This electric bike folds and unfolds under 30 seconds (Brompton Electric)
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Brompton has been making folding bikes for over 45 years. Its first electric effort, the Brompton Electric, has a very compact design and will have you cruising up hills with ease. Logan Moy rode the e‑bike for a few weeks and gives his thoughts on whether or not it’s worth the high price.
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0:00 — Brompton Electric
0:57 — Models, price and colors
1:17 — Folding design
2:25 — Battery and controls
4:13 — Performance and comfort
5:13 — Verdict
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#electric #bike #folds #unfolds #seconds #Brompton #Electric
Thanks for watching. What kind of rides do you like to take e‑bikes on? Short commutes or long journeys?
Mine comes pre unfolded.
Good for you!
I am 61 and look younger than you no offense!
I ride a 2018 , 6‑speed Black Edition version and live in a relatively flat location but sometimes arid conditions( which is a reason for having a
battery pack to not sweat so much on warm days when cycling to work…) and I never saw the need for adding more weight to my Brommie.
As for the 30 seconds unfolding. I am never in such a rush that I have a greedy need for speed when unfolding it.
If one has to rush, leave earlier!
Bromtons were designed and made to specifically be compact and fold as well as flow…
“Marketing ploys” I ain’t buying.
But a decent ride, my second btw, and I am still out running those Uber eats on their heavier than heavy souped up mtb bikes!
I removed the mudguards, changed the seat and seat post to get the bike under 10k and it flows better than I do!
One thingI would like complain about is the battery pack bag. It could have been done differently. They could and should address the aesthetics on their next project. Weight and size will reduce but costs will increase. That should not be passed on to the customer!
Quote: “On paper the bike has a range of 15 miles. The furthest I took it was 12 miles on full assist and I had three out of five bars of battery left. So Yea, I’d say 15 miles is about right”
Your range extrapolation is flawed: If 2 out of 5 bars gave you 12 miles, the remaining three bars would give you an additional 18 miles to make a total of 30 miles.
Actually, I doubt that you would get that but I would expect over 20 miles on full assist.
On 2nd level assist, which I mostly use, I get 30 miles over very hilly terrain. 1st level assist should give up to 40 miles. And, if the battery runs flat, the bike is still very useable as the motor disengages when not providing assist.
Top speed 15 mph? Actually, it’s just the assist that cuts out then; but it is easy to exceed that by human power on the flat. Downhill I have reached 40 mph by gravity alone. The bike is very free running.
Incidentally that hill may be steep enough to propell me to 40 mph but it is climbed quite easily on level 2 assist. I think that may be due to the torque sensor and the clever motor controls.
Brompton do a telescopic seat post that would have suited your height. Reach can be extended by swivelling the handlebars forward a bit and/or fitting the excellent Ergon GP 2 (or 3) grips that have stubby bar ends that don’t interfere with the folding process.
I think that whoever supplied the bike did a disservice to both you and Brompton. They should have researched who was going to be riding it and supplied it suitably equipped. Were you a customer, you would not expect to leave a bike shop having laid out all of that money without having the sizing and fit sorted.
This is supposed to be 30 second video
Nice video.I do not have the Brompton ebike. but I have taken it on 15 mile plus bike rides.yes get the 6 speed. If you can.
Great video 👍
Enduro ebike slayer is my transmuter, almost half the price as your folding bike and it has 55km/h top speed with 120–250 miles range with 44.2 Ah battery. Downside with my bike is it is really heavy and it doesn’t look legal at all.
For those who are complaining about it’s price, think of Brompton as the Rolls-Royce of folding bikes. They are hand-built in UK, and the electric versions are engineered by WAE and using Samsung batteries
I enjoyed your review but as you said you didn’t have the bike for long. I’ve had mine for over 1500 miles and regularly do 20 to 40 mile rides at lower settings and return with plenty of charge remaining. The solid build and ease of transport makes it a bike that goes where I want to be and allow me to ride much more. I agree it is a bumpy ride over rough roads. Most ebikes with similar quality and performance weigh much more in my experience and wouldn’t work as well for my needs. There are plenty of modifications I’d like to see Brompton make on the bike but there are also many options available to customize your ride. This is my first Brompton but I’ve owned many other bikes and see now why many Brompton owners stay with the brand.
