I’ve been riding brompton for 10 years, and I wish I’d bought one 10 years earlier. Long rides, short rides, doesn’t matter, and it’s great to travel with.
Very fair presentation. I paid a straight grand for my 6-speeder and it’s worth every penny. Because of knee issues I would love to purchase an e-Brompton but need to ‘test drive’ one first. (and save very hard!)
Cycled around Scotland. 1000 miles in 18 days! Not bad for a Brompton! In 6th Gear getting around 15mph so you are correct that easy pedaling is slower than a road bike but I really enjoyed the scenery which is why I was there anyway.
I own a Brompton and I live in a hilly area, I have learnt to ride up them a little slower and enjoy the ride. The Brompton as you say, and I 100% agree is such fun to ride that has been a total surprise to me, the pure enjoyment of the machine. Yes its a bit slower than my other bikes and maybe not quite as comfortable and boy do those potholes shake you up, but the pure joy of the machine more that makes up for it. The Brompton must be the most practical bike available. I love it.
Month in and I cannot imagine how I could live my life without one I was eating 20-60 minutes extra each way gong to work, plus I save on minimum £2.90 on transport every day. I pay£48 a month instalments, so I save £10 a month on, despite paying off my bike
Very well put indeed! I would sign every one of your statements. I love my Brompton, and it makes me smile whenever I ride it - even on routes where other bikes would cut a better figure. I don’t really care.
I live 14 miles from my work. I drive the first 9 miles with my car and the brompton in the boot. Then I park the car and continue the commute with the brompton for the last 5 miles. The key for enjoying a bike ride in busy cities like Brussels is : don't be in a rush. You will get there when you get there and enjoy the ride. Because it is really fun to ride a brompton. I can't see the added value of riding aggressively and working myself up if for example cars wont let me pass. I genuinely don't care. Because in the best scenario they didn't see me, and it would be very dangerous to force myself in front of them (like I see some cyclists do). In the worst case scenario the driver does it on purpose, and then I feel a bit sorry for those people, because they are certainly not coming from a happy place ? So for the bicycle commuters out there only 1 tip : don't be in a rush and enjoy the ride. (I guess that are 2 tips)
I bought one for just over£1,000 brand new and it was absolutely the one I rode it everywhere I could possibly go. Took it with me to Brighton and sewardstone, absolutely loved it. Then one day a great big artic lorry took my pride and joy and pancaked it. I will definitely be getting another one, but for the meantime my hackney single gear cycle will do.
Really good appraisal and appreciation of these miraculous bikes. I would definitely say though, I know you qualified all of your comments, but they are easily capable of way more than just short, city commutes. I use mine for that and also getting out into the country on leisure rides and I’m in a hilly area, and doing 15 miles plus is easy. I did find the standard Brompton saddle uncomfortable after 5 or so miles, and after changing to a Brookes leather saddle it’s so incredibly comfortable even after longer distances.
That's a very good summary. It is brilliant at what it is designed to do but if you don't have a reason to fold it then a "normal" bike will always be more efficient. I own quite a few bikes and I can 100% assure anyone that my Brompton is inferior on the open road! I bought one for practical folding reasons but the X factor very quickly took over and I will never sell it, even though I don't need it for practical reasons anymore. I use it for short trips even when I don't need to fold it and it gets more love and care than any of my other, more expensive, bikes. They may seem a bit expensive to buy but then they hold their value really well
A word of warning - titanium Brompton parts are more delicate, and mega-expensive if they fail, with extremely constrained supply. I recently bought a superlight only to find that the fork steerer was cracked and the stem beyond repair, leading to a three-month repair timeline estimated at over £600!! For cost-effectiveness and reliability, stick with steel.
Pay a few hundreds more for a few grams lighter. Worse part, when ppl started to add the bike with so many accessories, and the weight become more heavy. Buy the basic model is cheaper and reliability.
Had an S2 for a couple of years. So quick off the mark and nippy - perfect for the city. Just kicking myself that I didn’t buy one 20 years ago - it would have saved me a fortune!
A very good and fair review. I don't think you need to justify the expense to yourself either. Your point about security is spot-on. It's easy to forget the temptation to lock a bike outside if it has a time-consuming fold or is awkward to handle when folded. I've spent way more on other bikes stolen because it just seemed too much hassle to fold and bring it than I spent on my Brompton. One other obvious point - at least if you plan to use it in a city - is that you don't have to carry all the pumps, tyre levers, inner tubes etc that people on other bikes do. If there's a puncture or. some other problem, just get in a taxi and deal with it at home. Or - far more often - there's nothing wrong with the bike - you just can't be bothered or that swift half-pint turned out to be neither. Also if anyone makes folding bike accessories, you can pretty much guarantee they will make work with a Brompton; with anything else, it's much more hit and miss). I've had mine for 18 years - and owned a stack of other folding bikes in the meantime. My only regret is that I didn't realise I already had the best. That and the fact they don't make them a bit lighter.
Thank you for this video. I have been thinking about getting a Brompton for quite a while for local in town use. I normally take my long rides on a recumbent tricycle. However, you mentioned one thing that is a common misconception. Small wheels are not slower! It's simply a matter of physics. Again thank you and have a great day
I appreciate the frank and honest opinion about the Brompton in this video. It helped me to decide, "No way I will ever get on this bike!" No need for a test ride. More power to you Brompton riders, though!
Cyclists have never had it so good. With so much choice in the marketplace, I imagine choosing a bike can be quite daunting. I have a Bike Friday that I travel with and it's great fun.. I am envious of the fast folding of the Brompton, but still prefer my BF over the Brompton because of its wide gear range and non proprietary parts.
I love my Brompton. I would be more of a mountain/hybrid/gravelbike kind of rider if they didn't get stolen every five mins. Switched to Brompton for that reason. Meant to get another gravel bike to go alongside it but the Brompton is so much fun, I haven't got around to that just yet. Pros: Very small. Easy to jump in/on other transport options basically, whenever they are more suitable. Great for jumping in a taxi if spent too long in pub or taking a bus if caught in a downpour. Doesn't clutter up my hallway. Take it with you wherever you go. Generally safer than locking it up. Quicker to fold than locking up a bike No more hunting around for a safe place to lock bike. Fast off the lights (small wheels, less inertia). Very nimble for moving in and out of traffic. Reasonable gearing. The standard 6 speed 50T setup has enough of a range for me. Similar enough when comparing against my old Hybrid. Fun Cons: Gearing not a wide a range as a road bike It's a bone shaker. You notice every imperfection in the road. A bit twitchy. More tiring on bum and arms than a regular bike Expensive A bit too heavy when folded Small wheels, tight clearance between wheel & mudguard means it's of limited use on muddy tracks. Have to be a bit wary of keeping it safe when you're in say a restaurant/pub. Usually okay but it's good to plan ahead in these situations. Some ways you can mitigate some of the cons: There's three front chainring options. 54t for performance, 50t for range, 44t for hills and touring. Handlebar options: get flat 'S' bar type if you're more interested in performance. 'M' type for more upright. Replace grips with softer, more contoured grips. This helps with tired arms from all the bumps. Replace standard saddle if you use for longer rides. Titanium seatpost is a very good option for comfort as it acts as a great shock absorber. Change rear suspension block to a harder one for those that want a bit more performance or comfort if they're heavier rider. Front of Brompton is very light. Having things in a front bag helps with handling. Electric option available. I've just bought an electric kit for my Brompton. As such, I'm considering changing the front chainring to 54T as I no longer need the lower gears for the hills I need to climb. I don't mind putting the extra work in when going faster but appreciate the help of electric on hills.
