teh real deal with a brompton comes down to this (methinks)
Price ....Brommies cost some bucks
Weight...they aren't the lightest but who cares ? work it !
Brakes suck....not really. they lock up either end. grab them hard,
or install new brakes. done.
Tune your Brompton and it'll take care of you.
-----------------------------------------
after that, why NOT get a Brompton ????
It is the best...foldability, portability, ride quality...
there is no reason not to, only reasons /to get one....
Parts....Brommies share a lot of common parts with all english bikes,
EZ to service when in some weird land
Performance....You can ride Bromptons pretty hard, through busted up
Amsterdam sidewalk repairs, dirt trails, planks, cobbles, smooth street,
and if you are frisky and have 100psi in the baloney skins it'll freakin FLY.
Shopping...the Brompton wins hands down. You can use the front bag/frame, ride your
Brompton to the store, fold it up (the bag stays upright) go shopping pulling the
Brompton behind you (whilst folded) as a shopping cart, load up the bag, pay for your stuff,
wheel it out and unfold the bike (the bag stays upright during folding procedures, goods do not fall out) and away you go. brilliant.
The Brompton truly is the 100k commuter bike, the coffee bike, the beer-run bike, the groceries bike, easy to service bike. REAL bike that rides solid and strong. the only flimsy feeling bits are the handlebars. You flex them when honking hard, but they will not bend or break (unless of course they are actually damaged in some way.)
I use my Brompton to go out on MTB trails for blowdown maintenance. I carry saws, hatchets,
pry-bars and an axe on me brommie out on the trail. she loves it.
