Brompton Electric | Review | Cycling Weekly

[@cyclingweekly]

Brompton hasn't teamed up with McLaren, but with Williams, we're sorry for our mistake.

[@keithwilkinson8310]

You should have remade the video, or at least redone the first bit with the several times mentioned wrong partner. Better still. not make such a glaring mistake.

[@philw4625]

I own one of the first e bromptons so can add comment. Its pretty good overall and fits a niche nicely. Slightly heavier than a standard brompton, but without the battery it feels pretty much identical to a standard and the motor offers zero resistance (in the forward direction!). Its quick on full assist, but lowest level barely does anything (this has apparently changed with the latest software update). Lighting is very effective and automatic mode is very useful. Very effective on hills - my wife thrashed me up cheddar gorge and she doesn't cycle much. Range in our hands seems to be between minimum 30 and probable maximum 50 miles, depending on how many hills you do. Assistance tails off gradually at 15.5 mph so you don't feel the 'cliff edge' that some e bikes have, and if you are reasonably fit, you will spend a fair bit of time unassisted which doesn't feel significantly harder and preserves battery for the hills. It works, and i can more or less match my pace on a road bike, mainly due to the sheer speed going up hills. It folds quickly (20 seconds is easy - some can do it even quicker - there's a better way to do it than the one shown in this video - look up the brompton world championship folding race!). Full charge takes 4 hours on standard charger, and the cable is a tiny bit of a faff because it is a 'DIN' style plug that only goes in one way and needs lining up properly. Downsides - very slightly whiny motor, pricey, heavier, bags are ok but storage is more limited than a standard brompton with one of the big bags, the battery mount can rattle a bit, and some users report that on long hills the assistance can fluctuate, although again, i believe this is getting better with software updates. Would have preferred a 'percentage' battery gauge - this one isn't linear and i can't remember what each light represents (i think the last light flashes when you are below 20%?). in summary, if you want the full e bike experience with massive range, perhaps save money and buy a more conventional e bike with crank based motor (they are superb, if incredibly heavy and thus very hard to ride with a flat battery), but this is about convenience and foldability. If you like bromptons ( i love them), and want the convenience (plus the security of being able to bring it in doors with you), and you rarely ride more than 40 miles, give it a try. Also very useful in situations such as caravans, motorhomes, boats, small flats etc where space is limited. Also works perfectly well out of the city - we use ours mainly for modest day rides in the countryside - me on a conventional one and mrs on the electric, which keeps us more or less matched!. Works well for multiple users as seat height is easy to quickly adjust. Also, as with all other e bikes, it will need proper servicing, which could be a bit of a hassle. ( in answer to a question in the thread, there is no regeneration on the move - it would add weight and complexity, and would just slow you down on descents and make it hard to pedal on the flat- i don't think any e bike does this - it would be largely pointless, unless linked to the brakes, and even then would generate meaningless amounts of charge in reality)

[@petertaranscorsese2900]

phil watt - really helpful, thanks....I get mine at the weekend :- )

[@lonestarlaurel8620]

Y Big thanks here for sharing your thoughtful and thorough insights Just now starting to consider Brompton ebiking possibilities. Gratitude!

[@derekmoy4632]

I just purchased this and it's fantastic. Even without using the battery and motor, it rides like a regular brompton. The added weight of the motor and battery is barely noticable. Very practical bike.

[@kierenkd]

Brompton will fit under your desk and also no need to carry in the shop - fold it up except the handlebar section and you can wheel it around like a trolly. You can also leave the front bag or battery pack on to put your shopping in. (thats what the 2 little wheels are for near the bottom of the seat post)

[@TR4zest]

In a regular supermarket, I fold and put it in one of the larger trollies. Safe and much easier.

[@greghilliard7641]

Fundamentally they’re cool. The electric is my first ever. And I’m giggling every time I ride it. The looks I get from the younguns says it’s all and it’s always a talking point. Worth every single penny.

