Originally Posted by
alhedges
The parts that look cheap actually aren't. By which I mean, they work well and will last a long time, even though they're made of plastic.
On the other hand, if you don't like how the Brompton rides, you probably think hard about getting one. I test rode one before buying, and I liked how it rode pretty much immediately. There was a slight twitchiness to get used to for about 5 minutes, but even that wasn't unpleasant. (Although I don't hammer out of the saddle much). I also felt like the B. fit me well; maybe yours doesn't fit you.
For me, it took about 5 miles to get used to the twitchiness, and now I don't notice it, and can hammer out of the saddle just fine. I wasn't that fond of the handling on my test ride either, but was confident I'd get used to it, which I did. There was no way for me to test ride a tikit, so I didn't consider them.
The only reliability issue I've had is that the derailleur (I have the 6-speed) is fussy when it gets full of sand. Which, with the amount they put on the roads up here in winter, happens to me occasionally.