Is a Brompton faster than a road bike - The answer may surprise you!

I set out to answer the age old question that no one is asking. Is a Brompton faster than a road bike? Which is faster, A 23 year old Vintage Cannondale R300 or a brand new Brompton B75. I race them to the city of York to see which will be victorious over 12 miles on road, bike path and busy city. The answer may surprise you.
IG: / radhausbikes
I also mess around with vintage toys at: / thatwasrad

[@drewsmith7726]

I didn't have any bikes for a few years and when I decided to get one again, I went with the Brompton. Over 1200 miles later I still love it! It's so much easier to ride than my old mountain bikes were. I have the 6-speed with the standard front chain ring. I can pedal all the way up to about 35 miles per hour, and at those speeds, the little 16" wheels are not quite as stable feeling as I would like. Since that top speed is higher than I feel comfortable and stable riding, I am somewhat tempted to switch to the smaller front chain ring at some point to have slightly lower gearing for steep hills.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

On my 6 speed "SuperlightM6LXBrompton" I honestly, at first didn't knew for what use I had the low gears? Till I met a steep serpentine road going up, and had to walk on top! But I may walk with the bike for a higher speed then! Finn. Denmark

[@earlbee3196]

35 miles an hour, Wow that’s going some. 🚴🏼‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴🏼

[@xosece]

is it any good for riding uphill? I guess not, for what you say. I'd love to have a folding bike, but I gotta find one that can ride hills and go fast if required, and I am not sure that exists yet.

[@drewsmith7726]

@@xosececheck out some videos by best side cycling. He goes up some crazy steep hills in Seattle on his Brompton.

[@xosece]

@@drewsmith7726 many thanks! Will do. I wonder which drivetrain he uses, and whether it is also fast on the flat and downhill

[@grahamlongley8298]

I do a daily 13 mile local round trip for exercise with my 6 speed Brompton. Before I had the jab in February I was averaging 16MPH if there was little wind. Not really going flat out. Just exercising. After the jab I was very ill for several months . My legs have suffered & i have been unable to do the circuit. Hope to be back on it soon though & hope to get back to the 16MPH . I am 74 yrs old & not a cyclist as such.

[@radhaus4528]

16 mph average is pretty good going at any age! Hope you get back to it soon.

[@HDsharp]

Can't do steep hills on the brompton without getting knackered!

[@grahamlongley8298]

@@radhaus4528 thanks

[@dfabella85]

Jab no good.

[@grahamlongley8298]

@@dfabella85 now had jab no 4 and after no 3 was very I’ll all winter. Since no 4 I have lost 4 stone. Had usual cancer checks and it is not that. Docs seem to ignore the fact that each time I have jab I suffer severe headaches for weeks. This year I have had to cancel sailing my yacht to the Channel Islands as I am too week. I have just managed to start sailing again and am in ostend

[@pootlingalong8928]

I have a 3 speed Brompton and a 3 speed big wheeled bike. I find they’re pretty much the same over a measured distance. Sometimes the Brom wins, sometimes the big wheels. My conclusion is the difference is negligible. Since the Brompton came into my life I rarely ride the big wheels, the Brompton is just so much fun!

[@joshpodejko7305]

Very happy with. Worked as well as i expected

[@cjl2351]

I would still go with a folded bike even if it was 30% less efficient than a road bike. For me, it's just faster than walking, and it's perfect for patching between different mass transit networks. I use a Zizzo for this purpose, and it really speeds up getting anywhere without a car, and that's with just light pedaling. Still, it's impressive to see that the Brompton was able to perform better; maybe there was a little more wind behind you that day.

[@Melv245]

I also rode Ford Ride London to Essex, 100 miles in one day with my single speed Brompton: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXmpfJytbN2qZtEsi=RRjJxMlzIXL03N6Q

[@Funinhounslow]

Even after three years ownership I’m still taken aback by the speed of my Brompton when I return to it after a bit of a break. The fast acceleration more than makes up for a slightly lower top speed - I never push it too much as those small wheels aren’t the most stable at speed. Went for the S2 - I never point it at hills so two gears is fine and the weight saving is welcome when lugging it around folded. Bromptons are amazing. You really have to own one to appreciate their genius… Very interesting video!

[@radhaus4528]

Many thanks for watching! They are like a BMX but comfortable! How are the straight bars working out for you? I'm thinking of putting some carbon ones on mine. For weight saving and looking cool 😎

[@Funinhounslow]

@@radhaus4528 I have ridden a friend’s with the M handlebars and I can see the appeal of the upright stance it gives, especially in the city But I like the more forward stance of the flat bar - plus it puts a bit of weight over the front wheel. Only downside is cobbles and uneven surfaces. I think an M3 would be the ideal companion to my S2 but I am NOT going down that road 🤣

[@FalkinerTim]

I have a Brompton with M handlebar and six speed gearbox. I find I cannot keep up with large bikes on the flat but going uphill it is faster if anything and it accellerates faster than large-wheeled bikes. I feel happy with it on shared paths as it is easy to slow down and speed up and has a smaller footprint.

[@HDsharp]

Bromptons cant do hills, somewhere along your bike journey you will encounter steep gradient, by then you wished you didnt slash out on an overpriced bike like the brompton when you can just get yourself a mtb fitted with slicks.

[@Funinhounslow]

@@HDsharp I use my Brompton to get around London, there aren’t any “steep gradients” here mate. And good luck taking your mountain bike on a bus or in a cafe. Horses for courses…

[@TM-vg4mx]

love my B75, reduced my chain to 39t as I am not fit cyclist, but I love my Brompton.

[@phillblake6829]

Great choice

[@CaffeineJogger]

Would be interesting to take it further using the Garmin and compare heat rate and recovery times for both.

[@MGriff-q1i]

I am curious about the set up. I have recently improved the average and top speeds of the Brompton by: changing the seat post (for optimum riding position); seat (Brookes); suspension block (scrowave- for better rear frame control and comfort; plus tyres (Continental urban -less rolling resistance) and a thorough clean of the chain and chain path). It is now possible to cover rides at much better speeds. It could also be that now I am trying to get higher average splits per kilometre (as measured by my smart watch). I find the Brompton is actually performing above my expectations as far as average speed is concerned. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised. Theoretically the Brompton should be less efficient and slower. I know your set up is different but for me the fact that I can store the bike inside in my study means I get it out a lot more than I used to get my old hybrid out of the shed. The Brompton pays for itself by being convenient and therefore ready to go more easily.

[@phillblake6829]

Love the music I haven’t touched my big bike since getting my Brompton

[@marcr9541]

I have ridden a folding bike since 2004 and a Road bike regularly since 2011. The Road bike averages about 2 to 3kmph faster than the Folder for the same effort. However a small wheeled bike is much faster than a 700c wheeled Road bike from a standing start. Get passed after about 200m.

[@pjbilly2464]

I often ride out on my Brompton with mates on full carbon etc and I am amazed that I can keep up with them. I did this as a bit of fun and an experiment just after I bought the bike along the lines of your comparison, is my Brompton fast enough to stay with the carbon boys, the answer turned out to be yes. I reckon I work harder for the full ride, hills I am definitely slower (not enough gear choice). So I can confirm your "test" results. Its a funny thing. These rides are around 40- 50 miles long.

[@radhaus4528]

It's all about the underdog! 40-50 miles is pretty impressive. I don't ride that far very often but I reckon the Brompton would be fine for it. I overtook some carbon boys on my Cannondale the other day. Their Rapha Jerseys probably cost more than my bike!

[@HDsharp]

While your buddies were just cruising you're having to work harder just to keep up.