@@bikenomic1363 I got the Swytch Pro. It took forever to arrive but it was well worth the wait. Easy to fit. It's totally reversible which was my main worry. No drilling, no fork bending or doing anything scary to the bike. The battery is easily removed and the rest of the kit doesn't interfere with the folding. Just one minor issue with it. It's got a cadence sensor, not a torque one so there's about half a crank of delay before it realises you want more power. That's easy to get used to but it definitely isn't as responsive as the Brompton Electric in that way. I've tried them both and the BE is the more refined ride of the two but I think I can get up steeper hills with less effort on my Swytch and I think I notice the cutoff less when going over-speed on the Swytch too.
Falling in love with my newly acquired Brommie. There’s a learning curve and wanting to try rougher terrain. Also, adding Swytch kit for hills. Lots of fun. Big smiles! 🤗
I would never be so lazy to put an electric motor on my Brompton or indeed any of my bikes. The thought of putting a dirty big motor and battery on a bicycle, the cleanest most environmentally friendly means of transport there will ever be, is shocking. People who do this do not give a shit about our planet. As long as they don't have to work too hard and continue to be lazy then fuck every one else. Depressing.
A great and honest review. Exactly like what I thought about my brompton. The x factor, the turning head, the build quality, the price, the legacy. Well done
Excellent points, both the pros and the cons. I too have a Brompton and, Covid regs permitting, I shall be riding mine from Land's End to John O'Groats this summer. Carrying me, and all my camping gear. And the dog, in the front basket. I could do it on other bikes of course, but after years of cheerfully carrying us about locally, I feel the Brompton deserves an adventure too. Importantly, I know it will get us all the way to JOG even if a little more slowly than some other big wheeled bike :)
They are awesome for a city dwellers and commuting as you say. I hadn’t ridden a bike for about twenty years and I love my Brompton now. It seems to solve all the problems I had with bikes in the past. I’m not a lightweight and it copes with my bulk no problem. Wish I had bought one years ago!
Hi, Greetings from Singapore ! The most honest and straight to the point review on a Brompton. I just ordered a Brompton M6L and its on e way . Cant wait to ride on it. Thanks for the great review and stay safe!
Great review! Another big reason to buy one which you missed and you also use it for is that if you have a caravan or campervan they are ideal. You can keep them in the car/caravan whilst onsite to avoid them been pinched and they don't add unwanted unbalanced weight to a caravan when using a conventional bike carrier.
I can certainly agree with the unparalleled convenience and quality build. That said, I did have trouble with the hub gear. I bought mine in 2006, 3 - speed model. Around £750 then. Since I wasn't originally fit enough to cycle my full commute, I'd travel part way on the train. Regarding folding and carrying - I do find it a bit much for more than a short walk - some of the station platforms I was using were an uncomfortable length, plus sometimes up and down stairs. Ok if you're a fairly strong person, unlike me! My commute was 10 miles each way, which, as you say, when I could manage the whole distance, I did find a bit uncomfortable - better when I bought a full-size Condor bike. Hub gear trouble? Well, my impression was that it wasn't fully waterproof. It started to feel like it was clogged-up; wouldn't freewheel properly. Had that replaced under warranty. That lasted, probably, another 10,000 miles, then also failed. Replaced it that time myself. Now only use it occasionally - have a full-sized e-bike now. Regarding the "lower speed - only 16-inch wheels": that's not the limiting factor, because the crank chainring is much larger to compensate. I've also ridden a 6-speed version, which was a little faster top speed. Seemes to be merely the ratio of the crank chainring to hub gear, or, in the case of the 6-speed, the other sproket ratios. Re. your comments on the Dahon - that's a hinging bike, not folding like the Brompton; hence I chose the Brompton.
I would like to own one of these just because it's an engineering masterpiece and made in Britain and just to be different. Not paying silly Ebay London prices for one though. Once Brompton get back to full manufacturing capacity i might be tempted.
Great review. Regarding speed, it may be generally slower than a standard road bike but one thing a Brompton excels at is acceleration off the line. Up to about 12 mph it’s better at acceleration off the line than most standard road bikes, I guess due to the much smaller wheels. Great for urban cycling where there is more stopping and starting.
"If you've got really poor quality roads" - in other words, if you live in the UK LOL. Joking aside, I cycle for pleasure, not to commute - and I take my Brompton out for a 20-25 mile ride most days. And yes, I've travelled much further on holiday...granted, usually in the Netherlands.
How many gears do you have on your Brompton? I am looking into getting my first Brompton but I am unsure what number of gears to go for. Also, what stem do you have and how tall are you? To me it seems as though many people look a little bit crammed with the M-stem. I am considering the S-stem.
I bought a Brompton (second hand) just before Christmas. I moved to a rural community and haven't been outside my local town for five years. I will now be able to travel to the seaside because I can get the bike on a bus and then travel around when I get there. The other good thing is I bought a bag which fits on the front which is massive so I can take a picnic and I don't have to carry the extra weight like in a backpack. I own an electric bike too but I have put on a bit of weight because I don't get the exercise I once did, hahahaha. I must say the Brompton is my first choice except when I do a big shop, then the electric bike is the one I use. I have been staggered at just how good they are. It's reassuring to know that you have a toolkit which fits inside the frame just in-case something goes wrong. The toolkit (which comes with inner-tube patches) isn't standard but the pump is.
@@RFAnggriawan Yes Sir that's the one, the one by Brompton. In England it's about £60, but it fits inside the frame so it's worth having just in-case. I had just spent £900 on a second hand Brompton so I thought another £60, oh well.
@@psocretes8183 ahh okay.. it does looks handy but expensive. I have spent a couple hundreds for accessories, may later when I felt really need it. Now I only use brompton for short distance commuting
I have an L5 which I bought in 2001. Its had a lot of wear and tear -the rear cog has shattered a couple of times -it is vulnerable to dints and irregularities in the road but it fills a place that 20 inch wheel folders cannot. Also the frame hinge is pretty well engineered-most of my non brommie folders failed in that area after a few years.
It’s more than mass production. Yes a mass produced bike from Asia can be lower priced, but the long term quality and residual values are there. Plus not no bad on long rides.
Average gross monthly wage of an empoyee in the Czech Republic in 2021: CZK 38,525 which is £1,281 (And about two thirds of Czech citizens are below this). If I subtract mandatory income tax and pension + health insurance, we're down to £1,025. So if you are lucky enough to have at least average wage and you work for 27 workdays and you don't pay for rent, food, any service or anything, you can buy the cheapest Brompton. The investment returns in never. So I'll just buy some old crap for £30 and I'll be happy. I love my country.
Thank you for that explanation of the average wage in the Czech Republic (it is good to know). After all is said and done, a bike is basically a bike--so have fun riding! I am sure the Czech Republic is a very beautiful place to ride a bike! I have a Brompton and I enjoy riding it. If one day I didn't have it--I would still ride any old bike!
I'd agree ....its a great tool and much fun every day for getting around town, but not really a touring bike or as comfortable on country roads (as Brompton point out on their web site). I don't regret buying my Brompton Vespertine NYC model in Feb 2018, and use it every day in preference to the car.... I have a cover and small bag from Brompton (£25), which slips over if I want to take it in anywhere, and most people think its a case and never ask about it. I have the flat bars with ergo bar ends, which approximates somewhat the position on my racing bikes. Tote bag carries quite a lot and attached to the front bag boss. It will fit easily in to a supermarket shopping trolly so never left outside a shop. Easy on and off trains, and no need to take car to train station. Its quite a quick accelating bike, especially with schawlbe kojak tyres (quite puncture resistant, though cuts have to be glued to not open further). I prefer it a lot more than my Airnimal Joey, folding bike which is better over rougher roads and longer distances, but feels a little less sprightly and climbs less well (larger cargo capacity panniers from Ortlieb, Schawlbe Kojak tyres, Alfine 8 speed hub, cover bag to carry it in when part folded, large hard suitcase for when fully folded). The only other bike I'd like to try is a Moulton AM or SST, with its small wheels and full suspension, as they do split down (the New Series to five sections), but not really a folder for short rides and not easy to take inside while you are travelling. Horses for courses.
