As many of us continue to traverse the ordeal that is cycling around London in order to lead healthier, more active lives – so too are we constantly looking for ways to improve the often harrowing experience.
It takes one look at Jeremy Vine’s twitter to put you off cycling in this city for life. But what if there was a singular solution to all of our cycling qualms? One that encompasses the much-needed capacity for discreet and stackable storage with the ability to speed around the city faster than you can say Brompton Electric P Line?
After my dalliance with the Decathlon BTWN Fold Light (the UK sports retailer’s answer to the Brompton), I wasn’t necessarily keen to try my luck with a similar model, even if it was created by the original manufacturers of the ingenious foldable design. Nevertheless, the Brompton Electric won me over.
My biggest qualm with Decathlon’s take on the design was that I found it challenging to pick up a decent speed on busy up-hill climbs without sweating buckets – something that I wasn’t sure even the best foldable bike on the market could solve.
I can hear the cries of, “but she’s probably just incredibly unfit,” and “she just doesn’t get it,” wailing at me from the depths of Hackney Wick’s cult of Lycra-clad Brompton lovers. Firstly, you’re not wrong. Secondly, the science of those tiny wheels and three-hinged folding may make for easy storage, but it doesn’t make for easy cycling for the average city-dweller.
Invented by Andrew Ritchie in 1975 and still considered by most cyclists to be the best of the best when it comes to foldable bikes, the Brompton was designed to make getting around London more convenient. Whether you’re commuting in from the outskirts of the city or located on an inconvenient tube route (District line, we’re looking at you), the foldable Brompton revolutionised inner-city travel for much of the population.
Allowing commuters to whizz from the likes of Victoria Station to Bank without getting stuck in traffic or succumbing to travel delays – the capacity to switch from walking to cycling in under a minute afforded by the Brompton was certainly a game-changer.
However, with recent years seeing the introduction of wonderfully convenient electric bikes available to rent across the city for as little as £0.23 per minute, is there really any need for a Brompton or Decathlon BTWN? Not only can one still switch from walking to cycling in under a minute, but one can do so without having to lug the bike all the way home.
Speeding through the city on two wheels is one thing, but adding e-assist into the mix makes a world of a difference. So, when I was offered up the ability to try a version of the infamous Brompton bike powered by an electric motor, I simply couldn’t refuse.
The Brompton Electric P Line is the brand’s second iteration of a folding bike with motorised e-assist. The first of its kind was the C Line, which is made from the same material as the classic Brompton – steel. The P Line, on the other hand, is manufactured with titanium, making it lighter to carry and nimbler on the road. Hailed as their lightest and fastest model yet, the Brompton P Line comes in at a whopping £3,695 for the standard Urban model and £3,775 for the Urban equipped with a roller frame.
Keep scrolling for the nuts and bolts of this review
Buy now: Brompton P Line Electric - £3,695, Velorution
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Key specs
Folded dimensions: 64.5cm x 56.5cm x 27cm
Weight: The classic Brompton Electric P Line Urban model weighs in at 15.6kg with the battery packed and ready for riding. Without the battery, it weighs 12.7kg.
However, I’ve been testing the Urban Plus, which comes with a 341g rack that counter-intuitively adds additional weight to the structure in order to make it feel lighter. This is achieved by working around the bike’s centre of gravity to ultimately minimise the feeling of weight.
Power: 300wh lithium-ion battery, 250-kWh hub motor with three levels of smart pedal assists
Run time: 70km range / 43.5 miles
Charge time: full charge in four hours, reducible to two hours with the Brompton SuperFast charger
Speed: up to 25km per hour / 15.5mph
Drivetrain: four-speed
User Friendliness
I’ll be honest, setting up this bike wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, but something I appreciate is that Brompton don’t try and sell you in with unrealistic “one second fold” taglines. The brand appreciates that it takes some time to get used to the structure and provide detailed instructions and videos to help you along your way. Nevertheless, I wish you the patience of a person attempting flatpack furniture for the first time, for the confusion is not dissimilar.
By downloading the Brompton Electric app, you’re also able to connect your phone and bike using Bluetooth so that you can control the bike’s power mode and even charge your phone while you ride – which was a big plus. To really test-out the capabilities of this bike, I also popped by phone into a compatible Quadlock case so that it can easily and safely attach to the bike’s frame in the centre of the handlebars – but this was a £37.50 addition.
It didn’t take too long to become accustomed to switching between the three power modes. Mode zero has no power assistance, and mode one is minimal with the rider still putting in most of the legwork. Mode two is Brompton’s recommended setting for most riders, offering a strong boost when you push off. Mode three has the most power and is great for those unbearable hills you find dotted around the city.
However, it is important to note that when riding solely on mode three, the battery will only last around 20 miles (London to Bromley) before needing a recharge. If you’re purchasing this bike for the utmost leisurely rides, you won’t be best pleased with the amount you’ll be having to re-charge the battery – much like an old iPhone.
Functionality
I took the Brompton P Line on a long cycle around the city on a Saturday morning. Traffic was light, the sun was unexpectedly shining, and I felt confident about putting my new skills to the test after some practice around the block.
After easily adjusting the seat using the provided allen key, I jumped the saddle and off I went with a surprisingly powerful boost. I’m very familiar with using electric bikes from the likes of Lime, Dott and Human Forest – yet the experience of such a powerful boost on a bike that weighs next to nothing in comparison to those hefty green monsters was pretty spectacular.
Though the tiny frame and miniature wheels of the Brompton still take some getting used to, I was pleasantly surprised by the bike’s seamless ability to weave in and out of traffic and glide through those cycle superhighways. I did find, however, that the bike felt quite front-heavy due to the battery pack. Though the battery only weighs 2.9kg, its presence did make achieving smooth steering that little bit harder. The gears were easy to flip between, and you really don’t need more than four with an electric bike.
When I arrived back at my flat an hour later, I didn’t feel as though I had just done a work-out per say, but my body felt active and better for having engaged in movement – power-assisted or not. After a little while spent (with the help of YouTube) folding the bike back up, the dual-locking seat combined with the roller-rack helped me to easily glide the frame from the saddle into my very narrow hallway. I also still managed to fit the bike next to my bedroom door despite my flatmate’s Fixie also sharing the space.
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Verdict
The extremely convenient, easy-folding and perfectly balanced design of the Brompton is already unmatched when it comes to folding bikes. Making it electric has just opened up the world of the Brompton to those of us who aren’t complete cycle afficionados.
The P Line Electric, though very expensive, is a fantastic option for the daily commuter who wants to introduce more activity into their journey, without having to show up to the office with a change of clothes.
Just like purchasing an expensive coffee machine elevates your casual barista hobby and saves you money on expensive flat whites, investing in a portable, stowable electric bike that can go pretty much anywhere with you will save you a lot of money on transportation in the long haul. Being able to pop this bike on a short train ride out of the city is another major selling point, with the concept of taking a short daytrip to the seaside for a leisurely cycle incredibly appealing.
Buy now: Brompton P Line Electric - £3,695, Velorution
