Received this recently! Really enjoying it. Only been able to use it to and from the gym at the moment and it's been great.
Pros
1. Way more comfortable than I expected.
2. Seems to be some flex which works as suspension.
3. The motor is surprisingly powerful.
4. Super fun to ride.
5. Only ridden 25km on assist level 2/3 and that seems to likely give 50km of range.
6. Doesn't feel like there's too much drag when riding after motor cuts out.
Cons
1. Stock roller wheels are terrible and I am getting the rack fitted soon.
2. Might benefit from more gears as I top out at about 33kmph.
3. It's not heavy but it's not light.
Hoping to ride through the winter. Any tips?
by murkster-dubez
3 Comments
Sounds great! How about hills vs the 4 gears? I have to resist getting one. I really don’t need one but they are so cool 😂
Top out at 33 isn’t too bad. I feel keeping up top speeds with 16“ rather inefficient (energy wise) and I guess the motor cuts off at 25 anyways? Nonetheless you could mount a 54 chain ring if you need more.
These things aren’t exactly built down to meet a price, so I wonder why the roller wheels continue to be such a low quality execution on an otherwise outstanding product.
Congrats! I have the previous-gen electric 12-speed (same battery, front motor instead of rear).
For winter riding, the #1 upgrade I’d recommend is **switching to chain wax**. Traditional cleaning was a mess in my condo; wax keeps the drivetrain much cleaner and holds up better in wet, salty conditions. Here’s my detailed write-up with Silca videos and alternatives:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Brompton/comments/1l9ky4s/comment/mxenlj2/
**Rack:** Great upgrade—adds ~0.8 lb but rolling the bike becomes dramatically easier.
**Battery + winter range (quick tips):**
– Cold temps can reduce range ~20–30%.
– I charge to ~80% and ride down to ~20–30% to extend lifespan.
– When I charge to 100% (about once a month), I ride within 24 hours—Brompton says not to store full.
– Avoid draining to 0%; if I hit ~10%, I turn assist off and keep lights only.
**Bring a second charger:** They’re small (~$50) and carrying one eliminates winter range anxiety—especially on longer rides where cold weather cuts range. A 30-min top-up adds a few miles and can be the difference between comfy and stressful.
**Gearing:** The new E-MOTIQ system doesn’t really allow adding more gears. You could try a larger chainring, but non-Brompton parts may void warranty. If gearing is important, the outgoing 12-speeds (like mine) are still available and discounted at many shops (~$1000 off).
Hope that helps, and welcome to the fold!