Brompton - Wow!

[22s]

I have been enlightened!

I've always thought Bromptons look terrible to ride (not true) and their riders look like complete dorks (very true), but after the Boris Bike station by my house got closed a few weeks ago, I took the plunge on a (barely) used M6R.

Now, it could be that I've been riding Boris Bikes to and from work for the last 7 years so grown accustomed to their slow and cumbersome nature, but I really feel like my new "Brommie" has made me fall back in love with cycling again!

Within the first week I've already spent almost as much on upgrades as the bike itself.

It's cut 25% off my commute time. I can keep up with all but the keenest lycra warriors. I can leave work at any time and not worry about there not being a bike in the docking station. I can go and get coffee from the shop a mile away on a weekend morning. It's practical. It's nifty. It still looks truly lame - but I don't care.

I am a convert! I am a folder!

[James6112]

Good work
Brompton is my only bike now. I did have 2!, but just sold one of them, a S6. Never really clicked with the gears on that..
Kept the S3, with higher gearing, does all I need. In raw lacquer.

[funinhounslow]

I had exactly the same reaction when I tried a friend’s a couple of years ago.

I always thought they looked uncomfortable and there would be loads of “flex” when riding.

How wrong I was - I couldn’t believe how quick off the mark it was and how nippy and manoeuvrable. And fun!

I bought one a couple of weeks later and love it.

When you live with one you realise what a clever piece of design they are.

[22s]

I love the raw lacquer finish - looks great in the flesh!

I really wanted the 6speed gearing but to be honest find myself 90% of the time in 3-/2+ so probably overkill!

Agreed, it’s really a revelation when you ride one and easy to catch others (and yourself!) out with how quick a spindly little thing like that goes.

Other things that are great:

- I can chuck it easily in the boot of the car for going anywhere on an adventure

- I can take it into the office so I don’t need to worry about it getting nicked

- I can store it at home each day without smashing up the hallway walls and taking up a huge amount of space

- It is sturdy - it doesn’t feel like a cheap Chinese piece of tat like neat little things often can

Small criticisms:

- The standard roller wheels on the frame and rack are a bit small and rubbish, so I’ve bought some new bigger ones from Joseph Kuosac which arrive in the post tomorrow!

- In folded form, it’s pretty heavy, which makes taking it up and down stairs a bit of a chore

Anyway, enough geeking out, here’s a pic of the ugly little bd:

[Wacky Racer]

Mine. Wonderful.

[MBBlat]

I’ve always liked the fact that the rules of Brompton racing specify that a jacket and tie must be worn

I used one for commuting via train about 20 years ago - absolutely brilliant for that, once you got used to it unfolding could be quite quick. Only problem seemed to be frequent punctures.
Still got it sitting in the garage.

[wpa1975]

Brilliant bikes, mine was new last September over 1100 miles on it now, was originally a 3 speed but did not like the gearing, switched to a 6 speed and did not like the 2 gear levers so I switched it to a SRF5 speed hub with wide ratios and a single thumb shifter, Ti bolts etc and Son easy wheels, wider handlebars, ergon gips

[bigdom]

I have a few, this one being 2 speed, its like triggers broom. If we drive anywhere on holiday, its always in the boot.

A couple of photos from South of France last year. One early morning boulangerie mission via a local marina, the other restocking of lady petrol.

[williaa68]

I absolutely love my brompton. Of my five bikes, it is the one I ride the most often. I love the fact that when I'm out in the evening i hand it over like a suitcase. Never once had a problem with it at a restaurant. When my euromillions numbers come up I'm buying one of the titanium ones....

[S600BSB]

Get one in a 997 too (just).

[volvos60s60]

I looked at one about 10 years ago. Did not like the flex in the 'W' handlebars when out of the saddle. Was told by the dealer that Brompton at that time sold a bracing tie bar to stop that as an option at additional cost..
I thought to myself what kind of company sells necessary bracing as an 'option' to correct a design deficiency? - Walked out & never looked at one since

[S600BSB]

volvos60s60 said:

I looked at one about 10 years ago. Did not like the flex in the 'W' handlebars when out of the saddle. Was told by the dealer that Brompton at that time sold a bracing tie bar to stop that as an option at additional cost..
I thought to myself what kind of company sells necessary bracing as an 'option' to correct a design deficiency? - Walked out & never looked at one since

TBH, that's probably your loss!

[Barchettaman]

Excellent bikes; personally I didn’t need the super compact fold, so ended up with a Tern for 20% of the price which fulfills all my needs. Currently on a job in Dresden and it’s great to have it here.

[wpa1975]

Barchettaman said:

Excellent bikes; personally I didn’t need the super compact fold, so ended up with a Tern for 20% of the price which fulfills all my needs. Currently on a job in Dresden and it’s great to have it here.

I had a Dahon a few years back, ok for for the money but the fold is clunky and they do not ride as nice, very flexy when riding, only slight advantage is the 20" wheels.

[Matt London]

volvos60s60 said:

I looked at one about 10 years ago. Did not like the flex in the 'W' handlebars when out of the saddle. Was told by the dealer that Brompton at that time sold a bracing tie bar to stop that as an option at additional cost..
I thought to myself what kind of company sells necessary bracing as an 'option' to correct a design deficiency? - Walked out & never looked at one since

I had similar feelings about that flex when I first got my M6L. I had to change my style of riding to suit.

Once I got used to the bike, I accepted that the whole experience of using a Brompton is a compromise.

You want a small form factor? You want to be able to take it into pubs, restaurants etc? Use it folded as a trolley in the supermarket? It will never feel anything like my Carbon Roubaix.

[Dog Star]

S600BSB said:

Get one in a 997 too (just).

I have never considered and nor do I need a Brompton, but that is seriously impressive.

[ecs]

volvos60s60 said:

I looked at one about 10 years ago. Did not like the flex in the 'W' handlebars when out of the saddle. Was told by the dealer that Brompton at that time sold a bracing tie bar to stop that as an option at additional cost..
I thought to myself what kind of company sells necessary bracing as an 'option' to correct a design deficiency? - Walked out & never looked at one since

A lot of handlebars are designed to flex as it reduces vibration and the effects of smaller impacts.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

S600BSB said:

Get one in a 997 too (just).

I don't have a 911 or a Brompton. But now I want both just to do this

[wpa1975]

ecs said:

volvos60s60 said:

I looked at one about 10 years ago. Did not like the flex in the 'W' handlebars when out of the saddle. Was told by the dealer that Brompton at that time sold a bracing tie bar to stop that as an option at additional cost..
I thought to myself what kind of company sells necessary bracing as an 'option' to correct a design deficiency? - Walked out & never looked at one since

A lot of handlebars are designed to flex as it reduces vibration and the effects of smaller impacts.

Exactly plus with so many aftermarket options available it is very easy to replace them.

[sammyb349]

So where is best to buy a decent second hand one? And for those in the know which is the model to buy? The titanium obviously for the weight but at 4-5k it’s way beyond my budget