Great review, I've just bought a P Line Electric and I am absolutely in love with it. Such ingenuity and technology ain't cheap... but then it all depends on how much you use it.
@MrRhysmerritt
5 жыл бұрын
This has to be one of the most informative, well produced reviews I've ever seen on KZitem. Hats off to you David! Great job. I've just purchased my Brompton Electric this afternoon, and am picking it up next week!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that, Rhys! I've had mine a year now and wouldn't be parted from it. You'll love it.
@garybishop5293
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for such excellent balanced review, loads of important valuable info obtained here not explained or provided elsewhere. Thanks for your time and effort.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it useful, Gary. The bike is better now than when I bought it because Brompton have updated the firmware and the power delivery is much smoother and seems a bit stronger than it was before. I'd been having a bit of trouble with power going off at inconveneint times but the firmware upgrade seems to have cured that (speaking 2 month s after the upgrade so I've had time to evaluate it.).
@johnnymac8680
3 жыл бұрын
So sorry to learn that David died a few days ago. A real knowledgeable gentleman who had time for others. RIP.
@raystaar
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Clear, concise, no nonsense rundown of essential Brompton ebike features from an everyday user.
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful, Ray.
@LeighKenyonAllison
6 жыл бұрын
Having gone through all the youtube videos on the ‘E’ before buying, this was one of the better reviews. I finally decided that I could do with some assistance in peddling around London and had the room to have it in the flat. It is expensive, however it gets me round London quickly and conveniently and so far I have been able to take it in and out of shops and supermarkets, on the tube without any problems. It is heavy on a few of the stairs I have had to go up and down, but right now I can manage without too much sweat. Been back to the store for a problem with the motor not kicking in but that was sorted by a software upgrade...and I was re-imbursed for the taxi ride to the shop with the bike in the back. I had not minded riding back and forth with the motor, but balked without it, as just a bit to far and a couple of slopes I would not have enjoyed. I am really enjoying riding it around now and it gets me out and about much more than I have been in a while.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
I'm with everything you say there, Leigh. Your last sentence is exactly my finding too. It really encourages me to get pout and about more.
@robomeara9860
5 жыл бұрын
Brilliant review. I tried one of these in London at the weekend and was startled at how good it was. I'm converted.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Rob. Glad you liked it.
@DrJamesT
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the beautiful review, you are the first person on youtube to reveal the larger bag. Nice pants.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, the big bag is very useful. I'm going to pad it out with some foam and usei to for a mobile camera bag.
@johnbayley1109
3 жыл бұрын
Best video I’ve seen on the Brompton Electric. Excellent independent observations and very considered criticism. And no rock music!
@DavidThorpeMFT
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, John. I like to stand back from myself and review as objectively as I can. as a practical user. Sorry I forgot the thrash metal backing track!
@CheshireRing
6 жыл бұрын
I don't recollect you mentioning the weight David, so here it is: 16.6kg including battery, 13.7kg without. I've had a small (16" wheels) Chinese folding electric bike that weighed ~22kgs with battery, and the battery range was a similar 25 miles. I wouldn't want to carry that anywhere, especially since the folded bike's chain was on the outside. I stopped using it mainly because I was tired of UK car drivers cutting me up, and widespread potholes. But in Holland, which has a bike infrastructure, I would definitely buy a Brompton because I think the price/quality evaluation is high.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
I cycle in France a lot (or did until I got unwell) and the attitude of drivers there is very different from the UK. I spent 4 days in Paris just cycling around exploring and came across no hostility. They do have a lot f properly segregated bike lanes there, though. And the roads are less potholed. So many people use cycles as day to day transport in Holland, I suppose the government must take them into account or lose votes.
@canturgan
6 жыл бұрын
They hold their value too, high used prices. I have one and use it daily.
@robhemsley9181
2 жыл бұрын
what an excellent video ! i have bought two of these - cline 6 speed e bikes - one for my wife and one for me - this video covers almost everything you need to know and not in a way that's boring - no not at all i thoroughly enjoyed listening and watching it
@maitridajames1997
5 жыл бұрын
Really helpful. As a Brompton owner already it was helpful hearing your experience about the electric version. Excellently produced video.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Maitrida. The latest firmware upgrade to the electric Brompton (the final one, I imagine) has finally made the bike everything I expected it to be - and a bit better, if anything.
@fmulleady
5 жыл бұрын
Great review. Thanks David for such a thorough run-through!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You're welcome, Francis, thank you.
@Janus1000
5 жыл бұрын
Great review! I'm using a Tern Vektron, amazing bike with pros over this Brompton: Cargo Carrying capacity, more performance orientated mid drive motor, stiff frame and more adjustment range for comfort. The problem is, once I owned it I realized I didn't need most of that. I needed a folding bike and the term gets small but not BROMPTON small. I can't take it inside the bus, I hardly use the cargo racks, and when the battery has run out it feels like I'm pedaling uphill in mud. If I was going to spend the money again, it would be for the Brompton, it would suit me more. Both amazing bikes at the end of the day, so glad these technologies are advancing, imagine what's next!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
What's next? How about an electric Brompton that weighs half what the standard Brompton does? And half the price? Seriously, it's the fold of the Brompton that makes it what it is and the design is patented, I believe, so presumably no-one will be able to match it for portability.
@wshoward
6 жыл бұрын
I subscribe for the Camera stuff but love bikes so having this pop up in my subscription box was a welcome sight. Great work.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear that, William, thanks. The bike videos are few and far between so wouldn't merit their own channel.
@bruceham64
6 жыл бұрын
Brilliant video, quite a surprise when expecting the latest gen on a lens or camera, Great to watch. Thanks
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Bruce!
@michaelhawkins1173
6 жыл бұрын
I do enjoy all your videos, I can't imagine you making one other than to tell it as it is. For you as the user, who wants the what should be and fair from the experience as do we all. Cheers.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Michael! I tell it as I see it because my videos wouldn't have any value otherwise. At the same time, I try to see it as others might because I'm not the only show in town. In reality, very little that is truly bad or poor value gets on to the market these days.
@sirvosterzo
4 жыл бұрын
This is the best Brompton Electric review I've seen. If it rides like a Brompton even with a dead battery, I'm sold. Thanks.
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
I've had the Brompton 2 years now and I like it as much as I did at the beginning.
@sandydennylives1392
4 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT Apart from range it seems good, is it easy to go past 15mph when the power kicks out compared to say the super light or a normal brompton? And are you using the same battery or has it degraded the range significantly?
