Originally Posted by
Joe Remi
I don't agree with the premise that a Brompton is "1980s technology"; I pay good money for lugged steel bicycles with 9-speed cassettes, bar-end shifters and quill stems and don't consider it 1990s technology either.
Brompton is almost entirely 1980s tech (primitive pusher system, quill type handlepost, separate pentaclip, primitive hinge lock etc). It doesn't matter people want to buy them or not. It's still an old tech.
Originally Posted by
Joe Remi
Brompton has a perfectly good and fascinating steel frame which doesn't need updating.
It is made of cheap and heavy material (hi tensile steel, not even chro-mo), lacks quick release hinge system, has lousy external cable management, does not support proper derailleur solution etc... Most of them are addressed by other folders (and helix) over years.
Originally Posted by
Jipe
The Bromptoin frame (including the titanium fork and rear triangle), painting and assembly are made in UK, this has a price !
Being made in UK is never an advantage, unless you are a British citizen want to support local industry.
Originally Posted by
Jipe
Look at the price of the US made Seattle Cycles Burke or at the price of the Bike Friday.
Burke is VERY low volume product (does anyone have one?), made in full titanium by Lynskey.
And most Bike Fridays are full custom BTO bikes unlike Brompton, and much lighter ln general.
Originally Posted by
Jipe
The Tyrell folding bikes aren't cheap too.
Tyrell bikes are EXCEPTIONALLY well made (in Japan, no less), with hydroformed tubes, invisible welding lines and very expensive Kadowaki powder coat painting (which alone costs like $500, if done separately. I know a number of Brompton owners who let their frame powdercoated at Kadowaki). And they are still cheaper than Brompton.
Originally Posted by
berlinonaut
Now, that the Helix has materialised Joe has proven to be wrong and seemed to be in kind of a reality shock for a couple of days.
He did NOT prove he can keep making Helix bikes and make profit (which I still don't believe).