Brompton Collapsible e-Bike Review: Pros, Cons & Which Upgrades are Actually Worth It
If you love the idea of riding a bike more often, but aren’t sure you’re ready to go full bike-commuter, a collapsible e-bike might be a realistic way for you to spend less time driving. (I love them because they’re flexible – you’ll never be trapped in a rainstorm or riding home after dark if you don’t want to.) Consider this your complete Brompton e-bike review and buyer’s guide, with everything you need to know before you buy.
After getting a little bit hooked on e-biking while riding through vineyards and olive groves on our Italy group trips, we decided to test out a different kind of ebike: A collapsible electric bike, designed for city use.
Brompton – the British folding bike company that practically has a cult following – offered to loan us two 4-speed collapsible e-bikes from their C-line, and we wanted to see if the e-bike habit would still be as much fun without being on vacation.
I’ll explain more about Brompton’s different lines below, but the C-Line is basically Brompton’s least expensive e-bike line. And after riding these bikes for more than 4 months, we’ve figured out exactly which upgrades we’d go for. Those details are also below, and in our video review.
NOTE: As of mid-October, Brompton is offering ~$1,000 off these folding ebikes! They’re making changes to the design soon, but the ones we tested are still great bikes. If you’re looking to save quite a bit on a new electric Brompton, this is the time!
Since Tilted Map isn’t a bike blog, and I’m not a bike expert (just a fan of fun rides), this review won’t be super technical! If you’re thinking of getting into e-biking for the first time, I speak your language.
And if you’re more of a visual person, here’s the video version:
Who’s writing this review?
Speaking of speaking your language, let me introduce myself. My name’s Ketti. I have a master’s degree in sustainability, and started Tilted Map in 2019.
I’ve traveled to dozens of countries, and have been writing sustainable travel guides for years. (Think of them as realistic, non-judgmental guides to help you travel better and leave a better impact, however and wherever you want to travel.)
And I love writing reviews of sustainable products – reviews that are actually useful, detailed and genuine (sharing the good and the bad, no matter what). Usually I review things like the best plastic-free sunscreens, but since I started hosting e-bike trips in Italy, I’ve gotten excited to dive into this new world!
That’s because, for a lot of people, E-bikes are a more realistic replacement for cars than regular bikes.
And that’s the kind of sustainability upgrade I love to learn about and share, so you can see if it could be a good option for you.
Btw: interested in joining us for an e-bike trip in a part of Italy that most tourists never see? Drop your info below to stay in the loop about upcoming trips!
Alright let’s get into this Brompton ebike review:
Why Brompton?
Full disclosure: Running a blog that reviews products, I get multiple affiliate offers every day from brands asking me to review whatever they sell. They usually offer me free products and an affiliate commission if I agree. (If you’re interested in how that works, I wrote a post about how blogs make money. It’s for non-techy people who want to understand the internet better!)
I’ve gotten a dozen such affiliate offers just from other e-bike companies.
But I’ve turned them all down, because they’re often random companies with no sustainability credentials, or with products that are made too cheaply to be worth your time. (Or what little time you’d spend on them before they break.)
I hate that kind of stuff. More low-quality junk is NOT what the world needs.
But I said yes to Brompton’s offer to test their e-bikes and write a review, because this brand is known for high quality, durability, and high resale value. They’ve been around for 50 years, and they pretty much invented the modern concept of portable, collapsible bikes for city use.
When I got a flat tire and took mine to a bike shop to have it fixed, I was chatting with the guy doing the repairs about alternatives to Brompton. He said something worth noting:
“They make the best folding bikes, so for people who like the folding bike option, sooner or later they get smart and they get a Brompton. The other ones just aren’t as light, or they don’t fold as easily or they don’t last as long.”
Bike shop dude
(“Sooner or later they get smart” – yes, we’re in Boston. 😂)
And Brompton is a B Corp, which is a respected sustainability certification. (It means the company has to consider their environmental and social impact, along with their financial bottom-line.)
Then and… also now
These bikes have been made in London ever since they were designed in 1975. The quick, three-way folding design was patented a few years later.
Even today, Brompton bikes are still built in London, using the same folding design that they patented, and are rolling around cities all over the world! (Just look at the comments section of our review video! Brompton riders have chimed in from just about everywhere.)
But I didn’t realize how famous this brand actually was until I started being seen in public on a Brompton. Every time we ride these bikes, we get comments from strangers who love the brand. Seriously, it’s wild.
So after decades, Brompton added an electric motor option in 2019 — not to reinvent the bike, but to make those hills a little friendlier and long rides a little intimidating, without losing the usefulness of a bike that you can fold into a briefcase size in a few seconds.
