Thanks so much Brian for explaining the Chapter 3 Brompton...i know more about it. Love your very truthful approach in explaining everything. Take care Brian.
Thanks for clearing up some things for me I had some misconceptions as well. On another note can see the work that went into this video. Your channel is definitely taking it up a notch 👍
I live in Singapore. When Brompton opened its high street store here a couple of years back, they had to work hard to be noticed and establish the Brand. There was a time when you could have your choice of bikes and walk out immediately with your purchase. Initially, the price point, even for Singaporeans was considered high. COVID-19 changed that. With a lot of restrictions, bike riding exploded and now Brompton’s are pretty much sold out and flippers often mark up bikes 50% to an eager market. Now the Brand is known the Chapter-3 would sell like hotcakes just for the bragging rights alone. There are swarms of Brompton riders here now with all the bling accessories. Once the fad wears off, I suspect a lot of these bikes will be sold off just like other ‘luxury’ goods are turned over to fund the next purchase. Thanks for your insights and humour you bring to this channel. Keep up the great work!
I have my Brompton for 7 years and still love it, there's a huge Brompton group in London UK, so I don't see it as a fad. They are so well made and last forever! Happy cycling and folding Maurie.
Singapore is mental, you guys pay way too much for everything. My wife tried on a dress she’d looked at in Australia for $330 and in Singapore it was $999. Same for coach handbags the girls were looking at, almost $250 more expensive in Singapore. With those differences you guys should just get stuff posted in by friends buying overseas for you. I find this confusing because it’s meant to be a “shopping destination” but you are getting fleeced for everything
first of all, thanks for your videos, they are really informative and really nice to watch. İ bought a folding bike , tern A7 two weeks ago. İ really liked the way folding bike works. the more i rode the more i liked it. But , as i liked, i started to watch the videos on Brompton and now you can't imagine how i wish i could buy a Brompton chapter 3. And i am planning to buy one at the end of this year , thanks one more time for your videos , i will be following you.
The chapter 3 is a nice bike, however you can by two Brompton s6r black editions for what I paid for the chapter 3. Just something to think about..... I love tern as well. I will do a video on my tern verge x11 soon.
Great video. I have a P Line and got the bike shop to build with the Brompton Carbon 56T, and the aero rims. My bike now has a Chris King headset in black bold and a Terra Argo x3, Ergos, and superlight pedals.It’s a nice commute bike for my London trips. Mudguards are a must and i have weight down also . Ride to work scheme make the purchase even more of a sweet deal 😮
For most special editions it would cost the same exact amount, but you would still have the OEM parts in hand. They are not a better deal, nor they are overpriced. Pricing model is quite fair.
Hi Brian my local bike shops here in the UK have a long waiting lists for this bike thy can't give any delivery dates. I will stick with my super light in good old black
I totally agree with you here. I have no intention of being in the exclusive club and I do ride my Brompton a lot, averaging 5000 to 7000 km annually. Enough said but you got them all spot on here 😀😀😀
Hi ! What regular brompton style I should get for a cheaper price that you’re talking about like the chapter 3. I don’t have a lot of money to spend but I like to buy a brompton like the chapter 3. What I mean is I like the sporty look. Thank you.
Looking for an opinion. If you were going to change out the hinge clamps to some metal ones on a black edition flame lacquer, what color clamps would you get (black, gold?). Thanks for any input you want to share. Oh…and you are in the Brompton cool club. You helped inspire me to get one so that should count for something.
One thing you didn’t talk about is appreciation over time. This bike will likely increase in value much more so than any other Brompton model (other than maybe the first edition nickel titanium‘s). And as far as the super light versus the standard Brompton goes if you have to carry the bike through London Heathrow airport you will definitely appreciate the super light. Also the super light has a more lively ride because of the titanium which I personally prefer.
@Sacha Barbie the CHPT3 V1 and V2 still sell well over retail price. Were talking about bikes that have 2-3 years of use under their belt, still making a £1200 profit. So yeah, you can ride a CHPT3 for free... and likely cash-in whenever you decide to move on.
Also we have to consider than the CHPT3 is not a real limited edition. It initially intended to be but since it is sold with a certain success, now it is just a vintage one, depending on its manufacturing year. But indeed, for the speculative world, it is an option.
@@s.bruyere8496 Absolutely. As we speak the CHPT3 V3 is the most produced single model special edition ever, with a total of 2500 units manufactured. This represent an impressive 5% of their annual production. The only one that could come close in number is the B75, currently selling 120% of it's retail price while still in production.
The CHPT3 shop price is actually pretty much on par with other Brompton prices. If you had a superlight, added the tyres (which are over £100 alone)? The grips, saddle (which is not Fabric, but a Brompton made one especially for the bike), plus the bag and other bits and bobs, the price would likely be the same.
A clear and fair review of the Chapter 3. For me the upgrades aren't worth the extra cost but, as always, these things come down to personal choice and, being a Brompton, these'll sell for sure.Thanks Brian.
Great explanation of the Chapter 3; specific, honest and candid. I, like many others, think that fenders (or mud-guards) are a necessity, or you really can't bike when conditions are wet. I have those and a rear rack, and frankly, really value them. At $4k, I'd rather have a back-up electric Brompton. Better yet, keep the $4k in your pocket.
As suspected but thx to confirming the extra $$$$ was for the paint job, looking back just glad that I went with the superlight model - more fun compared to the regular bromies.