The bike is targeted at people who mix it in with public transportation — and that’s a huge demographic. The compactness of the fold means you can take it on a bus or train easily.
AGREED, it is basically a folding bike with the brand power. There are plenty of similarly folding bikes that are only 40% of the Brompton price. You must really try it out to be convinced that say a $1,200 USD bike can be folded and ridden like the Brompton. Please take your time. There is enormous competition for the Brompton space. If you want an ebike that folds, they can be as expensive as the Brompton but the e in ebike will really make you want to ride even more. I think then, it is worth it to pay as much as a Brompton…Basically I think Brompton was a very great designed folding bike and at that price, it doesn’t lack a lot of people who want to make seats, panniers, other accessories that go with the bike. MOBOT has a type of Brompton folding bike, a clone, that will fold exactly like the Brompton, use most of the accessories that was made for Brompton..because it is similarly sized. Brompton is a style leader for that size of wheels 20″ bike.
love the honest review 👍
Once you get used to using the back wheel is a kickstand it’s just as quick and easy. I love my Brompton
wow
I want an E bike
Would pay 40$ take it or leave it
I have had my standard 3 spd orange 2011 for 10 years now. I live in an apartment in Berlin. Bikes get stolen all the time here so being able to keep it in the apartment is a big bonus. People complain about the ride but I don’t think it is much worse than than its bigger rivals. Also, you will beat almost everyone from the lights as you can accelerate very fast. After 10 years i have had zero issues. Lubricated the chain twice and changed brake pads 3 times. I have the standard ‘M’ model and fitted Ergo grips which are a MUST have upgrade in my opinion.
Uncomfortable? Brompton? Are you sure? Or maybe it just doen’t fit you. I have tried one and I think it is comfortable. Especilly for the long steel seatpost. The steering is a bit quick though and you need to concentrate to remain upright. People even tour with these..
Can you have a look at a cargo e‑bike, or a folding e‑bike with a cargo attachment?
Didn’t really care for this guys review of the bike. You were sent a bike to properly review and you didn’t even do the research necessary to give it a proper review. Yes price is hefty but if you bothered to research the company, you’d see that these bikes made in London have over forty years experience making these commuter/leisure bikes. Some even use these bikes for touring! But you wouldn’t know since you didn’t do your part. Also since you’re tall and once again didn’t do your research, you would of found out that brompton has three types of seat heights and three types of handling bars for various users with different heights. But once again, you couldn’t be bothered to properly inform the people looking at this bike.
Got to disagree with you on 2 things. I have the non-electric Brompton (I’m on my 3rd one) and it’s surprisingly comfortable for the wheel size. Only suitable for short journeys? Yes, the Brompton’s average journey will be under 10 miles, but that’s goes for ‘big’ bikes too. I’ve ridden my Brompton over 50 miles on charity rides, easy peasy. I could imagine having power on-board would make it even more enjoyable!
We own the RadMin4 folding ebike. They ride very comfortably and have a range over 80km. But they are heavy, around 27 kgs. When folded, they are still pretty bulky, unwieldy and difficult to fit into most car trunks. But we still like them and ride them quite often.
🤦♂️… typical YouTube Demo Bike Problems…
There are 3 seat post length, 2 seat width and the handlebar come in 3 height level …. but the Bike don’t fit. Ok👍
🤔…. I bet u never told someone ur size so u could get a bike fitting to ur height and now complain about an uncomfortable ride, I would say — it’s ur own fault,not the Bike.
Oh btw…
Brompton Traveller — he traveled 2500km 1553,428 miles on a non Electric Brompton on 1 Trip, Or in the Afghan Mountains with it … He Travels the World with it.
But u can’t get a Daytrip with the Electric Version.
My own last Trip , last Week — a Weekend 2 Days 150km Trip. Non Electric 6 Speed
I want to start riding to feel free and embrace life a bit more. Only worrying about my skill and control… and not dying to crazy drivers.
I would like to get the bike to get to work everyday. It would be 10 km with constant slope, increase in altitude about 300 m. Can I make it with the assist? I guess motor and battery are not that durable?