[@davidhunternyc1]

That Cannondale is gorgeous, a real hot tamale BUT I wonder how the new Brompton T-Line bike would do, especially with custom wheels, like the Hubsmith HS-BUMBEE and custom carbon crankset, a bike that would weigh less than 6.8 kg (15 pounds). The world of bike tech is moving fast.

[@earlbee3196]

Oh yes, the rabbit ears tend to be a little rattily .

[@jean-philippelesne598]

can training wheels be attached?

[@VeeVeeArcher]

The aero gains from the position on a road bike come more into play at 16+ mph If you aren't racing, or in a group ride with other fast roadies, then you don't have much need for aero everything. Comfort, foldability for transit use or taking into the office etc.. is likely more important for many riders/commuters. Routes, weather, traffic, etc.. will vary for every cyclist around the world. I need a bike to take into an elevator and store in the office. The Brompton is definitely the bike I'd choose. It was nice to see you found it plenty fast. Thanks for the video

[@marcomongke3116]

Smaller bikes can accelerate fast and pass through people with less hassle and squeeze through smaller places??? Thats how i feel about my dahon compared to my giant xtc in urban commutes.

[@radhaus4528]

Yeah, definitely. I think a Brompton is kind of like a BMX/City bike hybrid. Fast and super manoeuvrable. And great for backflips, probably! 🙂

[@pmunity]

Good video, thanks. I've freewheeled downhill on my Brompton with people on bikes with full sized wheels and just letting the bikes roll, the Brompton is significantly faster. Also it has quicker acceleration than road bikes do. It must have something to do with the smaller wheels.

[@dubrockn]

This makes me want a Brompton. I thought it was going to be a huge compromise but I guess I was wrong.

[@mrjay5on]

What gear system would you advise for a daily commute with hills? I’m used to all the gears on my road bike 🚴

[@Beery1962]

The Yorkshire accent seems to have changed a bit since I lived there. :D

[@NoZenith]

Can't wait to take delivery of mine. I opted for the 6-speed since I'm not a bike enthusiasts and wanted to be the most versatile and functional. I live in a city that has a river cutting through the middle of it as well so there are quite a few inclines to get anywhere and back home. Would you ever consider upgrading to more gears or are you pretty happy with the three speed and you would just change out the chain ring for one bigger?

[@radhaus4528]

I don't feel the need to upgrade. For me, 3 speed is fine. It would just be a bonus to have those extra gears in between. Hope you enjoy your Brompton!

[@xosece]

@@radhaus4528 are those gears wide enough? I mean, how is it for riding tough hilly terrain? I live in a very hilly area and 10% or more inclines aren't uncommon, that's what keeps from buying a folding bike, 'cos I also want it to go relatively fast

[@pentacleman1000]

Isn’t the speed of a bike a mathematically calculable thing? If you take the crank length, and chainwheel teeth and back gear ratios etc, and establish an arbitrary cadence that is consistent, that would equal a certain number of revolutions of the wheels which would equal a given speed. The only question then is whether you can maintain that a cadence throughout. That and possibly the weight of the bike, might slow you down, and make maintaining the desired cadence difficult, resulting in one bike being faster. I bought a Brompton a few years ago. I haven’t ridden my other bike since. I got the six speed. It comes close to spanning the same range of gear ratios. It just spans it in 6 steps instead of the 8 my internal hub had. And, because it is about 10 lbs lighter, it’s probably faster most of the time. I should do my own comparison! I’m not a very athletic rider though. I’m sure I don’t average 15 mph, ever.

[@fender1000100]

3:03 I don't know about a brompton. But my Tern Verge X20 can shift as fast as most road bikes. I have road bike users often ask me about it. I've hit 25mph on the flat with it. The racing wheels make a world of difference. And the 20 speed gears climb hills like a boss.

[@Franz80]

Hola, tengo una brompton de 6 velocidades y algunos amigos ciclistas me han dicho que es muy rápido cuando me ven rodando, no importa si es subida o en plano. Estoy convencido que puedes ir más rápido que una bici grande. Saludos desde Puebla, México.

