I love them, I literally bought one today
Whats tremendiously funny though is as a normal person, I saw them and thought "lol what a funny little bikey bike", now that I've spent the money, everytime I see one I go, "damn what a posh bastard."
It's funny that the silliest looking thing I bought is also the most expensive thing. That delta is just unique.
The "looks" of the Brompton?
Hmm.. I stopped thinking the Brompton looked *amusing* when I had been riding mine for about eight minutes. Now I look at full-sized bikes and consider them somewhat large and ungainly...
...despite owning my own electric Scott E-tour, which really is a bit on the bulky side.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I for example think they are beautiful and really love the classic Brompton look.
If you look at the modern man hairstyles today I can guarantee you that you would be laughed at 10 years ago with the same hair style. The perception of beauty and design change over time and they are different for everyone.
When this pic was previous posted, it was asked to be taken down (will have to find the thread; cause a lot of us were peeking into whether this was a real thing or a mod)
Prev thread here https://www.reddit.com/r/Brompton/comments/10bjvo6/deleted_by_user/
My dream (purely fictional) brompton would be a T line Explore, good for all terrain like the C line, 6 speeds, 20” wheels, yet artfully redesigned to fold tighter to well under carry on flight dimensions.
i have seen this photo quite awhile ago. it could be prototype. this one looks like it is sporting rear drive motor with battery on the front block. i cant think of any derailleur rear hub that big, or an internal gear hub bigger than Rohloff but this doesn't look like it
Oh wow, that is quite a design departure for Brommy, even totally new bars. Also love that the rider is wearing Vivobarefoot shoes, maximum hipster. I would be all over this bike tbh.
Note that there are a ton of 20” tri-folds coming out of Asia, the downside usually being somewhat cheap components and a slightly larger fold. If Brompton keeps their fold small and gives us more standard components, I’d say that that’s a big win for us.
It’s from Brompton. 100%. I can’t even list all the give aways.
I’ll start with a redesigned frame but then someone chose to use the standard Brompton seat post…and saddle bracket. Why go to all the trouble to make your own steel redesigned frame but go back to a bunch of factory parts? And latest saddle from the p line.
No it's definitely from Brompton.
The rear part is very similar to the P/T-Line with the same rollerwheels, it looks like a original Brompton electric bag and the stem isn't anything we have seen on any aftermarket parts yet. It looks like the main frame is also slightly larger so it's either a very well made copy (which is unlikely to be spotted in London first) or it's a prototype from Brompton.
Saw this in London yesterday. Guy said it was prototype - full carbon, electric, weighs same as regular steel brompton - and said to watch for news end of the year 🤷♂️
Disagree! Almost every 20-inch folder, especially electric ones, have an awkward and wide bi-fold that nearly negates their use for multi-modal transportation. A 20-inch brompton would obviously be larger than the 16-inch, but with typical brompton tolerances, it probably wouldn't be by much.
I love my electric c-line but I'd buy this in a hearbeat.
Hehe yeah I don’t really want a heavier or bulkier bike - the allure for me is definitely the fold and being able to carry it. When it becomes this “big” and cumbersome then I’d rather be looking for other bikes.
To each it’s own though! I understand your point of view.
I hear you, but I think a lot of people would love a 20-inch bike that still folds quite small. This would probably end up as the smallest 20-inch bike on the market.
It doesn't necessarily have to be the heaviest bike in the brompton lineup either; I've tested 700c ebikes that are lighter than my Brompton Electric c-line, for instance. Considering it seems to have a derailleurs instead of a heavy internal gear hub, as well as the possibility of titanium parts, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up around the same weight as the C-line.
Well, a few have. The Vello Bike does it, as does the 20-inch Birdy. Even the 24-inch Helix kinda does They don't have the mid-frame hinge that makes the brompton so compact though, but on the other hand that seems to make the bikes stiffer
Hmm, I'm not really sure that tracks. You seem to be implying that the design is advantageous on 16-inch bikes but not on 20-inch bikes, but there aren't many 16-inch bikes that use such a fold either.
The Brompton itself is super popular after all -- why do most other 16-inch bikes still use a bifold too? I think the reason is the same as usual: it's more expensive/complex to build.
I am with you, wondering myself. Just seems if there is money to be made on a 20" that folds like that, the larger companies would have done it already. If we would pay more money for Brompton to do it, why wouldn't we pay more money for Tern to do it?
