Brompton

Brompton have just announced the co-development with Sturmey Archer of a new wide-range 3 speed hub which will be exclusive to the Brompton range for the foreseeable future. This will combine with the existing 2 speed derailleur as a dual drive system to provide a wide range 6 speed system option on new Bromptons for 2009. This will mean an increased gear range of 33-95" compared to the range of 40-80" on the existing 6 speed system.

While this is undoubtedly an improved option for people buying new Bromptons and improvements are always welcome, it is hardly earthshaking enough to tempt most existing Brompton owners to want to go out and upgrade to the new wide-range system. Many Brompton owners including myself love their bike but there is a strong consensus that the dual gear shifters are cumbersome and ugly. Apart from that the question has been raised time and time again as to why Brompton refuse to consider 8 speed hub systems such as the Shimano Nexus and Sturmey Archer as an 'al la carte' option when choosing customised features. These hub systems offer an even wider range in many cases and a much better single shifter.

Brompton bikes have improved through incremental product innovation over the last few years. Another example is the the Titanium option to make the Brompton lighter. However this offers a hefty £440 premium on the core price and very marginal weight savings as it is still mainly a steel frame combined with some titanium parts.

Offering a sub 9kg Brompton with gearing and also an 8 speed hub option would not only appeal to a certain sector of customers but there are plenty of existing owners who would be quite willing to upgrade their bikes. The question we would like to raise is; Brompton you make great folding bikes but why are you always so ultra-conservative when it comes to product development and adding new features?

What are your thoughts... Please leave a comment.

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The Brompton has been around for over 20 years since its first production run in the 1980's. Brompton's founder and inventor Andrew Ritchie was inspired by the British pedigree in working with smaller wheeled bikes such as the Moulton from the 1960's, and in the 1970's observing the folding mechanism of the Bickerton bicycle. From this was born the vision of a small wheeled compact folding bike which has gradually come of age with the renaissance of cycling around the world. Today, few would argue that the Brompton is the definitive folding bicycle in terms of its small footprint and compact folding size, 565mm high x 545mm long x 270mm wide (22.2" x 21.5" x 10.6" according to the Brompton website.

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. [click to continue…]

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