traveler. With a little practice, you can fold it down in less than 30 seconds. It takes longer to unrack a full-sized bike.

It weighs only 27 pounds, comfortable weight for most riders to carry up flights of stairs or into their offices. The tires are held together by strong magnets on either side, which keeps the bike stable when folded.

The 20-inch wheels do a great job of damping rough terrain. Like the brakes, the gears are snappy and responsive, allowing you to transition from climbing hills to speeding down straightaways seamlessly. You never get that “between-gears” feeling where the chain loosens momentarily, cutting off your momentum.

Pros

• Easy to assemble
• Solid components
• Adjustable frame
• Folds down quickly
• Locks in place with magnets
• All-terrain tires
• Lightweight build
• Affordable price tag

Cons

• Slightly less stable than a 26-inch bike

Who is the EuroMini ZiZZO Best for?

The Zizzo Via may well be the ultimate folding bicycle. With its well-balanced features and robust, flexible build, it serves multiple purposes for different people, even in the same household.

It’s the perfect bike for quick errands, especially if you spring for a foldable metal basket too. Its compact design makes it an awesome commuter bike, one that easily accompanies you onto buses, trains, and cabs. It’s small enough to fit under a desk, and if you get a bag for it, you can check it into an aircraft. In summary, it goes wherever you go.

It’s a bike that can easily do 30 miles in a single run, and since it is perfectly trunk-sized, it’s a fitness companion that you can access in a cinch, no matter how far you are from home.

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Attractive Features

The Zizzo folding bicycle has excellent components, including a 7-speed Shimano crankset, powerful front and rear v-brakes, and pretty good all-terrain tires, which are mounted on sturdy double-walled rims. On paper, it is a bicycle that’s equipped to handle pretty much anything you throw at it.

1. Stainless steel Shimano cassette

The 7-speed gear system consists of a 170mm crank arm hidden behind a PVC chainring cover, a 48T chainring, and a stainless-steel cassette.

The shift levers and rear derailleur are Shimano-built, and therefore, are quite reliable. You can tell by how snappy the gear changes are that the system works flawlessly. It’s nice that the rear derailleur, an aluminum hanger, is attached to the frame in a way that’s meant to protect it from impact damage.

2. Alloy V-brakes

It comes with a pair of lightweight v-brakes built from aluminum alloy. They may be basic, but they do an excellent job of bringing the bike to a quick, safe stop. The manufacturer ships the Via out with fully calibrated brakes and gears. Only a few users have had to adjust the V-brakes, and it’s usually to eliminate squeaking.

3. Adjustable frame

It has one of the most thoughtful designs ever seen on a bike. Its frame is adjustable to a great degree, not just for storage purposes but also for rider comfort. A telescoping stem, seat post, and extendable handlebars allow users to tweak its dimensions to suit different rider heights.

The bike also folds neatly into half for convenient storage. Everything, including the pedals and the handlebars, is collapsible. When folded, strong magnets lock it in position, making it easy to lug around one-handed.

4. Folding pedals

The bike has plastic pedals. These fold away to create a smaller footprint when the bike is folded down into its compact form. Some riders elect to replace these with metallic pedals. It’s a matter of preference for riders that prioritize durability over other factors.

5. Multi-terrain tires

It comes with a pair of powerful wheels. They comprise double-walled anodized aluminum rims and 20×1.95-inch Kenda Khan tires. These are multi-terrain tires that perform quite well on bumpy back roads. They also handle decently on wet terrain.

They’re not as stable as full-sized (26-inch) wheels, but considering that the whole bike is built to be small and portable, the 20-inch wheels are an excellent tradeoff.

Euro-mini Zizzo vs Other Brands

To truly understand why the EuroMini ZiZZO is one of the best folding bikes ever made, you have to look at bikes with similar designs. We’ll be holding it up against the slightly cheaper KESPOR K7 and the entry-level Goplus folding bike.

EuroMini ZiZZO Via

As we’ve seen, the Via is a well-built folding bike that boasts a stable design, whether folded or unfolded. It’s got reliable components, including responsive 7-speed gear, good brakes, and all-terrain wheels.

It costs slightly more than the other two options, but its excellent folding mechanism and lightweight build make it more portable than the others and worth every penny.

KESPOR K7 folding bike

The KESPOR K7 is cheaper than the Euro-mini Via, even though it is just as feature-rich. It has a light aluminum frame (weighs 31 pounds), a Shimano TZ-50 gear, efficient disc brakes, and a convenient folding mechanism.

However, the build is of notably lower quality. Loose screws and misaligned components are a glaring contrast to the eloquent build of the Zizzo.

Goplus 20-inch folding bike

The Goplus is an even cheaper 20-inch folding bike, an entry-level option that’s just over $200. For that money, you get a curved crossbar (some people find it easier to ride), rear and front suspension, a height-adjustable frame that folds in three steps, V-brakes, and of course, all-terrain, anti-skid tires.

The only downside—and it’s a significant one—is the low-quality build. The components, especially the hinges, feel cheap and are susceptible to damage.

The seat is decidedly uncomfortable for most users, and the adjustable seat post somehow ends up being too short for some. Otherwise, it’s a reasonably priced entry-level bike that, even though it needs a lot of care to survive, gets the job done.

Comparison between them

Final Verdict

The Zizzo folding bike offers outstanding build quality. That’s what sets it apart from most of the folding bikes in its price range. A thoughtful folding mechanism, coupled with a rock-solid yet lightweight build, makes it ultra-portable. It’s already small enough to fit into any car trunk or ride with you in the subway. Overall, it’s a good buy for commuting in urban areas, exercising everywhere, or exploring remote backcountry trails.