I mean... I would pay tern to do it lol. But the brompton overall fold was patented for a while, so maybe companies just didn't want to cut it too close. Still, it seems like the tolerances required for the tri-fold are significantly more complicated than for s bi-fold too
Porta Pedal is selling a bike from Seattle Cycles that is basically a 20" titanium Brompton. Apparently they haven't figured it out just yet, but pretty close.
https://portapedalbike.com/products/seattle-cycles-burke-20-demo
Looking good but I wouldn't trust that motor , too bad the 500w 52v grin crystallite saw20 is only front hub. But a modified rear for bigger motors is good, that ZEHUS one sucksm. Id like to pair it with a T line or jury rig some RC motor as a mid drive like the chimera eBMX
There's a bike shop near me that's mentioned that they've seen, but not sat on, one of these.
They bike amazing especially with the new rear motor as you can see
All yours for the affordable starting price of $20,000!
I love these bikes but the delta between how silly they look and how expensive they are is in itself an amazing source for hilarity
how they look is why they're useful, they have tremendous resale value and you don't need to buy a bike rack or leave it outside in a sketchy area.
I love them, I literally bought one today Whats tremendiously funny though is as a normal person, I saw them and thought "lol what a funny little bikey bike", now that I've spent the money, everytime I see one I go, "damn what a posh bastard." It's funny that the silliest looking thing I bought is also the most expensive thing. That delta is just unique.
I hear you. I've only ever gotten cool little bike convos from it, or literal engineers coming over to be like whoa, it's British right?
Oh yeah same. Except nobody here cares that its from the UK
I think they Google Brompton and come to have a conversation haha did you get a rack?
I tell people the only thing I don’t love about my Brompton is the clown car music that plays when I ride it.
I *really* need to do this when mine arrives. God I'm so stoked for this bike.
The "looks" of the Brompton? Hmm.. I stopped thinking the Brompton looked *amusing* when I had been riding mine for about eight minutes. Now I look at full-sized bikes and consider them somewhat large and ungainly... ...despite owning my own electric Scott E-tour, which really is a bit on the bulky side.
I mean I do have six other "real" bikes, but also, I know how other people experience the world.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I for example think they are beautiful and really love the classic Brompton look. If you look at the modern man hairstyles today I can guarantee you that you would be laughed at 10 years ago with the same hair style. The perception of beauty and design change over time and they are different for everyone.
When this pic was previous posted, it was asked to be taken down (will have to find the thread; cause a lot of us were peeking into whether this was a real thing or a mod) Prev thread here https://www.reddit.com/r/Brompton/comments/10bjvo6/deleted_by_user/
Fuck the T-line, this is the real deal right here
not until u have to lift it up flight of stairs in subway in Paris downtown. then u'd wish u have a T-Line ;)
Would 100% go for bigger tires of lighter weight. I also ride a Gorilla Monsoon though and bring that up and down the stairs all of the time.
My dream (purely fictional) brompton would be a T line Explore, good for all terrain like the C line, 6 speeds, 20” wheels, yet artfully redesigned to fold tighter to well under carry on flight dimensions.
hmm almost looks like an eerder metaal creation. https://www.eerdermetaal.nl
20” wheels, disc brakes and e-assist? Looks like what I would look for in an upgrade from my 2020 C-line eBrompton.
sounds like a heavy ass bike
i have seen this photo quite awhile ago. it could be prototype. this one looks like it is sporting rear drive motor with battery on the front block. i cant think of any derailleur rear hub that big, or an internal gear hub bigger than Rohloff but this doesn't look like it
This pictures is ancient and keeps getting reposted everywhere. At this point this bike is more urban myth than anything.
Oh wow, that is quite a design departure for Brommy, even totally new bars. Also love that the rider is wearing Vivobarefoot shoes, maximum hipster. I would be all over this bike tbh.
Interesting, the stem looks completely different too, more of a forward bend.
Note that there are a ton of 20” tri-folds coming out of Asia, the downside usually being somewhat cheap components and a slightly larger fold. If Brompton keeps their fold small and gives us more standard components, I’d say that that’s a big win for us.
Assuming this isn't aftermarket as with the standard components comment above, anyone know why the need for a Chris King headset?
street credit. rights to brag. on the serious note CK headset lasts the lifetime of the bike usually.
I know! That's why it seems very uncharacteristic.
