Forte

First of all, I was near 300lbs when I ordered my Forte and was kind of worried that it might not really handle my weight, or at least not that well. For any other "heavy" people out there - don't sweat it. This thing is so sturdy it feels like I could have a other guy my weight on my shoulders and it would still ask for more. It doesn't so much as flex or groan when I get on. The main folding frame joint was the part I was really worried about, but as soon as I unboxed my Forte and secured it for the first time I stopped worrying. The frame including the folding joint is an absolute beast - it's built like a tank. As far as the bike's performance overall - it's the best dealing bike I have ever ridden, better than any full sized I have owned. I've never had anything that nice, but I have had aluminum frames before and this is much more fun. The low end acceleration on this is especially great. But I can also cruise at a pretty good clip. The small wheels are no problem, even here in New Orleans where we use the term "road in the hole" instead of "hole in the road" on some of our streets. I wouldn't try to go BMX on it or anything, but it wouldn't surprise me if someone did and it worked. I could not be happier with my Forte. In fact I have yet to find a single thing I don't like about it. And I'm looking to get one of the other Zizzo models so I can drag my girl out riding with me. Five stars hands down.

I like the sturdiness of the bike and the rack is useful. I added a basket to carry my groceries when I ride to the store. And I help to carry water for my riding group. Love it.

For a folding back bike it handles great can wait to take it yravrling with me. My spouse is curious about getting one down the road BTW i just ordered the handle bag for it today wasnt sure if that qualifies for any discount.

My ZiZZO “FORTE” arrived May 1 late afternoon. It was packed very well and had no damage from shipping. It is pretty much assembled at the factory. After removing from the box, removing the protective wrapping, and unfolding it’s done. You lock the frame, swing the handle bar up and lock, than put the seat post on and lock. One foot peddle needed to be screwed in and tightened. The information manual, peddle, and handy tool came in a small box. You will need a tire pump, and pressure gage to add air to the tires up to the recommend pressure. I checked everything out pretty well to be sure every nut, bolt, and screw was snug and tight. I spun the tires and tested the brakes. I was very impressed that the bike seemed to be solidly built, and the all locking mechanisms seemed very secure. I’m 74 and hadn’t owned or ridden a bike in at least 40 years, but I couldn’t wait to take for a test drive. I did ok and rode it for about 15 minutes before it got dark. The bike was great, but I knew that I would need a little practice after not riding one in so many years. On day two I rode for about 15 miles, day 3 about 7 miles, and today I just went about 12 miles. I have been taking it kind of easy as I was a little rusty, but today I was really getting into it and put the bike to a bit more of a test. I felt more confident, and definitely was going faster. I am very happy with my decision in getting this ZiZZO FORTE folding bicycle. It seems very solid and well made and worth the money. I have been riding on paved paths, and not much dirt or grass. The paths are fairly flat with some rolling dips and slight inclines which gave me a chance the test the gears a lot. It’s nice to have a 7 speed, which I thought worked great. The brakes works good also. I am very happy with everything, and can’t wait until tomorrow to ride again perhaps a little farther and faster.

Just had to pay for some small brake adjustments and wheel issues upon arrival at the local shop. The tech was even impressed with the overall quality.

We purchased 2 Fortes to take on our boat when we cruise. I haven't had a chance to do more than a "down the street" test ride, but everything operates so smoothly! Shifting and braking were set perfectly out of the box. Feels very solid riding as well. Folding and unfolding is very easy. So far we love them!

I love my new fold up Zizzo, it's easy to transport (although the forte is a bit heavy for me), it's easy to store, and it's so much fun to ride!!

I bought this bike for my husband and he LOVES it. He was pleasantly surprised because he thought a quality bike that would hold his weight would cost a lot more than we could afford. Now, he has a sturdy, high quality bike that also LOOKS good. The green is gorgeous. The bonus for us is, the handle bars and seats can be adjusted so I can ride it too if I wanted to.

