Billed as the brand's "biggest launch in over 50 years" the new Brompton G Line sees the adoption of 20in wheels and gravel. The new bikes also featur ...
By stwhannah
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackmag.com/gritcx/2024/09/brompton-goes-gravel/
Been waiting for this to be released for so long. But a carbon fork? Nah. Disappointed.
Or, I'll buy S/H and and see what Kinetics can do.
Finally got round to rebuilding my old Brompton earlier this summer after getting it stripped and resprayed last year. I used to do massive miles on it with mixed commutes, and it deserved some love.
I'd forgotten just how useful, convenient and fun it is as a utility bike; I can teleport up to the high street to get a few bits from the shops, or nip over to friends for a cuppa without a 20 minute walk or bothering the car. We chucked it in the boot back in the summer when we went off to the Netherlands, and it saved £70 in bike hire straight off during our stay.
What we haven't seen yet is how small (or big) it folds compared to the original model, and I think that's going to be a critical comparison, and one that Brompton probably should make - there's still a massive market for the little 'un. One of the things that did it for me was that it could fit on a commuter train without taking up someone else's room, and this looks like it's a bit scaled up.
I do have to say, though - Ben at Kinetics is owed a few beers by Brompton.
is it the khaki tee and brown shorts that make it gravel
my wife has recently developed a weird/out of character yearning for a brompton, she has reached a certain age and was on a course recently with an Austrian lady who had come over with one on the plane and then cycled to the venue everyday and hasn't stopped talking about them!
She was about to buy one when we saw the teasers for this so we waited to see what was coming and I half guessed so I think she'll get one of these. slightly bigger when folded and heavier but much more versatile than the standard one for us. She won't be commuting into a city on it everyday just occasionally so this looks like a winner to me for our use case, it also means less short car journeys so all good! plus i have no more space in the shed for a proper bike! Looks cool too, I will be borrowing it!
Alu fok not carbon and I'm sure if you wanted a steel fork Kinetic will do one for it!
Alu fok not carbon
I stand corrected, thanks - I'd assumed it was carbon after the T-Line came with one. Alu will do.
@whatyadoinsucka - Don't forget that Tan Walls also equals gravel. Bonus points for that goofy POC helmet with the military patches on it.
I'll be convincing the wife that she also needs that helmet and all the necessary "gravel" attire! 🙂
@fenboy you might like to check out our current raffle - I think there's some appropriate gear in there!
@stwhannah :)) thats excellent I had noticed that and thought that might be really appropriate to enter. Are you going to get one of these then or the more traditional ones? I have to admit i really want one now!
This is a similar price to a Kinetics MTBrompton, and looks a lot smarter (if a little less capable).
It's very much a "niche" use case for me so I'm not sure I'll rush to buy one. I do want one though, maybe next year on bike to work scheme 😉
I never thought of getting either a Brompton or an ebike, but I now have a yearning for a Brompton Electric G Line.
Oh c***p - I am now thinking I bought my C line 3 months too early! That said, I do find it about at the limit of an acceptable weight when lugging it around between multiple trains. It is brilliant - big fan.
Got the email from Brompton with these on show. Have an M3L already, gets a regular use on my commute
T line is a bit spendy and over my C2W limit. These might fit in...
I'd need a longer seatpost, would like to get a ride on one
Well - there's my next C2W purchase sorted.
Just having 20" wheels will make a vast improvement IME of having had both Bromtons and Dahons.
It's perhaps a measure of where we're at that I read down to the prices thinking and how much will we be fleeced and then thought actually, that seems quite reasonable.
The disc brakes are a revelation and potential gamechanger here.
One thing I noticed in the bike shop was that the combination of small wheels and rim brakes means that Brompton's can burn through wheels (almost literally) like no-one's business.
This makes the concept a lot more viable for me.
Plus I could get tanwalls and join the gravel set ?
What we haven’t seen yet is how small (or big) it folds compared to the original model
It's on the website...
https://www.brompton.com/p/1029/a-line-23 is 25.3' H' x 23'' W x 10.6'' D (I'm not sure why inches not metric)
https://www.brompton.com/p/1347/g-line-with-roller-frame-8-speed is 28.3" / 72cm (D), 26.2" / 67cm (H), 16" / 41cm (W)
Those H W D don't make sense. The W looks to have got 7" narrower which can't be right.