I like my V3 but like you say is just a “super light” with a different color scheme nothing else, I ride mine all the time, not a trophy bike for sure lol!👏🏽
I saw an ad for the Chapter 3 with a member of the Spanish upper class riding it around a Spanish town. Maybe the idea is to promote the bike to potential buyers as a way of raising their social standing?
Thank you Brian for this charming 'Chpt3 thing' demystification of this hilarious 'B's glorification' as well - had also asked myself as well what the h*ll the difference could be to a normal Brompton and you opened my eyes to what began to be a faint suspicion: this could be a case of 'The Emperors New Clothes'...
Wow - what a really helpful, factual video. I, like many others, assumed you would get a lot more bike (features, accessories etc) for the hugely inflated price tag. So useful to realise that when you boil it down it is more about status than anything tangible or important pertaining to the actual performance or comfort factors of the bike. Thank you.
You forget to mention that the Superlight and the Chpt save you an extra 3-400 gramms in your wallet, so the weight difference is almost around 1,1 kilos 😝
As an owner of an ordinary, but Flamepainted, black version, SuperlightH6LXBrompton (with a titanium fork and backframe), I will admit that innovation is mostly lacking by Brompton, till the last and total Titanium version, but with only 4 gears. And for a double price! I have modified mine with several extra Titanium parts, - seat post, bolts and nuts, to get it further down, and for now mine weighs 9,35 kilos with mudguards, and I still have ideas to get it further down. Riding without the mudguards in Denmark will be mostly absurd. But I'm able to fold and put it in the back of my car and that is my purpose, as a single folder will fill more than that.' I also have an 18 volt Makita, electric folder, but that weighs and fills much more, and with limited range before the batteries are worn out. It is heavy to ride without battery assistance with only one gear. Finn. Denmark
It will still be relatively heavy because the main frame tube remains ordinary steel. They should have used Reynolds 531 or Columbus tubing. Alternatively, if the full frame was titanium few people could afford to buy one.
Thanks Brian! I was wondering the exact same thing about the CHPT3. I just got my first Brompton about 3 weeks ago M6L 😃 And you can't get me off of it LOL and you're not lying it really is fast it feels like a regular bike. It's a perfect bike for living in Florida no snow no steep hills or mountains. Again thank you much! Cheers
M6L: almost the perfect configuration imho (I prefer H - but then, I am tall). Pity Brompton is bending to the fashion accessory craze. They started off offering serious bikes and continued to do so until now. But if *@i bike unfolded* has this CHPT3 thing sussed out correctly, then they're losing their way and are in danger of losing their brand reputation.
Great video, one of your best and one of the funniest. Spot on! It’s a question of ‘style’ and exclusivity. Check out the prices of the Chapter3 accessories. It’s a Brompton to be seen on. That’s all.
I ordered my new Brompton in November with the opinions I wanted it came to £1890. Then I January was told the price has gone up 7%. Still worth it as I use it everyday for work, this is the second Brompton iv ordered
Hi . Discovered ur channel a few days ago and i’ve been watching ur videos everyday😂😂 i used to bike ( 2nd hand / not like brompton 😂) going to work then i changed for an electric scooter for an easier ride but can’t do anything . Can’t go to supermarket with it. After watching ur 1st videos i decided to sell my e-scooter and buy a brompton as soon as they restock . Coz they are out of stock everywhere here in UK. Can u pls make a video just to give us an idea on how to lock the brompton outside if we really need to. Im really skeptical about it. Planning to buy 2 kryptonite lock with a foot cable if im gonna have to leave it outside. Thanks
@@Janndie hey how do you like your B75? I love mine, your bike will fit in an ikea dimpa bag if you need to cover it up whilst inside work, you might already have one, really cheap.
@@bromptinowner763 hi . I just ordered it this morning 😂😂 coz they are out of stock everywhere here in Uk . Good thing i always look if they’re back in stock . I will collect my b75 on saturday 😉 i just ordered the dimpa bag on amazon . Hopefully they don’t mind if i put the bike inside the bag. Do u have mudguards ? Im planning to buy the rear mudguard first.
It's a Brompton with a different paint job, slim tyres, no rack, no mud guards, no carrier block. An overpriced status symbol with all the practicality of the Brompton stripped away. A trophy that is made to be displayed instead of ridden. I love Brompton, I love my M6R, I love the fact that it is still made here in England even after all these years. But I could do without all of the so called special editions.
If you want a personalised limited edition Brompton, buy a regular Superlight and get the main frame and handlebar post resprayed a custom non-Brompton colour of your choice (metallic flake, raptor, RAL or Pantone) and reassemble, bingo a one-off special, that no-one else will have. Plus, the Superlight weight saving is more like 740g, the Brompton quote of 2kgs comes from comparing the heaviest P6RD with the lightest S1E-X, but if you compare an S6L with an S6L-X, it’ll be a lot less. When I bought my H6R & T-Bag in 2012, I couldn’t justify the Superlight expense of £800 in addition to the £1,100 I was already spending, oh and the Ti fork steerers from that era can fracture upwards from the fork crown...
You can have a regular stock Brompton and change the the seat post, saddle, peddles and a few other bits and reduce the weight to about the same or lower than the Chapter 3. This is what I've done and it's so much cheaper. Great post by the way 😊
@@darrencoates mine wasn't a super light just a regular stock bike. As I mentioned by replacing the pedals, saddle, seat post, carrier block. I got my bike to below 10kg. Have a look on Amazon for parts weight savings 😊
No mention of David Millar in the video? The Brompton is not, and never has been, a cheap bike. It's good value partly because it holds its resale value. Lighter would be good but how much do you think an all-titanium frame would sell for?