[@dhayden7724]

Comparing times on rides between my Brompton SL6 and a entry level carbon Trek endurance bike (Domane), the Brompton takes about 15% more time for about the same effort, fairly consistently.

[@michaelsigismonde7958]

A very large part of the answer will depend on the wheel size. If you're going to have a 16" wheeled bike racing against a 26" wheeler--everything else being equal--the 26-er will certainly win. The only possible way to overcome this would lie in the gearing.

[@CaffeineJogger]

Point is though the Brompton won. Spin it anyway you like.

[@HDsharp]

Any bike is as fast as a road bike if you put the effort in pedalling!! So dont kid yourself, the fact is you can coast on a road bike while you need to go full speed on a brompton just to keep up!

[@radhaus4528]

As I explained in the video, I put in the same amount of effort in the same conditions. You can coast on both bikes. They both have freewheels. Obviously the bigger wheels have an advantage when coasting but it's pretty negligible, especially when it's flat.

[@jasinter9251]

hi! what are the gear combos on your 3s?

[@leejohnmitchell]

Try some other tyres on the Brompton, the continental contact urban roll really well!

[@radhaus4528]

I might do. I'll wear these ones out first! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@leejohnmitchell]

@@radhaus4528 Schwalbe ONE are even better but a bit pricey and not puncture resistant! The continentals are a good compromise. York is a great place to ride Bromptons, my wife and I have taken ours there a few times on the train for a day out!

[@pdoyle2]

@@leejohnmitchell I have shwalbe one fitted to my B75 they do make a difference and look much smarter

[@leejohnmitchell]

@@pdoyle2 Same here, got them on my superlight S6E, just wish they were a lot cheaper!

[@harleypix]

I find the B75 so nippy, love it. Maybe take the shifter apart, sounds like there’s a missing washer, mine doesn’t rattle like that.

[@radhaus4528]

It's a bit better after I've tightened it. Could be something missing though. I'll check. Thanks.

[@timevans9195]

I took the top off my shifter and packed the space between the shifter lever and the back plate with thick grease. This stops/absorbs the play in the lever and it no longer rattles.

[@bytesabre]

There’s an indexed lever shifter for SA that should be compatible if you’re not getting on with the bunny ears one. I upgraded my b75 to 6 speed, it is possible but I found the low gears less efficient with the BWR compared to the standard hub. Still good for climbing hills but noisy. Also the second shifter was a pain in the arse to find as it’s discontinued (I pondered a friction shifter at one point, but for lucky on eBay for a secondhand one). What frame bag is that, out of interest?

[@radhaus4528]

I actually have a 1980s Sturmey shifter in the garage. If it keeps annoying me I'll change it. The bag is from Planet X. Don't think they do the exact one anymore though: www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikepacking/bikepacking-bags

[@notl33t]

I did my own bike experiment and attempted going as slow as possible: ended up with the same time as my fastest on the same bike.

[@radhaus4528]

That's too complicated for me mate!

[@zeeeli1377]

I need a Brompton.

[@L33tw0rk]

16, 17mph is achievable on good tarmac, I wouldn’t dream doing that on streets filled with potholes

[@DrJamesT]

It just shows York hates Road bikes and loves bromptons

[@radhaus4528]

Haha! Definitely true!

[@혜진김-w3m]

I love bromptom b75💙

[@kinglim6686]

The gears / teeth do make a difference doesn’t it?

[@michaelrobbie1929]

Do you get up to speed faster with the smaller wheels? Maybe a lower top speed speed overall, but if you accelerate up to speed faster after every hold up… I reckon that could account for the shorter time. Ps. I had those rattly rabbit ear gears before upgrading to newer more stealthy versions. But I do remember a short length of folded plastic straw wedged in to the mechanism sorted the rattle a treat. (A bit of trial and error required, though I’m sure there’ll be a video about where to put the straw knocking about on KZbin.)

