Reasons NOT to buy a Brompton folding-bike

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[simoneobe]

I'm a brompton user since a month, and I'm very happy about how this bike improved my life. Buy hey let's be honest, this guy is bringing up some good points here. I don't understsand the dislikes.... probably blind brompton lovers. Come on let's be honest guys his points are valid! Point 1) Condition of the road: totally true, on uneven terrain you feel the bumps and street disconnections much harder, that's why I had to optimize my bike to work route to use the best condition roads as much as possible, but still, it's a minor disavantage. 2) Steep hills, i have a 6 gears brompton, i can easily climb up hills, buy maybe for lower geared bikes is harder. The standing position is not as comfortable as a normal bike and you cannot really put as much power when standing as a normal bike. You have to be careful also because the steering is narrow and very sensitive. 3) The weight: sure thing, the bike is heavy even for me that I'm an average guy, think about older people or women... the secret though is to leave the bike open and carry it opened if possible, so that you can just put it on the ground and push it as much as possible. I fold it only when i keep it under the desk at work on in the train on the way home. Hope I have been helpful to someone, i give thumbs up to this video because his critics are authentic, nevertheless the brompton is an amazing bike and improved my life in such a way i could only dream of before.

[por]

I have had a Brompton for a couple of years now after at least a decade of putting off getting one because of my prejudices against them. The folding ability is unbelievable. It's amazing, so simple, fast, and the bike can be taken on local buses, coaches, small boat ferries, trains. B/bs don't bat an eyelid, hotels will mind it in reception, you can go into a café and bring the bike with you. It's so well thought out in terms of multi-mode travel. It clearly isn't the best bike in the world for muddy tracks or long hilly blasts but I have other bikes, and actually have used it for what it isn't supposed to be for anyway, just because it is great fun. I deprived myself for years of a bike that has changed my day to day life.

[MrCheongkl]

Have my brompton for 4 years now. Never regret. I only cycling on weekend and I am really enjoy it.

[aslgomes]

I'm a Brompton owner for more than a year now. I commute in my Brompton in London everyday. For some reason the title of this video caught my attention and I decided to watch it. As a product, I love the Brompton. I could be what someone might call a "fan-boy". But this video does raise very good points. All the points mentioned here are true. It's true that for some people 10kg may not be that easy. It's true that the Bromptons are made specially for flat surfaces. If the roads have bumps or uneven parts, you will feel it. And yes, hills could also be problematic. Do all or any of these things stop me from commuting in my Brompton and loving the ride? No. Thumbs up for the video, for its usefulness.

[j.t]

I rode my bike last night. He is right. Up hills are harder than my normal road bike. It flexes a lot. The parts are not very high end for the price. Many people end up swapping out with Kuosac parts. Sturmey archer internal hub is a joke. Price should include essential accessories.

[phillipp]

Interesting review from someone who has apparently not ridden a Brompton much. I’ve had mine 5 years and rarely think of his issues any longer.
16” wheels will always give a bumpier ride and twitcher steering. If you spend a year riding a 29er then test ride a Brompton for an afternoon you’re probably going to freak. It’s different. You also mostly adjust in less than 10 miles and stop thinking about it after 100. I ride mine on everything from freshly milled/grooved asphalt (just before they repave/resurface) to gravel roads with washboards to potholed urban roads. I’ve had a bike Friday NWT (20” wheels) for 10 years but basically haven’t ridden it since I got the Brompton. Brompton is great for around town, loaded touring, and sticking in the overhead on a flight. Short rides to the store and 30+ mile rides to the airport, all good.