I've seen chapter 3 paint jobs on ebay plus other exclusive colour schemes. Brompton should be thinking of exclusive builds more. I have a superlight with extra Ti swap outs, which is manageable to carry and an electric which is fun but heavvvvy! I'd love a Brommie for woodland trails that are a bus ride away, and Kinetics do a fat Brompton that makes more sense than this Chaper 3.
Good honest review Brian. If you're into limited editions, fancy paint jobs and you have the cash then why not? If you are a pensioner who just needs the functionality (like me) then a regular 6 speed finished in ivory does just fine...
Hello Brian I’ve just discovered and very much enjoy your channel, thanks. I only carry my brommie onto the train or up/down steps; I use the transport wheels otherwise. All elite brands produce “collector” models such as Leica and Rollei cameras (which I am susceptible to). I’d feel I was cheating on my faithful steed if I looked at bikes wearing makeup. Hope you’re well.😁👍
But the superlights do ride better. The Ti fork and triangle make quite a difference. You are also getting a sealed cartridges bearings front hub laced with double butted spokes, and a nicer headset.
Spot on, I think. Many of the comments about the proliferation of expensive new versions of the same bike with few substantive changes put me in mind of another company that’s done the same : Harley-Davidson, known decades ago for innovation and now flailing badly. I hope Brompton doesn’t go the same way.
In other words, the Brompton Chapter 3, is a perfect example of what I call a "marketing masterpiece." Hey, marketing people have to earn their keep & eat too! LOL
On the real CHPT3, the painted Ti frame looks like they’ll get chipped and scratched easily. Brian is right, there isn’t much difference in ride quality or speed between super-light and regular, but the real benefit come when carrying in upstairs and escalators. Also, Titanium is resistant to corrosion. Cable rub does nothing to the unpainted Ti frame, and Ti is very resistant to day to day scuffs and scratches. I clean my forks and rear triangles on my e-type a lot, so unpainted Ti is important to me.
Good question! I have never had a chance to check one in person but they look good. I think as well as the “in crowd” element these are collectors items because of the Brompton marketing strategy (videos and hype pre-release, controlled release and very limited numbers) - but yes, a strong whiff of Emperor’s New Clothes... when you actually look, it’s really just marketing and a paint job 🤔 Another interesting and entertaining video - Thanks and Stay Safe! 🤗
Well, mine turns up late next week, so I'll let you know 😆. Seriously though, I'm a Brompton nut, a Chpt3 fan, and have a lot of time for David Millar and especially his journey back from doping. No, it offers no more or less than my other two Bromptons, and objectively it is waste of money even at RRP (which i paid). But the personal subjective value to me is huge. Tbh, its no different from getting a limited edition car, watch, or whatever; its a selfish purchase in the purest sense of the term.
Value is a strange concept.. i wouldn’t spend the extra on it, but i can understand why some might. Just a thought given you have spoken about the few little mods on the chapter 3 - have you thought about doing a readers rides video - people send in photos and a description of what they have done; might be good to get some inspiration for yourself/others?
It is a smart looking bike, the cheapest new one I've seen in the UK today as a "Buy it now" (you know where...) was £3500 or US$4797! Apart from the cosmetic stuff and titanium forks and triangle, as you say Brian, it offers little over my 2019 S6E for which I paid £1035 (US$1418), and that included a front luggage mount. If I had the money would I have one? Possibly, it is a bit of a cult bicycle among Brompton fans, and would probably gain you some bragging rights, although it cost a wedge more than I paid in December for my bolt blue M6L Electric. Not sure if I'm saying that tongue in cheek (?) that coming from one who owns a stainless steel Moulton AM. In the case of the Moulton there are hundreds of hours of labour, and aircraft grade stainless steel tubing driving the price above that of the 953 bikes. The price differential £2465 (US$3378) between my S6E and the CHPT3 doesn't seem entirely justified, but the bike has cult status. As such it's really one for the collectors who would probably rarely use it, to keep it pristine.
Paying the inflated price asked by profiteers is absolutely ridiculous. However, at £1912.50 before taxes it is a fair price. That is what it would cost if I wanted to turn a superlight into a similar bike (saddle, clamps, tyres, grips, powdercoating).
@@samuelbreton9061 I agree, and there have been some CHPT3 bargains back in November there were a few "As new" bikes for around £1600, if they were around today and I was lucky enough to find them I'd jump on them! But £4k+ is just ruthless.
I had a CHPT3 V2, bought new for £1900. At the time it was just about the only superlight model I could get. I used it a bit and stuck lots of aftermarket parts on it that shaved 1Kg off the total weight. When the pandemic struck and demand went up, I stripped all the aftermarket bits back off, returned it to standard and sold it for £3500. Like you say, its just a superlight with a fancy paint scheme and definitely not worth that much. I plan on replacing it with 2 x regular superlight S6Es (my wife was always envious of it being lighter than her regular S6L so she'll be having one). Until then I have my black lacquer black edition S6R to play with!
I've been rided the regular Brompton for 2 yrs and in late 2020 changed all my Brompton to the V3 chapter3. last week I bought V2, why?? Because it feels like chapter3 is lighter and faster than the regular ones when I ride it. I don't know but you should better to ride the chapter3 to make your conclusion become perfect 👍 This is just my personal opinion, good luck!
Maybe not, but at least in third world countries you guys don’t have to deal with all the BS of modern western countries. I will probably end up in a third world country for the simpler life.