[@theibecks]

Locking it up should be an absolute last resort. The whole point it that it goes everywhere with you and they are unfortunately very sought-after by bike thieves. If you’re wandering round a shop, part-fold it until it’s in trolley mode. You can fit Easy Wheels to the frame to make it easier to push or pull in that mode. The bag/battery can stay on the front. If carrying it up or down stairs, leave it unfolded if possible and sling the saddle over your shoulder.

[@TimCullis]

We bought a pair of Bromptons 20-plus years ago and loved them until they were stolen. I am currently looking for a folding electric bike and your video has just about convinced me.

[@deekyevans5235]

Did someone damage the front mudguard? It looks bent

[@Frack_Black]

Follow up video tour of the Brompton factory to see the manufacturing process, perhaps?

[@67Perryb]

My wife and I rode the e-Brompton today. It was wonderful. However, it does not have a torque-sensing bottom bracket, but instead has a cadence sensor at the chain idler. There was lag when starting, and like all cadence sensing works better at a certain speed in each gear. Overall we were happy with it and my wife will probably buy.

[@kentwydell9322]

Mine has sensors in the bottom bracket. I'm told there are for both torque and cadence. Nothing at the chain idler.

[@dr.baobao]

Guy on the right did an amazing job standing completely still.

[@petewebb6952]

I agree. When I tried a demo electric getting away from start was the best thing. Makes it less twitchy too.

[@marcosjosecardosodeoliveir7124]

Thanks for sharing this video. I live in Campinas, Brazil. I Have folding bike too. Her it's black. Brompton is incredible.

[@Zokermanswern]

Love this bike well worth it . Good construction as in quality built . You can't go wrong !

[@bormil66]

Today I had chance to try Electric Brompton. Excellent experience . Only two things I would like to add 1) for time being , not possible to order open front basket with integrated battery (from radicaldesign) and during commuting front motor is quite noisy comparing to other electric motors! Definitely my next choice but lets wait 2020 :) Here in Germany you must wait at least 40 days to get one :)

[@paulwoodman5131]

2 bikes on my +1 bucket list, folder & an electric. A twofer!

[@washy1965]

FANTASTIC GUYS ❤❤❤❤ IT👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@tomaszwiatr781]

These hanging cables are problematic but cables road is smooth line. Good machine!

[@Countrystock]

Love Bromptons, British icon

[@carold8308]

Can you add a pannier rack/basket on the back.

[@schwegch]

Why are you not explaining the differences between the 2 & 6 gears model? Please!

[@ZzulfadliNasir]

Please do the Brompton electric ⚡️ action outdoor please like how the effective of gear without motor when pedaling? Will it become heavy to pedal? How about the sound? Is it too loud? Thank you

[@predpalina]

They should've partnered with Zehus motor/battery combo to maintain that slick simplistic Brompton look.

[@crazeyantface]

Bought a couple of Bromptons at Evans online for our holiday. Left 3 weeks to plan and thought that was enough time to buy a bike labeled in stock and in warehouse, pick up max 10 days. Right, bike due in no more than 10 days. With no prior notice on day of pick up we find the bike is delayed a month!! Holiday ruined? No we have time to find another bike so refund? No Evans assure us they have the same bike elsewhere that can be picked up in 3 days. 3 days pass and the store holding our bikes closes for renovations.. not open again for a week! Evans customer service advise we call stores in neighboring towns to see if they have the same bikes. They do!! Great pick up tomorrow. Great!! We drive 1 hour to get to the store. Bikes have not arrived and are not scheduled to. Holiday plans ruined. Angry call to customer service, this time I demand to talk to the top. I explain my experience, she pulls the strings and we can pick up the first order at the local store.. they will allow the bikes to be handed out even though the store is closed. Great.. all sorted at literally the last minute... and a gift card to say sorry. Update: They can stick their gift voucher where the sun doesn't shine! We arrive at our destination after the mad rush to get the bikes, flustered to say the least. unpack the bikes and they are damaged with critical parts missing!! There is no sign of damage on the packaging and the kind of damage sustained required quite a crash that would have destroyed packaging. the damage was not described at purchase... this is a surprise! how will Evans address this? Ans they will not. They claim the bikes where checked and checked on collect. This is simply not true. and obviously so.. how could they have checked the bikes and yet missed the crucial components required for the bikes to unfold? I am taking this to trading standards.. this has been a nightmare. Don't risk it at Evans cycles.. they are rotten to the core!

