Like a Brompton but not like a Brompton

[macp]

So I love the look and the idea behind foldable bikes but what if I wanted something like this but I dont need the folding bit. I commute to work almost all year round except for snow & ice and its an 8 mile round trip from country lanes into town. I love the smallers wheels and quirkiness of foldables as well as a more upright ridiing position.

Strange question ?

Just buy a Brompton anyway ?

[Wacky Racer]

Brompton's are the "Rolls Royce" of folding bikes, but if you want something cheaper, consider a Tern, (About £450), whereas Brompton's are around £1000.

I bought a new Brompton last year, never regretted it,

[Wacky Racer]

Tern



My Brompton.

[macp]

Wacky Racer said:

Brompton's are the "Rolls Royce" of folding bikes, but if you want something cheaper, consider a Tern, (About £450), whereas Brompton's are around £1000.

I bought a new Brompton last year, never regretted it,

Thanks the budget is not a major issue well I could spend up to 2k if need be. By the way I live in Cheshire so pretty flat around here.
The Tern stuff does look nice like the look of the P10.

[Wacky Racer]

macp said:

Wacky Racer said:

Brompton's are the "Rolls Royce" of folding bikes, but if you want something cheaper, consider a Tern, (About £450), whereas Brompton's are around £1000.

I bought a new Brompton last year, never regretted it,

Thanks the budget is not a major issue well I could spend up to 2k if need be. By the way I live in Cheshire so pretty flat around here.
The Tern stuff does look nice like the look of the P10.

I paid about another £70 to have the six speed option, rather than the three, you can choose the shape of the handelbars too.

For 2k you are getting into electric bike money.

I wouldn't use mine to climb up steep hills, but that's not what they are meant for. The quality generally is superb.

fwiw I bought mine from Evan's next to the Trafford Centre, they will let you ride one around the huge car park. (Or did do pre CV)

[macp]

Thanks again
Thats a whole other discussion. I have been fighting with the idea of going pedelec but wondering if I can actually justify it. I could spend more and stick it on finance. To buy a non electric Brompton means I need to finance it anyway but the electric bike is going to cost a lot more.

How do you find the M bars by the way as I think I prefer the look of the S bars.

Edited by macp on Sunday 12th April 18:31

[Fonz]

If you don't want a folding bike maybe a Pashley of some sort! bit quirky with a sit upright position and smaller front wheel. Then again maybe not.

https://www.pashley.co.uk/bikes/carrier-cycles/del...

[macp]

Fonz said:

If you don't want a folding bike maybe a Pashley of some sort! bit quirky with a sit upright position and smaller front wheel. Then again maybe not.

https://www.pashley.co.uk/bikes/carrier-cycles/del...

I see where your going but a bit too quirky methinks.

This could be fun https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350w-FAST-and-light-fol...

Still love the 'thing' with Bromptons though.

Are they really so twitchy at the front especially cornering ?

Edited by macp on Sunday 12th April 19:06

[frisbee]

http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/

[Benrad]

Why on earth do you like small wheels? They're a necessity on a folder to get it to fold small but they don't make for a pleasant ride in my experience

What about an older sturmey archer hub geared shopper and then give it a good going over replacing parts? I got a very old (1980s I think) folder when I was commuting by train, didn't fold very small at all but rode really nicely once I'd given it all new cables, brakes and tires. Dynamo hub front wheel highly recommended too

[85Carrera]

Look at Dahon too

[Decsim]

There are a few interesting ones out there, especially if you are not after the really compact fold the Brompton gives you.

Airnimal
https://airnimal.co/

Birdy
https://www.birdybicycle.com/

If you want to go all out, spend all your budget, and join a sort of cult then Moulton has the bike for you!
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/models.html

[Decsim]

85Carrera said:

Look at Dahon too

I was going to say Dahon but it looks like all the interesting ones they did are now Tern. There's some weird family of founder legal case stuff going on and they split out.

[Pupp]

Bromptons ride better than they probably have any right to given the distinctly ordinary cycle parts they come with... probably testament to continual design improvement over the years. I like them despite this, not because of it and there are any number of upgrades offered by clever 3rd parties.

However, if the ultimate folding functionality is not needed and the aim is to 'enjoy' some small wheel dynamics for the sake of it, a classic Moulton project could be just the ticket... cool too

[untakenname]

frisbee said:

http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/

As above if you want the best small wheeled bike and you're not folding it every journey, you can easily disassemble a Moulton into two parts in around a minute if you want to store it

They were banned from track racing for offering too much of an advantage over conventional bikes and were also the first bikes to feature full suspension.

Having had both Bromptons and Moulton's (AM7 and a 1960's F frame) the Brompton was fine for commuting to and from the train station but was a compromise if you wanted a long ride compared to a normal road bike whereas you could actually ride the Moulton at the same pace as a normal larger wheeled road bike and looking at Strava was no slower and more comfortable.

[macp]

Thanks all
Why do I want small wheels but why not and most of these quirky machines seem to come with them.

So the Moulton looks pretty sexy. So who retails them, he says before going off and googling

[simonpieman]

Want a Brompton style bike without the fold? Take a look at the Cannondale Hooligan.

[macp]

simonpieman said:

Want a Brompton style bike without the fold? Take a look at the Cannondale Hooligan.

Good lord thats nice

Typical I dont think they make it any longer.

Edited by macp on Sunday 12th April 20:29

[macp]

Moulton TSR22 is stunning imo

[Meeten-5dulx]

Bike to work scheme may help as well.
Whilst I appreciate you are not yrimyong to go on a budget, the savings could help 'up the budget'...