Brompton Folding Bikes (1 Viewer)

[Gandhi]

Toying with the idea of buying a Brompton folding bike.


Has anybody on here experience of one. A £1000 is a lot of money for a push bike so I want to be sure.

Eeerm I also feel compelled to advise that I'm 6'4 and 18 stone before any of you promote how 'nippy' they are so be gentle.

 

[DiggerJon]

I think you will find your height will make it difficult to be comfortable as the handlebars are fixed height and non adjustable. I am 5'10" and have the saddle at almost full height for my 31" legs and find the handlebars a bit on the low side. Other than that, it's a brilliant bit of engineering. There are differing styles/gearing etc. so you may find one to fit......

 

[ivorantony]

Luckily I am vertically challenged and at 5'7" have no problem with the Brompton, it's been all over Europe in the back of my small aircraft, mine is a six speed and though it won't climb mountains it manages very well, then when you arrive fold it up to take to your hotel room or tent,
Now that I have a A class with garage I use full size bikes but the Brompton is still a fun machine to use and IMO worth the money I payed for it,

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Love my Brompton and have had it 4 yrs. it has electric motor fitted and battery pack (can't pedal and use wheelchair) and I take it everywhere

 

[Gandhi]

Thanks for the reply guys. It confirms what I suspected as it being the 'best' engineered one out there.

Stitches - I'm intrigued re the motor bit! Please expand.

How much was the motor? Did you fit it yourself and is it only peddle assist? The reason I ask is I am also looking into buying the current wife a folding electric bike as she also has walking issues after years of knackering her back up with gymnastics, we take her electric 'nanbretta' around with us and I'm not too impressed with the Chinese offerings around.

PS - Digger sunshine you've got long legs for a 5'10" bloke! Mine are are 32" at 6'4"! You a hurdler????

Cheers mate.

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[DBK]

http://www.nanoelectricbikes.co.uk

This is a very well regarded conversion for the Brompton.

Here's a review. It is a twist and go variety I believe.

http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/books/nano-electric-kit-brompton.html

 

[Gandhi]

http://www.nanoelectricbikes.co.uk

This is a very well regarded conversion for the Brompton.

Fantastic link thanks DBK reading through it now.

Not cheap as conversions though are they!

I could get myself a good used low mileage 125 Yamaha scooter for the price of one and the price of another would pay for a bike trailer and trailer ball to be fitted.

 

[DBK]

Fantastic link thanks DBK reading through it now.

Not cheap as conversions though are they!

I could get myself a good used low mileage 125 Yamaha scooter for the price of one and the price of another would pay for a bike trailer and trailer ball to be fitted.

They are good. A friend of mine has one. Superb range.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Thanks for the reply guys. It confirms what I suspected as it being the 'best' engineered one out there.

Stitches - I'm intrigued re the motor bit! Please expand.

How much was the motor? Did you fit it yourself and is it only peddle assist? The reason I ask is I am also looking into buying the current wife a folding electric bike as she also has walking issues after years of knackering her back up with gymnastics, we take her electric 'nanbretta' around with us and I'm not too impressed with the Chinese offerings around.

PS - Digger sunshine you've got long legs for a 5'10" bloke! Mine are are 32" at 6'4"! You a hurdler????

Cheers mate.

Hi mine is a Nano electric bike, one of their originals before more commercialised. As per post DBK.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Hi mine is a Nano electric bike, one of their originals before more commercialised. As per post DBK.

Ps: no need to pedal (can't anyway!), pulls from standstill using throttle. I have lower speed so I get torque but normal one does 15mph.

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[Gandhi]

Cheers stitches. The wife likes the idea of pedalling but the reality of it makes the whole trip like going out with a 4 year old on a bike! We both pay for her bravery for days.

I had the most surreal experience once when we both went out cycling. Me on a push bike with the dog running by the side, her on her electric assisted one. Halfway down the promenade in Llandudno she overtook me then , an old guy on a disabled scooter overtook her followed by what looked like the oldest living woman in Wales overtaking him on her scooter with flags and lights all over it.

It looked like the Wacky bleeding races. I was the only one doing any work and was left in their electrically assisted dust.

BTW what's wrong with your legs? Can't you use them at all or are they only good for short distances?