If you’re doing anything more than riding to the store/train/bus you need gears. I have the 6 speed and while the jumps are big and not always as ideal as my 27 speed swb recumbent, the range is there. I live at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and spend 10-12 weeks a year riding the hills of San Francisco where I travel for work. Climbing is no more effort than any other bike I’ve ridden and since I do most of my (non San Francisco) climbing loaded with baggage, bike weight makes not much difference. If anything the big gaps bug me more on flats where I’d like to slide through half a dozen choices a few gear inches apart to find my perfect rhythm. So I have to settle for (usually) a slightly lower bike speed and higher leg speed than my ideal (or grind a big gear and tire quickly)... but this is only on long, mostly flat highways where I’m just spinning through miles. The tradeoff is worth it when I get to the airport, check my bag, and take my bike to the gate.

About the only time I actually carry my bike is down the jetway and the aisle of the airplane, and I could easily roll it down the jetway. Either way it’s pretty short. I lift it overhead to go into the overhead bin too. It’s not so bad but I’m a bigger guy. I’ve had to carry it up/down steps and broken escalators and as already mentioned, it’s much easier with the unfolded bike… but a huge pain any time you have a loaded front bag and your checked bag strapped to the back— but it’s never come close to killing me. I usually have some choice words to share with anyone who happens to be in earshot though.

So do you want/need a small/portable bike? Get a Brompton, it’s basically the most portable. Spend as much as you can because if you use it you’ll never say, “I wish I had not bought those extra gears, or those fenders, or that rack.” You are likely to go looking for that stuff later though if you don’t have it.
If you don’t need the portability or find yourself being very inflexible in accepting change of feel between bicycles, by all means purchase a larger bicycle. You get more features for your buck along with a familiar and comfortable ride.

[mleys]

You forgot to mention that the brompton is really a fun bike to ride and is more agile then a normal sized bike. Which is apreciable in cities with a lot of traffic going on. I would suggest to rent a brompton for a week or two before deciding to buy one.

[tjj]

I love mine, it's the only bike that I have kept. Its great for a bad back and when the gyms were closed during covid -19. Only bike that fits in my apartment.

[fender]

I dont know why people think the Brompton is the be all and end all of folding bikes. The TERN VERGE X11. Is a superior bike. Doesnt fold as small. But in every other aspect is a superior bike.

[johnnymac]

'The Brompton Traveler' cycled on his Brompton from England to Italy this summer covering 2500 km in 28days. He has a 6 speed with a 12% gearing reduction to help with the hills. He has taken his bike to the Himalayas and many parts of the Americas. The Brompton is obviously a fine bike and is capable of a lot more than short distance commuting.

[douglasmowat]

I’m on my 3rd Brompton
No1, a second hand 6MR which I loved but I m tall and prefer a more erect sit up position
No2, a second hand 6HR which suited me fine . I’m 71 and did not find the weight a problem
No3, a new 6HR ELECTRIC. A bit more weight but I use it all the time and love it. I tour in a van and there is no better way for me to explore and see what I want to see. Fold it up and take into galleries, shops, museums or beauty spot and sit with in by my side. I’m now 72, unsteady on my feet, but ok when on a bike. With skate board type easy wheels and the pull out extender it acts like an improvised Zimmer frame when rolling it.
My second hand bikes sold for what I paid for them and that went toward the purchase of the ebike .
Im not only a city/village rider. I also ride nation cycle paths which have off road parts.
I’m a very heavy man and all my Brompton s have felt strong, been reliable, convenient to use, and more fun than I would have considered possible at my age with compromised health.
It’s almost as sociable as having a dog.

[zchuss]

I have two bromptons and I use my nickel ti 6 speed everyday.
I live a short distance from work and as a lorry driver this is the only bike that fits onto the passenger seat.
To combat carrying it I have a fitted carrying handle to the frame that makes it very easy and it also has a shoulder strap that can be fixed to it and carried on my shoulder folded.
When I had to attend a cpc cource my wife needed the car so I took my bike and kept it in the room I was doing my course in. ( the journey in my car would have taken 20 minutes with traffic lights and one way system... It took 8 minutes on my brompton using the cycle path on the canal and a short cut)
My granddaughter rides my other one and has done since she was 8 years old and she is now 13 and it fitted her fine as I could lower the seat to fit her small frame and it still will fit a 6ft adult... So technically it's one bike for life... Buy a brompton for a child and with care they could still be riding it in thier 70s.
So my opinion is that the Brompton does have some faults and its comfort is not that of a bike with full suspension but for the quality, the way it holds it value coupled with the fact it can accommodate a person's height instantly and the convienance of being able to travel anywhere in the world with it (if you buy a case for it, it can go through as luggage) makes it very unique.
Would I buy I did

