Each part is then cleaned in an agitator. Once cleaned they're bent into shape and joined together to form the frame
. Each bike is hand-brazed, this is a similar process to welding but uses lower temperatures and doesn't melt the metal being joined together.
Where are Brompton frames made?
Brompton Bicycle is the leading bike manufacturer in the UK, with its factory in
Kew, West London
. Brompton's history can be traced back to 1975, when the inventor and founder, Andrew Ritchie, created prototypes of Brompton bikes from his bedroom in South Kensington, London.
How do you make a Brompton folding bike?
Are Brompton bikes made in China?
The bikes have always been manufactured in London
. In the early 1990s Brompton licensed its designs to Euro-Tai of Taiwan, and a joint venture company – Neobike – was formed to manufacture the bikes and distribute them in Asia.
Why is Brompton bikes opening a new factory?
Hollaway said he wanted the Brompton building to ask, “what is the factory of the future?” The complex – with floor-to-ceiling windows around much of the circular main building, according to digital renders – is designed
to celebrate manufacturing and inspire workers
, Butler-Adams said.
Why are Brompton bikes so expensive?
Why Are Brompton Bikes So Expensive? Two main reasons:
their frames are handmade, and they have an incredibly high resale value
, which often transcends their initial purchase price. Brompton frames are handmade in England. Because Bromptons fold up, their frames also require two hinge axes instead of one.
Are Brompton bikes made in UK?
The Brompton bike company is famous for its folding bikes, a design which requires 1,200 separate parts to be assembled at its factory in Greenford in Middlesex
.
Why are Brompton bikes made of steel?
Bromptons differ from conventional bikes with double diamond frames in that
its single tube and folding mechanisms put the frame under unique stresses
. This is a key reason Brompton uses steel as a mainframe material.
What are Brompton bikes made of?
All Brompton folding bicycle models share the same curved frame, consisting of a hinged main tube, pivoting rear triangle, fork, and hinged handle-bar stem.
The main tube and stem are made of steel in all models. The rear triangle and fork are either steel or titanium, depending on model
.
How heavy is a Brompton bike?
The Brompton Bike Range:
The actual weight of a Brompton bike depends on the model and configuration, but ranges from
9 – 121⁄2 kg (20 – 28lbs)
. The weight of mudguards, pedals, etc. are included in these figures.
What size wheels does a Brompton have?
16′′ (349
): This is the normal Brompton wheel size, so this size will take all normal Brompton tyres. This is the only size that is compatible with the standard Brompton brakes rather than disc brakes.
What is a Brompton B75?
So what is the new B75? It is
the latest special edition made by Brompton
and it has been made to a price to make the bicycle more accessible. It also comes with a finance package to spread the cost out further. To keep the cost down, it uses older parts, comes in one colour, and has no default options like mudguards.
How can you tell a real Brompton from a fake?
Each Brompton leaves the factory with two numbers that uniquely identify your bicycle. These are the
serial number and frame number
. For all our bicycles manufactured since 2022, only the serial number appears on the identification plate.
Do Brompton bikes have suspension?
A Brompton's suspension is provided by a polyurethane block between the main and rear frames
; lightweight and effective. Whilst it helps to absorb bumps in the road, the natural damping of the material also helps to avoid excessive “bounce”, helping with pedal efficiency.
What makes Brompton fast?
Speed. The Brompton bicycle won't win any road races, but it isn't the slowest bike on the road either. Small tires have the advantage of making it effortless to get going from a complete stop. This is due to
smaller wheels having a lower moment of inertia
, which makes accelerating quick and easy.
Is Brompton overrated?
Bromptons are ridiculously overpriced for spec
. Come with kit barely better than on a Halfords special, yet cost almost seven hundred pounds new for the cheapest. Which is twice as much as they cost just five or six years ago (seems they've become ‘trendy'). You can get a decent ‘proper' bike for that.
Why is Brompton so ex?
Why are Bromptons so expensive? Brompton bicycles are expensive because
their frames are hand-built in England
. They use brazing, which is lighter and stronger than welding, but also more difficult and laborious.
How long can a Brompton last?
How long does a Brompton last?
With proper care and maintenance, Brompton folding bicycles can last for decades
. They have a 7-year warranty on frames, and Brompton provides parts for models up to 20 years old or even more.
What has contributed to the success of Brompton bicycles?
The success of Brompton Bicycle has relied on three core elements:
well-designed, well-engineered, and well-made products
. In fact, these factors have helped Brompton to become not only a UK success story, but also a globally recognized brand.
Who designed the Brompton bike?
Andrew Ritchie
was a young engineer who believed in a better way to move around the city. In 1975 in the bedroom of his flat overlooking the Brompton Oratory, he invented a bike with an ingenious 3-part fold.
How do you make a Brompton lighter?
Is Brompton a carbon?
Brompton hasn't just looked to the frame for weight savings.
It has used a number of carbon components across the T Line to reduce weight
. The brand has chosen to equip the T Line with a carbon seatpost.
Are all Brompton frames the same?
Although
all Brompton frames are the same size
, there are different components that tailor the fit for each rider: seatpost and handlebar type.
Is the Brompton Superlight worth it?
The S2L Superlight does cost significantly more than a standard model, but for that money you do get a bike which is lighter, easier to carry and feels just that bit pacier than the standard version.
Whether it is worth the extra investment will come down to personal choice, and weighing up intended use
.