 

[Chockswahay]

We have had a pair of Bromptons for 10 years now..... they are fantastic! We only have the basic 3 gear version but did have the gearing 'lowered' by 18% at the factory during the build.

I am 6ft 2 and yes I had a problem with saddle height............ then about 6 years ago I fitted the Brompton telescopic seat post............. what a difference a couple of inches make! (matron!!)

Bromptons have their place in our 'bike stable' and we use them all the time. We have a PVC so they fit in the garage under the bed (no racks...nice!)

As to weight, you might be near the max limit but check with Brompton (as it happens I was 16 stone when we first had them)

 

[Chockswahay]

By the way, if you want a 'folding' bike, then nothing, but nothing else is as good at folding or so compact when folded! Other folders may be cheaper or faster but they WON'T fold as quick and as easy!

On average a Brompton can be folded or unfolded in about 12 to 15 seconds

If a bike is too much grief to fold.... it doesn't get folded!...ergo.....it doesn't get used!

 

[Gandhi]

Cheers Chocks.

I reckon if I ride it naked with no panniers or bags I can shave a few pounds off the load bearing but then I'll have nowhere to put the French sticks, cucumbers, courgettes or bananas when we pop to the shops. Hang on a second the wife's got a suggestion......

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Cheers stitches. The wife likes the idea of pedalling but the reality of it makes the whole trip like going out with a 4 year old on a bike! We both pay for her bravery for days.

I had the most surreal experience once when we both went out cycling. Me on a push bike with the dog running by the side, her on her electric assisted one. Halfway down the promenade in Llandudno she overtook me then , an old guy on a disabled scooter overtook her followed by what looked like the oldest living woman in Wales overtaking him on her scooter with flags and lights all over it.

It looked like the Wacky bleeding races. I was the only one doing any work and was left in their electrically assisted dust.

BTW what's wrong with your legs? Can't you use them at all or are they only good for short distances?

Long story, used to run 30 miles per week, then had double hernia op, left hamstring tore out, major nerve surgery last year now waiting next op which will either work or not. So crutches for short hops around house/MH or wheelchair. So Brompton with power gives me a buzz!
Really fancy a motor scooter next!

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[Gandhi]

Long story, used to run 30 miles per week, then had double hernia op, left hamstring tore out, major nerve surgery last year now waiting next op which will either work or not. So crutches for short hops around house/MH or wheelchair. So Brompton with power gives me a buzz!
Really fancy a motor scooter next!

Gutted for you mate. Can't speak from first hand experience but know what the wife has to endure after back ops. She likes the idea of cycling but it's 3 days of Mrs McSnappy if she tries it.

The whole 'wheelchair thing' is a real drag. Went to Turkey one year and the hotel was about a mile down a really steep hill to the town. One night in 50 degrees Centigrade and having pushed her up the hill after dinner sweating like a farm animal I seriously reconsidered my marital status -especially when she asked if I could 'pull over for her to have a rest'. I couldn't tell if they were tears or sweat running down my face at that point.

Yeah we fancy the scooter thing as well. Booking myself down for the test in a few weeks. We borrowed one in France last year off someone we met up with and travelled with and it was ace. A Piaggio Fly 125 with top box. Dead nippy, kept up with the occasional traffic , was a belt drive and nipped around everywhere while we were there.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Gutted for you mate. Can't speak from first hand experience but know what the wife has to endure after back ops. She likes the idea of cycling but it's 3 days of Mrs McSnappy if she tries it.

The whole 'wheelchair thing' is a real drag. Went to Turkey one year and the hotel was about a mile down a really steep hill to the town. One night in 50 degrees Centigrade and having pushed her up the hill after dinner sweating like a farm animal I seriously reconsidered my marital status -especially when she asked if I could 'pull over for her to have a rest'. I couldn't tell if they were tears or sweat running down my face at that point.

Yeah we fancy the scooter thing as well. Booking myself down for the test in a few weeks. We borrowed one in France last year off someone we met up with and travelled with and it was ace. A Piaggio Fly 125 with top box. Dead nippy, kept up with the occasional traffic , was a belt drive and nipped around everywhere while we were there.

Anything that gets you mobilised gIves a buzz! Piaggio good and Honda vision

 

[Gandhi]

it's been all over Europe in the back of my small aircraft,

Do you have an idea how 'annoyingly cool' that sentence sounds......

