The Brompton debate.
Discussion
So I took three out today for a test ride. Tried an S2, an M3 and an M6.
First impressions.
Way more stable than I thought they would be. I thought the fact that both the seat tube and the steering column are so long they'd just flex - but felt surprisingly rigid. Also felt very short however. I'm sure this could be fixed by shoving the seats back on their rails a bit further though.
I prefer the look of the S2, but it really felt like I was on top of the bars. The M bars felt better, but I think, ideally I'd prefer something somewhere in between.
As for the gears, the 2 speed is out for me, but the three speed felt OK around town.
What I might do is hire one for a week or so until I can get a feel for all the things that matter to me. How good it is on the hills in High Wycombe, whether or not it'll fit in our Mini. How it feels for my real commute rather than just a little trundle around Covent Garden.
What I would say is that the upright position made filtering through traffic a bit easier - and the narrow bars help with this too. My Dahon has hu-u-u-u-u-u-ge bars so I got through some gaps that I'd have had to wait for on my Dahon.
Overall - I'm impressed.
ETA: I felt like the ideal position for me would have been in between the S and the M.
I had a quick look online and it look like quite a few people have bought the M bars and then swapped the bars out for some fairly standard looking riser bars to drop the position down.
But equally, I thought about buying the S and then fitting some riser bars to lift the position up a bit.
First impressions.
Way more stable than I thought they would be. I thought the fact that both the seat tube and the steering column are so long they'd just flex - but felt surprisingly rigid. Also felt very short however. I'm sure this could be fixed by shoving the seats back on their rails a bit further though.
I prefer the look of the S2, but it really felt like I was on top of the bars. The M bars felt better, but I think, ideally I'd prefer something somewhere in between.
As for the gears, the 2 speed is out for me, but the three speed felt OK around town.
What I might do is hire one for a week or so until I can get a feel for all the things that matter to me. How good it is on the hills in High Wycombe, whether or not it'll fit in our Mini. How it feels for my real commute rather than just a little trundle around Covent Garden.
What I would say is that the upright position made filtering through traffic a bit easier - and the narrow bars help with this too. My Dahon has hu-u-u-u-u-u-ge bars so I got through some gaps that I'd have had to wait for on my Dahon.
Overall - I'm impressed.
ETA: I felt like the ideal position for me would have been in between the S and the M.
I had a quick look online and it look like quite a few people have bought the M bars and then swapped the bars out for some fairly standard looking riser bars to drop the position down.
But equally, I thought about buying the S and then fitting some riser bars to lift the position up a bit.
Edited by Kell on Wednesday 10th June 16:59
I have an S3 and I like the look of it, more aggressive, but I agree with you on the feeling of being over the bars.
Guy in the cycle shop had one where he put a different set of bars on the S stem, which is a little higher than the M.
So instead of straights they had an inch rise which he claimed made the world of difference.
If you fit aftermarket bars just make sure it doesn't clash with anything when you fold it.
Guy in the cycle shop had one where he put a different set of bars on the S stem, which is a little higher than the M.
So instead of straights they had an inch rise which he claimed made the world of difference.
If you fit aftermarket bars just make sure it doesn't clash with anything when you fold it.
croyde said:
I have an S3 and I like the look of it, more aggressive, but I agree with you on the feeling of being over the bars.
Guy in the cycle shop had one where he put a different set of bars on the S stem, which is a little higher than the M.
So instead of straights they had an inch rise which he claimed made the world of difference.
If you fit aftermarket bars just make sure it doesn't clash with anything when you fold it.
Funnily enough, I was just editing my post when you posted that.Guy in the cycle shop had one where he put a different set of bars on the S stem, which is a little higher than the M.
So instead of straights they had an inch rise which he claimed made the world of difference.
If you fit aftermarket bars just make sure it doesn't clash with anything when you fold it.
I've got various sets of bars in the house that might be worth a try.
Bought a black S2 last year. Think it was £750 from Edinburgh cycles.
The two gears are fine in London. If a hill is steep then just stand up. It's no good at home in the Peak District though!
It doesn't like pot holes and I've had a couple of moments.
I have the larger front bag which only adds to the issues when you hit a pot hole.
I like to train on it at brockwell park, it's fun racing the guys training there on their carbon race bikes.
The two gears are fine in London. If a hill is steep then just stand up. It's no good at home in the Peak District though!
It doesn't like pot holes and I've had a couple of moments.
I have the larger front bag which only adds to the issues when you hit a pot hole.
I like to train on it at brockwell park, it's fun racing the guys training there on their carbon race bikes.
Earlier this year, I had a job interview for an analyst position, and was asked to give a 5 min presentation, about anything, before the main, competency based interview.
I wanted to demonstrate my analytical and methodical nature, attention to detail, and possibly a little personality that might set me apart or make me memorable from the other candidates:
I even went into the Brompton Brand Centre, font is the official Brompton font, and the colours used are all from the stock colour pallet of what you can buy bikes in.
I wanted to demonstrate my analytical and methodical nature, attention to detail, and possibly a little personality that might set me apart or make me memorable from the other candidates:
I even went into the Brompton Brand Centre, font is the official Brompton font, and the colours used are all from the stock colour pallet of what you can buy bikes in.
Accelebrate said:
H type stem with S type bars? 
Got to be careful that the fold still works though. I saw someone on a Bromtopn with wide MTB bars fitted and they looked like they had a 1 inch rise.
I really want the S as I think it looks much better than the M bar variants, but reading some of the posts on here, I am now worried about feeling like you are on top of the bars. The only Brompton I've ridden had M bars fitted.
Brompton Junction is fairly near where I work. I might pop in one day and have a look. Not sure about a test ride, as I won't be buying the bike from the Brompton shop, so don't want to waste their time.
I don't find the S bars a problem, although I'm only 175cm tall so perhaps could be more of an issue for someone taller.
I have seen someone a few times who rides around on a Brompton with an M stem with S bars (I think I have that the right way around) which looks odd as it's really low at the front.
I have seen someone a few times who rides around on a Brompton with an M stem with S bars (I think I have that the right way around) which looks odd as it's really low at the front.
louiebaby said:
Earlier this year, I had a job interview for an analyst position, and was asked to give a 5 min presentation, about anything, before the main, competency based interview.
I wanted to demonstrate my analytical and methodical nature, attention to detail, and possibly a little personality that might set me apart or make me memorable from the other candidates:
I even went into the Brompton Brand Centre, font is the official Brompton font, and the colours used are all from the stock colour pallet of what you can buy bikes in.
Love that!I wanted to demonstrate my analytical and methodical nature, attention to detail, and possibly a little personality that might set me apart or make me memorable from the other candidates:
I even went into the Brompton Brand Centre, font is the official Brompton font, and the colours used are all from the stock colour pallet of what you can buy bikes in.
^My s2l has the larger O bag. Plenty of room for laptop, iPad, waterproofs, note pad, chargers, brolly and even a change of smalls.
The s2 does spin out and doesn't accelerate as fast as other bikes from the lights. But once moving you can generally stay with good roadies and overtake everyone else.
The s2 does spin out and doesn't accelerate as fast as other bikes from the lights. But once moving you can generally stay with good roadies and overtake everyone else.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff