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Brompton

Brompton

Brompton

Inventor Andrew Ritchie produced his first Brompton prototypes nearly 25 years ago and today the Brompton is a design classic. The elegant and finely engineered, full-size frame is made of steel for strength and stiffness, and the elastomer rear suspension takes the sting out of the relatively small 16 wheels. Its light, weighing from as little as 10kg, but for sheer foldability it is in a class of its own.

Once folded, and with practice this takes less than 20 seconds, a Brompton stays locked together automatically, making an extremely compact package. And because the chain and gears stay on the inside theres no worry about getting grease on your clothes. The folded bike is very manageable: the rollers underneath allow you to wheel the folded bike around with the frame or saddle acting as a handle and also make it easier to stow the bike in those awkward little corners.

There are seven models in the range: the relatively inexpensive, red, C-type, and the more sophisticated L and T-types, available with either three gears (L3 or T3) or six gears (L6 or T6). The engineering of the frame itself is broadly the same for all models but the L and T-types are fitted with Bromptons own high-pressure tyres and powerful braking system, and they also have the Brompton folding pedal as standard pretty essential for regular use. For a small charge, these models can be specially built to order, using any of the Brompton colours and options.

Since the demise of Sturmey Archer, Andrew has switched to the tried and tested SRAM 3- speed shifter. With typical resourcefulness he has added a second sprocket to the SRAM hub to produce six evenly spaced gears with a range of 213%. This unique 6-speed derailleur, both designed and made by Brompton, is compact and doesnt affect folding. With its very low transmission losses, this multi-gear system is the right choice for touring and for riding in hilly areas.

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In the UK, prices range from £367 to £626, and will vary worldwide.

Manufacturer

Brompton Bicycle Ltd
Kew Bridge Distribution Centre
Lionel Rd
Brentford
Middlesex
TW8 9QR
UK

phone: +44 181 232 8181
fax: +44 181 232 8484
web: www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk

Author

Alan Davidson

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