Great information thanks. May I ask you how do go with it in supermarkets/ shops? I consider to buy an electric brompton and wanna use it daily. But thinking about letting it locked outside supermarkets makes me a bit nervous due to the high price point.
I travel a lot in a small campervan and taking my full size bike is a pain in the bum so seriously considering one of these for the sheer practicality - it can go in the passenger seat footwell.
Brompton is a great bike, not only for cummuting, I use to travel for severall days, riding 130 km a day, with front and rear bags. It was always a pleasure. I have the 6 speeds but I think 3 are enough and make the bike more easy and simple.
@@jonathanbmBen-Menachem my set is -10% at the front and usually i use only 3 gears with the 2 gears shifter always on +. It is enough for resonnable hills. If I had to choose for a bike now, i would take -10,% with 3 gears only.
@@thierrycercleron8202 It's not quite as simple as that. The Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub on the 6 speed bike has a wider range than that fitted to the 3 speed bike - albeit at the expense of having bigger gaps between between those gears. The derailleur serves to bridge the gaps between the hub gears.
Good review, but I do disagree with you on the comfort side of things on a long ride, at least on my 2017 H6L Brompton. Full Disclosure: I do have a titanium seat post and scrowave suspension block. The titanium seat post add more flex than the standard, so natural shock absorbing. The scrowave does a similar thing rather than just deadening the bumps like the standard Brompton block. I also added Ergon G3 grips so that I have two hand positions as opposed to one. Also, though small tires, they are wider than standard road bike tires by quite a bit and if you lower the pressure down to around 40 PSI, they really do soften the bumps. I will grant that you are correct about large potholes though. But as long as you are watchful, not a big deal. With those additions, my Brompton is actually more comfortable than my Randonneuring bike that I have gone 200 miles on in 19 hours. So much so, that I have seriously considered upgrading the gearing to a nine-speed for more top end speed and lower gearing, so that I can better handle the climbs, and generally keep up on 100 mile plus rides.
One thing about Bromptons is that they hold their value well so if you decide that you don't like it you can resell it without much of a financial hit. I'm going to buy one shortly. I'm tempted by the Dahon but would always bother me that I never tried a Brompton. I do want to try a Dahon at some point in the future though.
WOW! Really! 🤩 AAAAAMAZING...! I had a Brompton over 10 years back, when everyone in the street would stop and stare, and shout, “oh my God, look at that bike, look at that bike!!!” Sold it 5-6 years later for around half the price. Wish now that I hadn’t. Who would have thought the prices would sky-rocket as they have today? Wasn’t using it much at the time, different circumstances then. Thinking about an upgrade experience now though, in fact all the bloody time! An electric Brompton bike this time, riding longer distances, taking those gradual hills, with greater ease. Yep - think it’s gotta be done. If you’ve got 3 bikes and proud of it, as you sound, then I can be proud of the fact that I’m sure worth it! Thanks mate! 🤩🤩🤩
Great review, I was seriously thinking of getting a Brompton but with none in stock at the moment I bought a Boardman hybrid bike instead which is fantastic. I will definately buy a Brompton one day though.
All good points! I've had mine (M6R) for just about a month and it's already travelled across the US (in a checked suitcase). It was extremely fun to have "my" bike for a little vacay versus a rental bike. I will say, the ride is *firm* and some extra cushion somewhere would be helpful. Maybe a springy Brooks saddle?
I absolutely agree - except for 2 things: the Brompton is one of the fastest bikes I know (but for sure it cannot compete with highend road bikes) - and the Brompton is my first choice for touring. It is indeed not good for bad and bumpy roads, in the nature or as mountain bike for very hilly areas (except with a Schlumpf drive). And you possibly forgot one thing: it is an excellent micro cargo bike
Same here in SF Bay Area. If you're on a full-size bike, and want to use the "bike car", it's a crap shoot. OTOH, no one has ever been "bumped" from the luggage car.
I have also a blue Makita, folding bike, using two Makita tool batteries as help, but it only folds once, and it is heavy, so I like my Brompton the most!
@@alexmorgan3435 I'm 62 years old and was undecided as to whether I'll be buying a Brompton or an E-bike. Who is it for you to say that I'm lazy? I think you've helped me make up my mind to buy an E-bike now you intolerant douchbag!
@@alexmorgan3435 I’m a ‘lazy fuck’ in your world. But I DON’T care! Your opinion is not important. Your disrespect is GROSS, but I focus on what I love. Electric Brompton, LOVE you! 💕💕
I really love mine, but they are very expensive, it is like a full 3 months of average income in my country. But they are very good quality bikes, at least the main parts. The grips are rubbish for example. I already consumed a couple of folding bicycles, so I made the decision, I am too poor to buy more rubbish bikes, I need quality. Btw it is surprisingly bearable on long rides too, not good at it, but not too bad either.
I have one and love it , same colour as yours . I live in Cornwall , the hills are hard work even with a six speed . The components are also bomb proof . I’m going to do the west coast of France down to Spain on Euro Velo route on it this summer . Could easily do 60 miles a day on it , liked and subbed , thanks .
It is an easy job to lower the gearing with a new chain wheel and chain. That will give you six lower speeds for hilly Cornwall. Yes, top gear is lower also, but if you’re spinning out in top just freewheel for a break!
@@normhanson981 it’s an easy job for a bike shop, but they should ask you what you want. It’s a good idea to know your “gear inches” on your current set up and therefore what you may want going forwards. If this means nothing to you, just chat with your shop. I can send you a screen shot with a bit more info is you send me your email,address. Cheers, Neil
@@neilmcmillan995 thanks Neil , you’re ok , I’ll leave to the bike shop , they should know as they supplied the bike and are Brompton specialists , Cycle Heaven in york , not getting as many miles in as I would like as I’m down here in Padstow and the coast road is a killer .
I have 3 and converted 2 to Electric with Swytch kits. I don't drive so they are used all the time. The kits mean they can be returned to original spec for taking abroad. As for distance I have cycled 1Kkm in the Atlas Mountains of Maroc and elsewhere with no probs. Just receive my Bus Pass which makes it an ideal combo for bus and cycle jaunts of 30-50 miles.....
Had my brompton for 4 years. It's my the machine that follows me on any flights. Huge money and time saving when I reach my destination. Usually I will taxi from airport to hotel then unpack. There on, I mostly use it to travel around. Longer distance will be bus and brompton combined. I actually see and enjoy more during traveling. Back home, my Brompton is just sitting duck. I have other bicycle, motorcycle to speed away. Only occasionally brings it out.
@@RobertLinthicum Yup it's still sitting duck. The pass 12 months I probably took it out about 5 times. Leaning towards my bigger wheels bicycle or motorcycle mainly on rural road conditions.
thanks for the video. However, mine didn't make me smile I bought two of these brand new I ended up selling one then I bought the second which I returned it back to the factory. It had seat post slipping issues, i took to covent garden shop for repair but the problems never go away. Therefore, I know just ride regular bike for the fraction of the price. I use my current bike to commute to work where I am lucky to have dedicated bike shade inside the building and out of sight of opportunists. I never lock my current bike outside especially in London. Nevertheless, I might buy one in the near future as a spare bike. update...... I bought another one April 2021 so far no seat post slipping issues, I guess now they manufacture due to high demand as a result quality control has been compromised.
Because of where I live:: hills and sometimes iffy roads, I bought a folding bike w/ 20 inch wheels. BUT, as you say, there’s something about a Brompton with its classic, iconic engineering that justifies owning one. Until I do, I’ll enjoy vicariously, your posts and all things Brompton.