@@ibikeunfolded sorry didnt mean to sound judgemental.. just got shocked at those premium brompton prices. Trust me, here in central Asia, we do have tonnes of problems. Starting from being 1 of the coldest capital in world with long and harsh winters as well as almost none existent bike lanes. Unless u find a good 1 of those high paying good jobs, dont rush to come. People here leave to do dishwashers in first world countries and make more cash than work as a professor here.
Thanks for the info. So, practically you can just buy regular Brompton and upgrade if you want to be that unique. Unless you are crazy about the color and a lot of money to spend and plus if you want to brag, I guess. (You know, being in "that club.") The black edition to me looks slicker than CHPT 3. I thought CHPT 3 has something different, for example, the component. You know like DuraAce vs Ultegra. But it's not even that. So, yeah, 4k for a similar bike that you can buy for less than 2k. That 2K difference, you can honestly spend for any upgrade or accessories you want.
Thanks Brian I too was considering a Ch 2 but had my reservations re price and little weight advantage.Having just watched your vid you have convinced me.Fuck that.😂
Is it worth it? Generally for the majority of people it will be NOOOOOOO!!! Why is it priced so high? Why are there people that crave it? Clever marketing by Brompton and using David Millar, amongst others, to sell it. Personally it turns my stomach and I refuse to pay such an inflated price for something that is basically a Brompton with some tweaks. Got to hand it to Brompton for managing to get people worked up into a fever pitch over it though, that’s consumerism for you!!
For most of us this is one out of many Brompton bikes. The CHPT3 just don't get used on rainy days. Plenty of other options with mudguards for these days.
Agreed, I'm realising an S6E was impractical. It is a quick bike, but not for all weather. I've asked my local Brompton dealer to retrofit mudguards, but they're not currently available. Seems Brompton are keeping all the parts they can get to produce new bikes. Understandable.
People buy Brompton Chpt3 editions because David Millar is a British icon, who's brand is well respected by many cyclist throughout Europe. It's the same reason people of a certain generation love Air Jordans
Why i watches ur channel while there r many other channels..... bcos ur Honest! ppl craving things they cant hv n bcos of that the $$$ goes up. All these rich ppl... just send me ur $$$ that will do. Happy Biking! Chapter 4.
I own a Brompton and love it however the Chap3 is not IMO worth the cost. Basically, I am advertising for Brompton and paying them to advertise. I get what Brompton is doing but I don’t like to be in that category. That said, I do like how Brompton does this - it gets the word out.
People will be buying social status not hardware. It's like the Kindle Oasis ereader, which costs almost twice as much as the Paperewhite but has only a few features that hardly matter for most users. And of course the colors are different to impart that status.
The Brompton is a great, iconic bike that has introduced many to the joys of commuting by bicycle and beyond. But I live in Japan, where the folding bicycle is tremendously popular and there are many models to choose from. Looking at those other models, I have to tell you that spec and performance wise, the comparatively heavy and under-geared Brompton is severely overrated and over-priced.
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Be a "Smart Buyer", even though you can buy higher price of the product..I have a regular Brompton bike, is good enough for me daily simple exercise.
Thanks so much Brian for explaining the Chapter 3 Brompton...i know more about it. Love your very truthful approach in explaining everything. Take care Brian.
A nice bike, with a very nice price tag.😬
Hi@@ibikeunfolded
Do you know where to get chapter 1
Love the editing hahaha
It’s a great bike but I’m happy with my black lacquer :)
Thanks for clearing up some things for me I had some misconceptions as well. On another note can see the work that went into this video. Your channel is definitely taking it up a notch 👍
I’m 65 with stairs at my condo … I want to be in my 80’s riding a Brompton.
I want it to be as lightest as possible
One of the best RUclips videos on RUclips!
I live in Singapore. When Brompton opened its high street store here a couple of years back, they had to work hard to be noticed and establish the Brand. There was a time when you could have your choice of bikes and walk out immediately with your purchase. Initially, the price point, even for Singaporeans was considered high. COVID-19 changed that. With a lot of restrictions, bike riding exploded and now Brompton’s are pretty much sold out and flippers often mark up bikes 50% to an eager market. Now the Brand is known the Chapter-3 would sell like hotcakes just for the bragging rights alone. There are swarms of Brompton riders here now with all the bling accessories. Once the fad wears off, I suspect a lot of these bikes will be sold off just like other ‘luxury’ goods are turned over to fund the next purchase. Thanks for your insights and humour you bring to this channel. Keep up the great work!
Agree. I live in Singapore and yes the bromptons are in demand.
I have my Brompton for 7 years and still love it, there's a huge Brompton group in London UK, so I don't see it as a fad. They are so well made and last forever! Happy cycling and folding Maurie.
Singapore is mental, you guys pay way too much for everything. My wife tried on a dress she’d looked at in Australia for $330 and in Singapore it was $999. Same for coach handbags the girls were looking at, almost $250 more expensive in Singapore. With those differences you guys should just get stuff posted in by friends buying overseas for you. I find this confusing because it’s meant to be a “shopping destination” but you are getting fleeced for everything
Hope you're ok, Brian. I'm missing your videos, you're always authentic and say it how it is.
first of all, thanks for your videos, they are really informative and really nice to watch. İ bought a folding bike , tern A7 two weeks ago. İ really liked the way folding bike works. the more i rode the more i liked it. But , as i liked, i started to watch the videos on Brompton and now you can't imagine how i wish i could buy a Brompton chapter 3. And i am planning to buy one at the end of this year , thanks one more time for your videos , i will be following you.