[@nastythomashobbs]

I do love riding my non electric Brompton but not sure it will compete on the electric side with the convenience and portability of electric scooters.

[@kentwydell9322]

3.55 The front mudguard looks wrecked. When you fold you have to have the handlebars slightly turned or the rear wheel will hit the mudguard

[@Az-Tech]

I am fall in love with this bike :(

[@raycarlson1342]

Hi Simon great video about a wonderful bike. I have one too, although not the Brompton electric version. Great to see you :-) Ray Carlson.

[@Darwinion]

Very neat package but far too expensive. I just bought a B75 and can get an electric kit on that taking total cost to around £1200. Will have a heavier but longer range battery and not look quite as neat but I don't lost the luggage block as battery is on inside of stem. Folds perfectly. Do have to fit slightly longer brake/gear cables though to get rid of that big "triangle" they make at the frame hinge. Battery would catch and rub there if you didn't.

[@Soul.7]

It will void your two year warranty using a third party electric system on your Brompton, my local dealer just told me. So some people might want to add external electric function later on. Or see if the new company will honour your warranty - I’ve heard of at least one that does.

[@velosapien]

My only gripe is 25kmh. My daily commute takes me to speed mostly above 30kmh. Are there any upgrade kits that does not restrict the speed?

[@reggiebuffat]

@Pootling along 15.5mph is 25kph. It's another dumb EU regulation. Don't get me started...

[@zivkovicable]

​@@reggiebuffat It's the case in virtually every country in the world. In some US states they treat them like motorbikes, so you need to wear a helmet a have a driving license. But you go ahead & blame everything on the EU. In fact EU directives can be implemented any way the individual country wishes.

[@GTRider69]

Funny enough in Northern Ireland you need a motorcycle licence, licence plates, VED and insurance in on e bikes and they are in the EU.

[@reggiebuffat]

@@zivkovicable. The EU has always felt to me like colonization without military occupation.

[@GASJful]

i hop some one get a solution for the speed limit...more 10kmh is enought :) ifi you know anythimg about this contact me pelase. [e-mail] thanks :)

[@LuzReyesTercero]

LOVE It!

[@graememorrison7408]

First comment gets a free Brompton right?

[@tabuleirocmd]

I would like to up grade my regular old brumpton to an ebike but I´m lost in all those secondary market options which can be good or not so good. Does anyone have a clue? Thanks

[@deepindercheema]

ARCC in Cambridge. I think they have advantages over the E Brompton ( which I have) so I am converting a P Line to ARCC.

[@peter_smyth]

5:50 "Watts per hour", what?

[@davidclark3643]

Lol

[@carlvu7]

Do they retrofit my old Brompton? Wish they put the battery on the post. Would be lot cleaner. Does it have a throttle that you can use without pedal assist? Very useful when crossing the street or to give yourself a push to get started.

[@GuyCruls]

how many videos do I have to watch before I see the damn bike in action?!!! can it run fully on its own steam or is it a case of pedalling to prompt the motor to kick in?

[@dewexdewex]

It's a pedelec; you have to pedal it. It complies with UK law. It is max 250W. If you want something to pull you along without pedalling, you'll need a 36V battery and a minimum 500W motor. A 13Ah battery on that config will get you 12 miles ish without pedalling. Under UK law, that's a motorcycle and you'd have to get it registered, taxed, insured and wear a helmet.