Brompton’s can burn through wheels (almost literally) like no-one’s business.
Wheels or tyres??
I think the rims can wear from the braking. Certainly mine did when I commuted on it daily, especially in the winter. Also just left a mess of dried up brake pad material.
I've just sold my road bike and I'm agonising about whether an XC bike or gravel bike would be the best replacement. We have another contender! I've always had a soft spot for bromptons, I used to chat to a guy on my old commute who road one 10 miles in to brum and back every day. He was rapid. Would make a great commuter/shopper/explorer
Looks good but given the choice, I would go for the custom option from Ben at Kinetics. Nice steel fork for a start and a stainless back end plus all manner of custom options for not much more money.
Glad Brompton have finally realised that disc brakes are a good thing! The larger wheels make a significant difference to the handling.
Cheers
Sanny
Nice GCN review on youtube too. I'm quite taken with it! No idea why, not sure when I'd use it compared with current bikes (incl a normal brompton) but the idea is bloody ace!
Kinetics one looks good.
Not sure what on earth I'd do with either of these though.
Certainly going to be on trend with that potential for an 800mm dropper post.
I have a Moulton ATB (off road capable supposedly), which also has 20 inch wheels and suspension. All fine and dandy but small wheels don't like uneven ground - isn't that why 29er took over from 26inches? Usable but I'd defo ride the thing before running out and buying one thinking it'll be great on anything lumpy.
Are the 20” wheels an existing size standard? 406? Or something else? The mention of custom tyres makes me a little suspicious that Brompton are inventing new standards.
We've got two Bromptons in our house. I will deffo get one of these - I don't drive, so having a more capable bike that's still zero hassle to get on trains has sold it.
One thing I'm not sure about, what are you going to use the fork bosses for without mucking up the fold?? Monkii clip cages Iguess as you can slide them off? low rider rack and panniers doesn't seem any better than the Brompton front luggage?
Ben did a comparison chart between MTBrompton and G Line, it's on the Kinetics Facebook page.
We were above to get a couple of Bromptons for the vans, now in 2 minds what to get. It would have been 6 speed c-lines but the alfine and the disc brakes would be great to have. Just concerned about how big the g-line is to lug around. I think what I'd really like is a c-line with an alfine and disc brakes. I suppose that's doable by going to kinetics
Yes looked at the measurements on the various review sites and saw Bens chart. Still need to see and heft IRL though.
My C-Line normally lives in my van. The G-line would replace that and also my bimbling about rigid 29er.
Lifted one yesterday at Brompton Junction. Test rode a T line. The 14 kilos for non-electric will get old very quickly in a folding bike. I preferred my Airnimal Rhino. And a single speed T-line. Anyway they’re sold out You can take a ten min test ride at their shop though 
.
Anyway they’re sold out
Are the shops doing pre-pre-orders?
Can't pre-order online until 24th Sept.
i didn’t ask. one lift was enough to not bother test riding.
The weight of these and folded size makes it a non-starter for me, although I think they look great and will probably work well for proper rough stuff.
Hired a c-line Explore for a couple of months to see how I got on with it on the train into Victoria and nipping across to the office in Liverpool St. Love how easy it is to fold and great fun to ride, but 6 spds was overkill and it was getting on the heavy side for lugging around.
Have ended up buying the 2 spd Urban in BRG and it's perfect.
Very impressed with Brompton's hire scheme.
Sadly the two speed is going to be dropped. Doubling down on the four speed rear derailleur. Mine will likely be a T-line single speed with 4:1 gearing 56x14. Or a used S2LX, which are very hard to find.
I seldom folded my Rhino fully, but 20” wheels and FS took me around Swinley on many occasions. I was sad when it was stolen, but didn’t replace it. I’m sure the G-line rides well. But my it is heavy. Brompton do beautiful steel, but steel is not light.
So a TG-line is the one to wait for?
It's not light, no.