The chapter 3 is a nice bike, however you can by two Brompton s6r black editions for what I paid for the chapter 3. Just something to think about..... I love tern as well. I will do a video on my tern verge x11 soon.
Interesting. So many choices.
Thank you very much for another AWESOME video
GREAT information
Thank you for your time
Have you checked the Brompton Explorer Model? I love your videos mate, appreciate your job!
Great video.
I have a P Line and got the bike shop to build with the Brompton Carbon 56T, and the aero rims.
My bike now has a Chris King headset in black bold and a Terra Argo x3, Ergos, and superlight pedals.It’s a nice commute bike for my London trips. Mudguards are a must and i have weight down also .
Ride to work scheme make the purchase even more of a sweet deal 😮
You should do a price comparison on how much it would cost to get the same spec bike buying a standard brompton and adding the parts
For most special editions it would cost the same exact amount, but you would still have the OEM parts in hand. They are not a better deal, nor they are overpriced. Pricing model is quite fair.
Hi Brian my local bike shops here in the UK have a long waiting lists for this bike thy can't give any delivery dates. I will stick with my super light in good old black
Brompton will start to be delivered in March, I ordered 1 in November
Love ya vids. I’ve owned several Bromptons . Is there a huge difference between ch3 and an old m6r?
I totally agree with you here. I have no intention of being in the exclusive club and I do ride my Brompton a lot, averaging 5000 to 7000 km annually. Enough said but you got them all spot on here 😀😀😀
Hi ! What regular brompton style I should get for a cheaper price that you’re talking about like the chapter 3. I don’t have a lot of money to spend but I like to buy a brompton like the chapter 3. What I mean is I like the sporty look. Thank you.
I paid 4300.00 dollars for my chapter 3. You can get two sporty s6r Brompton back editions for that price. Just something to consider.
So when will we see more of your eperience withe CHPT3?
Soon my friend, soon😁
Well said, explained some questions I wanted answered … cheers mate ✌️🦘🐉
Looking for an opinion. If you were going to change out the hinge clamps to some metal ones on a black edition flame lacquer, what color clamps would you get (black, gold?). Thanks for any input you want to share. Oh…and you are in the Brompton cool club. You helped inspire me to get one so that should count for something.
I am doing a video on that subject right now.
Hi how can I order chapter 1?im in Singapore.. what is the cost for chapter 1
One thing you didn’t talk about is appreciation over time. This bike will likely increase in value much more so than any other Brompton model (other than maybe the first edition nickel titanium‘s). And as far as the super light versus the standard Brompton goes if you have to carry the bike through London Heathrow airport you will definitely appreciate the super light. Also the super light has a more lively ride because of the titanium which I personally prefer.
I didn’t know anything about appreciation so I couldn’t speak to that, but for sure that’s why they are so collectible😃👍
@Sacha Barbie I have friends that bought the first edition nickel Brompton‘s that sold them four years later for double what they paid
@Sacha Barbie the CHPT3 V1 and V2 still sell well over retail price. Were talking about bikes that have 2-3 years of use under their belt, still making a £1200 profit. So yeah, you can ride a CHPT3 for free... and likely cash-in whenever you decide to move on.
Also we have to consider than the CHPT3 is not a real limited edition. It initially intended to be but since it is sold with a certain success, now it is just a vintage one, depending on its manufacturing year. But indeed, for the speculative world, it is an option.
@@s.bruyere8496 Absolutely. As we speak the CHPT3 V3 is the most produced single model special edition ever, with a total of 2500 units manufactured. This represent an impressive 5% of their annual production. The only one that could come close in number is the B75, currently selling 120% of it's retail price while still in production.
Good information.
The CHPT3 shop price is actually pretty much on par with other Brompton prices. If you had a superlight, added the tyres (which are over £100 alone)? The grips, saddle (which is not Fabric, but a Brompton made one especially for the bike), plus the bag and other bits and bobs, the price would likely be the same.
Thanks for the nice summarizing video!
Brian, do you even still own this bike?
I have not seen this cptr3 bije in any other video?
Appreciate for your honest opinion Brian 👍👍 .. take care dude and pls keep on uploading ur journey w the Bromies Tx
As ever..... straight down the middle Brian, no bullsh#t. Great video, well done.
A clear and fair review of the Chapter 3. For me the upgrades aren't worth the extra cost but, as always, these things come down to personal choice and, being a Brompton, these'll sell for sure.Thanks Brian.
Great explanation of the Chapter 3; specific, honest and candid. I, like many others, think that fenders (or mud-guards) are a necessity, or you really can't bike when conditions are wet. I have those and a rear rack, and frankly, really value them. At $4k, I'd rather have a back-up electric Brompton. Better yet, keep the $4k in your pocket.
What helmet do you wear?
Great answer.
As suspected but thx to confirming the extra $$$$ was for the paint job, looking back just glad that I went with the superlight model - more fun compared to the regular bromies.
how much chpt3 v3?
I like my V3 but like you say is just a “super light” with a different color scheme nothing else, I ride mine all the time, not a trophy bike for sure lol!👏🏽
Well explained, just a Brompton with a nice colour scheme ....
I saw an ad for the Chapter 3 with a member of the Spanish upper class riding it around a Spanish town. Maybe the idea is to promote the bike to potential buyers as a way of raising their social standing?
It’s a ‘bling’ bike. :)
Thank you Brian for this charming 'Chpt3 thing' demystification of this hilarious 'B's glorification' as well - had also asked myself as well what the h*ll the difference could be to a normal Brompton and you opened my eyes to what began to be a faint suspicion: this could be a case of 'The Emperors New Clothes'...