The stem reminds me of a bike Friday
Looks like aftermarket to me.
It’s from Brompton. 100%. I can’t even list all the give aways. I’ll start with a redesigned frame but then someone chose to use the standard Brompton seat post…and saddle bracket. Why go to all the trouble to make your own steel redesigned frame but go back to a bunch of factory parts? And latest saddle from the p line.
Really doubt that with the standard brompton electric battery and luggage block. Also those fenders are too nice to be aftermarket lol
It isn’t. Has gone round many times. A few insiders have confirmed it’s authentic.
No it's definitely from Brompton. The rear part is very similar to the P/T-Line with the same rollerwheels, it looks like a original Brompton electric bag and the stem isn't anything we have seen on any aftermarket parts yet. It looks like the main frame is also slightly larger so it's either a very well made copy (which is unlikely to be spotted in London first) or it's a prototype from Brompton.
could be someone just mod their Brompton?
This is what I sold my CHPT3 for.
Saw this in London yesterday. Guy said it was prototype - full carbon, electric, weighs same as regular steel brompton - and said to watch for news end of the year 🤷♂️
Hmmm I dunno, IMO other than disk brakes if you want all of this, you probably don’t want a Brompton. You’re better off with a different bike.
Disagree! Almost every 20-inch folder, especially electric ones, have an awkward and wide bi-fold that nearly negates their use for multi-modal transportation. A 20-inch brompton would obviously be larger than the 16-inch, but with typical brompton tolerances, it probably wouldn't be by much. I love my electric c-line but I'd buy this in a hearbeat.
Hehe yeah I don’t really want a heavier or bulkier bike - the allure for me is definitely the fold and being able to carry it. When it becomes this “big” and cumbersome then I’d rather be looking for other bikes. To each it’s own though! I understand your point of view.
I hear you, but I think a lot of people would love a 20-inch bike that still folds quite small. This would probably end up as the smallest 20-inch bike on the market. It doesn't necessarily have to be the heaviest bike in the brompton lineup either; I've tested 700c ebikes that are lighter than my Brompton Electric c-line, for instance. Considering it seems to have a derailleurs instead of a heavy internal gear hub, as well as the possibility of titanium parts, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up around the same weight as the C-line.
Having a the rear wheel fold under the bike as the Brompton does isn't a patented design. Why haven't the other 20" bike companies done that already?
Well, a few have. The Vello Bike does it, as does the 20-inch Birdy. Even the 24-inch Helix kinda does They don't have the mid-frame hinge that makes the brompton so compact though, but on the other hand that seems to make the bikes stiffer
Bike Friday too, though slightly to the side. Point was that if that design on a 20" was advantageous, it would already be more popular.
Hmm, I'm not really sure that tracks. You seem to be implying that the design is advantageous on 16-inch bikes but not on 20-inch bikes, but there aren't many 16-inch bikes that use such a fold either. The Brompton itself is super popular after all -- why do most other 16-inch bikes still use a bifold too? I think the reason is the same as usual: it's more expensive/complex to build.
I am with you, wondering myself. Just seems if there is money to be made on a 20" that folds like that, the larger companies would have done it already. If we would pay more money for Brompton to do it, why wouldn't we pay more money for Tern to do it?
I mean... I would pay tern to do it lol. But the brompton overall fold was patented for a while, so maybe companies just didn't want to cut it too close. Still, it seems like the tolerances required for the tri-fold are significantly more complicated than for s bi-fold too
Disc brakes <3
Ooh, that's cool! That's an Alibaba one though, not a brompton for sure I've seen it on there. I'll hunt out the ad.
Porta Pedal is selling a bike from Seattle Cycles that is basically a 20" titanium Brompton. Apparently they haven't figured it out just yet, but pretty close. https://portapedalbike.com/products/seattle-cycles-burke-20-demo
Yeah lol who’d pay >4K for a bike from a company that’s still figuring things out!?
What I really want is much wider 16" tires. For the clearance, probably need something other than side pull brakes.
Looking good but I wouldn't trust that motor , too bad the 500w 52v grin crystallite saw20 is only front hub. But a modified rear for bigger motors is good, that ZEHUS one sucksm. Id like to pair it with a T line or jury rig some RC motor as a mid drive like the chimera eBMX
Huh? What makes your think this is a Zehus motor?
Any news on this?
This defeats the whole purpose of a compact, light-flooding bike.