Who are collapsible e-bikes for?
If you like the idea of commuting without being stuck in traffic, getting more movement and outside time into your day, or if you’d like to have your OWN e-bike instead of renting those QR-code rental bikes (you know, the ones where you scan the QR code and hope the brakes work), then a collapsible e-bike might be a good upgrade for you.
However, the bikes we tested are not a great all-terrain option. If you want to be able ride around your neighborhood or down a dirt trail or up a mountain on the same ebike, then I’d at least look at Brompton’s G-line electric bikes instead, if not a more traditional mountain bike. (These are the e-mountain bikes we rode last year in Italy, for example. From an Italian bike company, of course.)
Mountain vs City e-Bikes
Getting used to these city e-bikes was more of a learning curve than I expected, because I was just so used to the e-mountain bikes we ride on our trips in Italy.
Those other bikes have all the mountain bike features – big, squishy shocks (yes, I’m sure that’s the technical term), huge 29-inch wheels, and a heavy frame. All of those things make them very comfortable to ride through a field, down a mountain, and over gravel – but not ideal for cities.
And the weight means that if you decide to turn the electric battery off (or your battery dies while you’re on a ride) the whole system will be very heavy to ride around without electric assistance.
These Brompton city e-bikes are a whole different vibe. They’re much lighter, for starters. They have small 16-inch diameter wheels (letting the bike fold up much smaller).
And the shocks are almost non-existent. (More about that below.)
Unboxing our C-Line E-bikes
When we first opened the boxes for these bikes (which shipped from NJ, even though they’re still made in London), I was a little skeptical because… they didn’t seem big enough to hold a bike.
But that’s kind of the whole point of the Brompton design: making a full-sized bicycle that can be folded up into a small space.
You can easily picture yourself bringing it up to your apartment without struggling to get it through the stairwell, or taking it on an elevator at work and still looking professional.
However, I have realized after using this city ebike for a few months that it’s not as easy to maneuver as I’d hoped when it’s folded up.
More about that below (under Our First Upgrade), but first… what do you do with this thing when you take it out of the box?
Let me break down the steps. (There’s also a how-to video below.)
How to unfold your Brompton (INSTRUCTIONS)
I’ll be honest, the unfolding/ folding process was a bit intimidating at first. It took a few tries to get good at it but once you get the hang of it, I promise it’s quick and easy!
These are the steps to unfold it from the storage position. Or you can watch our video below:
- Unfold the left hand pedal (the only visible pedal) by pressing the “button” on the pedal
- Unfold the handle bar into the upright position (by pushing it with a downward motion then swinging it up) and clamp it into place
- Undo the seat lever, pull the seat up, and then tighten the lever again (it doesn’t matter if you get the height right; this is easy to adjust later)
- Rock the bike back so it’s balanced on the back wheel and on those mini wheels, and unhook the front wheel by lifting it upwards
- Move the front wheel forward (keeping the handlebars facing the same way the entire time) and tighten the clamp on the main frame
- Lift the bike by the seat so that the rear wheel swings out from under the frame, unfolds and clicks into place.
- Slide the battery into the front slot, and it’ll automatically power on!
How to unfold your Brompton (VIDEO)
Our First Upgrade (Why you need a Roller Rack)
Bromptons are designed for you to easily take them into small spaces, like through cafes, offices, or into your apartment. And they’re great at that – but I have found that it’s not as easy as I’d hoped to roll the bike around on its mini wheels when it’s folded up.
In a places with a smooth, flat floor (like a train station) it works just fine.
But outside, the wheels are so small, that they easily get caught on any little bump in the sidewalk. And cobblestones? Forget it. You’ll definitely have to pick it up and carry it.
For about $250 (after market) you can add a “roller rack” that should make it much easier to push or pull your bike around. (And give you place to attach things to the back of the bike, if you want to carry cargo.)
But if you order your bike with a roller rack right from the start (instead of waiting to add one later) it only costs $100. So that’s the first upgrade I’d recommend, if I were buying this C-Line e-bike for myself. And I’d do it more for the improved mobility than for the storage, but they’re both good reasons.
One commenter on our Youtube review was even shocked that we’ve been riding them without the roller racks at all:
An even bigger upgrade?
If reading about cobblestones and sidewalk bumps got you worried about having to carry your bike around instead of rolling it, it might be worth investing in a lighter bike.
My electric C-line weighs about 30 lbs (13 kg), plus another 7 lbs (3 kg) for the battery.