Wow - what a really helpful, factual video. I, like many others, assumed you would get a lot more bike (features, accessories etc) for the hugely inflated price tag. So useful to realise that when you boil it down it is more about status than anything tangible or important pertaining to the actual performance or comfort factors of the bike. Thank you.
You forget to mention that the Superlight and the Chpt save you an extra 3-400 gramms in your wallet, so the weight difference is almost around 1,1 kilos 😝
As an owner of an ordinary, but Flamepainted, black version, SuperlightH6LXBrompton (with a titanium fork and backframe), I will admit that innovation is mostly lacking by Brompton, till the last and total Titanium version, but with only 4 gears. And for a double price! I have modified mine with several extra Titanium parts, - seat post, bolts and nuts, to get it further down, and for now mine weighs 9,35 kilos with mudguards, and I still have ideas to get it further down. Riding without the mudguards in Denmark will be mostly absurd. But I'm able to fold and put it in the back of my car and that is my purpose, as a single folder will fill more than that.'
I also have an 18 volt Makita, electric folder, but that weighs and fills much more, and with limited range before the batteries are worn out. It is heavy to ride without battery assistance with only one gear. Finn. Denmark
It will still be relatively heavy because the main frame tube remains ordinary steel. They should have used Reynolds 531 or Columbus tubing. Alternatively, if the full frame was titanium few people could afford to buy one.
Few people can really afford to buy the super light now😃. They are expensive.
Few people can really afford to buy the super light now😃. They are expensive.
There's just no way to make 4130 Cro Mo light....I just hope their not using high tensile steel.............
Thanks Brian! I was wondering the exact same thing about the CHPT3. I just got my first Brompton about 3 weeks ago M6L 😃 And you can't get me off of it LOL and you're not lying it really is fast it feels like a regular bike. It's a perfect bike for living in Florida no snow no steep hills or mountains. Again thank you much! Cheers
M6L: almost the perfect configuration imho (I prefer H - but then, I am tall). Pity Brompton is bending to the fashion accessory craze. They started off offering serious bikes and continued to do so until now. But if *@i bike unfolded* has this CHPT3 thing sussed out correctly, then they're losing their way and are in danger of losing their brand reputation.
Nice review Brian. Looks like you have been busy the last week! Stay safe and get some rest too! 👍
Exactly like how you described it. It is nice to have but the regular brompton is more than enough for me.
1000x worth it. The only bike i now own.
Good video, thanks for that! So I'm trying to get a regular Brompton! 👍😎
Really great video Brian. England 🏴
wow! a very honest opinion :) i like that. happy with my h6r cheers
I opted for the regular superlight 3 yrs ago not the chapter 3 and i can say i made the right decision price wise!
The titanium T line Brompton that weighs less than 8KG is alot lighter than a standard 12kg Brompton. How is this even debatable.
Great video, one of your best and one of the funniest. Spot on! It’s a question of ‘style’ and exclusivity. Check out the prices of the Chapter3 accessories. It’s a Brompton to be seen on. That’s all.
Very educational Brian,it really clears things up,THANKS
Where is your orange 3 speed?
Hey what is the name of this shop?
Thanks for awesome video man. Subscribed.
Hey Sir, you look like you need a little "me time". That being said, that was a great review. Wish you the best.
Similar to a 24k gold iPhone. Is that worth it?
I ordered my new Brompton in November with the opinions I wanted it came to £1890. Then I January was told the price has gone up 7%. Still worth it as I use it everyday for work, this is the second Brompton iv ordered
Agreed 💯 %, and let me tell you are cool and authentic, I watched a lot of your videos before getting my Brompton from REI, btw, S6L-X
Thank you for the explanation! 😁
Could you talk about the the green Explorer Edition? 😊
Hi . Discovered ur channel a few days ago and i’ve been watching ur videos everyday😂😂 i used to bike ( 2nd hand / not like brompton 😂) going to work then i changed for an electric scooter for an easier ride but can’t do anything . Can’t go to supermarket with it. After watching ur 1st videos i decided to sell my e-scooter and buy a brompton as soon as they restock . Coz they are out of stock everywhere here in UK. Can u pls make a video just to give us an idea on how to lock the brompton outside if we really need to. Im really skeptical about it. Planning to buy 2 kryptonite lock with a foot cable if im gonna have to leave it outside. Thanks
everyday cycling has a video about locking the brompton
Please don't lock your brompton outside, they fold down small enough to tuck it in or under a desk not much room required, check out the B75 i would.
@@bromptinowner763 i just bought the b75 . Im really hesitant if my part time job will allow me to keep the bike inside .
@@Janndie hey how do you like your B75? I love mine, your bike will fit in an ikea dimpa bag if you need to cover it up whilst inside work, you might already have one, really cheap.
@@bromptinowner763 hi . I just ordered it this morning 😂😂 coz they are out of stock everywhere here in Uk . Good thing i always look if they’re back in stock . I will collect my b75 on saturday 😉 i just ordered the dimpa bag on amazon . Hopefully they don’t mind if i put the bike inside the bag. Do u have mudguards ? Im planning to buy the rear mudguard first.
So it's a collectible?
It's a Brompton with a different paint job, slim tyres, no rack, no mud guards, no carrier block. An overpriced status symbol with all the practicality of the Brompton stripped away. A trophy that is made to be displayed instead of ridden. I love Brompton, I love my M6R, I love the fact that it is still made here in England even after all these years. But I could do without all of the so called special editions.
