Bromptons - Anyone Bought One Recently?

[aileron346]

On my second Bromton now; just brilliant. A great British bit of engineering and never bettered. I use other bikes also but these can’t be beaten for compactness, storing inside the van and taking onto trains. They are surprisingly nippy if you keep the tyres pumped up to pressure (ie frequently due to their size). As others have said if you buy and don’t like you can sell easily - like the Cali pricy to buy but hold value well.

 

[Palm]

Hello,

Anyone bought a Brompton recently, thinking of buying two and was wondering what the pro's and con's are with a California.

Yes!

 

[Palm]

pro: you have a nice bike with you all the time without the bike rack mounted on your Cali
con: they are bigger than you thought

 

[Poppins]

If you are not sure about Brompton bikes, you can hire them. There's a very reasonably priced daily hire option which is also incredibly flexible. It involves collection and return from a docking station at a railway station. I hired one to take on a trial of a hired compact motorhome before settling on a Cali.
No substitute for try before you buy!
Brompton Bike Hire. Website and app. You have to register first, which takes a few days before they clear you to use their expensive bikes! No options, just the basic model.

Anyone know of a towbar mounted bike rack that actually allows you to open the tailgate rather than just claiming its possible?

 

[racali]

I bought a Brompton a few years ago (OK so not recently) and recently had a nano electric motor added for the long hills. As a solo traveller mine is store easily under the bed. A Brompton will do anything on road that other larger wheeled bikes will do - plenty on YouTube if you want to check. I have also fitted Tannus solid rubber tyres to obviate the anxiety of being stuck away from base with a puncture. Performance is as pneumatic but for even more comfort some fit Brooks independently suspended saddles for tender behinds. The downside is they are easily portable and therefore easily lifted. I have a lightweight lock as a deterrent when that coffee at a lovely French cafe prompts the call of nature, but even a serious (i.e. expensive and heavy) lock is nothing to a determined thief (I know as I have had one stolen). Not a problem if there are two of you to take turns guarding, or if you are prepared to lug it down the spiral stairs and share the tiny cubicle space.

 

[Smiffy4bikes]

I shall be selling mine soon..gutted isn’t the word

Sadly following knee surgery it simply is too painful for me to ride. I've done less than 20 miles on it, its virtually new!

2-speed, light and simple. It is a thing of beauty, but I can't justify keeping what is essentially (for me) a very expensive ornament!

 

[fozzybear]

Have you an idea how much you want for the bike?

 

[Baloni]

My Brompton fits under the back shelf on higher setting as I have an extender seat post for 34" inside leg! Great bikes and as yet (IMO) can't be beaten for relatively flat areas, canal tow paths or urban terrain by any other folders, I also have a Birdy & a 26" Dahon in the garage.

As someone said if you are going to be using a bike rack then take a big wheeled bike as they are 10-20% more efficient than a Brompton.

But for the flexibility of the Brompton throwing it on a train, in my Cali, or under the table in the Restaraunt it means it's my preferred bike (I am 52 on Monday) and hope to be riding mine for many more years!!!

 

[Smiffy4bikes]

Have you an idea how much you want for the bike?

Hi Kevin,

I bought the bike from Compton Cycles in Catford, London SE6. Well known Brompton specialists.

Its a S2LU Special, fitted with a Brooks Cambium saddle, Brooks grips, the Brompton Tool Kit which fits inside the frame and the Brompton air pump, which fits on the rear frame.

I paid just under £1180 for it, which is pretty much what you’d pay for it today.

Given that's its as good as new I’d be looking for somewhere around the £950 mark.

If you’d like any more photos then send me a PM

Carole

 

[SimonB]

I shall be selling mine soon..gutted isn’t the word

Sadly following knee surgery it simply is too painful for me to ride. I've done less than 20 miles on it, its virtually new!

2-speed, light and simple. It is a thing of beauty, but I can't justify keeping what is essentially (for me) a very expensive ornament!

View attachment 26077 View attachment 26078

Having had a knee joint replaced 2 years ago I found cycling quite painful at first and looked into electric bikes. I now use a Cityzen ebike which has a range of up to 70 miles.
Having now got my knee back into shape I can cycle happily on my Brompton again, which is the one I use most with the Cali. I keep it in the cabin when driving and use it to pop to the shops, etc when on site.

