Living With A Brompton: What's A Folding Bike REALLY Like? 

Another advantage to folding bikes - apart from no lock to buy, carry, or fail - is that the bike doesn't have to stay out in the weather.

I am addicted to my Brompton. I am lucky enough to have a high end car and road bike, but they sit at home and I use my Brompton for transport and pleasure. I am bored of having to wear cycle shoes etc when cycling and worrying about where I leave my car. With a Brompton you can wear normal clothing and take it with you everywhere and in general the public have a soft spot for them as well. I have found my spiritual home with a Brompton.

The traffic behind my dude tho 😂. Ppl in the UK sure are understanding

the cars piling up behind him gave me anxiety

I know a Danish guy who did the Tour De France route riding a Brompton folding bike. Everyone was laughing, including the French, yet he did it and finished the route.

Use a Brompton bag on the front luggage block and it takes it up a level of rider comfort - it adds balance to the bike and no sweaty back from a backpack. It is amazing how much weight you can carry on the front block. Also a nice review! Thanks for posting.

One of my favourite things You can ride it to the pub.. have a few beers... phone a taxi to go home, and put it in the boot..

No matter how many times you see it, watching a Brompton bike open up will never not be satisfying.

I had the pleasure of seeing a brand new Brompton in the wild the other day. Well in my bank actually. The chap had just bought it and was paying in the cash to pay back the credit card I assume. It was beautiful. Of course it was all folded perched on it's lil wheels looking so majestic with its gold trim and gleaming frame. I just stared at it. The new owner was puzzled at my attention. I said what a fantastic machine you have there. He was more concerned with the price he had just paid for it. Yes it was expensive but worth every penny I said. It was my dream bike I told him. I am laughing now for having said that out loud but what the heck nothing wrong with having a dream.

Wow, I'm not really interested in getting a folding bike but this was wonderfully produced. A joy to watch.

Love my folding bike(not bromton) in York with flat landscape. It can let me park my car almost outside city and rich town center in about 10 min by little bike. No parking charges and great views while riding in historic town. I like it

Definitely agree! Fun, every time it comes out!

I bought a battered folding bike from a recycling project and it's been brilliant for taking on the train and going on rides.

I love my Brompton. Now it lives in Geneva with me reminding me of my time in London. There's a huge E-bike culture here, so Brompton gets quite a bit of attention and some strange looks too from the funny Swiss E-bikers. Couldn't care less, it's still the most practical thing I've ever bought.

I’ve commuted 80km per day with a H6R for the past 2yrs. Mostly flat and I average 20~21 on my way to the office and around 25~27 on way home. Before that I did the same commute on a MTB and average difference was around 2km/h slower. It’s not anywhere near fast as a road bike but I have done a 30km in an hour so not a slouch either. With marathon tires only had single puncture in 16,000km. Expensive and heavy but has been worthwhile in my case.

Great video. I've had my Brompton 6 speed for a few years now. Adding the front bag transformed the experience as it becomes a practical trolley too. Just added a Swytch pro and - well, transformed once more.

Damn... the traffic he makes

Best Bike ever! I use it every day and I love it. I also use an electric car and the Brompton is the perfect companion. When charging I can ride my bike. When I bought my car I also got free electricity for the car forever. I‘m traveling all over europe now with my car and my bike for free. This is a kind of freedom I really enjoy. Even parking often is free for an electric car. Without my Brompton this wouldn’t be half as much fun. My wife has a Brompton too and both bikes fit easily in the car. We love to explore the world and use our bikes.

Great vid! Just bought an M6l to bring in the new year, can't wait for it to arrive !!

Never rode a brompton to expensive for me. I've been riding my dahon mariner for about 15 years throughout Manhattan and it has never let me down I just love it. Oh and it only cost me $299 and I've only replaced the rear tire and the paddles

Just took a job in NYC with a lengthy commute by train in to the city, then subway to about 3/4 of a mile from where I'm actually working. I think I'll invest in one of these to have something to ride on and without having to worry about locking it up. Yeah, it's a little expensive, but the quality seems to be right up there and looks to be a great option for my needs. Thanks!

I'm glad you showed the climb test, as someone who lives in the mountains on top of a 5 mile climb. I'll probably have to stick to the more conventional road bike. But that would probably be cool if I didn't live where I do

They save people 5 to 10 mins a day and give them a little excercise amazing just pity about the price! They are far less stealable since they are never locked outside though so that is a huge advantage people don't talk about.

Best Brompton review video ever! BTW thumbs up to the polite drivers and thanks for their patience.

The sound of those bells always cracks me up lol

Awesome video! I just purchased a 9 speed Downtube. It’s coming tomorrow. This got me even more excited!!!

I have a Brompton and also a nice Moulton tsr 27..both are great bikes with the Moulton giving a more comfortable ride but does not fold..both are very quick bikes and good for London. I have found the Brompton to be the best folding bike as I have had few problems with wear and tear opening and folding many times a day.

"The Dutch reach" isn't about staying away from car doors (although that's _obviously_ a sensible thing to do!) - it's about the car driver using their opposite hand to open the door.