@davidthorpe7732
4 жыл бұрын
@@sandydennylives1392 The range is more than adequate for a bike designed for urban use, I think. Greater range is could be obtained with a bigger battery but for a bike designed to be folded up and carried on to trains and the tube, there's a limit to what you can carry. The battery seems to be giving much the same range as it did when new. I don't take any care of it, just charge it whenever I please. The length of my journeys in a day rarely takes it further from full than 3 LEDs, so no more than 15 miles between charges normally. I's easy enough to go beyond the powered range if you want and there's no feeling of hitting a barrier though I doubt I often go much above the powered range anyway. I never felt Brompton's were the best choice for sporty riders! The extra weight of the electric and drag from the motor must make some difference compared to a titanium type but I happily ride the Brompton without the battery fitted and I think you'd need to compare the two directly side by side to appreciate any difference.
@sandydennylives1392
4 жыл бұрын
@@davidthorpe7732 Thanks, David. I guess it (battery)can cope with heavy rain as well? Perhaps 15 mph on a small wheel bike seems faster than a normal bike. As long as it's not too much of a slog riding without the battery it could be a contender. I live close to the factory so I may be able to test the ti. It does have a steel rival in the non folding, a french steel but it only uses a Shimano steps motor and I'd need to hack it to remove a chocolate tea pot of 15 mph on a full sized bike. Sadly I didn't really enjoy my quick test ride on a steel brompton that a friend let me ride.
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
@@sandydennylives1392 The battery is weather proof, no problems there. The big point about the Brompton is the fold. It is unique and what you are paying for. If you just want a normal folding bike for the boot of a car or a normal non folder bike, there are better and cheaper bikes out there.
@LRSTFJ
5 жыл бұрын
I have a go cycle which I love but this is a great and very detailed review.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
For me the main criterion was the fold of the Brompton for taking on public transport and nothing was going to match the Brompton for that, electric or not. But if you want a _transportable_ bike, the Go Cycle looks to be a better choice.
@gustavog5965
5 жыл бұрын
Best video on these bikes I have ever seen in the net. Many thanks, it is super helpful!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
That's great to hear, Gustavo, thank you!
@ecoflashcards
6 жыл бұрын
Best electric Brompton review to date - many thanks
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Lee!
@nyemartin5737
5 жыл бұрын
Great video David, thanks for sharing.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you , Nye
@christopherhoffer2393
6 жыл бұрын
Terrific and informative video.
@visualray
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you David for this excellent video! You sold me on this bike because of one main thing, the lack of drag with the hub. I had a Bionx on a Montague bike and then on a Tern folder and whenever there wan't any power left on the battery, the drag made it almost not worth it. My commute in New York City is pretty long and I go through many hilly areas, so the drag issue is important to me. I removed the Bionx motor a couple of years ago and have been biking in to stay fit. I've been wanting a bike that will give you the flexibility to use electric when you have an important meeting in the morning and don't want to come in all sweaty and on other days to use your own leg power, knowing you have electric power when you need it. Add to that the amazing fold of the Brompton, where you can take a train in a moment's notice.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, I find the single most impressive thing about the electric Brompton is how close it is to the standard one. If you were feeling energetic in the morning you could ride like a normal Brompton and then just use the power on the way home. The train services in London are unreliable thede says so if the company cancels trains I can just cycle the 10 miles home from Waterloo, even in the unlikely event that I have allowed the battery to flatten. I just like the fail-safe of it all.
@burgulize
6 жыл бұрын
That is a very unusual camera ;) Great review as always, Thank you David!
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Serj - it's very good for travel but I can't find anywhere to put the SD card and the shutter button just make a sort of bell ding! noise when you push it :-)
@africorn5390
6 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe 😄
@y0rkiebar
4 жыл бұрын
Great review David, very engaging style.
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
Nice of you to say so - thanks.
@petertaranscorsese2900
5 жыл бұрын
Hi David, thanks for your advice and encouragement, I now have my very own Brompton Electric :- ) rides like a dream! The only problem I have is folding back the front wheel, to clip to the frame....sometimes it goes “like a dream” and clips on effortlessly and other times I really struggle and it just doesn’t seem to raise high enough to clip over. Clearly there is a technique, perhaps different to the non electric as the electric wheel is of course heavier - any ideas? - cheers - Peter.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Nice aren't they? I've had the same experience as you but my technique is just to keep doing it the best I can - until eventually it just starts to go smoothly. I think I may be reaching down and lifting it or tilting the frame a bit. Either way, it comes!
@R0lan6
4 жыл бұрын
This is one of the best reviews I have had the pleasure of watching. Fantastic, and thank you!
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
I'm very glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
@virgin26
6 жыл бұрын
Your review was very informative...top marks
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Good to hear that, Dave, thanks for telling me.
@effyleven
5 жыл бұрын
Very worthy video ... a nice piece of work beautifully delivered...... (sounds like a Brompton, eh?)Thank you for your efforts, and for making them available to us.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Well, what a lovely comment - what can I say except thanks!
@andybrining3090
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent review, thank you.
@xandr13
6 жыл бұрын
I tested an electric Brompton a couple of years ago (3d party mod). Absolutely fantastic, would love to own one. However, I later got a very decent used Mercedes for less money. I see this new version is significantly cheaper, but still quite an investment.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Cheap they are not! Values are strange, aren't they? A Mercedes or an electric bike. It's all down to what the market will bear or dictates, I suppose.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
@hicky My point was very simple, Alexander V said he had bought a used Mercedes for less money. I was simply remarking that that was the market at work. Commuting didn't come into it. Naturally, if you take the intended usage into account then value judgements will alter. I was on the tube last night in the rush hour due to circumstances and it underlined to me why I have (and have had for many years) a Brompton. I wonder what Brompton's margins are? They obviously increase costs massively by manufacturing in the UK.
@lavitomusic
2 жыл бұрын
Great video, and very helpful
@supernova1976
6 жыл бұрын
Great work on the Brompton, really enjoyable. that hill is quite steep and long, I am assuming the hub motor is geared otherwise small hub motors usually have drag and not so good on hills.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I don't know about the motor but it is much stronger than I expected. Certainly if it can pull me up that hill without too much effort, it has all the assistance I need.
@supernova1976
6 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT i just did a bit of googling and indeed is a geared hub motor , this explains the power and the freewheel low resistance 👍
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Does that imply some aren't geared, then? Presumably everyone would gear them if they could, so there must be a cost difference?
@supernova1976
6 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT yes in general the gearless ones are more common because they require no maintenance other than the usual bearings , and they tend to have alot more power and much heavier. The geared motors have higher torque , low weight because the motor doesn't need to be so big i.e. smaller magnets, smaller windings and therefore can be driven with a smaller battery pack for a similar range , Which in this case is the perfect setup for the Brompton .