Awesome folder. Holds my heavy body well (~270lbs) and is light and easy to fold. Riding is nice and comfortable, the built-in bike rack very useful too. Heartily recommend this bike!

After unpackaging my Forte I found no defects in workmanship or any damage in transit. After unfolding it (rather easy) and taking it for a ride I did find that the handlebar was very slightly misaligned with the rotational axis of the front wheel, but that was very easily corrected after getting friendly phone advice from Tony at Zizzo. I am a large man, but the Forte feels very solid and stiff under me while riding. The Shimano shifter works flawlessly. High quality is evident in this product's design and construction. The 20 inch wheels give the cycle a very "quick" handling feel so I do have to maintain a bit more concentration than I would have to on bicycles with larger wheels regarding balance and steering. All in all I believe I will have many years of enjoyment riding this bicycle.

LOVE OUR BIKES! We bought two. One for my husband and one for me. We both bought coral. We love the color for its uniqueness and visibility. We researched many bikes before making this purchase. Originally we needed bikes we could take with us in our RV but we are having so much fun riding these at home as well. For us there was a learning curve as neither of us has ridden in decades. It took both of us a week to ride -adjust-ride-readjust till we got the seat and handlebars exactly in the sweet spot for us. Then we marked the areas with a silver sharpie so we can put it back in the same spot every time. Now we are comfortable. Tony in customer service was fantastic in communicating with us via emails and phone calls to help us get it right. Unbelievable customer service. The BEST ever. Also, the “self help” section on this website and videos helped tremendously. Bottom line if you’re on the fence about buying a Zizzo - just go for it! It’s a ton of FUN! Great bike! Great company!

Great bike.....my second purchase within Euromini. Great commuter bike for sure. Highly recommended.

LOVE OUR BIKES! We bought two. One for my husband and one for me. We both bought coral. We love the color for its uniqueness and visibility. We researched many bikes before making this purchase. Originally we needed bikes we could take with us in our RV but we are having so much fun riding these at home as well. For us there was a learning curve as neither of us has ridden in decades. It took both of us a week to ride - adjust-ride-readjust till we got the seat and handlebars exactly in the sweet spot for us. Then we marked the areas with a silver sharpie so we can put it back in the same spot every time. Now we are comfortable. Tony in customer service was fantastic in communicating we us via emails and phone calls to help us get it right. Unbelievable customer service. The BEST ever. Also, the “self help” section on this website and videos helped tremendously. Bottom line if you’re on the fence about buying a Zizzo - just go for it! It’s a ton of FUN! Great bike! Great company!

Great bike. Folds easily and rides very well.

I purchased an orange Forte for myself and “lost out” to my son. He loved it so much that I purchased a green Forte for myself and a black Campo for my daughter. I used a link on the zizzo website to watch a video on how to fold and unfold the bike. It is very simple and the bicycle is very compact. I use the campo to commute back and forth to work. I average 6-7 miles a day. My kids love their bikes too!

Arrived in time specified and was easy to get out of the sturdy box and remove all the packaging. The most difficult part was cutting up the cardboard to fit in my recycle bin. I didn’t have to adjust anything before I rode it around the block. The saddle was a bit hard on my butt so I ordered another saddle that is described as the ‘most comfortable saddle’. I feel that the saddle needs a horizontal adjustment to move it away from the handle bars.

Just had to adjust the seat and handle bars as it was ready to go. Riding it through the campground for a week and have put on 42 miles. All the adjustments are tight! Great bike.

Just a fun bike. Easily fits in trunk of car and is simple to unfold. We take it to the local bike trails and love it’s convenience. My wife and I both have one.

This thing Is awesome. Just built a camper van and it fits nicely under the bed. Unfolds and ready to ride in one minute tops. Riding feels like a regular full frame high quality bike. Came ready to go out of the box with nothing but some air in the tires needed to ride. Highly recommend this sweet bike, especially for vanlifers. A++

The bike was packed really well and was easy to unfold and use. My only disappointment in terms of the locking mechanisms. My wife got a Downtube and except for the locking mechanisms this bike is hands down a better buy.

