The new-kid-on-the-folding-block Kansi comes in three flavours at the moment. We’ve tested the three-speed version – there’s also a fixed gear singlespeed (1twenty, £499) and a nine-speed (9twenty, £849). Aside from the number of gears, they’re all very similar.
Folding the Kansi is simple. In fact, it’s one of the easiest-folding bikes we’ve seen. There are two hinges to open – one in the middle of the frame, the other at the base of the stem where it sits just above the top of the head tube.
To open them, press in the locking button and pull open the lever of the hinge. And that’s all there is to it. Once the hinges are open, fold it, slide the seatpost down and you’re done.
Unfolding is even easier. You don’t have to do anything other than unfold – the hinges will over-centre themselves and lock into place without you having to touch them, then all you need to do is pull the seat up. It takes seconds.
Even with its ultra quick and simple folding, though, it’s the ride quality that really makes the Kansi stand out from the folding bike crowd. It rides like a non-folding bike.
That might sound a little strange, but it just doesn’t feel like a bike with a hinge in the middle and at the bottom of a very long stem. You can really haul this thing around and it will simply respond – no mushy, flexible feelings, just all-round good performance and handling.
The 3twenty strikes a great balance of usability – thanks to the three-speed SRAM T3 hub (186 percent gear ratio between first and third) – and ease of maintenance – no rear mech, and simple but quality Avid V-brakes. The frame is very well made, and the components are all surprisingly good quality for the cost of the bike.
Add to all this the fact that you can fit fat tyres, there are mudguard eyelets front and rear, and also rack mountings at the back, and this is one of the best folders around – if not the best.