The benchmark for the best folding bikes remains the Brompton, the iconic British brand which paved the way for all other bikes-in-miniature. There is a reason why the company has lasted so long, and been so popular across the world – it is very good at what it does. Increasingly a status symbol, a Brompton is more than just a bike mocked on sitcoms.
The Electric P Line is the lightest electric Brompton ever, weighing in at about 16kg with the battery clipped on, and can really boost the distance or terrain you are able to cycle.
I probably am not the target market for this bike given I don’t commute too often, and I usually get around my hilly home city of Bristol on a single-speed, but I was intrigued by the prospect. That is where the Electric P Line was tested, though, on the steep inclines of the south-west English city, helping me nip about town.
Design details
The Brompton is clearly a design classic, something I’m sure will live on in museums after we are long gone. It looks fantastic, if a bit weird, and it has barely changed from the original model in 1981. Obviously, it looks a bit different with a motor attached to the rear hub, some ungainly power cables and a battery pack on the front, but it is unmistakably a Brompton.
My bike came in ‘Pacific Lacquer’, a lovely bluey-green sheen, which shone in what little sun we had at the end of last year. It certainly stood out, and looked good, although I do think some of the style was lost when I rode it. Whatever its utility and class, you do, in my opinion, look a little silly riding around with a tiny bike beneath you.
There are a lot of different materials involved in the Electric P Line, a carbon fibre fork, an aluminium handlebar stem, a titanium rear triangle, and steel main frame. You can get it in ‘Dune Sand’, ‘Amethyst Lacquer’, ‘Cloud Metallic’, ‘Palm Green’, ‘Matt Black’ and ‘Plum Red’. You do get the same black and grey battery bag to go on the front, however, whatever your choice of shade on the frame.
People who have Bromptons always make the folding and unfolding look so easy, but I have to admit I had to watch a YouTube video a couple of times to get my head around the system. Add a couple of pints into the mix, and you might be standing outside a pub trying to unfurl your bike for a few minutes. Remember to put your pedal in before you set off, too.
Specifications
The big thing to talk about with the new Brompton Electric P Line is its new e-Motiq system, which means a 250W motor in the rear hub connected to a new handlebar controller and a 345wh battery at the front of the bike. The electric power being in the rear wheel means it is more of a push than a pull, compared to previous C and P Line Bromptons, which makes for a much smoother experience. That power comes in four modes – three, or full power; two, less power; one, some power; and zero, no power.
That assistance is selected from the control on the right of the handlebar, which is smaller than a Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt and uses a rocker mechanism, not a touch screen, to cycle between modes. It also comes with integrated lighting, which can be selected from the handlebars or the battery bag, which is always useful.
The battery bag itself weighs around 3.5kg, and attaches to the front of the bike with a simple clunk, and houses the battery with a little bit of space for other things.
It has four-speed gearing, along with the four power modes, which means it is able to manage basically any climb you throw at it.
The crank has 54 teeth, and is made of aluminium too, while the rear sprockets range from 11-18 tooth for a really compact groupset. The tyres are special, too, obviously, for such a small bike, being 16″ Continental Contact Urbans, with Schwalbe inner tubes. You also get 70mm roller wheels on the back rack, meaning it is fairly easy to wheel around. It comes with mudguards too. One pedal is quick release, meaning it folds up narrower than you would expect.
Performance
If you have never ridden a Brompton, then it will be a little tricky for me to wholly explain what riding one feels like. It’s a tiny bike, with handlebars that feel directly attached to the front wheel, so every movement has an impact on direction. Twitchy would be an understatement, but that is part of the charm, the little bike which feels directly connected to you. Once you have the hang of it, it feels far from unstable, and it’s a very comfortable ride, all told, if you avoid potholes. It’s also fun. Given the small wheels, it’s not as smooth as you might be used to on a full-sized bike, but it’s also not as bad as an electric scooter, for example. You’re sat pretty upright on a Brompton, it should be noted.
The most important thing to know about the Brompton Electric P Line, however, is how it differs from an ordinary one. The power really does help a great deal, pushing you along and up whatever you throw at it. I cycled up St Michael’s Hill on it – 200m at 12.9% – and thanks to the top power mode, barely broke a sweat. When it wants, you can ride along at quite the lick, although it is capped at 25km/h, and it makes everything easier. When you’re not trying to go ultra-fast, the first two power modes help a lot, in combination with the four gears.
However, when you’re anywhere even slightly hilly, you will definitely want at least a bit of power, because the bike with its e-Motiq system is not exactly light. With the power modes on, though, it really feels like a proper e-bike, with the push you get from the top level particularly noticeable. Obviously, the range differs depending on how much assistance you get, but most people are unlikely to be cycling more than 20km on it a day, so if you want to have it on top power all the time, you can.
The bike computer is very intuitive, giving an easy way of cycling between power levels and choosing whether you have your lights on or off. There’s also walk assist and start assist, which helps you push the bike along and set off from a junction, respectively. If you’re starting up a hill, start assist is a great feature, pushing you up to 13km/h from zero. It’s a bit addictive.
Folding it up is a doddle, once you understand it, and the battery just clicks off to allow you to carry the pair at the same time. However, it is quite a weight, and both your hands will now be full, so getting on and off a train, for example, is a bit more of a bother. It folds up so it can be put anywhere, but as I discovered in a tiny pub, it isn’t quite as small as you think it is.
Value
This is not a cheap bike. The new Brompton Electric P Line with the e-Motiq system costs £3,879 in the UK ($5,500 in the US) before any add-ons, but this is a premium bike. The Electric C Line, with the same system, is £800 cheaper, but also 2kg heavier, so there are available options. The Gocycle G4i is a tad more expensive, and probably a little bit heavier too, according to the stats, so the Electric P Line might be the premium option to go for.
There are cheaper options from other brands, like the Estarli E20.7 Comfort, with 20” wheels, but this isn’t necessarily as premium as the P Line. The range is less, it’s a bit heavier, and is not the design classic the Brompton is.
It really should be said that £4,000 is a lot of money for any bike, even if it does have a fantastic motor, is a Brompton, and is a heritage classic. However, if you really want to get the best folding electric bike, then the P Line isn’t too far from that; the T Line is lighter, but is £2,000 more. These bikes are classics for a reason, and would stand up to a lot being thrown at it. It does seem to be good value should you wish for an iconic folding bike with titanium, carbon and aluminium parts, and an excellent motor system.
Verdict
If you want to spend close to £4,000 / $5,500 on an electric folding bike, then I see no reason why you wouldn’t buy this one. It’s great for what it is, it surprises in its power, and makes riding fun and easy. That said, I don’t really know who this is for. If you’re someone who needs or wants an e-bike, the weight of the bike with the battery might be a bit of a hassle, while a classic Brompton would do an excellent job if you were able to ride it around. The original is the perfect commuting bike if you’re the kind of person who gets the train from Basildon into London but hates the tube, or fancies a bike ride. The motor is fantastic and intuitive, but it does mean a heavier machine. It’s up to you if you think it’s worth it.
Tech spec
- RRP: £3,879
- Frame: Brompton P Line steel, carbon fork, titanium rear triangle
- Size: N/A
- Weight: 16kg
- Groupset: Brompton 4-speed drivetrain
- Crankset: 6061 forged new aluminum crank with 54T chainring and integrated chainguard
- Wheels: Double-wall rim, 20 spokes laced to a Brompton front hub
- Tyres: 16″ Continental Contact Urban
- Bar/stem: Brompton headset
- Seatpost: Extended, Black (35″)
- Saddle: Brompton Superlight
