Wish I had bought something different (Brompton P3L Folding Bike)

Member Name: Geek Girl

Product:	Brompton P3L Folding Bike
Date:	10/05/07 (670 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: quick folding, can be wheeled when folded

Disadvantages: expensive, too long a repair time, faults that cause the bike to be out of service

I had the need for a folding bike to commute from the station to the office I have a contract with, after some extensive research I found the Brompton to be rated the best. The first problem was availability the waiting list is about 8 to 10 weeks long and very few shops hold them in stock. I found one Brompton available in the below £1000 price range. I duly purchased the P3L


Yes all the positives where there folds, quickly, fits on the train, three gears. My first problem is I am 5 foot 2 and holding the bike by the saddle means the bike is very close to the floor, and lifting the bike clear of the train step or any steps is really developing my arm muscles at 25Lb 1,80 Kg it is no mean weight. The lighter bike come in at nearer the £1000 mark so were out of the question. If I carry the bike by the frame and get caught in a crowd, the pushing against the bike from me and or other people frequently results in my finger becoming trapped against the frame by the folding pedal.

Not with standing I persevered with the teething troubles only to find with in the first week the bike had a tendency to throw its chain off as I swung the back wheel out during assembly. Assuming I was doing something wrong, I tried various techniques including oiling the chain. In desperation as the chain came off four times in one day I took it back to the shop. The shop informed me that the chain guard was buckled and they replaced it.

The week after the bike shop had given it a service and fixed the guard, I noticed a lack of stability in the handles bars, again I checked the locking device and it was loose so I assumed in my rush to assemble the bike I hadn’t quite tightened it enough. After a week of this I got to the station to noticed that the handle bar pin was sliding out of the hinge. I got hold of the pin and it came out in my hand, the handle bar was now detached from the bike frame. This of course could have happened at any moment whilst riding it.

The bike has gone back to the shop who have sent it back to Brompton who say it will be 10 days in checking and getting back to us with what the problem is. In the mean time the bike shop have lent me the shop demo bike, which is a whopping 30lb with all the extras on and is a pain to carry as the eazy wheels smack your ankles, and if you wear loose-legged trousers they catch on them. On the demo bike too if you have the luggage rack on the back with the elasticated straps these are dragged on the floor when being wheeled in the folded position and the outer coat strips off to reveal the elastic strands inside.


I am looking at a Dahon this weekend, and my Brompton is back from the factory so I will post what the flaw was.

Summary: Really wanted one of these but the problems need sorting out in post sales turn around