folder fanatic

While there have been many, many articles and video features on the iconic and venerable Brompton bicycles over the years, here is some takes on why and the hows of it's successful place in the hearts (and pocketbooks) of it's many owners and users:

".............When I first saw the bike, it was folded up, and I thought: 'I'm 6ft 4in, you are having a laugh, that's not going to work.' And then I get on it, and think 'this is really cool'............To help achieve the substantial expansion over the past 11 years, Mr Butler-Adams brought in a more professional and modern way of doing things, introducing budget plans, and outsourcing the manufacturing of certain parts or processes, such as the wheels and the painting of frame parts. The outsourcing to other UK manufacturers meant that space for production work and final assembly at Brompton's Brentford site was greatly expanded. "The idea was to outsource the non-core stuff, so that we could then lavish attention on the core things, and do them better. And we could make more bikes"...............One key reason is to protect its designs and production methods from potential copying. "What we are doing by making the bike in London is protecting our intellectual property. It's brilliant, and it really works. "Of course we sell bikes in China, so someone could buy one and try to reverse engineer it. But it is not that simple - the complexity of our manufacturing process is such that it is not easy" Indeed, no copy of the Brompton has yet been produced, despite its original patent running out in 1998. Brompton also does not advertise, instead relying on word of mouth from happy owners to drive sales.........."-https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23239764

It seems that they are still remember where they are located in the world and both serve their growing groups of both employees and customers. Plus they still like the old fashioned "word-of-mouth" to take care of business advertisement end!

Photo below taken from the same article quoted and linked above:

fietsbob

well saying they dont advertise, is sort of a fib, since bicycle times sold a full page to them ..

(its pg 15 in the 24th issue)



Yea they are talking about the jigs and fixtures to make the parts , the factory set-up.

one item I recognized , having owned a Mk2 bike , then getting a newer one, is the hinges

now they are cast parts machined to sleeve over the tubes,

the older bike used a fillet butt brazing around the tube to a forged plate hinge,

which was a skilled job that could not be rushed , only replicated by having more

people skilled to do the job all doing it at once ..

BassNotBass

Aw jeez, you had to point that out with my 2013 on order. That's cold.

fietsbob

the problem is? , one fatigue point I was told to watch out for on older Bromptons,

was the brazing cracking.. on the old bikes, after lots of rough use by prior owners, at that fillet brazing,

the brazing was all that held the 2 pieces together.. the flat end of the tube meeting the flat face of the hinge plate.


think of the new way of doing it as a lugged frame , at the hinge to tube joint.

and the wheelbase is a bit longer..

fancy stainless steel lugs on silver soldered prestige bikes are investment Castings.

BassNotBass

I have a bias towards cast vs forged parts. When I was building and racing motorcycles I found forged pistons to be able to handle more stress that cast pistons. Granted it may be an unfounded concern on something like a frame hinge but it's there. But you pointing out that the cast hinges have a sleeve interface as opposed to the forged hinge's butt joint helps put my mind at ease. Thanks.

fietsbob

sleep with the light on if you will sleep better..



Pistons in a racing motorcycle engines is a different application than a fixed site like a hinge..

now if you are opening and closing it 20,000 times a minute,

I wouldn't have any idea about how that will happen..

Taipei Tony

"Indeed, no copy of the Brompton has yet been produced, despite its original patent running out in 1998."

Merc, Flamingo.....

brakemeister

no advertising ??? full page ads which rivals Tern and Dahons ... maybe more in trade mags .... but also in Consumer magazines....
equal or larger size booth at last years Interbike than Tern or Dahon....

lots of copies ... MerC Flamingo loads of Taiwan companies who copied them and were shut down by eager Lawyers ......

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Its ok ... they are good peeps.... just not all THAT holy, like some of you try to convice us ....

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got question Folder Fanatic.... You seem to have some industry background with Dahon... what was that all about ? Or is this private nature ? Than of course dont say nothing as I respect that.

Best Thor