[@dirtyharry5957]

I had a 3 speed brompton years ago and it was rapid. I thought it used to get up to speed very quickly

[@FirstLast-jm4dx]

I like the utilitarian nature of my Brompton, but there's no way I can keep up with my road bikes using my Brompton.

[@radhaus4528]

Your road bikes are probably better than mine to be fair!

[@TiberiusWallace]

In my own personal experience as just a guy with a bike as opposed to someone who takes cycling even slightly seriously is this;- I'm a lot faster on the Brompton in and around towns and villages. The small wheels has me taking off really fast, I test to coast along until I slow then give it more on the pedals. I'm just not fit enough to take advantage of the upper gears of even a meh road bike so I just don't reach them on the big wheels and have the leg power to keep up there. Btw - the B75/pre17 bikes can accept the new integrated shifters/brakes. They Brompton site sort of says they can't but they can.

[@rawmusicreviews]

Love small and foldable bikes. Tried a Brompton the other day... cant understand why people love it, besides the folding. I find much more enjoyable to ride my Xiaomi qicycle per example.

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

Nicely done! I like the little frame bag, it fits perfect, and more “aero”. POD or PODi. ? Cheers from Chicago.

[@radhaus4528]

Thanks! It's very aero! 😎 It's by a company called Podsacs, tI'm pretty sure most frame bags would fit. Can't fold it up with it on though!

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

@@radhaus4528 Ahh thanks for the reply! I’ll check em out.

[@majorshreeve6723]

Hello Radhaus, loved your video, can you tell me where you got the frame bag from, many thanks.

[@radhaus4528]

Thanks! The bag is from Planet X. Don't think they do the exact one anymore though: www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikepacking/bikepacking-bags

[@BromptonFamilyTime]

YES‼︎ I knew it!!! 👍🏼

[@radhaus4528]

That little bike is full of surprises!

[@sauravbasu8805]

Of course, Brompton is the Rolls Royce of the folding cycles, which I cannot afford right now. Has anyone here have the experience of Btween Tilt 120 and the Brompton both to compare , where they come close and where the Btween falls far short behind the Brompton ?

[@tomedward8652]

People don’t realise the 3 speed Brompton has a huge gear range close to that of an 18 speed. If your journey is constant stop start the Brompton may actually be quicker as they accelerate extremely quickly due to low inertia of the wheels. At cruise a road bike will definitely be quicker but not by the margin you might think.

[@whendashow6935]

How did you feel about the effort required did the Brompton feel easier, did you arrive less tired than the road bike?

[@radhaus4528]

I didn't feel like I was putting more effort in on either one. The ride was probably a bit easier on the road bike because of the riding position though. I don't think I was any more tired on either bike.

[@yayasix66]

halo sorry for my bad english, i want to ask if the brompton still fold normally with that bag? thank you

[@radhaus4528]

Hi! Your English is great! It doesn't fold with the bag on as the wheel folds into that area.

[@TPS2525]

The thing is, you were going ~15mph. Would love to have a brompton for a city ride though.

[@radhaus4528]

Life is more fun when you go fast!

[@ohanrahanrahan9136]

oh dayum 🎨🖌️💦

[@soemoe2872]

I want to test ride your Bromptom bike.That is true or not.

[@tim2015]

The Brompton has well chosen gear ratios and, I think, very good quality bearings - very well explained in this article: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGqboIRtjdRoo6ssi=Jbg4IQr4g5h22IJ6 . I would be interested to hear if your bike preferences have changed two years after this test ride.

