Most folding bikes require a compromise: "It rides like a folding bike." The SP Furo 22 destroys that phrase.

SP claims a weight of 10.8 kg (23.8 lbs) for the Furo 22. On our scales, the Alfine build came in at 11.2 kg including pedals. That is still remarkably light for a bike with an internal gear hub and disc brakes. You can carry this up three flights of stairs without breaking a sweat.

Six months ago, a structural engineer named Yuki Tanaka had walked into the Furo District Municipal Building and submitted a routine inspection report for the underground drainage network beneath Sector 22 of the district. Nothing unusual. The paperwork was standard. The signatures were in order.

Three days later, Yuki Tanaka disappeared.

No note. No witness. No trail. Her car was found in the parking structure of the same municipal building, still locked, still holding her umbrella in the back seat — the same black umbrella she was seen carrying on the security footage that showed her entering the building at 4:47 PM and never leaving.

The initial investigation went nowhere. Her husband, Kenji Tanaka, a quiet man who taught architecture at the university, had cooperated fully. Her colleagues said she had been stressed but focused. Her phone was found powered off in her desk drawer, as though she had simply set it down and walked away from her own life.

Case closed as a voluntary disappearance. Filed under SP Furo 22 and shelved in the basement.

But then the letters started.

The headline feature is the Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt. If you commute in wet or gritty conditions, you will love this. No grease on your trousers, zero chain noise, and no rust.

SP pairs this belt with a Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal gear hub. This is a massive upgrade over the cheaper derailleurs found on most folding bikes at this price. The Alfine 8 offers a wide gear range (307%), allowing you to spin up steep hills and hold 25kph on flats. Shifting is crisp, can be done at a standstill, and requires almost no maintenance.

Note: Some entry-level Furo 22 models ship with a Shimano Nexus 7-speed. Ensure you are looking at the "Alfine" spec sheet for the premium experience.