What’s one thing you wish people knew about owning these bikes? For me, the ease of commuting to work or on public transport has been game changing
by RockLobsterDunDun
What’s one thing you wish people knew about owning these bikes? For me, the ease of commuting to work or on public transport has been game changing
by RockLobsterDunDun
9 Comments
For new owners or those who test ride once, the twitchiness goes away, the gearing can make this bike fast as heck, and, overall, the bike is very capable and fun to ride once you get used to it.
I feel that people don’t understand how much better the folding is on this bike compared to other folding bikes.
Rolls/shopping cart mode. The way it locks itself into the folded shape, has the drivetrain protected inside. Compact shape. Other folders are fiddly and awkward to carry in comparison
Secondly, I feel that people don’t understand how useful it is to for last mile use if you are car owner. Keep it in your trunk/boot, park car where it is convenient or cheaper, and just cycle to your destination. And you don’t have to lock it up, keep it with you.
Not having to lock it outside.
The pictured handbars as flexy AF! (I have them). It’s by design but Im not keen on them and regret not getting a flat bar. While I can cheaply add a flat bar, the stem is shorter on the ML3 than the flat bar so the position would become much more aggressive.
Here (London), they are very popular so no-one is surprised that they are fast. For areas where they are less common, default gearing is quite steep (you can specify smaller chainrings) and can be fast at 90rpm, like blasting along at 30-35kph (18-21mph) without too much strain. The smaller wheels drop off speed sooner than larger wheeled bicycles when you coast. If you have a Brompton where they are not common, it can be fun to surprise a roadie with the pace.
Google tells me the 3 speed ML3 Gear inches are:
ML3, a three-speed model, typically features gear inches of 39.1″ (first gear), 51.7″ (second gear), and 69.4″ (third gear).
Im sure my ML3 has higher default gearing so maybe the default has been lowered since I got mine. Or I am wrong – I can’t be bothered to go and check it.
I think the single biggest thing is just how small they fold and how easy it is to take a folded bike anywhere. In five or so years of Brompton ownership across Melbourne, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, London, LA and New York, I have never been declined entry into a store, restaurant, cab, uber or any form of public transport. I am blessed to own both a C Line and a T Line and I think all the benefits of Brompton ownership are magnified many fold (no pun intended) by the incredible light weight of the T Line but really any Brompton is an incredibly well engineered and thought out bike. I own much more expensive bikes, but if I had to live with just one bike (and I don’t own a car) it would be a Brompton.
THE FOLD – it brings these unique options no other bike offers:
-Bring in: no lock outside
-Carry-on: trains/planes, store above your seat!
-Rack & Roll: I roll it in everywhere, with seat fully extended, luggage on the bike.
-Shopping Cart: Handlebars up, shop away, fill the basket!
-Joe Cool: Everyone looks at you with amazement and envy!
Agree with all the comments about commuting, folding, eight etc.
Downside is in some parts of US not a lot of authorized service. E-bike motor/battery is DEAD and no service within 100 miles. Brompty is good for self-service for mechanical stuff though.
In your first week of ownership, the folded bicycle will almost certainly fall over sideways leaving a scratch on the handlebar stem. Embrace the patina; it is your bike now. Every scuff tells a story.
It is a tool, not a toy.
How much more you will cycle because of the options it gives you. Sometimes I’ll make a few journeys by train in London, being able to bring it with me so I can cycle at the end of the day is amazing, and so is the flexibility of deciding to take a train at any time of day.
My mileage has only gone up for having a Brompton