I have a vintage criterium Road Bike. Hand built with full Campagnolo Super Record Grupo and a M6R Brompton. I find myself riding the Brompton more than my high end road bike. It’s easier, no fuss and stowes anywhere.
@@Darwinion I assume their reasoning must be around ‘chain oil’ , marking the seats or other passengers. It’s all nonsense, made up by people that don’t have a clue. Pushchairs and cycles are allowed on at the discretion of the driver, only wheelchairs have a legal right to access
Don’t agree with your comments on speed and long rides... it’s not a race bike but faster than most I encounter on the road and often do 40km or more without issue... they’re fun to ride. Hills, I partially agree but if you have a lot of those you can get the electric. They are indeed mostly useless off-road and unpleasant when it gets really bumpy.
I want one, the A line, cause it's not easy for me to carry my commute bike on the small elevator where I live, the A line would be enough for me cause I live in a relatively flat small/medium city and I'm use to pedal, BUT, but I feel like if Brompton it's forcing me to expend 500 more just to get a different colour than white, and I don't like that strategy.
Yes get a brompton...........better yet get the brompton electric ⚡️ like I have! I got it because I wanted to get a bike 🚲 that would not get stolen and I got that and a whole lot more
Just bought Tern folding bike. Beautifully brilliant design and engineering. It has speed and able to use on dirt tracks. It is a work of art compared to the 19th century Heath Robinsonesque Bromptons.
Never buy a brompton if you would have to travel along badly maintained roads in your area because pot holes are a menace which could puncture, damage your wheels or even take you off your cycle, obviously brompton 16inch wheels are more of a hazard under these conditions more than say regular 26in-27inch wheels. Luckily for me pot holes are few and far between along my route of travel, I have become an expert at spotting a pot hole either because i have become paranoid lol or simply because I travel along the same route 5 days a week. Under normal road conditions the brompton is a superb cycle. I like the fact that if the weather turns bad while cycling to or from work, I can fold my cycle catch a bus or call a taxi and the big plus is I dont need to lock it up outside, I just fold it and bring it inside with me. The brompton cycle is expensive but they are worth every penny in more ways than one.
Owning a Brompton usually does not cost anything, in fact owning one can make you money! Here's how, if you use public transport to get to work , over a distance of say 5 to 10 miles, then buy one through a cycle to work scheme, with salary sacrifice and transport fare savings you are likely to be in profit from month one! And remember they hold their value if looked after, a friend of mine changes her Brommie every three years this way and says her bike fund now could buy three new bikes outright!
I know most folding bikes are less expensive than a Brompton, but there are a few models with a comparable sticker price, such as some Birdy models. *Will a Brompton be more solid and durable than other similarly priced folding bikes?* What about the components? I am a fairly tall and heavy guy, and the material strength of these frames are more important than on regular bikes with their triangulated frames. I prefer to pay twice the price if the bike lasts twice as long.
And ? Is the Bromton stronger ? For me it's,in my country, a very overpriced fashion toy. You really have to need the folding part of such a bike otherwise it's much better to buy a normal one.
I do 13.3 miles & prefer my Brompton to my other touring bike for that journey. The gearing suits me as well even though my other has 15 gears. But there are no excessive hills
An excellent summary of the pros and cons of the Brompton - though I would disagree when you say that you would generally not recommend it for mid-distance commuting people. Also you fail to mention one other strong con, namely that people who frequently use earth footpaths and like to use their bikes in the snow might wish to think twice about a Brompton given that its drivetrain is very low and so will rather quickly get gummed up on muddy footpaths and in snowy conditions (likewise for the wheels given that the mudguard clearance is minimal). It's not designed for off-road, mountain bike conditions. But the pros are so strong, it is so sturdy and well-built, and the _"X-factor"_ so significant, that I would not fail to recommend it to the majority of people seeking to purchase a bike for general everyday use. Even for steep hills if you go for the lower gearing ratio - which I believe you always should. PS. 0:45 to 1:00 - wow, that's pretty violent, particularly 0:45 and 0:58 😨
I am not sure about being faster on another bike I am getting to speed on brompton very quickly And to speed I don't mean 10-15 mph I mean above 20mph When you have strong legs, then you should spend those £90 on bigger crank (I have upgraded original 44T to 54T) and £12 on longer chain (54T crank needs 102 links) Oh and Hill climbing? You are better off with 54T crank
Have had my M3L for 20 years now..still going strong.. best thing I’ve ever bought..
🙏
definately a good buy wouldnt be without it.
How I justified my Brompton. Step 1: I want one. That was it.
About how most folks do it.
I hired one for a few days, then bought one :)
@@shardlakesame me
I was sold 2 minutes in
Week later I had mine
I rode it for 30 seconds and knew I wanted it. So I got it
But I also want a house to live in...
I’ve been riding brompton for 10 years, and I wish I’d bought one 10 years earlier. Long rides, short rides, doesn’t matter, and it’s great to travel with.
👍I agree
Still goes everywhere with me. Glad your making the most of it 👍
How long will it last before major repair needed.?
Very fair presentation. I paid a straight grand for my 6-speeder and it’s worth every penny. Because of knee issues I would love to purchase an e-Brompton but need to ‘test drive’ one first. (and save very hard!)
I heard they are pretty good, good luck with saving the pennies, they are a bit pricey
Cycled around Scotland. 1000 miles in 18 days! Not bad for a Brompton! In 6th Gear getting around 15mph so you are correct that easy pedaling is slower than a road bike but I really enjoyed the scenery which is why I was there anyway.
I own a Brompton and I live in a hilly area, I have learnt to ride up them a little slower and enjoy the ride. The Brompton as you say, and I 100% agree is such fun to ride that has been a total surprise to me, the pure enjoyment of the machine. Yes its a bit slower than my other bikes and maybe not quite as comfortable and boy do those potholes shake you up, but the pure joy of the machine more that makes up for it. The Brompton must be the most practical bike available. I love it.
3 years now, don't know what I'd do without it. Sounds like you feel the same 🙂
Month in and I cannot imagine how I could live my life without one
I was eating 20-60 minutes extra each way gong to work, plus I save on minimum £2.90 on transport every day. I pay£48 a month instalments, so I save £10 a month on, despite paying off my bike
I know a guy who rode his Brompton on the Tour De France route. Everyone who met him did not think he will make it, but he did.
M6E five years in, absolutely best purchase ever
Feel the same, one of the better buys
Very well put indeed! I would sign every one of your statements. I love my Brompton, and it makes me smile whenever I ride it - even on routes where other bikes would cut a better figure. I don’t really care.
I live 14 miles from my work. I drive the first 9 miles with my car and the brompton in the boot. Then I park the car and continue the commute with the brompton for the last 5 miles. The key for enjoying a bike ride in busy cities like Brussels is : don't be in a rush. You will get there when you get there and enjoy the ride. Because it is really fun to ride a brompton.
I can't see the added value of riding aggressively and working myself up if for example cars wont let me pass. I genuinely don't care. Because in the best scenario they didn't see me, and it would be very dangerous to force myself in front of them (like I see some cyclists do). In the worst case scenario the driver does it on purpose, and then I feel a bit sorry for those people, because they are certainly not coming from a happy place ?
So for the bicycle commuters out there only 1 tip : don't be in a rush and enjoy the ride. (I guess that are 2 tips)
I love the way you describe how you feel by the Brompton!! Same for me!! Greetings from Argentina!!
Thank you!
I bought one for just over£1,000 brand new and it was absolutely the one I rode it everywhere I could possibly go. Took it with me to Brighton and sewardstone, absolutely loved it. Then one day a great big artic lorry took my pride and joy and pancaked it. I will definitely be getting another one, but for the meantime my hackney single gear cycle will do.