Thanks for this helpful & easy to watch review. Good job!
Not very bright..no kickstand needed. 15 minutes figuring out fold first time? Its actually remarkably confortable
Oh boy! Did you ever miss the point of the Brompton???
You can’t blame your mechanical ineptitude on the Brompton. They take 15 seconds to fold and unfold.…without any risk to your fingers.
They are designed as the perfect multi-mode travel solution, as they fit on trains, planes, buses and automobiles.
If the battery goes flat they are perfectly rideable (I personally know someone who rode a non-electric version 800 miles in 4 days!!!).
Try that on the $500 dollar toy bike.
Bromptons don’t suffer from depreciation like all other bikes. You pay a lot but you sell for a lot .… if you ever sell.
Also…never lean any bike frame against a light pole!!! Lean the saddle against it. Why would you willingly destroy your paint job?
Folding the rear wheel is a Brompton kickstand. It takes 3 seconds for adults with an education.
Just about the only valid point you made is that they are expensive. That much is true.…until you get your regular commuter bikes stolen a few times. Then you’d wish you had a bike you could stash under your desk.
250 watts will not climb steep hills
Folding E‑bike great
At that price either I can choose between this and couple other brands like super73 Ariel and other good city bikes …just saying
So very sad that such a biased, non appropriate reviewer chose to speak so negatively towards a product that is not made for him. And the world is not all about you.
You speak of your non folding as taking a ‘lot of space in your office’, a ‘hassel to lug up the stairs’ but you don’t seem to mind those real issues.
You felt the need for a kickstand where a person who uses the Brompton for more than a few days will as quickly rotate the back wheel and have that same effect. For no increase in weight.
You say ‘Here’s the battery’ and then display the extra cost large bag that only a person who needs the bag would choose to purchase. The reality is the smaller standard bag. So why say ‘Here’s the bag’ when it is non standard? So you could make fun of its larger size? Showing off your bias?
Hunching over when you ride? How about getting the longer seat post for your non standard height? Everyone should ride with the proper seat height. Brompton does not restrict you from doing that.
Uncomfortable seat? How about getting the seat that you like. You would do that with any other bike as you did as an aside mention that most stock seats are not your favorite. Then why mention that you don’t like the seat?
‘The Brompton won’t replace your full size ebike? It is not supposed to. It is not designed for those long range rides. It is made for the run around, easy to transport, easily put in your car, fits in the leg space in front of the rear seats of many cars. Try that with your full size ebike. It is meant for those that do not want to lug their full size up stairs. Who desire to not take up a lot of space in their office. There are more riders than ‘commuters’ and ‘weekend warriors’. There are bike riders that just want to tool around for 5–10 miles, want to take that route that has a hill that would otherwise prevent them from taking. The Brompton was not designed for you. Someone else who it might fit into their lifestyle might have been a better reviewer. I would have hated your full size ebike and I would not have needed its a extra capacity distance, awkward size, and inability to easily transport.
thanks
This guy should not review for the FOLDING Bike . He has zero bases concept of what the folding bike is for. except , distance range and price which anyone can easily pick up from the google. Don’t understand why Brompton choose this guy for review at the first place.
I’m fairly surprised that you talked about facing difficulty while pushing this bike around folded, we all know pulling is much easier than pushing, its simple physics, I don’t see people push their luggage. I lost 69 of my braincells.
I know dumb people exists but this shows a new side of it. Yup this a hate comment, thought this would be a review but it feels like a parody review. : )
20 miles battery life Lol
First honest view when a company asks you to review. Well done. It actually wanted me to buy the bike.
I own a Brompton. I took it on a 50-mile New York City 5 boroughs bike ride. My butt was numb and the bunching over the handlebars because the stem was shorter kills my back. It was not enjoyable after 20 miles in. The stem was a standard H handlebar but still short to be comfortable. I’m 5′10″.
Does brompton still make a 500 watt motor? I have a slightly older brompton with a 500 watt motor and a 52.6 volt battery. It goes 25 mph and has a range of 25 miles
Enjoyable video from the first mate of podcasting great, Logan Moy
I love my Brompton. ❤❤