I am now going to rack my brain to think of something I've got you ain't.

 

[Gandhi]

Stitches you seen this? Looks ideal - and none of that reversing jack knife nightmare crap drivers like me get when we try to reverse.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Stitches you seen this? Looks ideal - and none of that reversing jack knife nightmare crap drivers like me get when we try to reverse.

Great idea!

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[colinw]

I've just got a pair of dahon folders . they don't fold as small as a brompton , but have bigger wheels ( more stable ) . they fold up in 10 seconds and seem great quality for the price .
As with everything you can spend more for better quality components , but do you need them ? . people use these bikes to commute on , so are capable of constant use .
We have a garage on the van but when 2 full size bikes are in there it leaves little usable space for all the other essentials .
Check out YouTube for reviews on Brompton , tern , dahon etc . very useful .

 

[Gandhi]

Yeah Colin I looked at Dahon as well.

The thing you seem to get with a Brompton is your money back if you ever sell them. I know a bloke who bought one for 800 quid 5 years ago and just sold it for £700.

Whenever I've resold a bike I always seem to take a big hit with it.

BTW which Dahons did you get?

 

[tufty]

We just bought 2 Bromptons a couple of months ago after looking at loads of different folders. Got them from Evans and they let us try them out for an hour or so before we decided to buy so @Gandhi you could try that to see what you think.

We wanted a bit more room in the MH garage as the full size bikes were a bit of a squeeze as it's fairly small. We thought about a bike rack for our full sized bikes but decided to keep to our 6m length and go for the folders tucked away in the garage and they are awesome.

We went for the 6 gear version and you can get high handle bars and a telescopic seat post for tall guys like yourself @Gandhi They feel a bit strange to start off with if as the steering is a bit twitchy but soon got used to that. It's just brilliant to be able to fold them up so easily. You can easily take them on boat, train, plane, car, tube etc if you have a mind to.

The only downside is the price but they seem to hold their value really well. We looked for second hand ones but couldn't find any with 6 gears. Also worth mentioning they are damn expensive to insure and you need to have a suitably compliant lock too so yet more dosh was shelled out!!! All worth it though IMHO

 

[Chockswahay]

Wot!? We NEVER leave our Bromptons unattended anywhere!

 

[colinw]

@Gandhi ,Dahon vitesse for me , dahon vybe for her . both came with mudguards a rear rack and a side stand as standard . £380 for mine and £299 for the wife's off ebay a considerable saving on retail and an even larger one on bromptons .

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[Chockswahay]

Also worth mentioning they are damn expensive to insure and you need to have a suitably compliant lock too

Yes that's true, however we insure our 2 Bromptons and our two Specialized Hybrids with the house contents insurance...... all for £130 cheaper than insuring one bike

 

[tufty]

Wot!? We NEVER leave our Bromptons unattended anywhere!

Much as I love 'em I can bear to be parted once in a while couldn't let them rule what we do. After arriving somewhere on the bike I want to go for lunch, walk, look around etc I don't want my bike with me all the time. Also what about when you go out and leave the bike in the van? It wouldn't be covered under the van insurance so bike insurance was a necessary evil and so coughed up

 

[tufty]

Yes that's true, however we insure our 2 Bromptons and our two Specialized Hybrids with the house contents insurance...... all for £130 cheaper than insuring one bike

Wow That's a great price. Ours is over £200. If you don't mind me asking who with @chockswahay?i tried through house insurance and no joy

 

[Chockswahay]

Wow That's a great price. Ours is over £200. If you don't mind me asking who with @chockswahay?i tried through house insurance and no joy

Yeah, we had similar problems.... then went to Directline......... their 'top' policy automatically includes 4 bikes up to a max value of £1000 each (and they don't care what lock you have, as long as you long the bikes to something secure like a railing or something immoveable).

The deal seemed so good that I had to ring them up to confirm it

We have been with them for 4 years now

 

[colinw]

You'd have thought we were trying to insure the crown jewels when we added 2 electric bikes to our house policy . we are now paying over the odds for house insurance but will be converting to direct line at renewal . As chocks says if you click every option on their top policy , it still works out at half what we're paying now .

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