Really good appraisal and appreciation of these miraculous bikes. I would definitely say though, I know you qualified all of your comments, but they are easily capable of way more than just short, city commutes. I use mine for that and also getting out into the country on leisure rides and I’m in a hilly area, and doing 15 miles plus is easy. I did find the standard Brompton saddle uncomfortable after 5 or so miles, and after changing to a Brookes leather saddle it’s so incredibly comfortable even after longer distances.
That's a very good summary. It is brilliant at what it is designed to do but if you don't have a reason to fold it then a "normal" bike will always be more efficient. I own quite a few bikes and I can 100% assure anyone that my Brompton is inferior on the open road!
I bought one for practical folding reasons but the X factor very quickly took over and I will never sell it, even though I don't need it for practical reasons anymore. I use it for short trips even when I don't need to fold it and it gets more love and care than any of my other, more expensive, bikes.
They may seem a bit expensive to buy but then they hold their value really well
A word of warning - titanium Brompton parts are more delicate, and mega-expensive if they fail, with extremely constrained supply. I recently bought a superlight only to find that the fork steerer was cracked and the stem beyond repair, leading to a three-month repair timeline estimated at over £600!! For cost-effectiveness and reliability, stick with steel.
I have read that Bromptons, steel or anything, are generally unavailable and mega-expensive at the moment.
Pay a few hundreds more for a few grams lighter. Worse part, when ppl started to add the bike with so many accessories, and the weight become more heavy. Buy the basic model is cheaper and reliability.
@@alanchiam3017 looking to buy a brompton so new to what is the basic. Is it just the normal explorer c line?
Had an S2 for a couple of years. So quick off the mark and nippy - perfect for the city. Just kicking myself that I didn’t buy one 20 years ago - it would have saved me a fortune!
Also wish I had bought mine years ago
Pretty much Bromptons in a nutshell - I can’t imagine how I lived without mine 😁 Thanks, and Stay Safe out there 🙌
You convinced me. I am getting one. You nailed it. It has the x-factor. Happy Easter!!
There's really nothing like a nice candid video of a guy talking to the camera!
A very good and fair review.
I don't think you need to justify the expense to yourself either. Your point about security is spot-on. It's easy to forget the temptation to lock a bike outside if it has a time-consuming fold or is awkward to handle when folded. I've spent way more on other bikes stolen because it just seemed too much hassle to fold and bring it than I spent on my Brompton.
One other obvious point - at least if you plan to use it in a city - is that you don't have to carry all the pumps, tyre levers, inner tubes etc that people on other bikes do. If there's a puncture or. some other problem, just get in a taxi and deal with it at home. Or - far more often - there's nothing wrong with the bike - you just can't be bothered or that swift half-pint turned out to be neither. Also if anyone makes folding bike accessories, you can pretty much guarantee they will make work with a Brompton; with anything else, it's much more hit and miss).
I've had mine for 18 years - and owned a stack of other folding bikes in the meantime. My only regret is that I didn't realise I already had the best. That and the fact they don't make them a bit lighter.
Thank you for this video. I have been thinking about getting a Brompton for quite a while for local in town use. I normally take my long rides on a recumbent tricycle. However, you mentioned one thing that is a common misconception. Small wheels are not slower! It's simply a matter of physics. Again thank you and have a great day
thanks for the honesty... it really boils down to one thing when justifying to buy a brompton, it feeeeels so good to have it...
I got very tempted to get one of these now. Thanks for the great review!
I own 2 gear speed. I agree it's the x factor so unique in size shape and folding. I just love this bike!
I appreciate the frank and honest opinion about the Brompton in this video. It helped me to decide, "No way I will ever get on this bike!" No need for a test ride. More power to you Brompton riders, though!
Is not for everyone but hope you found one that hits the spot👍
Cyclists have never had it so good. With so much choice in the marketplace, I imagine choosing a bike can be quite daunting.
I have a Bike Friday that I travel with and it's great fun.. I am envious of the fast folding of the Brompton, but still prefer my BF over the Brompton because of its wide gear range and non proprietary parts.
I love my Brompton. I would be more of a mountain/hybrid/gravelbike kind of rider if they didn't get stolen every five mins. Switched to Brompton for that reason. Meant to get another gravel bike to go alongside it but the Brompton is so much fun, I haven't got around to that just yet.
Pros:
Very small. Easy to jump in/on other transport options basically, whenever they are more suitable. Great for jumping in a taxi if spent too long in pub or taking a bus if caught in a downpour.
Doesn't clutter up my hallway.
Take it with you wherever you go. Generally safer than locking it up.
Quicker to fold than locking up a bike
No more hunting around for a safe place to lock bike.
Fast off the lights (small wheels, less inertia).
Very nimble for moving in and out of traffic.
Reasonable gearing. The standard 6 speed 50T setup has enough of a range for me. Similar enough when comparing against my old Hybrid.
Fun
Cons:
Gearing not a wide a range as a road bike
It's a bone shaker. You notice every imperfection in the road.
A bit twitchy.
More tiring on bum and arms than a regular bike
Expensive
A bit too heavy when folded
Small wheels, tight clearance between wheel & mudguard means it's of limited use on muddy tracks.
Have to be a bit wary of keeping it safe when you're in say a restaurant/pub. Usually okay but it's good to plan ahead in these situations.
Some ways you can mitigate some of the cons:
There's three front chainring options. 54t for performance, 50t for range, 44t for hills and touring.
Handlebar options: get flat 'S' bar type if you're more interested in performance. 'M' type for more upright.
Replace grips with softer, more contoured grips. This helps with tired arms from all the bumps.
Replace standard saddle if you use for longer rides.
Titanium seatpost is a very good option for comfort as it acts as a great shock absorber.
Change rear suspension block to a harder one for those that want a bit more performance or comfort if they're heavier rider.
Front of Brompton is very light. Having things in a front bag helps with handling.
Electric option available.
I've just bought an electric kit for my Brompton. As such, I'm considering changing the front chainring to 54T as I no longer need the lower gears for the hills I need to climb. I don't mind putting the extra work in when going faster but appreciate the help of electric on hills.
Great summary. Which kit did you buy? I maybe interested in adding for a long commute.
@@bikenomic1363 I got the Swytch Pro. It took forever to arrive but it was well worth the wait. Easy to fit. It's totally reversible which was my main worry. No drilling, no fork bending or doing anything scary to the bike.
The battery is easily removed and the rest of the kit doesn't interfere with the folding. Just one minor issue with it. It's got a cadence sensor, not a torque one so there's about half a crank of delay before it realises you want more power. That's easy to get used to but it definitely isn't as responsive as the Brompton Electric in that way. I've tried them both and the BE is the more refined ride of the two but I think I can get up steeper hills with less effort on my Swytch and I think I notice the cutoff less when going over-speed on the Swytch too.
@@daelra thanks, much appreciated. I will be looking into options, like you want something removable....
Falling in love with my newly acquired Brommie. There’s a learning curve and wanting to try rougher terrain. Also, adding Swytch kit for hills. Lots of fun. Big smiles! 🤗
I would never be so lazy to put an electric motor on my Brompton or indeed any of my bikes. The thought of putting a dirty big motor and battery on a bicycle, the cleanest most environmentally friendly means of transport there will ever be, is shocking. People who do this do not give a shit about our planet. As long as they don't have to work too hard and continue to be lazy then fuck every one else. Depressing.
