Brompton owners

Saw that, didn’t make the connection to the explore bag, like it but it just looks a bit drab compared to the explorer colourway. Like my s bag, not sure it’s worth having it for the times I buy too much and need a roll top to fit it all in..

Hi all, thank you, so much good info and advice in this thread, I have read a fair bit of it in last few days whilst considering getting a Brompton

I test rode one last weekend, first impressions very positive, I tried a H6L at Brompton Junction, I rode around central London in the rain for an hour and went in and out of a few shops to get a little more familiar with the fold. I enjoyed the ride though it did feel a bit bouncy, the fold is very impressive in reality very compact and simple enough after a couple of tries. The dynamo lights seemed a little pale. I only tried the H sized variant, I am 6foot3 do you think it is worth trying the M size anyway?

My needs –

A few years ago I would have turned my nose up at the idea of a Brompton, probably because of the lib-dem vibe I may have attributed to them however I have been coming around to them since. I went to Japan in Spring2018 and borrowed a bike to go and explore the north coast, I only made it a few days before weather turned me back however the possibilities of bicycle/train travel began to seem quite appealing. This summer I went on quite a wide ranging trip around France by motorbike eventually leaving the moto with a friend near the Pyrenees, I returned to my travels later on but the moto had died so instead I changed plans and got around with hitchhiking and Blahblahcar as well as exploring more locally on my friends mountainbike. It got me really thinking that a folding bicycle combined with other transport might make for an ideal way to have quite freewheeling holidays around Europe.

At home in London and my day to day cycling has really subsided, the top floor flat I now live in makes getting a bike in an out a right palaver + my work is quite physical and location changes at intervals so I have ended up mostly on bus/train motorbike when commuting.

The Brompton definitely seems like the obvious choice, I have mostly gotten rid of my earlier preconceptions of them and the all important fold seems to be clearly unapparelled. Now I have ridden one I have to admit to liking them.

But part of me does still question if there is something else better/cooler

I do like the look of Birdy, do any of you have any thoughts on them? The price of the Brompton is another sticking factor, and Birdy is even worse! But it does sound like they could be better suited to touring in Europe and in the Pyrenees, they are less ubiquitous which does hold an appeal. And they may be better for someone tall like me. Older models seem to come up from time to time on ebay for much less than a new Brompton. A new Brompton with all the options I think id ideally want looks likely to cost around £1400!! There is a second hand Birdy with some exciting extras available for only a bit more than that at a certain Scottish bike shop..

Do you know if I could test ride a Birdy in London?

Why I don’t vote Birdy;

They don’t fold. Like seriously, that’s not a folding bike. Nothing holds the bars in place, they just flop on top. It’s still huge and awkward to carry.

The build quality isn’t worth the cost. I dare you to stick a finger inside the cable routing holes, have a plaster ready.

Ride style, bounce bounce isn’t my cuppa. Even with wanting comfort that’s just like riding a treacle sponge.

Disc brakes and Rohloff, yeah, cool. - fit them to a Brompton for you too.

I don’t feel them to be anywhere near as refined, I understand the desire for bigger wheels / wider tyres, speak to Vincent at Eerder metaal and your Brompton can become a lot more capable...

A brompton accelerates quicker, has a more precise ride feel and is much easier to work with. Plenty of dealers for support, less so for Birdy.

Hopping on a bus or train while commuting or touring is not so easy with a Birdy due to size and shape. They don’t sit still when folded.

It’s not my cuppa, I’m sure plenty disagree and find no issue!

Okay, interested in the detail?

Birdys ride amazing, completely different prospect to a Brompton. Definitely a folding bike and if bought with the racks you can pull it along like a trolley.

If you have the money for your needs I reckon a birdy would be great (rohloff is the one though, the Sram dual drive was good but discontinued/hub spares won’t be available in the future) and you need a disc brake model.

Touring on a Brompton would be fucking awful. Touring on a Birdy would be enjoyable.

So what’s this about the new all-titanium Brommie coming out next year then?

In the year of brexit to prove sovereignty can work?! Perfectly on brand!

@cake complete.

@jj72 we ship tomorrow!

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You shot those pics in BW?

Lovely, ta!

No sir.

💪

What’s the weight / price?

Can’t find any info on it...

On what sorry?

All Ti Brompton I assume.

No clue!

It’s top secret, apparently. Someone I know was at the factory last week and saw one. A figure of £2.5k was mentioned. No idea on the weight tho.

Sounds about right, some would argue the ti version or the electric Brompton.

Birdys ride amazing, completely different prospect to a Brompton.

Absolutely. Since I rode one, I wouldn't consider getting any other folding bike (but then, I don't really have a need for a folding bike at the moment, and if I did I might well need the small Brompton fold).

£2.5k? Maybe double it.

A superlight is £1.6k, so a ti main frame and stem for another grand sounds about right. That’s the figure he was given at Brompton a way.

Didn’t realise the SL is only. 0.7kg lighter than a stock bike either. Not really worth the effort is it?

Two entirely different bike tho, aren’t they? The Birdy rides really well but only folds for storage, whereas the Brompton is a proper folding commuter. All folding bikes are a compromise but the Brompton is by far the best overall package.

10% of that saving is them not giving you a frame-mounted pump. The weight saving of the Ti fork and triangle is about 500g.

It made a bit more sense when the Ti model also included a lighter front wheel and a Ti seatpost. Both since discontinued.

I know I like the brompton now after the test ride and the convenience and compactness of the fold will probably be the deciding factor

just curious whether the birdy ride and performance could offset the fold - the second hand one at Kinetic has Rohloff

You get a lighter headset being aluminium, a lighter and sealed bearing front wheel, foam grips not rubber too.