Interesting, their production speed will be the death of them. I appreciate the level of detail work- 2 weeks from bare tube to completed bike is ridiculous.
Their attempt to be premium niche brand will do for long term survival as a British company
How a Brompton is made
- Thread starter Bazzer
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Interesting, their production speed will be the death of them. I appreciate the level of detail work- 2 weeks from bare tube to completed bike is ridiculous.
Their attempt to be premium niche brand will do for long term survival as a British company
I was thinking about this thread yesterday as I use mine every Friday for a short commute to the workshop I volunteer at.
I can’t think of any other bike I’ve owned which provides the same combination of fun, convenience and pleasure of ownership. I know they’re flawed but I just really like them, this is now my third.
I can’t think of any other bike I’ve owned which provides the same combination of fun, convenience and pleasure of ownership. I know they’re flawed but I just really like them, this is now my third.
brommieinkorea
Senior Member
- Location
- 'Merica darnit
Hard to argue with really. Likewise I have found that the Brompton is the only bike I've ever owned that I've been able to take anywhere. But Ive travelled excessively and in multiple modes, most haven't. My 2024 vacation involved automobiles, trains, buses, planes, ferries and Japanese elevators, can't imagine another bike travelling like that.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Brompton owners tell me this a lot, yet the only place I've yet been unable to take my 20" wheel folder was on a light aircraft (Soceta TB20 Trinidad, as it happens) and was because of the weight (Im a big unit myself and had taken up most of the available capacity on my own.) Seeing as its lighter than the typical Brompton they too would have been grounded.
I left it with the nice chaps at Lydd flying club who offered to stash it for me.
Trains, sleeper train, a coach, the underground, lifts, stairs, escalators, cars, vans, the bus (big london double deckers and smaller local swb buses), all of them crowded and many standing room only, its been everywhere.
And then when unfolded it gives me a modern disc braked, 2 piece cranked, 9 speed ride that the G Spot could only dream of.
The idea that something with a Brompton badge is the only bike that can do all this is a hilarious fiction that only Brompton owners seem to believe. Us riders of alternative folders just get on with it.
I left it with the nice chaps at Lydd flying club who offered to stash it for me.
Trains, sleeper train, a coach, the underground, lifts, stairs, escalators, cars, vans, the bus (big london double deckers and smaller local swb buses), all of them crowded and many standing room only, its been everywhere.
And then when unfolded it gives me a modern disc braked, 2 piece cranked, 9 speed ride that the G Spot could only dream of.
The idea that something with a Brompton badge is the only bike that can do all this is a hilarious fiction that only Brompton owners seem to believe. Us riders of alternative folders just get on with it.
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
@Drago makes a good point. While I've taken my Brommie on TGVs, buses and planes, I could have used a bigger folder just as easily.
I can attest that fitting a Swytch kit to a Brommie is an exercise in elbow-biting frustration. Something without such a complex fold would have been easier, I suspect.
I can attest that fitting a Swytch kit to a Brommie is an exercise in elbow-biting frustration. Something without such a complex fold would have been easier, I suspect.
Fastpedaller
Über Member
Ah! but it's good for the soul to be stretched! .... similar, but perhaps more than the frustration I had fitting 3 sprockets to the rear of the brompton and 2 chainrings - It all worked, but not perfectly. I've subsequently achieved being able to change both front and rear drive simultaneously, and it feels really good for the soul
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
Ah! but it's good for the soul to be stretched! .... similar, but perhaps more than the frustration I had fitting 3 sprockets to the rear of the brompton and 2 chainrings - It all worked, but not perfectly. I've subsequently achieved being able to change both front and rear drive simultaneously, and it feels really good for the soul
I've done that, but not together. I had a compact on for a while, but now I'm back on a 50T chainring and 12/14/17 sprockets on a BWR hub. Friction thumb shifter for the three sprockets.
Kell
Guru
- Location
- High Wycombe/London
They always did.
The only one I test rode (very early doors) had the same conti city tyres that I've got fitted to my 'normal' Brompton. I was told that I could order one with either.
I just think they seemed to think it was a good idea to call it a gravel bike and then never talk about the other tyres.
brommieinkorea
Senior Member
- Location
- 'Merica darnit
I recently changed the Bromptons to the Continentals. Ride better than any Schwalbe. They have also lasted 3 times as long as the Schwalbe Kojjaks I was using. I would think they'd help the G line ride better too ?
Last edited:
rogerzilla
Legendary Member
The advantages of them over other folders boil down to a slightly smaller folded size, and parts availability. Some design features make maintenance hard; I have the tools to do rear hinges and seat tube bushes but the whole "ream in situ" ethos is stupid and makes me think of when white metal bearings were hand-scraped on steam engines. The price is ludicrous for the quality of components.
Fastpedaller
Über Member
I question what quality other manufacturers supply - are the joints all wobbly, producing a 'variable' ride? Not having tried lesser-priced folders I'm completely in the dark. As regards the reamed bushes, it depends on the wear characteristics - Some alternatives are probably too large, and in defence of the reamed in situ bushes, they ensure a 'complete' replacement of wearables. I've not had a look at the G-line closely (the detail may not be easily visible anyway) - Does it have a pair of 'top hat' type nylon bushes? They would do a job, but may not be as long-lasting. A shorter lifecycle of a part that is more easily replaced could be a better solution for many people, though.
brommieinkorea
Senior Member
- Location
- 'Merica darnit
Owned a Dahon. The joints were fine, it worked well on the road (as I'm sure a Carrera would) . But the fold was huge and ungainly, which I'd figure being a Dahonalike the Carrera would also be.
The idea that anything that folds bigger than a Brompton being able to go on a plane? In minimal packing the Brompton is 58 linear inches 62 is the limit. No Dahonalike comes close, and if someone has checked one, it's at the good graces of the airline. And NO you can't carry on any bike per the rules for every airline.
Funny that anyone would list parts availability as a positive, but this is a UK based forum....
The idea that anything that folds bigger than a Brompton being able to go on a plane? In minimal packing the Brompton is 58 linear inches 62 is the limit. No Dahonalike comes close, and if someone has checked one, it's at the good graces of the airline. And NO you can't carry on any bike per the rules for every airline.
Funny that anyone would list parts availability as a positive, but this is a UK based forum....
Fastpedaller
Über Member
The most interesting part of the film IMHO was the explanation of the brazing process, in particular the flux supply being mixed into the oxy-acetylene! This must save a huge amount of cleaning/paint prep time and effort.
tinywheels
Über Member
- Location
- South of hades
Interestingly this thread reminds me of a program about Morgan cars i watched some years ago. The same thing was said about Morgan as is now said about Brompton.
Perhaps there is a market for overpriced, cunningly marketed British products.
Perhaps there is a market for overpriced, cunningly marketed British products.
Fastpedaller
Über Member
There is for Italian products, so why not British?