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Right - all about compromises like cameras and lenses. No free lunches! Thanks for the info, very interesting.
@AdamPotaznik
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great review. Only thing I'd like to see which you didn't cover, is how it goes when you are walking with it in folding mode....
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Wheeling it folded and locked by the saddle but with the handlebar up, it's a bit unstable if wheeled with the bike on your right. That's with the bike lifted up to wheel on the two rear roller wheels. I think that's due to the extra weight of the motor. I pull it with the bike on my left, where it seems to balance out and goes nicely in a straight line and doesn't feel much different from the standard bike. A small observation, when putting the bike in 'park' position with the rear wheel folded under, with the standard bike I'd have the front wheel turned to the left a bit. With the electric, it is much more stable with the front wheel pointed right. Point it to the left and the bike falls over much more easily.
@richardrichardw9520
3 жыл бұрын
Great video David really enjoyed it
@DavidThorpeMFT
3 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear that, Richard, thank you.
@deepblue69uk
5 жыл бұрын
I’ve just bought a second hand Brompton. Intending to eventually electrify it myself. Shall let you know how that goes.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
There's some good kits out there by all accounts.
@dimitrioskalentakis861
5 жыл бұрын
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!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Dimitrious, I think the 6 gear is worth having, funnily enough not so much for the lower gearing available but for the higher ones. It's pretty hilly around my way but all normal hills can be taken 3rd gear, lower cog. Also, the lower 1st gear/ lower cog combination gives a great step-off from lights and out of junctions. You soon lose steam and have to change up, of course, but that initial burst of acceleration leaves any car behind for the first few metres, so they can't turn left across your path from lights. I don't imagine that Edinburgh drivers are any less murderous than London ones :-)
@petertaranscorsese2900
6 жыл бұрын
Great review David, I’m very tempted, but they (EBikes generally) are so expensive that I’m finding it hard to justify! - that said, we’ve just returned from a 7 day eBike cycling holiday in Umbria and Tuscany and it was brilliant fun.....we went with a Company called Cycling for Softies and we used them last year too in France....highly recommended. It was our first time in Italy (on bikes) and I feared “hot headed Italians” blasting their horns at us every day....not once did we hear a single horn, or see any aggression - the drivers were amazing / laid back and considerate - keep up the good work :- )
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Peter! I have cycled a lot in France and again the attitude there is very different from the UK - even in Paris.
@gsansoucie
4 жыл бұрын
I was looking through your channel for the micro 4/3 gear and noticed this eBrommie video. My wife and I will be semi retiring in two years and hitting the road here in the US in an RV. We don’t have a lot of space and already have folding bikes, but were interested in eBikes. Do you think an electric Brommie could be used on gravel roads as well?
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
It could but I think the small wheels and front wheel drive might make it a bit skittish on dirt roads with a tendency for the front wheel to spin. It'd work with care, though and yu'd soon get used to it, I think. A lot of the price of the Brompton is down to the unique small folded size. If you could accommodate bigger wheels and thus a bike more suited to gravel roads you could save a lot of money. On the other hand, the light weight (for an eBike) of the Brompton and its small and convenient folded size are a hard act to follow. Especially with those touches like the chain folding to the inside of the bike so that no matter where you stow it, you won't get chain grease and dirt on your clothes. Sounds like you and your wife are going to have a great time!
@TemwaJ
5 жыл бұрын
thank you very much for all the info!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You are welcome!
@DrJamesT
6 жыл бұрын
I would not go as far as calling it is an integrated design. Integration would suggest the battery is built into the frame like Go cycle, Carrera Cross city e, Xiao Mi QiCycle. Best example is the Copenhagen Wheel or Zehus. On these motors you don't even feel the motor acceleration like you would with front hub motors. It just feels easier to ride.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
The main thing for me was that it was still a Brompton - the electrics are integrated into that concept with its unique fold. I agree with you that there are other more integrated designs but none of those bikes could be sure of being accepted on any form of public transport in the rush hour. I take your point though and I could have been more precise in that I meant it was integrated into the concept, rather than integrated into the bike. As an example, if the battery was part of the frame, you'd have to lift it on and off trains with the battery in place. Too heavy. And if the fold had to be changed in any way, game over - it's not a Brompton.
@DrJamesT
6 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe Very good point about the weight and battery. And very good point about being accepted in any public building or transport. Brompton is the smallest fold in the world. The Zehus is about to release their Brompton size motor. If they achieve that in under 13.7kg (Brompton's current weight without the battery), Brompton and Williams Engineering should pay closer attention
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
I've seen so many sites like this that I take all these amazing breakthroughs with a pinch of salt. I note there are no independent reviews anywhere of their system. The Brompton fold is patented and that's the main problem for any other maker. If this motor works as they say it will - a big ask - the best best would be to put it in a Brompton :-)
@2nd3rd1st
6 жыл бұрын
Nice bike, but what's the CIPA rating on the battery?
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Don't know that, I'm afraid. I'd imagine Brompton will have chosen a quality item.
@2nd3rd1st
6 жыл бұрын
330 pictures at least I would think
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
You were kidding me! I thought your question was serious and stuffed the Brompton battery in my GM1. It was a tight fit, I can tell you but I've shot 11,657 frames and still the battery is 90% full. Trouble is, I can't get the GM1 in my pocket any more 😂
@2nd3rd1st
6 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe Haha, I'm terribly sorry, David! But what a battery!
@Isoflix
6 жыл бұрын
Excellent impartial review, thank you. Just waiting for mine to arrive at the dealer. P.S. Is it true that the original title of the video was going to be " Brompton 0 - 15 mph Zoom" ?
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks! And you are right about the title, but I just couldn't find the zoom ring.
@MrAleph0000
5 жыл бұрын
Congratulations, great vid.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@pfscpublic
6 жыл бұрын
You suggest a second battery kept at the office, are batteries available to buy now and at what price?
@gabrielm8429
4 жыл бұрын
Hi, thank you for the great review. Can I ride the electric Brompton bike without the battery?
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
Yes, just press a release and the bag with battery comes off the front mount. You can use the bag without the battery in it. Without the electrics, it feels like any other Brompton. You might notice a tad more weight if you'd come straight off a standard bike. There's no feel of 'resistance' from the motor, though. I imagine a lot of people would often use it without power anyway.
