Brompton G-line 1000 mile review

[brommieinkorea]

So far, nothing bad has happened frame wise etc...
It squeeks now, could be the pedals, don't know yet.
Despite them being cheap plastic crap , I like how the removable pedal stays in its magnetic holder. The MKS Always pedals on all of the other Brompton uses a bag...
The Lezyne 500xl headlamp that was purchased for the G works very well and keeping it on low beam I don't charge it constantly. It pales compared to the B&M Cyo on the handlebar. A gripe would be that there needs to be a better way to have a good light at the fork crown.
The handling is very stable, due it's super long wheelbase it feels somewhat sluggish at slow speeds. Downhill over 30mph, where a 349 B gets scary, it's a treat.

 

[Gunk]

When I tested one I really liked the 8 speed Alfine hub, super-slick gear changes. Still tempted to do the Kinetic conversion on my S6L

 

[Drago]

it feels somewhat sluggish at slow speeds.

Roger that. Riding my ID9 to Leisure Lakes for a test ride really highlighted what a sluggard the G spot was.

Not a bad machine, just underwhelming.

 

[Gunk]

Not a bad machine, just underwhelming.

I felt the same, just didn’t fall in love with it

 

[mustang1]

So far, nothing bad has happened frame wise etc...
It squeeks now, could be the pedals, don't know yet.
Despite them being cheap plastic crap , I like how the removable pedal stays in its magnetic holder. The MKS Always pedals on all of the other Brompton uses a bag...
The Lezyne 500xl headlamp that was purchased for the G works very well and keeping it on low beam I don't charge it constantly. It pales compared to the B&M Cyo on the handlebar. A gripe would be that there needs to be a better way to have a good light at the fork crown.
The handling is very stable, due it's super long wheelbase it feels somewhat sluggish at slow speeds. Downhill over 30mph, where a 349 B gets scary, it's a treat.

Thanks for the review. When you say it's sluggish at slow speed, can you describe that some more please? For example is it difficult to start accelerating, or is it sluggish in its handling? What kind of slow speed are we talking about? Do you think changing the tyres will help? TiA.

 

[Drago]

To me it felt leaden and slow to accelerate, and not as lively changing direction as the ID9. On the positive side it did feel stable and quite grown up to ride, but that was a bit moot as the character of the beast wasn't one of a speed merchant anyway.

Brompton now offer it with the option of more road biased tyres, which may or may not make an improvement in that regard (I've not tried one) and kind of negates the bikes main mission of been an all surface tool.

I really would like to like it, but having ridden some stunning performing folders in the £400-£1000 mark over the last few years I can't bring myself to do so. For what they charge it has no excuse not to be far and away the best 20" folder in christemdom, and it simply isn't. It's annoying as I hoped it might finally be the Brompton for the husky gent, and I still pray they might tweak the fundamental design a bit more but I suspect they won't.

 

[brommieinkorea]

It's not as stiff in the rear end as the Carrera/Urbano, and being heavier than the other Brompton it's acceleration is less spirited. Straight line stability is phenomenal without the bagless squirreliness of a 349 size Brompton. At speed around the corners is also great. I already have 20x1.6" Continental Contacts on it, and they do make a difference.

 

[brommieinkorea]

Rode in the rain last night. Disc brakes were silent after about 250 miles, but crud seems to have entered the front brake, making it sound as if it's chewing rocks. The mudguards(fenders here in USA) work well enough, and the rear mudflap is a tough bugger since it drags the ground every time the bike is folded/unfolded. No surprises, the Continentals hold the road on sloping shoulders and awful transitions as well as the smaller ones do. The stock knobby tyres are great on all manner of crappy surfaces, wet grass, gravel , sand on gravel, loose dirt, but asphalt is my preferred medium.

 

[brommieinkorea]

Another note, and this is really for current Brompton owners who think they might upgrade. O.k.several notes.
I used to frequently leave my lock behind and take the bike in everywhere, and the cable lock could be sawed through with the right butterknife. Now I have bought upgraded locks, and use 2 many times, rarely bringing the G into stores and such. It's so much wider that it's a bit of a faff.It rides(in the Peterbilt) on the passenger seat so I don't have to wrestle it into the back (bunk area), it wasn't uncommon for there to be 2 of the smaller Brompton in the truck before.
The rear rack does NOT come with attached bungee cords, real pain but I haven't gotten to the point where I'm ready to give Brompton $50 for a pair of elastic cords.
It's a little faster than the smaller ones, bigger wheels make more difference when you stomp the pedals like I do. The downhill handling is stellar, and the brakes are everything I'd hoped for.
Since the tyres are pumped up to roughly half of the little ones, it rides much smoother over rough roads and gravel.
As a fan of 3m reflective tape, I can say that nothing sticks to a G line paint job, even the factory sticker is pealing off. I think the G sticker fell off the first week.

 

[FrankCrank]

Another note, and this is really for current Brompton owners who think they might upgrade. O.k.several notes.
I used to frequently leave my lock behind and take the bike in everywhere, and the cable lock could be sawed through with the right butterknife. Now I have bought upgraded locks, and use 2 many times, rarely bringing the G into stores and such. It's so much wider that it's a bit of a faff.It rides(in the Peterbilt) on the passenger seat so I don't have to wrestle it into the back (bunk area), it wasn't uncommon for there to be 2 of the smaller Brompton in the truck before.
The rear rack does NOT come with attached bungee cords, real pain but I haven't gotten to the point where I'm ready to give Brompton $50 for a pair of elastic cords.
It's a little faster than the smaller ones, bigger wheels make more difference when you stomp the pedals like I do. The downhill handling is stellar, and the brakes are everything I'd hoped for.
Since the tyres are pumped up to roughly half of the little ones, it rides much smoother over rough roads and gravel.
As a fan of 3m reflective tape, I can say that nothing sticks to a G line paint job, even the factory sticker is pealing off. I think the G sticker fell off the first week.

Gotta wonder if a regular bifold is a better option than a larger trifold? Savings could be used for beer and chocolate and stuff.

 

[Drago]

I've logged my ID9 into shops and even the doctors, but then im a big unit and have no problem manhandling it.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Having read this thread I'm tempted to take Mrs Tkk's G line out for a spin. It's " her " bike but I'm sure she'll be happy for me to have a go. 🤔

 

[ktmbiker58]

Test rode a G-Line and G-Line electric today: the G-Line rode nicely, excellent handling and brakes, I could've ridden hands off the bars down hill at the 25mph I hit! It was an enjoyable ride.

The G-Line electric was an absolute hoot to ride, the added extra shove really transforms the G-Line from a nice bike into a brilliant bike! I used my Garmin to see what it would do battery wise and after 8 miles with 650 ft of climbing it still hadn't dropped 20% and I had included a small section of off-road green lane, the handling off-road was excellent.

I tried riding with no assistance and it was fine, whatever drag is in the motor it's less than the drag in the Shimano 8 speed and the G-Line electric felt easier to peddle than the G-Line!

Guess that's Christmas sorted!

 

[brommieinkorea]

Gotta wonder if a regular bifold is a better option than a larger trifold? Savings could be used for beer and chocolate and stuff.

The polygon Urbano would fit in the seat the G line is occupying ,a little more overhang. No lights on the Urbano, so it isn't riding along with me yet. Once lights, rack, mudguards get sorted the Urbano will accompany me.
The G fits in Walmart shopping carts, and the ones at Kroger-but those shopping trollies are huge , not like anything in the UK or Europe. This is something the bi-fold will not do, if I lock it outside it just doesn't matter. The G line is easier to move about as it stays locked together, but it is still twice the size folded of a folded S6R.