[dorianblue]

Whenever someone dares say they don't like, and would never buy, and yes they well test-rode some, the Bromptons, well up there are the swords of all triggered Brompton owners.
It happens in Italy too.
I lived in the Uk for enough years to (speak very bad English, ok but) see and try them.
I always stuck to Dahon or equivalents.
1) Alloy vs steel (i saw more than one completely rusted Brommie, while going through King's Cross station and central London)...
2) the awkward size of those 18" wheels (both for spares, tyres, etc., and the way they ride on the street)
3) all the rest of peculiar specs and components
4) the way it folds (except the final size, ok). It's not just 3 clicks like with Dahons etc.
5) the internal hub gearing (rarely needs maintenance - but when it does, it's much harder than outer sprockets. Rumor goes, it's also weaker in the traction of the hub)
6) too idiosyncratically 'British', while, without that label and good marketing, as a product doesnt match those around

And i didnt even mention the too high prices.
All this, for a few cm while everyone survives (and also dashes by) with Dahons, Terns, and the like?
Thanks, just not for me - and many others too.
Oh, and by the way I don't like that dromedary hump look either.

Hating iconical British stuff? NOT AT ALL, I love a Carrera Intercity Disc (and also many, many bigger bikes like those
fantastic tourers)

So: all respects to Brompton riders!
But just don't anyone try to convince me at all costs that they're such good bikes. I'm fine without. Cheers

[laurajones]

*I love the **Latest.Bike** I use it when going camping. It folds up so easy and isn’t heavy at all. Rides so smooth. I love my bike!*

[anoshya]

Best fold up bike ever made..we have 3 in our house and they are folded many times a day and have never broken..they are very fast too and although not as comfortable as my mountain bike you get used to them.

[urbanmanc]

Bromptons are designed to be used in conjunction with public transport so most journeys will be relatively short. There’s no need to carry the bike, that’s what the rack and wheels are for, the only lifting you should be doing is off and on transport. Bromptons don’t replace regular/traditional bikes, their design serves it’s intended purpose.

The points he’s made are valid, all bikes have pros and cons

[claudiusjacobi]

All good points. Still all folding bikes have same problem. I love the freedom it gives you. If it starts raining just jump on a bus and away you go.

[vanderslagmulders]

I live in the Netherlands where quite a few people commute by train and then folding bike. Brompton imho is the only reasonable solution, any folding bike in public transport is uncomfortable but Brompton folds very small compared to others and also folds very easily. You wanna reduce the hassle as much as you can which makes Brompton probably the best option. I rarely see anyone ever use another folding bike here for commuting, and when I do, it always looks more uncomfortable and impractical. That said, the biggest gain is in losing the overhead of having a bike at each station that you need to lock and unlock. If you travel by bike very far, the overhead becomes relatively small, so that the comfort of a large bike becomes more relevant. Bigger wheels handle bumps better and larger bikes are less nervous in the handling.

[dandepuff]

The biggest disadvantage is the superb portability and high resale value. Which in a city like London could turn you into the victim of mugging and violent assault. Look it up.

[whazzat]

MUST TEST RIDE They are quite specific tools.
I have 5 foldies from Montague to Mobiky. each sacrifices on weight, foldability, gearing, geometry, stiffness and cost, to focus on another feature.
You just have to know your application and style and get a good fit to them.
Shop like it's a suit. Some can shop by mail, some go bespoke.