@m0bob
5 жыл бұрын
I recognised your voice immediately. I have a Brompton (non-electric) and a Lumix G9!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
That's quite a coincidence, Robert! I had non-electric Bromptons for many years, Bromptons plural because one got stolen. I think that what a Brompton and a G9 have in common is a clear conception by the makers of their intended use. It leads to designs that are as complex as they need to be and no more. It would be hard to improve the design of the Brompton, just as it would the G9. I think we have great taste :-)
@pranaysrivastava9370
5 жыл бұрын
This is true British engineering . No gimmicks . Brompton does what is supposed to do and it will stand to the test of time.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Yes, I couldn't agree more. Plenty of folding bikes around but the Brompton is just so suited to the urban environment, down to things that you only realise how important they are after using the bike. Things like the chain finishing up in the centre of the fold where no-one can get grease on them.
@petertaranscorsese2900
5 жыл бұрын
Hi David, I’ve just had my first puncture on my Brompton eBike and I need to get the tyre replaced as it’s gashed. I’m thinking about having both replaced with Marathon Plus, as I read these are virtually “puncture proof” albeit a lot heavier....which I’m ok with. Do you have advice on tyres / what do you use? - I’m presuming the fold will still be ok and not interfere with the mudguards, as they are presumably higher. Appreciate any advice from you and your readers - Cheers - Peter.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
I've always used Marathon Plus and don't find any problems at all, they seem much the same as any other tyre. I'm still on the supplied tyres as of now, they seem pretty good but I''ll change them for Plus if (when) I get a puncture. Incidentally, the Plus aren't hard to fit. There are some great instruction videos on how to fit them with out using violence on YouiTube!
@petertaranscorsese2900
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe - Thanks David, you read my mind!! - I swapped them (after a puncture) to Marathon Plus and like you, I found they are fine and no concerns as some You Tubers have warned about - Thanks - Peter
@alsner73
5 жыл бұрын
Great vid, thanks for the effort.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Al!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for telling me, much appreciated.
@alsner73
5 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT My pleasure, I watched it and had to say thank you, I'm not really into leaving comments but it seemed like the right thing to do..
@Fenmick
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you, enlightening review.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it so, Ron, thank you.
@angelasim5999
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for sharing this video review it’s the best review I’ve seen. Well done sir! I have been trying to decide wether to wait for the Brompton to get to Canada (hopefully by Spring) which it’s really hard to do or just get the Brompton non electric; well you have helped me decide. I know now the wait will be worthwhile. Thanks so much.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Angela, glad the video helped.
@NoMoreForeignWars
6 жыл бұрын
Can you compare this too the montague folding paratrooper bike? I've read reports that some ppl have even managed to fit that bike on a plane.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
The Montague is much bigger folded, 36x28x12 inches. The Brompton is 23x22x10.5 inches. A Brompton (n0n-electric) is about 12Kg, The Montague 14.5Kg. One of the attractions of the Brompton is the fold which means you can take it anywhere you could take a small suitcase.
@karens7472
4 жыл бұрын
Hi David Do you have any comments/experience about a heavier rider weight and performance for Brompton electric?
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
No, I don't really, Karen. I'm around 76kg and it handles me with ease so it as plenty of power in hand for more I'd have thought.
@jenniferjohnson4913
5 жыл бұрын
As an aging Brompton rider I am considering moving to the the e version. My question: I like to ride to the market, flip it into shopping cart mode, fill the front bag, flip again and peddle home. Will I still be able to do this with the e version?
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You can but bear in mind you'll have to use the proper electric bag and that has space taken up by the battery. It still has a fair capacity, though. The saddle needs to be turned slightly in cart mode, as otherwise the nose hits the bag. Also, the electric one doesn't come with the rack. I can't see any reason why it couldn't be fitted though. Flipping it is a bit less easy, too, because of the weight of the battery. So, yes, perfectly doable but you'd need to try it yourself to see if it met your needs.
@mikeskor6230
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you, David. This is certainly worth considering if you can ride it without the battery and it will be similar to a normal Brompton. You couldn't take it on a plane I imagine with the battery. So in the end it might not be worth it if one plans to do any cycle touring as the youtuber Brompton Traveler does.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
I believe you can take batteries on as hand luggage but I presume there will be a power/size limit.
@mikeskor6230
5 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT Yes. The limit is 160 WH. Drone batteries in hand luggage would work but not ebike batteries.
@NonStopNeal
5 жыл бұрын
Wonderful review, I dont currently own a Brompton but wow this electric version looks and sounds incredible. I wonder if you can take the batteries on the plane? Thanks for such a great review.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks! The plane, on their site Brompton say no you can't.
@jakeagusta
5 жыл бұрын
Now I know why you sneaky Brompton riders are so fast 💨 😂 Great review.......... I will be considering this as a viable replacement to my carbon road bike 🚴♂️ Bugger ha!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
I had a woman tell me I was cheating, as if I was in some sort of competition with her. I used my usual rebuff, that if she was so annoyed by an electric bike, she must go wild at the sight of someone on motorbike.
@jakeagusta
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe haha some people get annoyed at the simplest of things.
@brebeanubogdan7097
4 жыл бұрын
Wich is the range?thank you,nice review!good luck.
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you like the review, thanks. I'd expect about 25-30 miles on full power in urban stop and go conditions. I've don't use it on the lower powers but I'd think that Brompton's figures for that are accurate.
@amyw2613
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Amy!
@namastesteven5655
6 жыл бұрын
I.noticed you cycled through Worcester park ......I'm thinking of selling my Kalkhoff integral evo 10i and getting a electric Brompton then I could secure it better inside my camper van rather than on a bike rack for thieves to obtain
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Worcester Park, yes - it tackles the hill there with ease. It's such a shame you can't keep the Kalkhoff on the back but there it is. The Brompton would be ideal, i guess, though there are cheaper folding electrics. I had a Kalkhoff - quite heavy but nicely built and very comfortable to ride. Your Evo will be much better than my Agattu, though. The e-bikes have come on such a lo9ng way in a fgew years.
@nacerleulmi7097
2 жыл бұрын
What class is the heybike mars?
