UK
London's bike success story
The Brompton bike, designed by
Londoner Andrew Ritchie in the
1970's, is one of only two mass
producing bike builders left in the
country and continues to grow.

The fold
A key feature of the Brompton is the
compactness and practicality of its fold. With
a little practice, this is achieved without any
difficulty in 10 - 20 seconds. The dimensions
of the folded bike are: 565mm high x 545mm
long x 270mm wide (22.2" x 21.5" x 10.6").

When folded, a Brompton stays locked
together, making an extremely compact
package little larger than its wheels. The
folded package may be picked up without any
risk that the bike will unfold - reassuring when
running for a train or handing it to a cloakroom
attendant!

There are no projections or loose parts with
the folded package and, using the frame or
saddle as a handle, it carries like a small
suitcase, lightweight and easy to manage.
The fold is designed to keep vulnerable parts,
like lights and cable-runs, out of harm's way
and, by folding them in, to keep the greasy
chain and gears away from clothing and
luggage. Small rollers allow the bike to be
pushed into inaccessible corners.
M Type
The distinctive U-shape of the M Type's handlebars has been used on the
Brompton since the outset: it gives a fairly upright ride with excellent control.
The grip height is 1015mm, which gives a fairly upright ride with excellent
control, and there is scope for a little fore/aft adjustment. The M Type is the
all-rounder in our range and remains the most popular Brompton, as much at
home in the city as on a country lane, and with plenty of room for luggage at
the front.

The key M Type is the M3L (also available as M3L-X) - it is the classic
Brompton, featuring Sturmey Archer's reliable 3-speed hub and all the
fundamental advantages of the Brompton design.

For those looking for weight savings, each of these key models can be built to
a superlight specification (with the suffix "-X"), with front forks, rear frame, seat
pillar and other smaller features made out of titanium.

P Type
The multiple positions afforded by the P Type's handlebars are designed with
the touring cyclist in mind. Although they are a little heavier than the M Type's
handlebars, the lower grips, about 880mm from the ground and angled for
comfort on longer stretches of road, allow the rider to get down out of the wind
and deliver real power to the pedals; the upper grips at about 1033mm provide
a welcome contrast after a long stretch of riding and also give great control for
manoeuvring in traffic.

The key P Type is the P6R (also available as P6R-X) - a rear rack gives
additional luggage-carrying capacity and the six well-spaced gears will handle
almost all gradients encountered on a long ride.
S Type
For many, this is the prettiest Brompton, and it is the lightest. The grips, at
about 935mm from the ground, are appreciably lower than on the M type, and
50mm further forward, giving a sporty riding position which complements the
positive feel of these bikes.

The key S Type is the S2L (also available as S2L-X) - Brompton's derailleur
system turns a single-speed into a nimble 2-speed bike without the weight of a
gear hub; the result is a light bike that can handle most journeys.
Click "Playlist" to select video.
Andrew Ritchie at ifest,
22 July 2008
BWC 2008 London
Photo Album on
Brompton bike gets showcased
in Beijing Olympics Closing
Ceremony!

Picture by Xinhua agency.