Inspiring video of a beautiful bike! One thing caught my attention: you do not use the extra length of the telescopic seat post, thus throwing almost half of the weight savings of the titanium fork and rear frame of the (expensive!) Superlight version out of the window.

I rode one for a year. It's bloody tough going up hills. Mine was a Giant Expressway 1. I took it around the country in my van, so handy.

Om the island State of Malta they have ancient tracks in the ground which are known as "Cart Ruts", and one area with many of those is known as "Clapham Junction"! Now I have seen the actual one!

Lovely Video. Really Highlights the flexibility of using a Folding Bike. I had an Electric Solex Mobiky Folding Bike onetime for Commuting to Work but I replaced with a Full Size Orbea Katu Electric Bike more suitable for Longer commutes. Im still considering a Brompton or possibly a Tern Folding Bike to ride along with my Partner who is a runner

Hello from NYC~There is a an easy toe clip mod that is a good balance between being ‘clipped-in’ while being able to wear regular sneakers. A great option for the more serious cyclist commuter!

Great video. Funny host. Watching this, I sort of wished I'd bought a folding bike when I lived in NYC for 23 years...but on the other hand, I tried riding a bike on NYC streets a few times, and I felt it was just way too dangerous.

Interesting. I got one folding bike too. Polygon Urbano 3. Not the best one, but it works very well. I love bike to work, bike to anywhere, but unfortunately my country is too hot so...riding a bike in the middle of the day is uncomfortable. And the traffic is quite terrible too.

Ok a more critical take for people on the fence on getting a folder since this guy was sponsored and obviously can't be too critical: I have 20" tires. The smaller your wheels the twitchier your ride, though I found it doesn't take more than a week to stop wobbling all over the path at 20". Potholes and gravel are more of an issue with smaller tires. If you don't mind a bumpier ride or are urban with mostly paved roads, shouldn't be intolerable. Be sure to get a folder you can lift with 1 arm and carry (i'm whimpy so I got a 23lb zizzo), or that can roll when folded, otherwise you lose a lot of the portability. Be sure to get a Brompton or folder with a fairly wide diameter between the pedals. This is what helps stop it from feeling like you are pedaling a clown car with ridiculously high cadence. Folders are great in the same way your smartphone camera is great. Folders are more readily at hand and thus you find yourself biking more. Bromptons are fantastic if you are a commuter that goes on the train. The quick fold and tiny wheels come in handy there. Otherwise, there are literally 10x cheaper ($300 vs $3000) respectable foldables geared towards compact storage for tiny apartment living and popping in the car, but lacking the quick unfold. Don't buy a Brompton without trying one or a similar 16-20" tire bike. It is just too much money to throw down on something you might find not pleasant enough to ride regularly.

Thank you. You have helped me make up my mind! 😉 love your videos!!

Really enjoyed this Ollie!

This all applies to any folding bike, but the Tern is modern and more convenient.

I love Brompton! I had one. A gorgeous M3L with a T bag. Absolutely loved it and was heartbroken when it was pancaked by a semi. I would get another one, but they're not cheap, the best part of about £1,000. Still, when it happens...in the meantime, I'll just hire...they have a Brompton hire station near me. By the way, I did have insurance, if you're asking.

Easy to use and clean. Very convenient.

"Look at all these losers locking their bikes up" ha ha ha ha Laughing out loud. Cheers from LA! I don't have a Brompton, I have a Tern but great review.

Tern also do a great MTB style folder.Great around London and easy to do big kms on

Seeing him happily riding right down the middle of the road with a line of about 10 cars waiting to pass him just epitomises the issue that people have with cyclists (I am a cyclist myself but totally get other commuters frustration with us).

NGL as someone who cycles to work in Sheffield (literally the hill capital of the UK) I found the fact there is a specific famous steep hill in London quite amusing... this is literally my trip to the corner shop!

i will always have a brompton in my bike collection.. superb bike.

A friend of mine has the electric version which packs a punch - up to 20 miles in top gear, limited to 15mph though whereas the US version is good for 20mph. Great fun but with a catch. Nearly £3K!

Per MapMyRide, Clapham to Wimbledon is under 5 miles; I'd never bother with a train LOL. (Yes, I'm a fellow Brommie rider)

Well done, thanks!

A couple of times you mentioned that one of the benefits is that you don't have to get all kitted up to ride it and instead wear regular street clothes. Is there any reason you can't do that on a regular road bike?

those cars behind him have to be going crazy haha

You are brave biking man ! Cars behind You can only chase your button ! No air is clear anymore !

They are brilliant, I'd rather have the m6r though with 6 gears and a rack, you can then have a very stable shopping trolley mode with the big wheels.

If any family have to have one bike it should be Brompton. Anyone can ride it. It can be stored in any tiny space and plus it's just a fun ride. What's not to like?

Climbing and headwinds are two instances where you REALLY feel the disadvantage of tiny wheels. If you haven't ridden a bike with 16" wheels it's shocking how much less powerful you feel than on a road bike when you encounter either of those obstacles.