If you want a personalised limited edition Brompton, buy a regular Superlight and get the main frame and handlebar post resprayed a custom non-Brompton colour of your choice (metallic flake, raptor, RAL or Pantone) and reassemble, bingo a one-off special, that no-one else will have. Plus, the Superlight weight saving is more like 740g, the Brompton quote of 2kgs comes from comparing the heaviest P6RD with the lightest S1E-X, but if you compare an S6L with an S6L-X, it’ll be a lot less. When I bought my H6R & T-Bag in 2012, I couldn’t justify the Superlight expense of £800 in addition to the £1,100 I was already spending, oh and the Ti fork steerers from that era can fracture upwards from the fork crown...
You can have a regular stock Brompton and change the the seat post, saddle, peddles and a few other bits and reduce the weight to about the same or lower than the Chapter 3. This is what I've done and it's so much cheaper. Great post by the way 😊
Yours is a super light to begin with? If not, I’d like to hear how you shaved off that much weight off.
@@darrencoates mine wasn't a super light just a regular stock bike. As I mentioned by replacing the pedals, saddle, seat post, carrier block. I got my bike to below 10kg. Have a look on Amazon for parts weight savings 😊
No mention of David Millar in the video?
The Brompton is not, and never has been, a cheap bike. It's good value partly because it holds its resale value.
Lighter would be good but how much do you think an all-titanium frame would sell for?
I've seen chapter 3 paint jobs on ebay plus other exclusive colour schemes. Brompton should be thinking of exclusive builds more. I have a superlight with extra Ti swap outs, which is manageable to carry and an electric which is fun but heavvvvy! I'd love a Brommie for woodland trails that are a bus ride away, and Kinetics do a fat Brompton that makes more sense than this Chaper 3.
Good honest review Brian.
If you're into limited editions, fancy paint jobs and you have the cash then why not? If you are a pensioner who just needs the functionality (like me) then a regular 6 speed finished in ivory does just fine...
😂😂 thank you very much.
Hello Brian
I’ve just discovered and very much enjoy your channel, thanks.
I only carry my brommie onto the train or up/down steps; I use the transport wheels otherwise.
All elite brands produce “collector” models such as Leica and Rollei cameras (which I am susceptible to).
I’d feel I was cheating on my faithful steed if I looked at bikes wearing makeup. Hope you’re well.😁👍
It’s really a personal choice
I really like you said: ‘super light is not super light’ ha ha ha. Really true!! it is 0.8kg lighter than regular, not even a kilo.
But the superlights do ride better. The Ti fork and triangle make quite a difference. You are also getting a sealed cartridges bearings front hub laced with double butted spokes, and a nicer headset.
Thank you for the information, now get some rest.
Spot on, I think. Many of the comments about the proliferation of expensive new versions of the same bike with few substantive changes put me in mind of another company that’s done the same : Harley-Davidson, known decades ago for innovation and now flailing badly. I hope Brompton doesn’t go the same way.
In other words, the Brompton Chapter 3, is a perfect example of what I call a "marketing masterpiece." Hey, marketing people have to earn their keep & eat too! LOL
On the real CHPT3, the painted Ti frame looks like they’ll get chipped and scratched easily. Brian is right, there isn’t much difference in ride quality or speed between super-light and regular, but the real benefit come when carrying in upstairs and escalators. Also, Titanium is resistant to corrosion. Cable rub does nothing to the unpainted Ti frame, and Ti is very resistant to day to day scuffs and scratches. I clean my forks and rear triangles on my e-type a lot, so unpainted Ti is important to me.
Good question! I have never had a chance to check one in person but they look good. I think as well as the “in crowd” element these are collectors items because of the Brompton marketing strategy (videos and hype pre-release, controlled release and very limited numbers) - but yes, a strong whiff of Emperor’s New Clothes... when you actually look, it’s really just marketing and a paint job 🤔 Another interesting and entertaining video - Thanks and Stay Safe! 🤗
Well, mine turns up late next week, so I'll let you know 😆. Seriously though, I'm a Brompton nut, a Chpt3 fan, and have a lot of time for David Millar and especially his journey back from doping. No, it offers no more or less than my other two Bromptons, and objectively it is waste of money even at RRP (which i paid). But the personal subjective value to me is huge.
Tbh, its no different from getting a limited edition car, watch, or whatever; its a selfish purchase in the purest sense of the term.
So what is the world's fastest "compact" folding bike? Thanks.
Tried to get one, no chance! I m not paying silly money on eBay
Value is a strange concept.. i wouldn’t spend the extra on it, but i can understand why some might. Just a thought given you have spoken about the few little mods on the chapter 3 - have you thought about doing a readers rides video - people send in photos and a description of what they have done; might be good to get some inspiration for yourself/others?
you can buy that colour clone on aliexpress for like $600 dollars
It is a smart looking bike, the cheapest new one I've seen in the UK today as a "Buy it now" (you know where...) was £3500 or US$4797! Apart from the cosmetic stuff and titanium forks and triangle, as you say Brian, it offers little over my 2019 S6E for which I paid £1035 (US$1418), and that included a front luggage mount. If I had the money would I have one? Possibly, it is a bit of a cult bicycle among Brompton fans, and would probably gain you some bragging rights, although it cost a wedge more than I paid in December for my bolt blue M6L Electric.
Not sure if I'm saying that tongue in cheek (?) that coming from one who owns a stainless steel Moulton AM. In the case of the Moulton there are hundreds of hours of labour, and aircraft grade stainless steel tubing driving the price above that of the 953 bikes. The price differential £2465 (US$3378) between my S6E and the CHPT3 doesn't seem entirely justified, but the bike has cult status. As such it's really one for the collectors who would probably rarely use it, to keep it pristine.