Very well said, balanced evaluation. Thks bro, regards from Indonesia. I bought a Brompton in 2012, and never regret even a sec 😄
Thanks, much appreciated. Glad your enjoying the bike. They are definately keepers
A great and honest review. Exactly like what I thought about my brompton. The x factor, the turning head, the build quality, the price, the legacy. Well done
Excellent points, both the pros and the cons. I too have a Brompton and, Covid regs permitting, I shall be riding mine from Land's End to John O'Groats this summer. Carrying me, and all my camping gear. And the dog, in the front basket. I could do it on other bikes of course, but after years of cheerfully carrying us about locally, I feel the Brompton deserves an adventure too. Importantly, I know it will get us all the way to JOG even if a little more slowly than some other big wheeled bike :)
So...did the ride happen?
Tell usssss!!
Thanks for sharing your opinion, I thought it was the most honest and genuine take on Brompton I have seen.
I totally agree with you, I bought a new Brompton, I’m very happy with, keep up the good work 👍👍
I agree: my Brompton makes me smile :-) Thank You for the Video!
Thanks, still one of the best buys I have made
Super video! Thanks for sharing your experiences and analysis.
They are awesome for a city dwellers and commuting as you say. I hadn’t ridden a bike for about twenty years and I love my Brompton now. It seems to solve all the problems I had with bikes in the past. I’m not a lightweight and it copes with my bulk no problem. Wish I had bought one years ago!
Me too had i bought this in 1990. For less price. I bought a new black limit edition. H6R
Hi, Greetings from Singapore ! The most honest and straight to the point review on a Brompton. I just ordered a Brompton M6L and its on e way .
Cant wait to ride on it. Thanks for the great review and stay safe!
How much sir..?
@@Freedom-Free Its cost me S$2,900
Did you order from brompton official website?
@@radziahradzi from our local bike shop
May I ask which local shop you bought from?
Great review! Another big reason to buy one which you missed and you also use it for is that if you have a caravan or campervan they are ideal. You can keep them in the car/caravan whilst onsite to avoid them been pinched and they don't add unwanted unbalanced weight to a caravan when using a conventional bike carrier.
I can certainly agree with the unparalleled convenience and quality build.
That said, I did have trouble with the hub gear.
I bought mine in 2006, 3 - speed model. Around £750 then.
Since I wasn't originally fit enough to cycle my full commute, I'd travel part way on the train.
Regarding folding and carrying - I do find it a bit much for more than a short walk - some of the station platforms I was using were an uncomfortable length, plus sometimes up and down stairs. Ok if you're a fairly strong person, unlike me!
My commute was 10 miles each way, which, as you say, when I could manage the whole distance, I did find a bit uncomfortable - better when I bought a full-size Condor bike.
Hub gear trouble? Well, my impression was that it wasn't fully waterproof. It started to feel like it was clogged-up; wouldn't freewheel properly. Had that replaced under warranty.
That lasted, probably, another 10,000 miles, then also failed. Replaced it that time myself.
Now only use it occasionally - have a full-sized e-bike now.
Regarding the "lower speed - only 16-inch wheels": that's not the limiting factor, because the crank chainring is much larger to compensate. I've also ridden a 6-speed version, which was a little faster top speed. Seemes to be merely the ratio of the crank chainring to hub gear, or, in the case of the 6-speed, the other sproket ratios.
Re. your comments on the Dahon - that's a hinging bike, not folding like the Brompton; hence I chose the Brompton.
I would like to own one of these just because it's an engineering masterpiece and made in Britain and just to be different. Not paying silly Ebay London prices for one though. Once Brompton get back to full manufacturing capacity i might be tempted.
you won’t be “different” with a brompton lmao, it’s everywhere these days.
I have an M3L. I nodded in agreement throught your clip.
Great review. Regarding speed, it may be generally slower than a standard road bike but one thing a Brompton excels at is acceleration off the line. Up to about 12 mph it’s better at acceleration off the line than most standard road bikes, I guess due to the much smaller wheels. Great for urban cycling where there is more stopping and starting.
"If you've got really poor quality roads" - in other words, if you live in the UK LOL. Joking aside, I cycle for pleasure, not to commute - and I take my Brompton out for a 20-25 mile ride most days. And yes, I've travelled much further on holiday...granted, usually in the Netherlands.
How many gears do you have on your Brompton? I am looking into getting my first Brompton but I am unsure what number of gears to go for. Also, what stem do you have and how tall are you? To me it seems as though many people look a little bit crammed with the M-stem. I am considering the S-stem.
I bought a Brompton (second hand) just before Christmas. I moved to a rural community and haven't been outside my local town for five years. I will now be able to travel to the seaside because I can get the bike on a bus and then travel around when I get there. The other good thing is I bought a bag which fits on the front which is massive so I can take a picnic and I don't have to carry the extra weight like in a backpack. I own an electric bike too but I have put on a bit of weight because I don't get the exercise I once did, hahahaha. I must say the Brompton is my first choice except when I do a big shop, then the electric bike is the one I use. I have been staggered at just how good they are. It's reassuring to know that you have a toolkit which fits inside the frame just in-case something goes wrong. The toolkit (which comes with inner-tube patches) isn't standard but the pump is.
Fantastic the bags are great. Happy cycling.
What toolkit that you use? Because the standard is quite expensive
@@RFAnggriawan Yes Sir that's the one, the one by Brompton. In England it's about £60, but it fits inside the frame so it's worth having just in-case. I had just spent £900 on a second hand Brompton so I thought another £60, oh well.
@@psocretes8183 ahh okay.. it does looks handy but expensive. I have spent a couple hundreds for accessories, may later when I felt really need it. Now I only use brompton for short distance commuting
I have an L5 which I bought in 2001. Its had a lot of wear and tear -the rear cog has shattered a couple of times -it is vulnerable to dints and irregularities in the road but it fills a place that 20 inch wheel folders cannot. Also the frame hinge is pretty well engineered-most of my non brommie folders failed in that area after a few years.
It’s more than mass production. Yes a mass produced bike from Asia can be lower priced, but the long term quality and residual values are there. Plus not no bad on long rides.
Always seems to come back to the same answer, the best bike is the one you ride :)
Thanks for the review! In short, Brompton has a sentimental value that other FB can't compete.
Average gross monthly wage of an empoyee in the Czech Republic in 2021: CZK 38,525 which is £1,281 (And about two thirds of Czech citizens are below this). If I subtract mandatory income tax and pension + health insurance, we're down to £1,025. So if you are lucky enough to have at least average wage and you work for 27 workdays and you don't pay for rent, food, any service or anything, you can buy the cheapest Brompton. The investment returns in never. So I'll just buy some old crap for £30 and I'll be happy. I love my country.
Thank you for that explanation of the average wage in the Czech Republic (it is good to know). After all is said and done, a bike is basically a bike--so have fun riding! I am sure the Czech Republic is a very beautiful place to ride a bike! I have a Brompton and I enjoy riding it. If one day I didn't have it--I would still ride any old bike!
By the way, I live in the United States.
I'd agree ....its a great tool and much fun every day for getting around town, but not really a touring bike or as comfortable on country roads (as Brompton point out on their web site). I don't regret buying my Brompton Vespertine NYC model in Feb 2018, and use it every day in preference to the car.... I have a cover and small bag from Brompton (£25), which slips over if I want to take it in anywhere, and most people think its a case and never ask about it. I have the flat bars with ergo bar ends, which approximates somewhat the position on my racing bikes. Tote bag carries quite a lot and attached to the front bag boss. It will fit easily in to a supermarket shopping trolly so never left outside a shop. Easy on and off trains, and no need to take car to train station. Its quite a quick accelating bike, especially with schawlbe kojak tyres (quite puncture resistant, though cuts have to be glued to not open further). I prefer it a lot more than my Airnimal Joey, folding bike which is better over rougher roads and longer distances, but feels a little less sprightly and climbs less well (larger cargo capacity panniers from Ortlieb, Schawlbe Kojak tyres, Alfine 8 speed hub, cover bag to carry it in when part folded, large hard suitcase for when fully folded). The only other bike I'd like to try is a Moulton AM or SST, with its small wheels and full suspension, as they do split down (the New Series to five sections), but not really a folder for short rides and not easy to take inside while you are travelling. Horses for courses.