How light do you think it could reasonably be and still be strong enough to do the job?
If you want light then a folder isn't going to work, you have to compromise somewhere.
You won’t be carrying a. G-line. Anywhere. you will be lifting it out of a car or off a train (then unfolding on the platform). I think my FS Rhino was about 10-11 kg. Alloy frame makes a big difference. No hinge. Same Alfine hub. Not sure I get the strength argument. Smaller wheels are stronger, not all folders have a fold in the frame; Birdy for example.
Two kilos lighter, folds, 20” wheels, hand made steel. https://bikepacking.com/bikes/bike-friday-all-packa-review/
T-Line is 7.5kgs compared to a standard Brompton at 12kgs so thats in the frame, stem & forks. G-Line is 15kgs so must have quite a beefed up frame. I guess when the Ti G-Line inevitably comes out with Carbon forks it will be nearer to 11kgs which is better but I bet it will be closer to £6k. Bonkers.
The g line will have loads of little weight penalties. Rims, tyres, brakes to name but a few.
The grading range is huge on the Alfine (just over 300%). Plus it looks like its quite high gearing. The guess is that it will start at 34 inches. But as they haven’t publicised the sprocket size nobody knows
But as they haven’t publicised the sprocket size nobody knows
Ask nicely and I’ll go and count them. Brompton Junction Covent Garden is 300m from my new office. I might take a test ride too. I won’t be buying one though.
When I rode my Rhino, I liked the Alfine. So much that the Genesis IO I replaced it with had the same hub. But then I discovered single speed and never went back. The biggest issue for off road was the limited range of decent 406 tyres. That now seems better. Brompton basically reinvented 16” tyres. The old 16” was not the same ERTO (305 vs. 349) and decent tyres for that size are still very limited. My Tactiv has that size
One point you won’t see is that the powder coating is mentioned as robust. The Junction test C-range have the same, and it wears off at the fold clamp pretty easily. Expect the same
I don’t commute so I don’t need a Brompton
I already have a gravel bike so I don’t need a Brompton gravel
I already have too many bikes and have absolutely no good reason to want or need one of these
I really, really want one and bike to work is about to become available to me again…..
Not sure I get the strength argument
Well look at a Brompton compared to the Bike Friday. The frame in particular.
Trusses are lighter than equivalent (strength and stiffness) beams.
I'm not hating on the Brompton, just pointing out why it necessitates being heavier.
https://strava.app.link/B9lco4lxoNb
Took one for a spin. Gearing on the demos is 52x20 and I needed 6(/8) on the flat. It’s heavy but rides well. You won’t be happy carrying it up stairs.
took one for a whizz around London today - ride is very non Brompton.
odd that they did not design though for 2.5" wide tyres
My wife’s very happy with hers, arrived a couple of weeks ago and we’re just back from a week nr Aviemore where it coped admirably with the gravel as expected. Makes travelling with 4 bikes much easier even with a van. It’s heavyish for what it is but not ridiculous but rides great, looks cool and got a few interested parties asking about it, such a well designed thing too!
Took one for a spin. Gearing on the demos is 52×20 and I needed 6(/8) on the flat. It’s heavy but rides well. You won’t be happy carrying it up stairs.
So i think this is the gearing. Based on a 44mm tyre as that was the closest. Looks like a better compromise than i expected
Just when I thought I didn't ever need another bike...
I've had a 6 speed Brompton for about 10 years, for commuting - either part ride part train, or sometimes (when the weather is nice) ride the 10 miles home in the evening (I've got some hills to get up so 6spd is welcome). It's one of those purchases where I'd ummmm'd and ahhhh'd for years before buying- then once I had one, wished I'd bought it years earlier.
That its not counted as a bike when folded makes life easier on busy trains. And for little things like getting home or to work after dropping the car off at a garage etc, it's great as it'll just go on the back seat or in the dog cage in the boot. + fits under the desk means no faffing with getting out of a bike shed or locking up etc
But I'd always wished for disc brakes. The rim brakes are rather crap when you're used to 180mm or 200mm mtb brakes, especially when some knobhaed pulls out on you from a side junction when going down a hill.
Hmmm...