By the time I finally got the bike it’s very cold and I’ve been very sick so I haven’t gotten to try it too much but I’m very happy about what I see so far, you can see in my picture to carefully made a rack in my suburban so that I could fit in there and I can cover it so no one knows that I’m caring bodies while having a bicycle. It’s not so expensive that it’s going to kill me if it gets stolen, but I can’t wait to make a delivery to somewhere like the Catskills or the beach areas and have some time when it gets warmer out to take a ride. I was immediately able to do it 15-20 mile trip. soon there after I felt better results on my road bike from having peddled on it. As long as you don’t expect him to be a road bike, you’re good. I just dropped off the seat for something lighter and will let my legs go back further in my stroke that I could move also back further/more leg room.

love love love this bike! once i got the handlebar height and brake position right for folding, folding is a dream, it is so fast. It fits in my backseat of my Scion XD hatchback wonderfully. I researched a lot before buying this one, I looked at Citizen Barcelona and Milan step thru models and also liked the flat foot technology of Electra. I ended up with the Forte because of the extra hauling weight allowance and the reasons I was interested in the other brands is taken care of here with the Forte. The frame is low enough to step over pretty easily and the bike is easy to ride so you can have the seat low enough to ride well and put feet down. The folding is just the best feature. I keep the bike in my car so can ride at lunch and any impromptu moment. Am riding way way way more than I ever did with a non-folding model. The nonfolding model takes 10 minutes and lots of consternation to put in my car, but this forte is amazing. The handles have an interesting oblong shape that is really comfortable to ride with. highly recommended.

I needed a folding bike for our sailboat, and I looked at many other bikes other boaters were using and the Forte being heaver duty and having fenders and a back rack so I can carry items seemed to be the most for the money. In fact my girlfriend liked it so much she wants one for Christmas. Great bike!

I have tried several test runs and it is a solid, comfortable ride. Perfect for a large man and tall wife to share as our boat bike.

Nice bike, very compact. Easy ordering and shipped on a timely basis. Seat is a little hard.

Absolutely love the bike! Been on couple of 12 mile rides and taking it on camping trip to western NC end of October. Very pleased with the Forte. J Henderson Rutherfordton NC

I’ve been looking for a folding bike for along time, and finally I went on line and googled folding bikes for men over 250lbs. The Forte popped up and I was blown away that the weight limit is 300lbs and good for riders up to 6’3” tall. I’m 6’ tall and weigh in at 265lbs. I waited to write my review till I got to go for a nice ride and not just up and down my street. This past Sunday I went out riding and took a 10 mile ride. The bike was comfortable and felt very sturdy, I did not feel I was riding 24” folding bike! I’m looking forward to future rides on my Forte! PS-The Forte arrived at my home when promised and with no damages, it was easy to unpack and assemble was simply unfolding and locking everything in place!

I’m a truck driver. I’m also a diabetic. I NEED PHYSICAL EXERCISE! I also need occasional transportation short distances from my truck. This bike fits inside the sleeper of my truck and is easily deployed when needed. I’m very happy with the bike as well as the customer support. My rear magnet was missing when I unpacked my new bike. Tony answered the phone when I called. His people took care of it immediately! The missing part is waiting for me when I get back home. -David (a satisfied ZIZZO customer)

Love this bike, great for RV travels. Light,sturdy, and folds small.

I bought a folding bike so I could throw it in the back of my car and self-shuttle with my Advanced Elements inflatable kayak. See what's going on here? Big things made small to fit in the back of my Prius, and still be of quality and get me outdoors and doing my favorite things! Seriously, I just bought this for the kayak shuttling, but I love it so much I am riding it every day that I can--just for fun. I love the Shimano gears--easy to use and fill all of my uphill needs. Everything is top quality so far. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a folding bike. Customer service has also been great--all emails answered in less than 24 hrs. Get this bike and have fun!

