Today at the Edinburgh Bicycle Coop I got the chance to ride the new G-Line.
I really didn’t want to like it.
I’ve had my S3L-X for 15 years. It’s taken me on countless adventures, both here in the UK and overseas. It’s light, sensibly customised and when needed, easy to carry.
But the G-Line? I have to admit… it rides beautifully. The extra gears are very welcome, the responsiveness is classic Brompton and the fold feels instantly familiar. I was grinning across tarmac, cobblestones, hills and curbs. I rode it out and carried it back into the shop. …Who were lovely, by the way.
And now I’m conflicted. I don’t want to feel like I’m cheating on my trusty S3L-X.
So please tell me… for those of you who’ve had the G-Line for a while (or perhaps even switched over from the 16"), what do you really think?
What are the pros and cons compared to the original?
Am I just distracted by the new and shiny, or do I actually need to cough up twice what I paid for my original Brompton for this new incarnation?
I want this to be more than just loyalty to the brand. I want it to be a real conversation about what makes a Brompton special, and whether the G-Line still captures that original spirit.
Would love to hear from riders who’ve had time to live with it. Especially anyone who’s as sentimentally attached to their old Brompton as I am.
by documentally
3 Comments
I love mine, everything about it is better for me. The disc brakes, the hub gears, the tubeless option.
It also fucking slaps, it’s quick and stable
I have deliberately not tried the G Line so as to avoid being tempted.
Also, it’s not quite as easy to wield on and off public transport.
I have one. I also have a C-line 6 speed.
I bought the G line because I passionately HATE rim brakes & I have also converted mine to a Gates Carbon Drive belt system because I equally hate maintaining Bromptons gutter dragging chains.
I like the G line but it is very much a different bike. For a start it feels a lot more sluggish, which is understandable due to the larger wheels & added weight. I’d say it feels slow in comparison to my C-line
The handling is very different to a C-line. It feels much more like a ‘real’ bike in terms of riding behaviour, which isn’t a great thing to me because I love the agility of my C-line.
It’s a bigger bike, obviously. The folded size is a fair bit bigger, and the carry weight is a fair bit more. This doesn’t really bother me because I am an Adonis of a man but I could see the G line being a bit cumbersome to an average human being.
So to summarise it depends. For me, yes I love it but that’s because I want disk brakes and belt drive, if your expecting a slightly bigger original Brompton I don’t think you’ll be that impressed.
Hope that helps.