[@lollycopter]

Buy the rear rack with with the large wheels and it's easier to wheel around indoors. Bromptons already have pretty good acceleration and knowing how to track stand helps with stability but an electric motor will help out a lot of people. Also, maybe use a proper autocue system so it doesn't look so scripted. Look directly into the lens please! Pretty good honest review otherwise.

[@frankhooper7871]

The rear rack _does_ make rolling it easier...but the electric Brompton doesn't come with a rear rack option for some reason.

[@kentwydell9322]

@@frankhooper7871 I think the reason is that the weight of the motor would make it tip over and for that reason the folded front wheel is on the ground. Well, it is on mine. That means that it rolls better in one direction. I haven't seen anything 'official' on this subject.

[@ucheucheuche]

The weight issue killed it for me

[@mimodelorean]

McLaren? lol ... they teamed up with Williams m8s "Brompton, manufacturer of the iconic folding bike, engaged Williams Advanced Engineering in 2017 to support on the production of an electrified version. "

[@cyclingweekly]

You are absolutely right and we are very sorry for our mistake.

[@mimodelorean]

yaa no worries ..felt sorry for good ol' Frank :)

[@completelystupid87]

It’s more expensive than my car, looks neat though

[@kentvun]

Does it hav regerative breaking?

[@doddsalfa]

Bafang has half the size motor no less powerful whats the problem?

[@rydmerlin]

You'll want to ask if the brake gives it any kind of power cut off.

[@dewexdewex]

Unless there's an e-brake, the brushless DC hub motor will happily freewheel.

[@shot2death876]

Thought about getting a Brompton because of it's folding ability in the past but sorry, this electric bike is just not good enough for over £2000 as I have seen advertized. They are also a magnet for thieves and having to keep an eye on them all the time is not worth the effort.

[@tiltil9442]

I respect your opinion.

[@ZzulfadliNasir]

Can u please do the Brompton electric ⚡️ action outdoor? Like how hard to pedal with gear without motor? Is it heavy? And how about the sound? The noise? And can the pedaling only generate power to charge the battery? Thank you 😊

[@tiltil9442]

No, they won't. Takes about 70 extra Watts. Yes, relatively. Nice and quiet. None. No. Welcome :)

[@owenchuarbx]

I'll get the standard brompton

[@danmcool69]

Why are there so many cables... couldn't you have found a better, more integrated, more neat solution? Also the battery seems a bit on the heavy side for the capacity...

[@jimquinn799]

Like the bike.... Hate the price. I have two other options. Swagtron EB5 Pro Plus. 499.00. Maybe not as good a bike but it's solid, well built and certainly not as much as 3000.00 worse. Then there's The One. Lighter than the Brompton actually and feature wise close to the Brompton than the Swagtron. Costs around half as much as a Brompton. Again I do think the Brompton is the better of the three but not that much better.

[@deekyevans5235]

Can also fold without removing the bag

[@reggiebuffat]

Yes you can, and you can push it lime a trolley.

[@Merllynn1]

Awesome !!!!!

[@Cellblock1138]

Shot 1, scene 1. Let's point at something that's blocked by the other presenter. Do better CW...

[@reggiebuffat]

The whole video I was wondering, why aren't they behind the bike?

[@dimitrioskalentakis861]

Well done for your video and your review. Would you recommend getting the 2 or the 6 gears for quite hilly cities like Edinburgh? Thanks!

[@rogersaunders1770]

I'd go for the 6 speeds any time! The BWR Hub gives wide ratios and will climb any hill if you are fit enough. The older 6-speeders used a standard hub and the ratios were rather close. I bought one and my wife bought one 3 months later with the BWR hub. The difference is amazing. I eventually upgraded my own bike!