[@canberkarpat]

As a Brompton owner for 14 years I am not surprised, they are very zippy 😂

[@EvendimataE]

if the question is only.... which bike is faster...without stating any conditions.....you dont even have to do a road test if you understand gearing

[@radhaus4528]

Gearing isn't the only thing that makes a bike fast.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

If You follow: "Brompton Family Time" he has a Time Trial on the "Kissena Park Velodrome", a former "Bike Track" in the US! And there is no doubt at all, if a Brompton is as fast as an ordinary bike: Not at all!!! A Brompton is a Brilliant, Special Tool for combined transport to anywhere, also as folded, but not at all a "Proper Bike"! It honestly is a lousy bike! My own, now much less than, 2019 "SuperlightM6LXBrompon" presently weighs 8,5 kilo, with mudguards! As a former owner of a 6,8 kilo, full Shimano Dura-Ace, Top LOOK Racing bike, I of course also know those (I have been past 65 km/h on mine!). During one of my visits to England several years ago, with an English friend, I also visited "The York Minster", by the way! Finn. Denmark

[@thg1173]

Nice video. Btw where did you purchased the bike bag?

[@radhaus4528]

Thanks! The bag is from Planet X. Don't think they do the exact one anymore though: www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikepacking/bikepacking-bags

[@gonzalogarcia7435]

Tern or brompthon????? Hi from Chile

[@radhaus4528]

Hi! Thanks for watching. I'm biased but Brompton of course!

[@Jenathan777]

*The **Latest.Bike** was delivered way too faster than I expected. Easy to assemble and nice design!The frame is heavy but durable.*

[@believe-in-righteousness]

Great

[@dorianblue4229]

Yeah mate but compare it to a racey Dahon. While in the uk ages ago, I had a Speed Pro TT (that i regret to this day having sold then), I guarantee that little devil would handle and overtake many big roadies out there... and Moultons too (not folders, ok). Brompton is sturdy and all, a respected British icon, but it's still (personal views, at least) not fit as them for speeding up. Peace & cheers :)

[@radhaus4528]

Never ridden one but the look quick! I chose the Brompton because of the size it folds to. I plan to travel a lot with it on planes. It was more of a priority for me than speed.

[@stewartmckay9830]

Winds,

[@effyleven]

Don't drink too much of that "energy" stuff. The high caffeine gives you stomach ulcers.

[@ramranchcowboy8857]

It's the gears not the wheels also Brompton is more aero dynamics than road bike..

[@radhaus4528]

Not sure I'd agree about the aerodynamics! The road bike is far more aerodynamic by design also the Brompton has a very upright seating position whereas the road bikes seating position keeps you leaning forward more in a more aerodynamic position.

[@ravenone6255]

With electric assist you could go much faster

[@mcq2525]

Could the difference have been explained by variables such as traffic lights and traffic? I've been doing city rides on both roadies and Bromptons and find that the above have the largest impact on average times.

[@radhaus4528]

I didn't have many lights to go through. The main variable could have been on public footpaths where there were a few more hold ups on the road bike. Not significantly more though.

[@Didier33380]

Je suis très déçu qu'un anglais délaisse une délicieuse bière traditionnelle au profit d'une boisson de merde. La santé c'est pourtant important! 😁 Il faudra que j'essaie un jour un Brompton, histoire de ne pas mourir idiot. Cela dit, j'ai découvert les vélos pliants avec mon Tern Link D8, un merveilleux petit vélo. Quand j'ai comparé les durées ou les vitesses avec un autre de mes vélos je n'ai pas vu de différence très importante. Le mien a huit vitesses et des développements plus court que sur le modèle d'origine. Même sur un Brompton, le fait d'avoir plus de vitesses doit permettre de monter les côtes plus confortablement. Par contre en terme de vitesse ça ne doit pas changer grand chose sur le plat.

[@blucodilla5036]

People don't need to watch your video. Common sense should dictate. 😂

[@stevezodiac491]

You will have to tell all the riders in the Tour de France, that they are riding the wrong bike. How could they all be so wrong ? You can assume that all the top clubs will be riding the alpe duez next year on a Brompton lol. I personally can average 27.4 mph on a TT bike over 25 miles, 25 mph on my cannondale system six with mas 4 t clip on bars bolted on but i couldn't get any where near those speeds on a Brompton sat upright on a heavier bicycle, small wheels or not.