@petertaranscorsese2900
5 жыл бұрын
Hi David, I think you purchased the 6 speed version? - what was your main consideration and having had the bike a while now, do you feel it was the right decision? - I note on the Brompton website, they say of the 2 speed version “Based on the unique Brompton derailleur system, with near perfect chain-alignment, this is the best set-up for flexibility and portability: one gear for hills and starting off, one for cruising” - which sounds tempting to me. I’d appreciate your thoughts and thanks for a very informative video - cheers - Peter.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Hi Peter - I'm assuming that with the hub gear in the middle position gearing would be the same with or without the hub. In which case, I'd say that I'd definitely need the hub gears as well since I spend most of the time in 3rd gear and use the derailleur in that gear. Second gear, low cog is good for starting off, 1st gear I rarely, if ever use. I'd certainly miss the higher gear. So, yes, I agree with Brompton that the 2 speed has advantages but since the extra weight of the hub gears doesn't matter on an electric bike, the higher gearing makes for a much more relaxed ride. However, if I was told I could only have the 2 speed, i wouldn't be too worried. Overall, I start at lights in 2nd gear, low cog, change up to 3rd for a clean flow of acceleration and then into the higher cog for normal riding, even up quite steep hills, with a drop to the lower cog if the hill is very steep and 2ng gear low cog for hills maybe 12% and steeper.
@petertaranscorsese2900
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe - thanks David, that’s very helpful. I’ve got my first ever ride on a Brompton tomorrow, I’m testing the e version (don’t know if it’ll be the 2 or 6 speed they offer) so it will be interesting to see how it goes. I’ve tried “normal” eBikes before and I’m “sold” on the concept of electric bikes - just trying to “get my head around” the idea of paying nearly 3 times more money than the normal Brompton for the privilege ........ and extra weight - Peter
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
@@petertaranscorsese2900 Yes, it is expensive. As with all Bromptons, there's nothing else with that fold and since I take it on the train to town fairly frequently, it makes it so easy. That's what you are paying for, I guess, not what it is but what it does. I had a non-folding electric four years ago as well as a normal Brompton. Other electrics are better value for money as bikes but the Brompton is actually pretty light compared to most others. I've had mine 9 months now and I can honestly say that if it got destroyed, I'd buy another one straight away (so long as I had the money!) so I must like it.
@petertaranscorsese2900
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe - Thanks David, that’s a powerful endorsement! - I test rode the electric Brompton today (6 speed version) and was very impressed with it. I just need to decide if I can justify the much higher expenditure over the standard model - I guess if I can’t, I’ll probably regret it!! - thanks for all your advice - Peter.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
@@petertaranscorsese2900 You're welcome. One of the nice things about the Bromptons is that if you buy the standard one and later want the electric, they are always immediately saleable without a massive loss of money.
@alanhunter2051
4 жыл бұрын
Hi its over a year on since you made this video. How do you rate the bike today. Cheers
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Alan - I'm totally used to it now and it still does the job as well as it ever did. Battery life seems unimpaired to me, so far. I took it to Brompton Junction for a service and they replaced a claw thing on the derailleur changer which had broken. The service and replacement were free. Basically, if this one got destroyed or stolen, I'd get another one just the same. As urban transport it's next to perfect. Lighter would be nicer - as would cheaper but given what it is and what it does, nothing comes close.
@alanhunter2051
4 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT Its good to see the longevity of things. I am trying to get the torque figures of the motor. As yet Brompton are reluctant to give me the figures. Your video on the 1.6 hill is a real world view. Thank you.
@orange42
6 жыл бұрын
I suspect your review of the 10-25mm F1.7 will refer to the size and weight but it sure looks interesting :)
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
It's a very welcome addition but I'm hoping it won't be absolutely huge! I think Olympus's 12-40mm f/2.8 is at the limit of acceptable size for a Micro Four Thirds standard zoom. I'm hoping for something the size of the 12-32mm :-)
@orange42
6 жыл бұрын
It's got 77 on the front? that would be bigger than the Sigma. But for indoor gigs I think it would be really helpful.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
77? Even the Olympus 40-150 f/2.8 is only 72mm. As such it would be a lens to buy only if you really needed it because at that size, weight the Micro Four Thirds advantages over FF are somewhat diminished. Great that such a lens will be available though. I expect the price will be around £3,000, given the price of the far less complex Panasonic 200mm f/2.8. For myself, given the likely size, weight and cost, if I'm going to be shooting often in conditions that need such an aperture to keep the ISO and thus noise down, it might be cheaper to buy FF with an f/2.8 standard zoom and just use a higher ISO. Ideally, I'll be wrong, the lens will be a little bigger than the Olympus 12-40 and cost less than £1500. Time will tell.
@orange42
6 жыл бұрын
@@davidthorpe7732 Thanks! Yes, am contemplating FF and a single lens for just that situation, but would still like to stay smaller. Ben Fox had a look at the mockup plastic/wood version but one doesn't know how similar the end result will be. I have not got the 8-18 because I'd still prefer lower F stop for interior use, weddings and the like. Anyway, it's like I've got a full Thorpe review from you already! Thanks again!
@cabaretampere
5 жыл бұрын
Was that Worcester Park? Did you get the bike locally?
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Yes, that's Worcester Park. I bought the bike via Brompton's web site and picked it up at Brompton Central in Covent Garden. I'd thoroughly recommend the guys in Covent Garden, very helpful and they really do know the bikes.
@cabaretampere
5 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT thanks, great review
@johnnymac8680
5 жыл бұрын
David, have you had any problems mending a puncture on the road? That would be an issue with me.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Hi Johnny - no I've only had one puncture in all my years using Bromptons. Probably because I fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres to them, as I did any other bikes I owned. Mending a puncture wouldn't be any different on the e-Brompton than the standard one, all the extra cabling to the electrics undoes easily enough. For myself, I only use the bike in London, so I'd be more inclined to fold it up, bring it home on public transport and mend it there. The puncture I had was on a Brompton before they fitted Schwalbe tyres to them, by the way.
@johnnymac8680
4 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT I was wondering how many charge/discharge cycles can be expected from the Brompton battery. FoR other ebikes I've seen 500-1000 charges claimed before the battery weakens.
@davidthorpe7732
4 жыл бұрын
@@johnnymac8680 I'd imagine it would be the same for the Brompton. I've had mine 2 years now and I still get 30 odd miles on full assistance from a full battery. Being native Brompton electrics rather than a third party add-on, I'm sure they will have optimised battery usage so that it full charge is 80% or so of actual capacity and dead is 15 or 20%. Even at the lowest 500 cycles estimate, full charge every other day would give 3 years or so before any deterioration. Given that the Brompton is a commute/urban bike and not a distance tourer I suppose that would mean you could expect an effective battery life of 5+ years before replacement. I'm happy with that.
@johnnymac8680
4 жыл бұрын
@@davidthorpe7732 At my age (almost 70) I would be happy with that, too. Thanks, David.
@kikidsukantomoadibroto9990
4 жыл бұрын
hi friend .. where can i buy the electric motor equipment ..? Thanks.
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
It's a part of the electric Brompton so you buy the bike as a whole. There's no retro-fit possible because it is integrated into the design.