It’s handy that you can separate them and carry one with each arm, but even that way, carrying around a 30-pound weight in one hand is not something I enjoy for very long. (Especially when it’s a bike – ie: something you can’t comfortably lean against your leg without getting scraped up, or dirtying your clothes.)
And that’s the only reason I’d personally consider upgrading to a P-Line electric bike, instead of the (less expensive) C-Lines we’re riding.
The C-Line has a frame made of steel, while the P-Line is a mix of steel and titanium. That makes it about 5 pounds lighter (2.3 kg) – and a few hundred dollars more expensive.
But depending on where you plan to take your bike (and how muscular you are) it might be worth the investment.
Brompton Electric C-Line Review: What’s it really like?
Okay, let’s get into the details:
The Battery
It takes about 4 hours to recharge a Brompton electric battery from zero to full. And the battery gives you 3 levels of assistance.
FYI: the button to choose the level of assistance is on the battery (not on your handlebar with the shifter) so you have to reach down – over the handle bar – to change it.
I thought that seemed a bit awkward at first, but it’s easier than I expected – especially because I very rarely change the assistance level during a ride.
UPDATE: This is one of the things Brompton is changing in their redesign of the C-Line and P-Line bikes. The button to change assistance will be moving to the handle bar! That sounds like a good call, but again, it’s far from necessary. So if you’d rather just save some money, I’d definitely buy a Brompton during the current sale, before the new e-bike design is launched.
The battery also comes in its own little “purse,” with a strap and a pocket (big enough to fit a small 17 oz (500 mL) water bottle).
PIC – battery, maybe with water bottle inside
Lock Your Brompton!
Side note: That strap on the battery is really handy for when I want to lock my bike on a bike rack (instead of folding it up and taking it inside with me) but I don’t want to leave the battery outside attached to the bike. (Usually for going into small spaces, or quick trips, like ducking into a coffee shop.)
(You can also lock the battery up through the handle – not through the strap, which bike thieves could easily cut. But I find that’s not the easiest option, since most bike lock chains aren’t quite long enough.)
And since the battery costs $800 to replace, I definitely don’t leave it attached to the bike and unguarded without a good lock.
(Brompton doesn’t actually sell replacement batteries on their site right now, but that’s what a bike shop owner told me when I was picking his brain about folding bikes.)
How often do you have to plug it in?
Back to the battery – Brompton says it’s supposed to last 20 to 45 miles (30 to 70 km) on a single charge. The variation depends on your weight, the level of assistance you use, and how many hills you’re biking up.
That estimate seems about right for us after testing these bikes for a few months.
My longest ride so far was 26 miles (42 km) in one day. I started with my battery fully charged, left it at level 2 the entire time, and when I got home I was down to one bar of charge left (out of 5).
When to Change Assistance Levels?
Usually, I leave my battery on level 1 if I want to work out a little more, or level 2 if I want more support or am going a long distance.
And I’ve noticed that doesn’t change much throughout a ride – I just pick one level, and the 4 gears give me enough fine tuning to deal with hills.
Level 3 – FULL POWER!
I rarely use level 3, because it’s more boost than I often even want.
The main exception is if it’s a hot day and I don’t want to get where I’m going covered in sweat! Then I’ll keep it at the highest level of assistance and really appreciate it. It makes me feel like biking is an okay idea even on days (or with outfits) when I would normally avoid it. (Like that 26-mile ride I did on a hot day in August.)
How many gears are enough?
In addition to the electric assistance from the battery, you also have gears like a normal bike.
The model we tested has 4 gears, and you only have a shifter on one side of the handlebars (the left). With the electric motor for help, I really don’t feel like I need more gears for biking around the city.
But if you live in a place with lots of hills, I could see wanting more gears! And the electric C-Line now comes in a 12-speed version, so you’ve got options.
Built-in Bike Lights: Pros & Cons
The battery also powers the built-in headlight and tail light, which is both a pro and a con: It means you only have one battery to worry about recharging.
You’re never going to suddenly realize that your bike light is dead (pro!), unless you weren’t paying attention and your whole bike is dead (con!).
If you don’t keep an eye on your charge level, you could find yourself pedaling home without battery assistance and without light.
There’s an auto-mode where the lights turn on when it’s dark, or you can turn them on manually.
Tip: If you turn the lights on and don’t turn them back off before you turn off your battery, they’ll be on again when you come back for another ride. That’s what I always do, because it’s always safer to make yourself more visible to cars – whether it’s day or night.
Something you DON’T have to pay extra for
And both the headlight and the tail light come standard on all Brompton electric bike models, which is great. (But not on their regular bikes.)
Other decent bike lights can easily cost more than $50 each. And you don’t want to buy a bike and then feel like you’ve already spent enough money and end up scrimping on lights. Whether you’re riding in city traffic or rural roads, you want cars to be able to see you!
If your Brompton lights ever break, you can replace them, but I wouldn’t worry about that. I’ve used a lot of bike lights, and not all of them hold a charge or are very bright. But these are definitely good ones.
(For example: Our bike helmets are from Thousand and we love them! But their bike lights are not the best and don’t hold a charge for long.)
Side Note: Helmet Recommendation
Speaking of helmets, it’s also a sign of quality that the only bike helmet brand that Brompton carries is Thousand! So if you don’t have a good helmet already, you can order one in the same shipment as your new e-bike.
We’ve used our Thousand helmets for years and do love them. Not that this is the point, but they’re probably the only cool looking helmets in the world.
(But as I mentioned, I’d skip Thousand’s bike lights!)
Brompton Suspension & Dealing with Bumps
Since Bromptons are meant to be city e-bikes, there’s really not much suspension. It feels very tight and if you go over bumps you definitely feel them.
That’s my least favorite thing about this bike.
The back wheel has a bit of suspension but it’s not much.
If you ride on gravel roads, cobble stones or bumpy streets, it can be tricky because you feel you’re perched up high on the bike. And the 16” wheels aren’t meant for stability or non-asphalted roads. You have to remember to slow down and pay attention!
That’s why Brompton’s new G-line e-bike is intriguing. It’s designed for rough terrain — but also has the portability of a normal Brompton.
Questions Worth Asking
How fast does it go?
We can’t 100% confirm this, as we don’t have a speedometer to track how fast we’re really going when we let loose on a big hills.
But it’s clear that the assistance plateaus at a certain speed. That’s because these are Class 1 e-bikes, so there’s a maximum speed of 20 mph in the US (32 kmh) and 15.5 mph in Europe and the UK (25kmh).
Is it like riding a motorcycle?
No. Again, this is a Class 1 e-bike, meaning it’s the kind that only goes when you pedal. (And then it just helps you go.)
The battery powers a small built-in motor housed in the front wheel hub. The motor senses your pedaling and delivers assistance almost instantly.
NOTE: This is one of the main things Brompton is changing in their redesign of the C-Line and P-Line bikes. The motors on the new electric bikes will be in the back wheel hub.
The acceleration doesn’t feel abrupt and it’s not like riding a motorcycle. It’s more like you pedal and the bike just goes more than it would without the assistance.
Let me answer that from Italy…
Here’s a little video I made about what it feels like to ride an e-bike, and why I’m such an evangelist for them (during one of our Italy e-bike trips).
I’m riding a different kind of e-bike in the video (bigger and with more shocks, for off-road riding) but the concept is still the same.
The Brompton e-bikes are very quiet, too. I don’t really notice the motor at all when I’m riding, unless I’m in a place with absolutely no street noise. But even then it’s not bothersome. (And I’m very easily annoyed by noises, just so you know where I’m coming from!)
Is it too heavy?
As I mentioned above, the exact bikes we tested weigh about 30 lbs (13 kg) without the battery, which adds another 7 pounds (3 kgs).
Brompton also makes the P-line which is about 4 to 5 pounds lighter. For me, that could be a worthwhile upgrade to have a lighter folding bike, mainly because it would feel less awkward when bringing the bikes into tight spaces, like restaurants or bars.
Brompton Upgrades I would (and wouldn’t) recommend:
Brompton has a lot of upgrades available, which can be overwhelming when you’re shopping. Personally, here are the upgrades that are worth it for me, and how I would think about what to buy for your situation:
C-Line upgrades:
- I would NOT upgrade for the 12-speed model, unless you’re living in a city with a ton of hills. If I lived in San Francisco or another really hilly place, those extra gears could definitely be worth it. But in Boston, I feel just fine with the 4 gear plus 3 levels of assistance.
- I WOULD upgrade for the roller rack, both to have a place to attach bags while riding, but even more for the extra maneuverability when it’s folded up. With just our basic setup, I didn’t find it as easy to move as I’d hoped. It tends to get stuck on any little bump in the sidewalk.
- If you upgrade WHILE you’re purchasing your bike from Brompton, it’s only $100 more. (But if you buy the roller rack separately afterwards, it’s $253.)
Or a whole different model?
- Want it light? Consider the P Line for the lighter weight! Since the C Line is not as easy to move around when folded up as I had hoped, saving those few extra pounds of weight might be worth the extra money. But with the titanium and steel frame, the 4-speed costs $4,950.