Living near the beach, I love riding my Forte on the boardwalk in the early morning. I leave it in the back of my car so it’s ready to go in a few minutes. I’m pleased by how easy it is to fold up and then put back together again. The quality of construction is much better than I had expected. I did put marks on the handlebar stem and seat stem so I’m able to adjust those parts to the right height each time. All together it takes me about 2 minutes to get everything ready to ride again once I arrive at my destination. Nice! My brother is thinking about getting a foldable bike for himself, now that he’s ridden mine. He really likes the Forte, but may opt for one of the lighter models ... like an Urbano. Being in our 60’s, the difference in weight can be significant if you’re thinking about carrying it around. For me, I mostly transport my bikes by car so the Forte is perfect. And having the bike rack and fenders is a big plus ... especially here at the beach and on the adjoining bike trails.

I recently purchased two Fortes for my wife and I to leave at our second home in Michigan. We've had a Liberte in Florida for nearly two years and despite being road racers and triathletes and having bikes in our garage costing thousands of dollars, the Liberty has become our fave. Despite loving the Liberte I decided on a pair of Fortes as they already came with fenders, racks, wider tires to handle more varied terrain, and the extra weight capacity for possibly some loaded touring. Upon receiving the bikes the only adjustment needed was some slight adjustment of the brake pads. I was pleased to see that Zizzo has been listening to their customers: the two most common complaints must have been the stock seat and grips. I replaced both on my Liberte, but now all the bikes come with more comfortable saddles and ergonomic grips. Kudos! My wife and I recently rode the Kal-Haven Trail, a 34 mile Rails-to-Trails trail beginning in Kalamazoo, MI and ending in South Haven, MI near the shore of Lake Michigan. We both loved riding our new Zizzo Forte and several times commented how comfortable we were. We look forward to many more journeys. If I have any complaint regarding the Forte it would be that perhaps it could use a larger largest cog on the cassette to give you an even easier gear for grinding up long and/or steep inclines especially if riding loaded. Dealing with the people at Zizzo is VERY pleasant. Ben and Tony were extremely helpful and attentive. Tony was especially attentive to my technical questions as a fellow bike geek. As a former bike mechanic, he knows his stuff!

Much higher quality than I was expecting. I have a Dahon I haven’t ridden after gaining weight - being able to ride again is wonderful.

Wonderful! Very easy to fold and unfold, and once it folds, it fits perfectly in a small space within any car. Its design makes it very easy to get on it and to get off of it. At the same time the design and height makes it very easy for any rider to quickly land on his/her feet in case there is lost of control. The bike feels powerful and the seat is very comfortable. I am very happy with it.

First of all, I'm a 290lb guy. I put 15 miles on it today. At one point I tied my 20lbs of laundry on the back. This bike is AMAZING. Haven't had to tune it a bit. Good to ride out of the.box. my buddy who is 240 got the via. I rode it around as well and am certain it would hold up to my wieght. Thank you so much zizzo. This bike is amazing. I'm going to take it all over over world with me on the madonna madame x tour. Riding Round brooklyn has been amazing.

Love it! Comes fully loaded with fenders and carrying rack!

Received my new Forte in the time promised. I pulled it out of the box, locked the folding mechanisms on the frame and peddles open and inserted the seat. After adjusting the handlebars and seat to my height, airing up the tires and testing the brakes for proper function, I was off and riding. The maiden voyage was at 3 to 5 mph as I rode with my 5 year old granddaughter through the campground, she on her Frozen bike and training wheels. :) The Forte is easy to take camping with us. I was always worried about losing the full size bike off the back of the tow vehicle either completely or dragging it down the highway when heading to a campsite. Now I can fold the Forte easily and put it into a storage compartment in our RV! Very happy with this purchase and this bike!