@jenniferjohnson4913
5 жыл бұрын
I live in Mexico where the cobblestones are as big as boulders. The thin Brompton tires get stuck. Any way I can fit my Brompton with fatter tires?
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You'd need to email Brompton for that info, Jennifer. The bike is pretty narrow and I don't know if fatter tyres are available in that diameter anyway. Cycling on cobblestone is horrible, isn't it, even if the tyres don't get stuck.
@jenniferjohnson4913
5 жыл бұрын
David, thank you so much for both your answers.
@sandydennylives1392
6 жыл бұрын
So after the wopping 15.5 mph assist- thank you brussel's -; if you give it some beans thereafter, what sort of mph speeds do you do on the flat please.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
It'll go as fast as any other Brompton, ie as fast as any other bike. The assistance cutting out at 15.5 doesn't mean you can't pedal faster. If you do, it feels like any other Brompton. The 15.5mph limit of assistance is very sensible. It means you don't have to tax and insure it, no MOT or helmet necessary as it would be with any other motorized vehicle. If you want an electric bike that goes faster on power, there are plenty of them, some very fast, but like any other motor vehicle they need tax insurance etc and are subject to parking restrictions. Imagine if you had 40mph electric bicycles - cycle lanes would be unusable by anyone else. And imagine such a bike with the brakes and running gear of a normal bike. Totally unsafe. Plus, if motorcyclists have to wear helmets, why wouldn't the rider of a 30 or 40mph eletric bike?
@sandydennylives1392
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your reply. Their 28 mph assist in the States, without tax,insurance etc, just sayin', but I ain't dissing it, the central question is it easier to get to, say, 20-25 mph with the assist in a meaningful way compared to a standard Brompton, upon the flat, without caning it.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
It's easier insofar as the assist takes you up to 15.5mph and you take over from there but that's all. The 28mph wouldn't really be applicable to something like a Brompton which is intended and designed for urban use. In London, for example, 28mph in a cycle lane would be suicidal. At that speed hit an inattentive pedestrian or zombie walker and someone is could well die. In most towns in Europe, anything over 20mph starts to look dangerous.actually. I'd further think that anyone who could cycle consistently at 25mph would be unlikely to consider an electric Brompton. Given that 28mph requires around 4x the power of 15.5mph, such a bike and the battery necessary for decent range would be an electric bike but it couldn't be a Brompton whose USP is portabilty and urban efficiency. I'd love to try a 28mph e-bike - sounds a bundle of fun!
@sandydennylives1392
6 жыл бұрын
I can easily cruise at 20 mph on my racer,if you can do this on the electric Brompton, and I'm really thinking about road use here, then that's the issue. Do you notice you can do this easily on a flat road, or do you have to give it some oomph when the motor kicks off and in these ideal conditions; no head wind, flat road, compared to a standard brompton, or is it by and large the same effort going north of 20 mph. Do you have a clunk of metal to push when it says bye bye at 15.5 mph.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
The electric Brompton will go at 20mph with much the same effort as the non-electric one but any comparison with a road racer is redundant. An urban folding bike with 20" wheels will never speed with the ease of a racer and 20mph on it, well over the assist limit, could never be as easy as on the racer. However, 20mph on the electric one requires no more appreciable effort than the standard. If your use is suited to the racer, it will not be suited to the Brompton. Just as, if you take it on a commuter train every day, that will never be suited as much to racer as a folding urban bike. There's a case for having both but one or the other doesn't work. If you have a Brompton dealer near you, they probably have a demo one you can try.
@johnhaynes9910
6 жыл бұрын
I am just jealous David, looks like a great machine. I have always been tempted to get a Brompton but as a former Londoner who now lives in Somerset and is an old age layabout, it is not really a practical proposition, they are distinctly "city tools" so I will stick with my mountain bikes. I have been looking at electrical assist bikes and am seriously considering the viability of dumping my car and replacing it with one, probably far cheaper than running a car. The interesting thing concerning price is that whilst Halfords will stock sub £1k models, the more interesting ones start at around the price you paid for for your Brompton and pricewise can get a bit stratospheric !
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, a nice bike for town and city use. People do dress the non-electric ones up for touring, Shimano hub gears and things but it's a pretty eccentric thing to do, really when there are quality bikes made for the purpose costing no more. I had a Kalkhoff electric 5 or more years ago and that was very good but they've come on hugely since then. In France and on the continent generally, they sell e-bikes in the supermarkets but the Continentals have always seem cycling as useful transpot as much as sport and competition. I agree over the price, I reckon the sweet spot is from about £2,000 to £3,000. I use my Brompton as a sort of camera platform for photography around London. No parking problems! I'm an old geezer and not too well, so the Brompton electric is perfect for me. Where you are now, a good e-bike with trailer could be the answer. One thing I'd change - twice already I've had people call me a cheat because the bike is electric - those people must go apoplectic when they see a motorcycle. And a car must send their blood pressure crazy :-)
@Fudders
5 жыл бұрын
David, your comment about people calling you a cheat made me laugh, as those have always been my thoughts as well... how odd that those people don't get equally upset with motorcyclists and car drivers, calling them cheats too. I don't ride an electric bike (yet), but I think they're a great idea and they've come a long way with recent advances in technology. Thanks for the excellent video review too BTW!
@9mmtotheMellon
5 жыл бұрын
Good video dude...
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Glad you thought so, thanks!
@johnadisi7503
5 жыл бұрын
Hey David, for business enquiries where can I contact you?
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
If you go to my blog - see above - I'll get messages there, John. Just in order to avoid (yet more) spam when the email address is published :-)
@johnadisi3246
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe - thanks for your note. Id be grateful if you could please kindly email me on admin@humancycle.cc in order for me to privately contact you. Thanks John
@qt31415
6 жыл бұрын
wow i'll wait for the mark II after your points are added. :p
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
I don't think there's any need for a mark 2 - my main criticisms are endemic to elcrritc bikes.
@stevetaylor8698
3 жыл бұрын
Not sure speed will help much with SMDSY incidents. I ride a big motorcycle with very bright lamps, and I still have to avoid them.
@GlencoeApartments
6 жыл бұрын
Do you find the motor noise to be a lot louder than other e bikes? I had one on pre order since they got announced, but after finally riding a demo version I cancelled it (after new firmware update, 2weeks ago) I found people were turning heads even on the road to see what was making so much noise going down the road. I don’t get that with my e-mountain bike that I have. Also found that it surged a lot even on the lowest setting. Didn’t seem as refined as I was expecting.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I had a Kalkhoff electric before but the Brompton is much quieter. It couldn't be described as noisy by any stretch of the imagination. The surge is similar to my past experience but controllable by pedal pressure and something I use for fast stepaway at lights. In higher gears I don't perceive any undue surge. Strange!