Before selling your Brompton can I suggest that you investigate having your Brompton retro fitted with an assist electric motor. This is something that a shop in Bristol does and they are part of a national chain.
https://www.electricbikesales.co.uk/bristolstore The battery is put in the front bag and connects with the contacts for the motor as you put it onto its mounting bracket. It obviously won't have the range of dedicated ebike, but it will do 20+ miles around the Bristol hills so could make your Brompton usable again.
Simon

 

[Smiffy4bikes]

Having had a knee joint replaced 2 years ago I found cycling quite painful at first and looked into electric bikes. I now use a Cityzen ebike which has a range of up to 70 miles.
Having now got my knee back into shape I can cycle happily on my Brompton again, which is the one I use most with the Cali. I keep it in the cabin when driving and use it to pop to the shops, etc when on site.

Before selling your Brompton can I suggest that you investigate having your Brompton retro fitted with an assist electric motor. This is something that a shop in Bristol does and they are part of a national chain.
https://www.electricbikesales.co.uk/bristolstore The battery is put in the front bag and connects with the contacts for the motor as you put it onto its mounting bracket. It obviously won't have the range of dedicated ebike, but it will do 20+ miles around the Bristol hills so could make your Brompton usable again.
Simon

Hi Simon,

Thank you for your kind words, very thoughtful of you I noticed recently that Brompton themselves have now introduced an electric version of their own.

I’m a regular cyclist, and have more than one hanging in my (bike) shed.... I bought the Brommie as I’d always wanted one, but sadly following the knee surgery it simply isn’t comfortable anymore, I think its the whole Brommie setup that doesn’t suit me anymore. I’m not the tallest and the seating position on the Brommie I think is whats causing the issue. Its such a shame because it would be perfect for using with the Cali, but hey-ho.

I used to be a regular weekend MTB cyclist, but that has now downgraded slightly to the odd blast around the woods and forest trails with the kids. Not that I’m too worried about that, I certainly have less bruises these days!!

Most of my cycling is now on my cyclocross road bike, which oddly my knee tolerates well, thankfully. In time I’ll need a brand new knee, but for now I’m trying to keep the existing patched up one going for as long as possible, cycling is a great way to keep the muscles around it strong thats for sure.

Thanks again for your thoughts, and keep pedalling !!

 

[SimonB]

Hi Simon,

Thank you for your kind words, very thoughtful of you I noticed recently that Brompton themselves have now introduced an electric version of their own.

I’m a regular cyclist, and have more than one hanging in my (bike) shed.... I bought the Brommie as I’d always wanted one, but sadly following the knee surgery it simply isn’t comfortable anymore, I think its the whole Brommie setup that doesn’t suit me anymore. I’m not the tallest and the seating position on the Brommie I think is whats causing the issue. Its such a shame because it would be perfect for using with the Cali, but hey-ho.

I used to be a regular weekend MTB cyclist, but that has now downgraded slightly to the odd blast around the woods and forest trails with the kids. Not that I’m too worried about that, I certainly have less bruises these days!!

Most of my cycling is now on my cyclocross road bike, which oddly my knee tolerates well, thankfully. In time I’ll need a brand new knee, but for now I’m trying to keep the existing patched up one going for as long as possible, cycling is a great way to keep the muscles around it strong thats for sure.

Thanks again for your thoughts, and keep pedalling !!

I understand your thoughts on the Brompton's riding position. Like many things it is a compromise. To be a good fold it must have small wheels and a short set up. I had a Bike Friday for a few years which was a much better ride than the Brompton, but the fold was not even closely similar. The wheels are larger, hence the better ride, but they don't fold under the frame but next to it. The handle bars don't fold, they lift out and have to be put in the bundle afterwards. But as a bike that could be folded it was superb. I could cycle a lot of miles on that with no discomfort, but to fold to go on a train it had to be planned carefully. The Brompton I fold to go into a shop, but I've never done more than local riding with it. I did watch a man challenge an ebike up Park Street which is a good hill in Bristol. The Brompton won!
I was thinking of a way for you to hang onto your Brompton for use with the Cali with all the convenience that offers. I don't think the motor conversion was horrendously expensive. Certainly far less than Brompton's version.
Good luck with your knee
Simon

 

[Randwick]

Hello,

Anyone bought a Brompton recently, thinking of buying two and was wondering what the pro's and con's are with a California.

An alternative to Dahon is a Tern folding bike - 20 inch wheels and like the Dahon the seat pillar and handlebars fold down to keep the bike below the roof line when it's on the rack. They do several models with different numbers of gears. I got one in a sale from Evans for under £500.