The G Line Brompton

[Fastpedaller]

Yeah, does seem they fit comfortably into the box of British manufacturer's stereotypes - like all of the once-great (and not-so-great) brands that are no longer with us for this reason..

Brompton Lightbike

 

[Fastpedaller]

Joking aside, it really is a case of 'do we question that?' British Leyland had some great innovations, way ahead of others (see their concept cars), but nothing really made it to production (or at least not before other manufacturers). The Brompton has some great features, and the early ones had 'ironed out' most of the traps other folding bikes fell into. If year-on-year sales were growing as fast as Brompton could keep up with demand, there is a case for saying 'don't change', but it could also be said that other people (both commercial and amateur) have had good ideas which Brompton seem overly reluctant to dismiss. I know some owners have had 'paint' problems, but I'll give Brompton the benefit of the doubt on that - maintaining or improving all aspects of painting must be very difficult with ever-changing emission regulations.

 

[wafter]

Joking aside, it really is a case of 'do we question that?' British Leyland had some great innovations, way ahead of others (see their concept cars), but nothing really made it to production (or at least not before other manufacturers). The Brompton has some great features, and the early ones had 'ironed out' most of the traps other folding bikes fell into. If year-on-year sales were growing as fast as Brompton could keep up with demand, there is a case for saying 'don't change', but it could also be said that other people (both commercial and amateur) have had good ideas which Brompton seem overly reluctant to dismiss. I know some owners have had 'paint' problems, but I'll give Brompton the benefit of the doubt on that - maintaining or improving all aspects of painting must be very difficult with ever-changing emission regulations.

Certainly many similarities - I think genuinely innovative ideas hamstrung by poor design choices, penny-pinching and a stubbornness to make real improvements for example...

 

[tinywheels]

Im back looking at Kinetics options.
Discs and an 11 speed hub however it's the price as always.
Even on cycle to work im thinking, possibly not a clever buy.
Goddam it, I need to stop faffing about and make a decision

 

[steveindenmark]

My opinion for a long time is if you want something different in the Brompton line. You go to Kinetics in Scotland and get them to do it. It certainly not cheap, but they look great.

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/

 

[Drago]

Brompton's biggest problem is the number 20.

Other manufacturers have a huge head start with 20 inch wheeled bikes and there is some stunningly nice to ride machinery out there, even at a fairly tight budget.

The jump to 20 negates the supposed (and to my mind rather overrated anyway) benefits of the Brompton fold. Once done it's barely any more compact than a Tern type Z fold, so what's the point?

And the 20" wheels aren't that great off road. Sure, it'll do it, but then I've done some rough stuff on my ID9 which comes as standard with BMX tyres anyway. Brompton are touting the off road ability as its USP, but in reality there are already folders thst can do this, even if not touted as such. Not only that, its not good enough that you could buy a G Spot and throw away your gravel bike if trails are your thing.

Being tall and very heavy the original Brompton wasn't much use for me. For years ive wanted Brompton to make a 20 incher, but now the G Spot is here I find that the more-or-less simple scaling up of the idea doesn't work all that well.

 

[tinywheels]

for me it's the price issue. 2.5k is not far off a Mason Bokeh, which is a much better proposition as far as I'm concerned. OK it don't fold but that's not a problem. Its a pukka gravel bike that rides a whole lot better than my brompton. Now tell me why I should put my hand in my pocket for a lardy bike that's neither fish nor fowl. G line my arse.