Great information thanks. May I ask you how do go with it in supermarkets/ shops? I consider to buy an electric brompton and wanna use it daily. But thinking about letting it locked outside supermarkets makes me a bit nervous due to the high price point.
I travel a lot in a small campervan and taking my full size bike is a pain in the bum so seriously considering one of these for the sheer practicality - it can go in the passenger seat footwell.
Brompton is a great bike, not only for cummuting, I use to travel for severall days, riding 130 km a day, with front and rear bags. It was always a pleasure. I have the 6 speeds but I think 3 are enough and make the bike more easy and simple.
Can you ride over not so steep hills with the 3 reduced grear? it is enough? Thanks
@@jonathanbmBen-Menachem my set is -10% at the front and usually i use only 3 gears with the 2 gears shifter always on +.
It is enough for resonnable hills.
If I had to choose for a bike now, i would take -10,% with 3 gears only.
@@thierrycercleron8202 It's not quite as simple as that. The Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub on the 6 speed bike has a wider range than that fitted to the 3 speed bike - albeit at the expense of having bigger gaps between between those gears. The derailleur serves to bridge the gaps between the hub gears.
Is really a good bike? A eternal bike? Respect and love from Chile
Good review, but I do disagree with you on the comfort side of things on a long ride, at least on my 2017 H6L Brompton. Full Disclosure: I do have a titanium seat post and scrowave suspension block. The titanium seat post add more flex than the standard, so natural shock absorbing. The scrowave does a similar thing rather than just deadening the bumps like the standard Brompton block. I also added Ergon G3 grips so that I have two hand positions as opposed to one.
Also, though small tires, they are wider than standard road bike tires by quite a bit and if you lower the pressure down to around 40 PSI, they really do soften the bumps. I will grant that you are correct about large potholes though. But as long as you are watchful, not a big deal.
With those additions, my Brompton is actually more comfortable than my Randonneuring bike that I have gone 200 miles on in 19 hours. So much so, that I have seriously considered upgrading the gearing to a nine-speed for more top end speed and lower gearing, so that I can better handle the climbs, and generally keep up on 100 mile plus rides.
One thing about Bromptons is that they hold their value well so if you decide that you don't like it you can resell it without much of a financial hit. I'm going to buy one shortly. I'm tempted by the Dahon but would always bother me that I never tried a Brompton. I do want to try a Dahon at some point in the future though.
I've got three Bromptons, so yeah, think they're pretty good 😆
WOW! Really! 🤩 AAAAAMAZING...!
I had a Brompton over 10 years back, when everyone in the street would stop and stare, and shout, “oh my God, look at that bike, look at that bike!!!” Sold it 5-6 years later for around half the price. Wish now that I hadn’t. Who would have thought the prices would sky-rocket as they have today? Wasn’t using it much at the time, different circumstances then.
Thinking about an upgrade experience now though, in fact all the bloody time! An electric Brompton bike this time, riding longer distances, taking those gradual hills, with greater ease. Yep - think it’s gotta be done. If you’ve got 3 bikes and proud of it, as you sound, then I can be proud of the fact that I’m sure worth it! Thanks mate! 🤩🤩🤩
Great review, I was seriously thinking of getting a Brompton but with none in stock at the moment I bought a Boardman hybrid bike instead which is fantastic. I will definately buy a Brompton one day though.
All good points! I've had mine (M6R) for just about a month and it's already travelled across the US (in a checked suitcase). It was extremely fun to have "my" bike for a little vacay versus a rental bike. I will say, the ride is *firm* and some extra cushion somewhere would be helpful. Maybe a springy Brooks saddle?
Completely agree, thinking of putting my brooks on it.
Try a sprung brooks & a titanium seat post, the post makes a huge difference.
Try adding a Cane Creek Thudbuster under your Brooks
I absolutely agree - except for 2 things: the Brompton is one of the fastest bikes I know (but for sure it cannot compete with highend road bikes) - and the Brompton is my first choice for touring. It is indeed not good for bad and bumpy roads, in the nature or as mountain bike for very hilly areas (except with a Schlumpf drive). And you possibly forgot one thing: it is an excellent micro cargo bike
Uuuuuhuu
Same here in SF Bay Area. If you're on a full-size bike, and want to use the "bike car", it's a crap shoot. OTOH, no one has ever been "bumped" from the luggage car.
I have also a blue Makita, folding bike, using two Makita tool batteries as help, but it only folds once, and it is heavy, so I like my Brompton the most!
very heavy!
Excellent! I'm sold!!
Don't think you'll regret it 👍
I brought myself the electric back in October and I have to agree that these bikes make you smile.
Still smiling😊. Is on my list to try an electric. You happy with it?
You do NOT need an electric motor on a Brompton or any bicycle unless you are a lazy fucker
@@alexmorgan3435 I'm 62 years old and was undecided as to whether I'll be buying a Brompton or an E-bike. Who is it for you to say that I'm lazy? I think you've helped me make up my mind to buy an E-bike now you intolerant douchbag!
@@alexmorgan3435
I’m a ‘lazy fuck’ in your world. But I DON’T care! Your opinion is not important.
Your disrespect is GROSS, but I focus on what I love. Electric Brompton, LOVE you! 💕💕
@@alexmorgan3435 Have fun climbing the steep hills while I'm the lazy fucker with a big smile on my face.
I really love mine, but they are very expensive, it is like a full 3 months of average income in my country. But they are very good quality bikes, at least the main parts. The grips are rubbish for example. I already consumed a couple of folding bicycles, so I made the decision, I am too poor to buy more rubbish bikes, I need quality. Btw it is surprisingly bearable on long rides too, not good at it, but not too bad either.
Agree the grips are not the best. Will be upgrading these soon. Think your reasoning was the same as mine. Want something to last👍
May I direct you to the Brompton Traveller on you tube . I hope you get a Brompton soon .
Mine cause my to smile Best wishes Douglas
Sorry I made my reply to the wrong person
I have one and love it , same colour as yours . I live in Cornwall , the hills are hard work even with a six speed . The components are also bomb proof . I’m going to do the west coast of France down to Spain on Euro Velo route on it this summer . Could easily do 60 miles a day on it , liked and subbed , thanks .
It is an easy job to lower the gearing with a new chain wheel and chain. That will give you six lower speeds for hilly Cornwall. Yes, top gear is lower also, but if you’re spinning out in top just freewheel for a break!
@@neilmcmillan995 thanks Neil , I’ve got it in for a service in may , I’ll ask them about whether they are able to help.
@@normhanson981 it’s an easy job for a bike shop, but they should ask you what you want. It’s a good idea to know your “gear inches” on your current set up and therefore what you may want going forwards. If this means nothing to you, just chat with your shop. I can send you a screen shot with a bit more info is you send me your email,address. Cheers, Neil
@@neilmcmillan995 thanks Neil , you’re ok , I’ll leave to the bike shop , they should know as they supplied the bike and are Brompton specialists , Cycle Heaven in york , not getting as many miles in as I would like as I’m down here in Padstow and the coast road is a killer .
I have 3 and converted 2 to Electric with Swytch kits. I don't drive so they are used all the time. The kits mean they can be returned to original spec for taking abroad. As for distance I have cycled 1Kkm in the Atlas Mountains of Maroc and elsewhere with no probs. Just receive my Bus Pass which makes it an ideal combo for bus and cycle jaunts of 30-50 miles.....
Fantastic! Always good to hear stories like this 👏
Had my brompton for 4 years. It's my the machine that follows me on any flights. Huge money and time saving when I reach my destination. Usually I will taxi from airport to hotel then unpack. There on, I mostly use it to travel around. Longer distance will be bus and brompton combined.