I ride a folding bike too. Not a Brompton, but a trike; a HP Velotechnik Gekko 26 FX. It 10 kg heavier then a Brompton, the comfort level is much higher. Thanks to the deck chair seat and fat 50 mm/ 2 inch tires. How do i carry it on the train? In the station I just roll it in it original setup. I only retract the mirrors to pass through the ticket checking gates. At the platform I fold it, then I can roll the trike on its 2 suitcase wheels. I just need it to carry into the train. The Gekko is versatile enough to carry heavy loads, so I could take it on a holiday.

Got mine coming in two weeks. Can’t wait!

When I test rode one with the rental scheme Brompton does, I was shocked by how good it rides. Basically as good as my regular urban bike.

Great bikes. Beautifully engineered, surprisingly practical gear-carrying wise, and they handle really well. But good luck on fixing a rear wheel puncture, roadside.

Great Brompton advert!

This man is being a real life pokemon Character with the folding bike🔥

But why didn't you just ride from Clapham to Wimbledon ffs?

The steepest climb in my city is the "Bravo Hill" and its about 30%

Wimbledon to Richmond Park back to Clapham? That's a massive diversion home lol.

I need a brompton in my life! But man the cost is daunting!

People seem to love these.

Excellent video 👍🙂

I had a brompton but came to conclusion that if your going to use it as a commuter without ever needing to fold it, dont bother getting one. These bikes are more pleasure/leisure. A "traditional" double triangle frame is much better ride. You'll be zig zagging all over the road trying to avoid potholes with the little brompton wheels.

Great review

Brompton is like Lega, recently they have gotten so popular/marketed that people are used to seeing it around.

People in UK are so patient. From where I come from, those cars behind would be cursing

As much as i like the bike, but for the first half of the video I couldn't stop feeling bad for those people in traffic stuck behind you... Maybe ride a little closer to the curb?

Richmond park may be the longer way home but you're taking the scenic route.

Nice trip!

LOL, love the guy with the bow tie and the pinstripe suit with shorts .... he looks like Little Lord Fauntleroy grasping at his fading youth.

I do wish I had gone for the flat bar option on mine !

Excellent video.

Hey I just got one question, I just watched the video but I’m still confused, should I buy a folding bicycle or a normal one ? Because I wanna go normal on the road, you know, no pressure or overwork to reach the same speed as everyone does. Or get stucked climbing a road.

That traffic was giving me anxiety

Great , riding mine I get asked so many questions..

I particularly love these bikes! The Brompton is a design, ergonomics and engineering masterpiece! It's a beautiful and fascinating little machine, especially when folded, where it looks particularly intriguing.

I love my Brompton.

Looks like you have to work pretty hard on the long hauls !

Just bought one 😁👍👍👍

Amazing video, but just wondering why don't you buy a pedal-assisted bike. It will give you extra push particularly if you cycling up the hill slope.

So sad in Australia distributors kill the product and rip consumers off $3000 base and EVERYTHING is extra: The Brompton Toolkit ALONE is +$110 nevermind .. Lighting (USB or dynamo) Longer seatposts for taller riders (Extended or Telescopic) Different tyres Brooks Saddle Ergon Grips Brompton Rear Rack Essential Accessories to consider include: Front Luggage options Bike Cover Spare inner tube(s)

Brompton are the best bikes ever invented.Total gamechanger.

Try a Moulton you will love it.

My foldin bike is the dahon vybe D7 ive had it nearly two years and im a multimode commuter bike train bike, the only time i dont ride is if its heavy rain and i mean heavy, i try to mix up my routes to and from work before and after the train trip which is 20 to 30 mins, i do join the train at the start of its journey so can get th bike space quite easy, and watch other folders (mostly brompton) or see racing/mountain bikers struggle to get on and you do see them sigh with the "why didnt i get a folding bike" come on and have a chat about bikes....its a great conversation starter,

Great video

fantastic..

amazing

Amazing

I have 3 Montagues, 2 MTB & 1 Navigator road. Navigator is about be turned into a drop bar with full Sora. All are trunk friendly, yet none fits under my desk. For my commuting, I do not need the compactness of Brompton, but certainly will consider if I need to take trains etc... So, expensive though! Well engineered enough to be worth it. Wonder why there are no Chinese knockoffs readily available. Not that knockoffs will be comparable to original, given my experience with Strada & Montague, but wondering nevertheless.

I have a Tern Verge 9, its pretty awesome and fast as heck down hills. but I can say that the big downside is the smaller wheels. No matter how hard I may try, the smaller wheels takes more rotations and its rough going uphill, great gear and weight regardless.

I love my folding Stels

A Brompton is a "lousy bike" on the small wheels! I know as an owner of a much extra modified, SuperlightM6LXBrompton (For now 9,35 kilo, and still with mudguards! I hope to come below 9 kilo soon, and still with my mudguards?). Its sole purpose is its ability to be fold into a very small package! Finn. Denmark

It's got fenders! Yes!

I have my first bike here in London.. brompton bike to.. .. wheels for NHS.. i hope i will have the courage to use it... not on pavement tho

First of all i ride bikes, but seeing how many cars queueing up at 3:22 behind the host I start to see why some people hate bike riders that much in UK😂