Folding bikes get a bad rap, but rightly so: Few deconstruct smoothly, even fewer look cool. And while Giant's latest folder doesn't fully reconcile the category's classic rift between aesthetics and engineering, the Clip flaunts features that leave its competitors looking flatter than a punctured tire.
Combining the gentility of a Brompton (fenders, mudflap), the sporty pep of a high-end Dahon (decent components, including a Shimano derailleur) and the ingenuity of a Strida, the 8-speed Clip is the most visually striking mini-ride we've tested.
Apart from its Euroesque appearance, the folding mechanism works well. Two main rectangular clamps on the frame fasten and unfasten relatively easily and quickly (under 30 seconds to do a full breakdown or setup).
Getting back to the revolutionary design, we have to give Giant big props for one element that's truly inspired: The seat post doubles as a handy kickstand. Simply unlatch the post and depress the saddle, and the bottom of the post splits in two, providing much-needed, much-appreciated stability when the bike is folded. Seeing this in action for the first time is nothing short of an ah-ha moment.
Unfortunately, the most visual design element falls completely flat, function-wise. The little "D" above the fork seems like a natural carrying handle when the bike is folded. Right? Well, it is – provided you've got the hands of an 11-year-old girl. Try as we might, we simply couldn't find any comfortable way to grasp the "D." And, it's worth noting that our hands are far from large. Fact is, the "D" is merely a design motif, one that completes the bike's clothes-hanger-shaped frame and matches the horseshoe pedals, but makes the bike, at times, about as annoying to handle as a wet diaper.
