Pre-production Brompton 1981
The Brompton above was the final prototype before its first production run 27 years ago. Note how Andrew Ritchie first planned to introduce a front rack carrying system. This was later refined to a much cleverer and neater front luggage bracket system which is an optional extra.
The M type as of 2008
The Brompton on review is a 2008 production model with the traditional M type handlebars bought from Cavendish Cycles in central London. It was a stock bicycle in the raw lacquer finish that Brompton now offer. Rather than applying a powder coated paint, the Brompton factory apply the a special metal varnish to give the bike a natural finish. Personally I think this is one of the nicest finishes in the Brompton and worth the extra £88 as an option. The finish really makes the bike look quite stunning for its type.
The bike also included a 6 speed option, front luggage carrying bracket, tyre based dynamo, mudguards (fenders) and rear rack carrier. Schwalbe Marathon Racers were the tyres of choice rather than the Brompton option because of their look. The functionality of Kevlar puncture protection and running at high pressure (100 psi) is common to the Marathon and its equivalent Brompton option. Schwalbe tyres have excellent sidewall reflection and are arguably better quality in terms of longevity than the unbranded ones.
The Fold
I found it very easy to master the fold after watching a video from the Brompton site. The newer Bromptons thankfully now come with a latch that prevents the rear swivel joint from swinging back involuntarily if being lifted in its unfolded state. This has an easy press release mechanism to fold back the rear wheel alongside the chainwheel. This is followed by unscrewing the front frame hinge and folding the the front back to sit on a bracket along the rear fork which latches the front wheel almost parallel and slightly above the folded rear wheel. This ensures the chain is covered in its folded state when the bike is carried. The rear wheel is then locked into place by the seatpost being quick release being undone and pushing it down and locked in a low position. Finally, the handlebar stem hinge is unscrewed and swivelled downwards to the right and latches into a sprung clasp. Rather than replicate the whole fold, there's a great YouTube video that demonstrates how fast an experienced user can fold/unfold the Brompton. Click the link below for the video:
I found I could replicate the fold in under 20 seconds after a day or so and similarly with the unfold. After a few weeks I can pretty much match the guy in the video. Suffice to say, The Brompton's footprint is incredibly compact and the folding process incredibly easy to master. The bike latches together very well and is a tight compact package that is easily stowed away or carried if necessary. The standard Brompton would be quite heavy for some people in its compact folded state but the bike can be towed along if you choose the eaziwheels and rear carrier options. The standard Brompton wheels produce a poor roll. The handlebar can be left unfolded so the bike can be rolled pulled or pushed along by this if necessary.
The versatility of such a compact folding gives me great freedom in London both in terms of commuting on crowded trains, stowing in my office (theft proof) or even socializing in the pub!
The Ride
Overall Verdict
I have developed a great appreciation for all folding bikes and I'm certainly not what one would call a 'Bomptonite' who believes the bike is beyond criticism or superior to all other folding bikes. However, it is a superb folder for its purpose and still remains the ultimate commute-and-go bike. Even after 20 odd years and gradual refinements by Brompton, it still remains the definitive bike that can effectively combine very compact folding with a good ride quality that is close enough to larger wheeled bikes. In some situations it can even out-perform larger wheeled bikes in the context of urban commuting for short to medium distances. The Brompton is well capable of longer distances with some refinements but this is where it would begin to lose out.
Pros
- Still the best for folding and footprint size.
- A very capable and agile ride
- The retro look begins to grown on you. Looks great in raw lacquer.
- Capable 6 speed transmission. Strongly recommended over other options with less gears.
- Components are well made for their purpose and durable. The Brompton is built for longevity.
- The front luggage carrying system offers a superb range of bags that do not affect the stability of the ride.
- The brakes are vastly improved over older models and the new high pressure tyre options also contribute to a vastly improved ride.
Cons
- The Brompton is expensive. Fine, its made in England and very good quality but this restricts demand and growth potential long-term for Brompton.
- Accessories are overly expensive in my opinion except for the luggage options.
- The titanium option at £440 is way over-priced for the modest weight saving benefits that are gained. This is why I stuck to higher specs on a standard steel Brompton frame.
- The bike is not suitable to off-road riding on trails. It has a slightly harsh ride on rougher roads which is exposed more on trails. In fairness, it is designed for road riding and commuting.
- The gear shifters are cumbersome and tacky looking on such a nice bike. Even if one likes the retro look, it would be nice to see Brompton offer a stainless steel option in these shifters. The old Sturmey Archer shifters of the 1970's were not made of plastic.
- Brompton are very resistant to developing a single shifter option such as the Sturmey Archer or Shimano Nexus 8 speeds. Leading modifiers of the Brompton have proved this can be done successfully without compromising frame integrity.
If you have the budget and need a bike that offers a superb fold and ride trade-off, the Brompton remains the folding bike of choice. It is not cheap but it is extremely well-made. I just feel the market needs Brompton to be slightly less conservative in their product development in future models and also become a little more competitive in pricing on some of the model range. With the advent of the Mezzo, Bike Friday Tikit and rumours of the Dahon Curl, there are some worthy contenders out there, even if Brompton still remains the definitive compact folder.
{ 4 trackbacks }
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Bought mine on e bay last year. A T3 from 2004. Brooks saddle, rear rack, dynamo lighting, luggage block and open 24-litre pannier. Tires are Schwalbe Marathons. Gearing was 50T:13T rear sprocket. Sachs 3-speed with hardy metal trigger.
The dealer in California fitted titanium forks, rear triangle and seatpost. Recommended dropping the rear rack and dynamo to further lose weight. Changed the gearing to 44T and rear sprockets to 13+ 15. This gives an even spread from 36 inches to 76 and this suits most applications, like light touring or daily commuting in hilly cities. Weight-saving was about 4lbs; all lights are now by battery.
The titanium retro-fit made a subtle but real difference to the handling. It’s not just a matter of lightness or even speed. The Brommie now feels somehow both stiffer yet more fluid, with better damping and precision. The steering is finer; overall the liveliness is retained but everything feels more refined.
However, for my purposes, removing the rear rack was a mistake; not only is a rack practical, the parked bike is more stable when sitting on four points instead of three (mine was blown over by a wind gust when the seatpost/saddle was fully up). I had the stiffener safety brace fitted to my handlebars; the previous owner is 6ft 2in and not light; I’m average height and weigh about 145 lbs.
The first time I carried the folded Brommie onto a bus, in Denver, Colorado, the bus driver stared and stared, then stood up and bowed silently. Quite right too. I left the bus in Colorado Springs, turned around and rode back to Denver, some 80 miles distant. Test flight. This was during the Brommie’s previous incarnation, as a somewhat heavier 3-speed. Average elevation about 6,000ft. I filled up with water and bananas at the gas stations and bombed along, assisted by a hurricane of a tailwind. Lots of stares from puzzled travellers. Some smiles too, of the condescending sort: little wheels, tiny goddamn bicycle – “You gonna be alright man, like need a ride or anything?”
The Brompton is immensely clever. It is much, much more than a folding bicycle. Not unlike Moultons it compels us to re-examine our understanding of the bicycle, of what we need and why. It also enables me to realise how over-specialized racing bikes are, though I love my old French 12-speed. The contrast and interplay between these two very different machines deepens my appreciation of both bikes to the detriment of neither; a mutual enhancement. The Brompton is quitessentially, cantankerously English: an iconoclast, a defier of traditional forms, a persistent contrarian that is appearing everywhere. And it is a superb town bicycle.
Figure out what you need and buy the best Brompton you can. I haven’t regretted it.