@GlencoeApartments
6 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe. Didn’t have the chance to try a different Brompton electric from another store. Hope I didn’t reject it based on a bad demo model. I advised the store on my concerns but I didn’t get a solid answer. When I asked if I could try mine to see if it’s any different, they advised me that if I did I wouldn’t get a refund. So I took the safe option and cancelled it. Your making me wonder now!!
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Sorry about that! I'm aware how different perception is among humans so I'd hesitate to say they definitely aren't noisy. If you listen to the audio on my video, where I step off from the lights, you can get an idea of the motor noise level from the sequence up until the car passing. Also, the sequence on the hill where the passing cyclist speaks to me would give you a comparative idea of the level - the motor is working hard there.
@frankhooper7871
6 жыл бұрын
I had a test-ride of the electric Brompton at this year's London Freecycle and certainly didn't notice the noise; I did, however, notice the extra oomph :-)
@GlencoeApartments
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe Finally got to trial another Brompton elec at FreeCycle this year. If the one I tested at pre order stage was like this one I would have kept it. Totally different in every way. The way it delivered the power to the slight high pitched noise it make. I think the one they gave me to test back then was knackered. I spoke to Brompton about it and they told me they have done a lot of work on them since the pre order units.
@johnmccarthy169
6 жыл бұрын
So, it's a micro 2/3's bike.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
😂
@BubbafromSapperton
5 жыл бұрын
I'm in Canada and we still don't have them for sale here yet, I've waited so long I've had lots of time to think about things, firstly Brompton's just aren't suitable candidates to electrify and it's been done better for years anyways by third parties like Grin Technologies, this is too-little, too-late, if you really want a folding electric bike you'd be wiser to buy something else like a Tern Vektron for example...
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
I think you misunderstand the function of the Brompton, Miles. Try folding the Tern in 20 seconds and taking it on the London tube or railway. If what you want is a recreational folding bike, there are better and cheaper ones. If you want an _urban_ bike which will fold down in seconds and which puts the chain in the centre of the fold so that no fellow passengers or yourself can get grease from it on their clothes you need a Brompton. The Brompton is very suited to electric power since it does not require a big battery and can keep the weight down. Who cycles for 60 miles in a city? The point about the electric Brompton is that the electrics are completely integrated into the bike. Third party solutions are not. Basically, the E-Brompton is not so much an electric bike as an electric Brompton. It's the Brompton characteristics that define it.
@BubbafromSapperton
5 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT Sorry but I got my first electric in 1975 and have been at this for years, planning on getting a Brompton soon mostly just because I want one but I'm going to have it simply with fenders and a rack.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
@@BubbafromSapperton For me the Brompton has been a life-saver. I've had bikes of all sorts since I was a kid but I'n now having nuclear treatment and it saps all your energy. That's why I sold my normal Brompton for the electric. But I say again, the Brompton is designed as an urban bike. It doesn't make sense unless it i going to be taken on and off public transport and used in a city. For normal use there are better, cheaper bikes both electric an non-electric. But....get a train from Waterloo and see if you can get any other 'foldable' bike on it. Many bikes are transportable for putting in the boot of a car. No other will fold in 20 seconds as the train pulls in and takes up less space than a suitcase.
@laurensbeerendonk2832
5 жыл бұрын
Looking at your film, I am so glad to live in Holland! It lookes so dangerous, so congested, brrrr......
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
It's ok, Laurens and nothing that would surprise anyone cycling in Amsterdam. I'm in the suburns in the video, though. You should try central London!
@paulhinkley198
5 жыл бұрын
Come on Will Butler-Adams, isn't it time the Brompton Electric came in some decent colours ?
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Well he's more liberal than Henry Ford was. You can have any colour you want as long as it is back or white.
@predpalina
5 жыл бұрын
IMO, the Zehus wireless hub is the better choice to upgrade Brompton into ebike.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
I haven't tried one (or any other, for that matter). I was buying and wanted to just go to Covent Garden and pick it up. I had a Kalkhoff elctric about 5 years ago, non-folding, of course, and that was superb. The Zehus seems to need mods to the bike frame and is a bit DIY for me. I'm lazy, just want to buy it and go.
@peasantrobot
6 жыл бұрын
You never reviewed the Olympus 75mm/1.8 lens...
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
No, never managed to get hold of one.
@peasantrobot
6 жыл бұрын
:( :( :(, thank you Mr. Thorpe for response!
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
You're welcome. Usually I buy the stuff I review but when I can't afford something I try to borrow it. Olympus are not helpful with their review items.
@peasantrobot
6 жыл бұрын
I use a Canon EOS APS-C camera and I love it. The only full frame cameras I have are film based (enough for me). I got in love with Olympus Pen-F and looked at the lenses you reviewed (Panasonic, Meike, Olympus) and if I will ever have the money for this system, that is the camera and four lenses: 17, 25, 45, 75 Olympuses at 1.8 aperture. Right now, just a dream.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Nice to have a dream of such a classic prime lens outfit.
@velosapien
5 жыл бұрын
I dont get this...the law states electric bikes are restricted to 25 kmh yet my commute to work takes me way above 25kmh with pedal power only......does this mean I am breaking the speed limit?
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
No, you can pedal as fast as you - like within the speed limit for the location of course - but the electric power must cut out by 25kph. So, if you pedal at 35kph and come to a hill and lose momentum, the power will come back in below 25kph. There's nothing to stop you buying an electric bike with more power and without any cutout but then you have to tax and insure it plus wear a crash helmet.
@LittleRedCapBWR
6 жыл бұрын
There is a fast charger which cut the charging time by half. Cost £115.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
I don't need fast charging but good to know it is there if you need quick recharges. I wonder if it shortens battery life?
@tredici72
6 жыл бұрын
Is it weather sealed?
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
It might be but I'm not :-)
@eLJaybud
6 жыл бұрын
For that price you'd expect something with a modern frame and better motor.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
The main thing was to keep it as standard a Brompton as possible. The frame is designed for the unique fold - that's what makes it a Brompton. Ditto the motor. It was just as important that it rode like a non-electric Brompton with as little added weight as possible. As I said, it is an electric Brompton, not a Brompton electric. The other thing is that the frame is guaranteed for life, while all the other parts are renewable/ upgradeable. Once you've bought a Brompton, you'll never buy another so they can be cheap in the long run. Not the short run, though!