- Want versatility? The Brompton I’m most interested in is actually new electric G Line! That’s the more “off road” electric Brompton, which I think would be useful even just for riding around in city parks. It has disk brakes, bigger wheels (for more stability), and – my favorite upgrade – more tread on the tires, which gives you more grip on rough terrain. (Currently, I notice the lack of grip every time I ride over even a bit of gravel in the park, so that would be great.) The versatility is huge, but if you’re strictly a city rider, you wouldn’t need this. (And if you want the lightest folding bike, you’re going the wrong way. The G Line weights slightly more than my C line, at 43 pounds with the battery.)
Travel Tips!
No matter which folding ebike you choose, if you plan to travel with it, take the train! You can’t fly with e-bike batteries, unfortunately, whether they’re in your checked bag or carry-on.
If you skip the e and just go for a regular Brompton, it’s designed to be very travel-friendly! (And costs a lot less than the electric version, of course.)
Plus, checking it inside a travel case costs a lot less than checking a normal (non-folding) bicycle as a “special item.”
(We tried packing one of our Bromptons in a large checked bag – it almost fit. But not quite, and I would be afraid either the bike would get damaged, or the suitcase would, from the gears or heavy, hard bike frame.)
TRIP IDEA:
These bikes cost a bit less in the UK! So if you want to plan a trip to London, you could buy a (non-electric) Brompton there, along with a travel case, which you can use to check the bike on your flight home. (The savings won’t pay for your flight or anything, but it’s a thought.)
But before you come home, you could use your new travel-friendly bike to explore European cities and towns on a cross-continental train trip with Byway! (The story of my Byway trip is coming soon!)
Bottom Line:
We’ve been using these bikes for several months now and, and these are our final take-aways.
Quality & Functionality
Overall, we’re very happy with our Bromptons, despite the fact that they’re the “entry-level” model!
It really is a great way to avoid using your car for commutes. Everything works well; brakes and gears feel sturdy and safe. It’s obviously very solid construction, you can tell it’s going to last, which is only confirmed by the number of random people who tell us they have a Brompton and love it.
The Learning Curve
It took some time to learn the folding/unfolding part and to get used to the stiff feeling while riding my Brompton.
At first, I felt really uncomfortable because it’s so different from other bikes I’ve ridden – felt like I was perched up high on top of the bike. But I got used to it faster than I expected, and feel totally comfortable on my Brompton now.
I still wouldn’t ride to another city with it (that’s just me, if you’re an intense biker, it might be different for you). But it definitely makes longer commutes in the city feel a lot more approachable than when I don’t have an e-bike.
Brompton Resale Market
If you buy a Brompton and eventually decide it’s just not for you, you won’t be stuck with it.
There’s definitely a strong resale market, including directly through Brompton. You can buy refurbished bikes right in their site. (And you can see that Bromptons hold their value, because the price is not that much lower than new bikes.)
They also keep a stock of parts so you can fix up old bikes.
The best part? Flexibility.
My favorite thing about a folding ebike is the flexibility it gives me in how I want to get around.
Flat tire? Rain? Long day and you’re too tired to ride? You’re never stuck.
Since you can take your bike inside with you, you don’t have to worry about parking it in a secure place, or having a wet bike seat if it rains.
And any Brompton will easily fit in the back of any car so you can call an Uber.
Or you can take public transit home much more easily than with a normal bike! (Lots of public transit won’t allow full sized bikes — but they do allow folded bikes, because they count as a piece of luggage.)
EXAMPLE: We were on a long Sunday joy ride with a friend, when Emanuele suddenly got a flat. (Yes, like all bikes, Bromptons can get flats.)
We could have taken a car home. But since our friend was riding a cargo e-bike, we folded up his Brompton and put it in her basket, and he rented a city bike!
The worst part? You can’t have it all.
My C-Line feels very portable and convenient in those senses I mentioned above – but not quite as light and easy to move around inside tight places (eg. restaurants) as I’d hoped.
(And so you have an idea of who this is coming from, I’m no wimp! I can do 20 push-ups on my toes, so I’m not short on arm muscles. 💪 But I still don’t find it a walk in the park in those situations. With that in mind, I would definitely consider a lighter P Line e-bike, or at the very least, definitely go for the roller rack version of mine.)
If you want something more versatile, even for riding around the parks of your city, and don’t care as much about weight, I’d definitely check out the G-line.
Questions?
If there’s anything I didn’t cover, feel free to drop a question in the comments here, or the Youtube comments on our video review! (And the video might answer your question, too, so give it a watch!)
Before You Go…
Check out some of our other useful reviews of products designed to help you live more sustainably:
