I just made a video review of the Aceoffix C5 which is a trifold that is…uh…heavily inspired by the T line.
Quick run down of the C5 specs if you don't know it:
-Aluminium frame, carbon fork
-7.5kg
-£815 if bought in China
I wanted to share here because I got to do a back to back test ride between a friend's T line and the C5 with the same conti urban contact tyres, saddle, and similar carbon seatpost. What I found was that the harshness of the ride I felt with the C5 wasn't imagined and it is very noticeable when going over rough roads. I think it's something you could definitely live with as a short city commuter though. The C5 has some other short comings as well that I go into more detail in the video but this is the type of bike Brompton is now competing with (along with others like the Java Neo 3) especially in Asia.
Keep in mind £815 is still a lot of money in a country like China and just having any trifold there means you have the disposable income and the associated lifestyle to justify having a bike like this vs bikeshare or subway. Honestly not sure how Brompton will compete in Asia short of playing up the snobbery that's associated with owning and paying more for an original.
Also, we bumped into a guy named Steve who worked with Andrew Ritchie when he was just starting out in the 1970s! He made the jigs for brazing the hinges. We only talked briefly but I filmed the interaction (with his permission) at the 12:36 mark in the video.
by edtse88