‘What I really like about my Brompton is it is fun to ride, a doddle to fold and it is well made. When I take it on the tram, it folds neat and small, not much bigger than its 16” wheels. When you unfold it, people look in amazement as if you have pulled a rabbit out of a top hat. I am so glad that as a company we have decided to sell such a well-made and well-presented British-made bike that does what it says it can do.’ Former Bike Co-op member Alan Knott.
Every part of the bike must comply with Brompton's design goal - to produce a bicycle that rides well and which folds faster and neater than any other, beginning with the frame.
Every component on a Brompton is fold-friendly - and we don't just mean the hinged hi-tensile steel handlebar stem and the folding left-hand pedal.
For all the ingenuity that goes into its fold, the feature that most impresses people on their maiden voyage on a Brompton is how nicely it rides.
The smaller, lighter weight wheels with short spokes are intrinsically stronger and faster accelerating. The steering is similarly responsive and nifty. This is balanced with the frame's low centre of gravity, which makes the bike feel stable and the handling very predictable.
We're not saying that a Brompton will outsprint a pure road race bike. Nor will it cope with rough terrain like a mountain bike. But we can assure you that a Brompton is a complete blast when used for what it was built for - nipping around town as quickly (or as slowly) as you like, while being more than capable of longer jaunts. Plus, never forget that it's ultra neat fold makes the Brompton especially compatible with other forms of transport, making it an excellent companion when you travel afar on bus, train, boat, 'plane or car.
It might be smaller than most bikes, but that doesn't mean a Brompton isn't tough, strong and durable. Its shorter frame tubes and smaller spokes make it intrinsically more rigid. Even if you are 6 foot 6 inches (2 metres) tall and weigh 18 stone (114kg), you can ride a Brompton with confidence.
This reputation for reliability, plus the fact that the design remains fundamentally unaltered from one decade to the next, means that on the off chance you should ever decide to sell on your Brompton, it will probably hold its value better than any other brand of bike.
Another feature that makes Brompton truly stand out is that it is a modular design. Brompton might only do one version of their main frame, but they make up for this by offering a host of options that allow you to customise the bike to your needs and wishes.
This flexibility about specification, which Brompton call their B-spoke service, is another example of the benefits of these bikes being built in Britain. Brompton will build a bicycle just for you. That just ain't going to happen if your bike is mass produced on the other side of the globe.
In fact this B-spoke service is so popular, we rarely sell an off-the-peg Brompton, like the ones you will see on display in our shops in Leeds, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Canonmills. And that's despite the fact that you will have a wait around two months between ordering a custom built Brompton and picking it up from one of our shops.
One of the reasons Brompton's B-spoke service is so popular is because it's can be such a good deal for you, the rider.
Take saddles. If you go for the standard spec, you get a nice, modern, cushioned, lightweight, unisex saddle, which most people get on with fine. However, if you want to upgrade to a genuine Brooks B17 Special leather saddle in either the men's or women's version, Brompton will fit this saddle (which normally retails at £110) for only £65 extra (prices checked Jan 2017).
To view the most popular options available (handlebars, gearing, mudguards and rack) see our BUILDING YOUR BROMPTON document.
If you need another reason (or four) to buy a Brompton, take a look at our blog Folding Bikes: Why You Should Buy One
Or take a look at this blog and learn How to go Touring with a Folding Bike