@samsungtab5671
5 жыл бұрын
Big problem is how to put bicikle on parking and go into the store to buy things
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You can use it shopping trolley style as many do or use an Abus lock to secure it outside, just like any other bike. I take the big bag with battery into the shop with me when I lock the bike up. I use a small folding Abus. Obviously you wouldn't do this if you were going to leave the bike parked for hours. I've been using Bromptons this way for many years and never had a problem, so I think you are worrying unnecessarily.
@albertohernandez-gl9wi
5 жыл бұрын
And what about traveling by airplane, strictly rules for lithium batteries!
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You can take the battery on the plane with you but not check it in for the hold, as I understand it. The battery integrates with the bag so it's easy enough to carry but it would take up a good bit of your weight allowance. None of that is any different to any other electric bike or lithium battery, of course.
@albertohernandez-gl9wi
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/ did you know the KWh of the battery? And I think regulations are the same on ICAO
@albertohernandez-gl9wi
5 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe the battery needs to be on the range for 100 to 160 kWh and the airline approval www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/Documents/small-lithium-battery-powered-vehicles.pdf
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
@@albertohernandez-gl9wi In that case you can't take it or any other electric bike battery on a plane. My powerbank only just qualifies, actually.
@jacksonman5217
4 жыл бұрын
Overpriced its over two thousand pounds thats robbery when you can get a good e bike for less than 500 pounds just as good as this but doesn't have the name Brompton its ok if you can afford it but most people cant afford to pay two thousand pounds for a bike its a ridiculous price
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
I looked in vain for an ebike I could fold and take on the tube and train. That's what what I needed. There are other folding ebikes but they are OK for a car boot, no use for public transport. The Brompton is an urban bike. If you don't need the fold with the inside chain to keep fellow passengers from getting dirty and the superb pick-up and pushability, the things that an urban user needs, there are cheaper bikes. For myself, I research thoroughly before I buy and never spend any more than I have to. It's not my fist ebike, by the way.
@super-sim1665
5 жыл бұрын
They give money back to electric cars, motorcycles but not to ebikes.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
Good point!
@canturgan
6 жыл бұрын
The sweat is good for you.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Not if you are going to work!
@petegleeson1
5 жыл бұрын
The heart attack before work is not very convenient
@doddsalfa
2 жыл бұрын
When it comes to electric bike other option are better buy
@jacksonman5217
4 жыл бұрын
I prefer my e bike to have a throttle like a motorbike this Brompton doesn't have it buy the dyu d2 for 500 pounds its better than this just doesn't have the name
@DavidThorpeMFT
4 жыл бұрын
I think throttles on ebikes are illegal in Europe - unless you tax, insure and wear a helmet
@Vincthedwarf
5 жыл бұрын
That's a 5000$ CAD electric bike,,, outch
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
There are after market conversions that are cheaper, so some alternatives. Bromptons have always been expensive but certainly in London, England, they are the only folding bike that you can practically take on public transport or into a restaurant. You pay for what it enables rather than what it is. Be ice if they were half the price though!
@petegleeson1
5 жыл бұрын
@@DavidThorpeMFT if they were half the price they would be being built in China! Thankfully to date, Brompton have stuck to their guns, skilling local people and providing real jobs in the UK I hope they never do a Dyson. It is great to final see the electric Brompton get launched and pleased you are enjoying it.
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
@@petegleeson1 I hope they do stick to their guns! I believe they looked at some production of their bikes abroad but found it too difficult to maintain the quality. I have great respect for Chinese manufacturing from personal experience with lenses and guitars. They can build to any standard required including the very highest - Eastman Guitars are a case in point. However, manufacturing to those standards is expensive wherever you are and I'd think that the cachet of being manufactured in Europe and in the UK is worth more financially than the saving and difficulties of manufacturing thousands of miles from your main markets . I think a lot of people don't understand the Brompton and they see it as a folding bike. Purely as a folding leisure bike it is expensive and there is better value if all you want is a portable bike to go in the boot of the car. But as an urban bike, tailored to its environment it is supreme, electric or not and - as we obviously agree - well worth its price. I mean, the fact that the chain sits between the folded sections so that when carried neither the carrier or other people nearby gets oil on their clothes means more than justifies the price. And I'm talking as someone who is quite hard headed about the stuff that i buy.
@Rabe1907
2 жыл бұрын
Schade, Frontantrieb....😖
@quality6779
6 жыл бұрын
Helmet please!
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
I think it is a matter of personal choice. The only two countries to enforce helmet wearing have found no change whatsoever in cycle accidents or head injuries. The main effect has been to cut the number of people who cycle and fewer young people to take it up at all. The British government study concluded that the health benefits of cycling far outweighed any notional lessening of injuries from helmet wearing.
@zivkovicable
6 жыл бұрын
Not as simple an issue as it might first seem. www.cyclehelmets.org/
@moochincrawdad
6 жыл бұрын
My helmet has stereo bluetooth speakers and turn signals - IT DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFER AND I DOUBT THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE MUCH PROTECTION IN AN ACCIDENT!!!!! I've been knocked off my bike TWICE, on both occasions not even so much as a scratch to my head and I was wearing a helmet on the 1st incident only.
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
@@moochincrawdad I'm with you. Head injuries are rare for cyclists, it's mainly arms and legs from what I read. The vast majority of head injuries are in the home and to pedestrians. Logically, if helmet wearing were to be made compulsory, it would be in the home first, followed by when out walking. My personal feeling is that the compulsory helmets movement has more to do with exercising power over others than concern for their well-being.
@liwo9706
5 жыл бұрын
Get FIT so you dont need to cheat
@DavidThorpeMFT
5 жыл бұрын
You must go mad when you see someone on a motor-cycle! And a car! The horror!
@wolraikoc
6 жыл бұрын
Why would I find myself carrying the bike folded as little as possible?
@DavidThorpeMFT
6 жыл бұрын
Because of the weight. I tend to wheel it rather than carry it folded or to carry it on my shoulder unfolded. I then fold it down at the last minute. That's so with an ordinary Brompton for most people from my observations in London. I was pointing out that the extra weight makes carrying it folded more of a chore. It's comparative, of course, the electric bike is heavier - not heavy.
@wolraikoc
6 жыл бұрын
David Thorpe thank you for the quick reply I’m really looking foreword to see one in the “flesh”
@frankhooper7871
6 жыл бұрын
I'm a non-electric Brompton rider (but seriously considering electric for the future) and likewise prefer to wheel it than carry it. I usually only pick it up when going up/down stairs or when boarding trains.
@davidthorpe7732
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, I was the same with my non-electric - even less inclined to carry the electric but luckily, as with the standard, not much occasion to.
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