It’s the best bike I ever find in USA only Europe maybe have better bike like this one ! Super

We recently purchased a Zizzo Forte and a Zizzo Via. Prior to ordering we had a few questions which Zizzo promptly answered via email. We placed our order and UPS delivered our bike a few days later. The bikes were ready to ride right out of the box, after unfolding them of course! We purchased an optional rear rack for the Via model and it was very easy to install. From out first test ride we knew we had made the right decision in going with the Zizzo brand bikes and could wait to fully put them to the test. We have had our bikes for just over two weeks and LOVE them. They handle well, are ruggedly built and ride great even on bumpy terrain.The bikes are so easy to fold/unfold and fit side by side in the back our our hatchback making them easy to take with us anywhere. Zizzo has blended high quality with a great price which is win win from my perspective.

Bought two Fortes, one for me and one for the wife. We are full time RVers and travel all over the USA. I was looking for a sturdy bike that was easy to fold and haul. These meet the bill/ The bikes arrived well packed and no damage. After unpacking and checking the bikes, and airing up the tires, I found the derailleur, low gear index, not adjusted properly and the front brakes on the other not centered properly. I have worked on bikes all my life, so it was an easy adjustment. The bikes ride easy and smoothly.

I bought this Forte for my wife - so I'm writing the review for her with her input and approval. I did a lot of research online before we decided on the Zizzo Euromini bikes. We wanted something we can take with us when we go camping and even when we go (almost) full-timing on the road after she retires in a few months. We were tired of dealing with our big bikes and loading and unloading. These are the answer! My wife loves her Forte! "It's comfortable, lightweight, easy to ride, rides like a big bike, very stable and I love the coral color!" I'm glad she loves her Zizzo Forte and we're looking forward to riding them in many state and national parks in the future! I love the Urbano I got for me....but that's for another review!

I am a satisfied customer.

I absolutely love this bike. It’s very sturdy and rides so smoothly. The gears are better than my full size bike and the chain doesn’t fall off if I skip a gear (like going straight from 3-5). I love the latches, they aren’t the kind that you screw-in to place and then try to close them and keep screwing and unscrewing to get it right. My favorite feature is being able to quickly angle the handlebars so the brake levers are at the perfect angle. It is so quick to fold and unfold. I leave it in my car so I can bike at a moments notice.

I ordered this bike for my wife and me, mainly for camping. It arrived well packaged, preassembled and so easy to unfold. It is super comfortable (great riding position) and very solid. I can't say enough at how pleased I am with the purchase. I highly recommend this bike. Joe B.

Great bike to toss in the car and go without having to mess with a bike rack. Solid construction!

AT 250lbs, handles my weight well. Wasn't sure how i'd like the smaller wheels from my old 26" bike but no appreciable difference. Fits well inside my Smart car. Like the compactness. Build quality better than expected.

Well thought out bike..... latches are better than my much, much more expensive Dahon.

I researched folding bikes and went with the FORTE and couldnt be happier. Just went riding about 6 miles today. The bike rides smooth. Just have one minor issue with the handle bars, but I am extremely confident in ZIZZO's customer service. If your a bigger guy like me and want to purchase a folding bike, you can't beat the FORTE'S 300LBS capacity. Thank you ZIZZO.

I purchased the bike for my girlfriend. I already had a man's "Stow-A-Way" that I purchased for myself a few years ago and love. My girlfriend loves her new bike and we ride together often.

First time in about 35 yrs. I've ridden...I am AMAZED how solid the gears change without having to do any of the fine adjusting required back in my day. It couldn't be any easier to adjust & ride, so far nothing even hints at being weak or wanting with my bike. I will probably be getting the "sorebutt" saddle in the next month or two...my old set of buttocks are not what they once were & can use a little assist...

Everything was as described small issue with a tear in the seat in shipping which Tony is addressing otherwise bike is good twice on the first outing I got nice bike I think the coral color makes it stand out it’s not the lighted folding bike but if you are buying the forte you are probably a bigger guy and l can throw it around with one hand it is super easy to assemble and disassemble and the clamps are both smart design and easy to adjust on the seat and handlebars etc nice product and I believe if I was scoring value for money on this product it would be a 9 out of 10 $399 for this bike is a good deal thx Zizzo for that and lastly I am 6’2” and it has a perfect adjustment setting for me we are all quick to criticize so I am happy to be positive about this Forte well done to its designers James