[@kentwydell9322]

I have the 6 speed and I can thoroughly recommend it. A change on the derailleur halves the difference between a change on the hub gear. Very clever. I live in a hilly area and there might come a day when my battery is depleted and I have to get home on leg power alone.

[@petertaranscorsese2900]

Has anyone worked out a good system to take the electric into a supermarket for a quick shop? - wheel it / put inside the shopping trolley / where to put the battery - do stores allow that? - cheers - Peter

[@frankhooper7871]

I take my non-electric Brompton into stores all the time. The only one that ever raised a fuss was a village Co-op. Quoted it as a 'heath and safety' issue - of course, as the wheels on the rack never touch the road, there's less issue than with shopping trollies really.

[@rogersaunders1770]

Peter, I've taken mine round Wilkinsons in the trolley when I forgot my lock. no comment from the Staff, but the bystanders when I came out were astonished "did you buy that in there?" And when I packed my shopping in the Touring bag and clipped it on the front they were even more impressed. I was asked to do a demo of the fold again.

[@bormil66]

no one talking about losing the front basket - radical design model ( shopping )- massive drawback and also no lights when you are out of the battery power!!! also this is a problem with the Switch kit! I do not like to wear a backpack, Brompton must create a new bag similar to the radical design model with an integrated battery pack!

[@moonknite1]

Good value for the dollar

[@tikkathreebarrels]

So we are going to talk about some magic on the front of this bike: I'm just going to stand in front of it so the viewers cant see? Welded frame or brazed?

[@stephensaines7100]

brompton.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203295301-Why-are-Brompton-frame-parts-brazed-

[@yell50]

folding up the bike they both folded only one pedal away leaving the other one to knock someone in the shins while they are carrying the cycle .......oooh that would be very painful.

[@rogersaunders1770]

Mark, the unfolded pedal is behind the front wheel when it's folded so it doesn't stick out more than a few mm. If that pedal did fold it would get in the way generally. It's quite amazing how little space the Brompton takes up when folded, that's why they are so popular. They ride just like an ordinary bike, if you've never tried one. It's as far away from a Raleigh Shopper as you can get ... and I've owned both!

[@ccmp23]

Waited whole video for the price... 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lollycopter]

Probably more than you can afford, but cheaper than a reasonable car.

[@deekyevans5235]

£3k right

[@AC-ey1tn]

@@lollycopter Its not that expensive its like 4k usd. About one month of expenses.

[@boodwunquedou7070]

PRIEST ! B

[@greghilliard7641]

Oh and it’s proper British 🇬🇧 😀

[@anggazo]

harganya berapaan ya

[@XGiveMeLibertyX]

These have been around for a wile now and they still haven’t dropped the prices yet. Almost 4 grand for a electric bicycle is ridiculous. I’d like to have one but will probably just buy a motorcycle instead.

[@HoHienKe1986]

McLaren? 🤣

[@reggiebuffat]

Williams

[@pieterstedehouder8441]

Yep when going in to a shop you must take the battery with you, very clever. Maybe they should tell the real and whole truth about this way too expensive bike.

[@smhlight]

.

[@CosgroveNotts]

It's just an electric motor

[@simonh2747]

Is this a paid review? Don´t get me wrong, I love Brompton and I own one but stil, there are few small complains. If you look at the different cycling forums, you will see the suggestions on this model . e.g a bigger bag would be better so you don't need to carry two bags and so on. Stuff you mentioned about the engine are not only for Brompton but for all the ebikes in europian countries due to the law that e-bikes should not behave like a moped .

[@cyclingweekly]

Not paid!

[@williamharding1319]

What an incredibly slow review.

[@christiannebailey6857]

It's an incredibly thorough review :-)

[@sandydennylives1392]

Top engineers, Williams racing team, and it's sodding 15 mph. No wonder GP success is sadly absent.

[@galaxi407]

I found myself skipping through parts of this boring review. I'll have to find another video that's far more engaging.

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

Great bike!! 👍👍