There's a plethora of compact 16" bi-folds that are a credible alternatives, take a RD and:

• offer a greater gearing range than a Brompton,
• are lighter,
• much less expensive,
• carry zero proprietary parts and
• take the cushier, more comfortable ETRTO305 wheel size.
• Don't flex and can be more efficient due to having no suspension

I myself have even toured on such rigs. No, you don't need a BF or Brompton to tour long distance on a folding bike.


​​​​​FSIR Spin 3


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​​​​​​FnHon Gust 16"




You just have to take off your own blinders (and stop taking advice from the unimaginative, parochial, two-trick Brompton & BF pony channel gurus here) to see that there are actually a lot of credible, competent alternatives to a Brompton. Here's another example:


Litepro Spyder, build-in-progress with an 11-40T dish in the back

SF hills and climbing? No sweat. These rigs can be set up for very steep climbs indeed.


3000masl+ volcano in the background


In the clouds at 1,300masl

Origami sells something similar in the U.S.