Paying the inflated price asked by profiteers is absolutely ridiculous. However, at £1912.50 before taxes it is a fair price. That is what it would cost if I wanted to turn a superlight into a similar bike (saddle, clamps, tyres, grips, powdercoating).
@@samuelbreton9061 I agree, and there have been some CHPT3 bargains back in November there were a few "As new" bikes for around £1600, if they were around today and I was lucky enough to find them I'd jump on them! But £4k+ is just ruthless.
I had a CHPT3 V2, bought new for £1900. At the time it was just about the only superlight model I could get. I used it a bit and stuck lots of aftermarket parts on it that shaved 1Kg off the total weight. When the pandemic struck and demand went up, I stripped all the aftermarket bits back off, returned it to standard and sold it for £3500. Like you say, its just a superlight with a fancy paint scheme and definitely not worth that much. I plan on replacing it with 2 x regular superlight S6Es (my wife was always envious of it being lighter than her regular S6L so she'll be having one). Until then I have my black lacquer black edition S6R to play with!
Check out the B75 its loads cheaper and its light with only 3 speed 44t chain ring.
Brilliant ... chapter 3 .? 🤔 .....😊 bromptom always say YES ‼
I've been rided the regular Brompton for 2 yrs and in late 2020 changed all my Brompton to the V3 chapter3. last week I bought V2, why?? Because it feels like chapter3 is lighter and faster than the regular ones when I ride it. I don't know but you should better to ride the chapter3 to make your conclusion become perfect 👍
This is just my personal opinion, good luck!
Some of us living in third world countries cant even afford brompton copies let alone those regular bromptons.
Maybe not, but at least in third world countries you guys don’t have to deal with all the BS of modern western countries. I will probably end up in a third world country for the simpler life.
@@ibikeunfolded sorry didnt mean to sound judgemental.. just got shocked at those premium brompton prices. Trust me, here in central Asia, we do have tonnes of problems. Starting from being 1 of the coldest capital in world with long and harsh winters as well as almost none existent bike lanes. Unless u find a good 1 of those high paying good jobs, dont rush to come. People here leave to do dishwashers in first world countries and make more cash than work as a professor here.
that intro self burn...lol
Thanks for the info. So, practically you can just buy regular Brompton and upgrade if you want to be that unique. Unless you are crazy about the color and a lot of money to spend and plus if you want to brag, I guess. (You know, being in "that club.") The black edition to me looks slicker than CHPT 3. I thought CHPT 3 has something different, for example, the component. You know like DuraAce vs Ultegra. But it's not even that. So, yeah, 4k for a similar bike that you can buy for less than 2k. That 2K difference, you can honestly spend for any upgrade or accessories you want.
Thanks Brian I too was considering a Ch 2 but had my reservations re price and little weight advantage.Having just watched your vid you have convinced me.Fuck that.😂
Chapter 3 rather.
Is it worth it? Generally for the majority of people it will be NOOOOOOO!!! Why is it priced so high? Why are there people that crave it? Clever marketing by Brompton and using David Millar, amongst others, to sell it. Personally it turns my stomach and I refuse to pay such an inflated price for something that is basically a Brompton with some tweaks. Got to hand it to Brompton for managing to get people worked up into a fever pitch over it though, that’s consumerism for you!!
You won’t survive without the mudguards. It’s just a boutique bike.
Agreed.😃👍. Got to have those mudguards.
It wouldn't survive one of our Irish winters when it rains 2 days out of every 3.
I looked at fitting those tyres to my Brompton but I was warned they may not clear the mudguards...
For most of us this is one out of many Brompton bikes. The CHPT3 just don't get used on rainy days. Plenty of other options with mudguards for these days.
Agreed, I'm realising an S6E was impractical. It is a quick bike, but not for all weather. I've asked my local Brompton dealer to retrofit mudguards, but they're not currently available. Seems Brompton are keeping all the parts they can get to produce new bikes. Understandable.
Is brompton the apple I phone of the bike world?
I'll pass. I love my Brompton Black.
People buy Brompton Chpt3 editions because David Millar is a British icon, who's brand is well respected by many cyclist throughout Europe. It's the same reason people of a certain generation love Air Jordans
Why i watches ur channel while there r many other channels..... bcos ur Honest!
ppl craving things they cant hv n bcos of that the $$$ goes up. All these rich ppl... just send me ur $$$ that will do. Happy Biking! Chapter 4.
I own a Brompton and love it however the Chap3 is not IMO worth the cost. Basically, I am advertising for Brompton and paying them to advertise. I get what Brompton is doing but I don’t like to be in that category. That said, I do like how Brompton does this - it gets the word out.
People will be buying social status not hardware. It's like the Kindle Oasis ereader, which costs almost twice as much as the Paperewhite but has only a few features that hardly matter for most users. And of course the colors are different to impart that status.
If you buy the 3 speed and not the six you chop off quite a bit of weight of the brommy
The Brompton is a great, iconic bike that has introduced many to the joys of commuting by bicycle and beyond. But I live in Japan, where the folding bicycle is tremendously popular and there are many models to choose from. Looking at those other models, I have to tell you that spec and performance wise, the comparatively heavy and under-geared Brompton is severely overrated and over-priced.
compared to ...?
Can you name any other folding bike ?
@@vigneshce Element Troy 10 (single chainring, 10 speed)