I actually see and enjoy more during traveling.
Back home, my Brompton is just sitting duck. I have other bicycle, motorcycle to speed away. Only occasionally brings it out.
How is a bicycle a "sitting duck"?
@@RobertLinthicum Yup it's still sitting duck. The pass 12 months I probably took it out about 5 times. Leaning towards my bigger wheels bicycle or motorcycle mainly on rural road conditions.
thanks for the video. However, mine didn't make me smile I bought two of these brand new I ended up selling one then I bought the second which I returned it back to the factory. It had seat post slipping issues, i took to covent garden shop for repair but the problems never go away. Therefore, I know just ride regular bike for the fraction of the price. I use my current bike to commute to work where I am lucky to have dedicated bike shade inside the building and out of sight of opportunists. I never lock my current bike outside especially in London.
Nevertheless, I might buy one in the near future as a spare bike.
update...... I bought another one April 2021 so far no seat post slipping issues, I guess now they manufacture due to high demand as a result quality control has been compromised.
Best purchase I ever made ,it’s been 5 years for me now…. It can last forever too…. Just replaced a few things like tires etc
could not agree more :-) Thanks for the comment
I ride 40 miles every other day on this. Its more comfortable than a road bike. Best bike ive owned
I like that you get it out in the mud.
Nice video and surroundings
thanks, more to come, making the most of summer
Because of where I live:: hills and sometimes iffy roads, I bought a folding bike w/ 20 inch wheels. BUT, as you say, there’s something about a Brompton with its classic, iconic engineering that justifies owning one. Until I do, I’ll enjoy vicariously, your posts and all things Brompton.
I I own a 6 Speed. love it
If anyone reading this needs to know - you CAN get a Brompton in the boot of a Mazda MX5 NC, provided you remove the saddle.
Nice video! Not cheap, but Brompton is an example of getting what you paid for. Always have mine for business trips- America, Europe, and Asia so far.
Many thanks. Very useful.
Nice bike and hight class thanks for sharing cheers from another country🇮🇩
according to Dahon's website, only 85 kg payload for the 16 inch bike compared to 120 kg for Brompton
I have a vintage criterium Road Bike. Hand built with full Campagnolo Super Record Grupo and a M6R Brompton. I find myself riding the Brompton more than my high end road bike. It’s easier, no fuss and stowes anywhere.
Bus Driver “You should have a bag on that “
Me “Yea, I know “ > continues to my seat
Jobsworth, but just in case I encounter one, I have the Brompton bike cover hanging from the rear of my saddle. Not First Bus by any chance... ?
Why should you need a bag? Would he say that to every mother with a push chair?
@@Darwinion I assume their reasoning must be around ‘chain oil’ , marking the seats or other passengers. It’s all nonsense, made up by people that don’t have a clue.
Pushchairs and cycles are allowed on at the discretion of the driver, only wheelchairs have a legal right to access
Don’t agree with your comments on speed and long rides... it’s not a race bike but faster than most I encounter on the road and often do 40km or more without issue... they’re fun to ride. Hills, I partially agree but if you have a lot of those you can get the electric. They are indeed mostly useless off-road and unpleasant when it gets really bumpy.
I want one, the A line, cause it's not easy for me to carry my commute bike on the small elevator where I live, the A line would be enough for me cause I live in a relatively flat small/medium city and I'm use to pedal, BUT, but I feel like if Brompton it's forcing me to expend 500 more just to get a different colour than white, and I don't like that strategy.
Just choose the cheapest colour
I like have one, but it is too expensive. Thinking other options
Yes get a brompton...........better yet get the brompton electric ⚡️ like I have! I got it because I wanted to get a bike 🚲 that would not get stolen and I got that and a whole lot more
Just bought Tern folding bike. Beautifully brilliant design and engineering. It has speed and able to use on dirt tracks. It is a work of art compared to the 19th century Heath Robinsonesque Bromptons.
Terns are fantastic.
Bromptons are also fantastic.
You pays your money...
Never buy a brompton if you would have to travel along badly maintained roads in your area because pot holes are a menace which could puncture, damage your wheels or even take you off your cycle, obviously brompton 16inch wheels are more of a hazard under these conditions more than say regular 26in-27inch wheels.
Luckily for me pot holes are few and far between along my route of travel, I have become an expert at spotting a pot hole either because i have become paranoid lol or simply because I travel along the same route 5 days a week. Under normal road conditions the brompton is a superb cycle. I like the fact that if the weather turns bad while cycling to or from work, I can fold my cycle catch a bus or call a taxi and the big plus is I dont need to lock it up outside, I just fold it and bring it inside with me.
The brompton cycle is expensive but they are worth every penny in more ways than one.
Owning a Brompton usually does not cost anything, in fact owning one can make you money! Here's how, if you use public transport to get to work , over a distance of say 5 to 10 miles, then buy one through a cycle to work scheme, with salary sacrifice and transport fare savings you are likely to be in profit from month one! And remember they hold their value if looked after, a friend of mine changes her Brommie every three years this way and says her bike fund now could buy three new bikes outright!
I know most folding bikes are less expensive than a Brompton, but there are a few models with a comparable sticker price, such as some Birdy models. *Will a Brompton be more solid and durable than other similarly priced folding bikes?* What about the components?
I am a fairly tall and heavy guy, and the material strength of these frames are more important than on regular bikes with their triangulated frames.
I prefer to pay twice the price if the bike lasts twice as long.
And ? Is the Bromton stronger ? For me it's,in my country, a very overpriced fashion toy. You really have to need the folding part of such a bike otherwise it's much better to buy a normal one.
I do 13.3 miles & prefer my Brompton to my other touring bike for that journey. The gearing suits me as well even though my other has 15 gears. But there are no excessive hills
That's a decent distance on a Brompton. Have in mind this summer to go for a tour on it.
An excellent summary of the pros and cons of the Brompton - though I would disagree when you say that you would generally not recommend it for mid-distance commuting people. Also you fail to mention one other strong con, namely that people who frequently use earth footpaths and like to use their bikes in the snow might wish to think twice about a Brompton given that its drivetrain is very low and so will rather quickly get gummed up on muddy footpaths and in snowy conditions (likewise for the wheels given that the mudguard clearance is minimal). It's not designed for off-road, mountain bike conditions.
But the pros are so strong, it is so sturdy and well-built, and the _"X-factor"_ so significant, that I would not fail to recommend it to the majority of people seeking to purchase a bike for general everyday use. Even for steep hills if you go for the lower gearing ratio - which I believe you always should.
PS. 0:45 to 1:00 - wow, that's pretty violent, particularly 0:45 and 0:58 😨
I am not sure about being faster on another bike
I am getting to speed on brompton very quickly
And to speed I don't mean 10-15 mph
I mean above 20mph
When you have strong legs, then you should spend those £90 on bigger crank (I have upgraded original 44T to 54T) and £12 on longer chain (54T crank needs 102 links)
Oh and Hill climbing?
You are better off with 54T crank
If one travels, combining walking, cycling, buses and railways, then the Brompton is ideal.
Couldn't agree more 👍
Great job thanks
Great Bikes >> Dependable ! >> Although I ride a Dahon Jet stream >> Still prefer Brompton !
I decided to go to a Brampton dealer to browse and came home with one.
Nice review!
Dig your van too.
very good video and well explained, in relation to titanium, Do you recommend it for less weight? , if it is much more expensive.
I don’t know why I watched this video, I already have a Brompton.
Really enjoyed your video thanks.I'm going to buy a Brompton in the next month or so,have you had any problems with the gears at all out of interest?
I would buy one but cannot afford the price. Oh well, nice to look at.