A Brompton Reborn: How to Future-Proof a Decades-Old Foldable Bike
And this is precisely what is happening. A quick blow of the rear frame desserts the bolts, and Pala is capable of exchanging the original part for a rear peak titanium triangle in a few minutes. Instead of the heavy high of three -speed three -speed speeds, Brompton has developed its own new 12 -speed system, which has a four -speed hideside outside and three in the internal center.
“Because the dimensions are the same, we will be able to completely remove the bike,” enthuses Pala. “We will then rebuild it around the main frame and the fork.”
Now, while Wired is appreciated, it will be a safe brompton safely on the Theseus ship, there remains an impressive example of a decade of good design, and the importance of the upgrades considered, rather than reactionary.
This type of advanced level repairability is normal for the course for Brompton, and if you have your own old tired folding bike, each nut, bolt, support and accessory is available on order. If bike maintenance is not something with which you are comfortable, there is a detailed list of all Brompton stores and authorized dealers on the company’s website, with around 150 across the United States. In the United Kingdom, in particular around London, there is a lot of possibility of repairs, and Brompton offers a full service with one of its dealerships for £ 295 (less than $ 400).
It is this familiarity of design and attention to details that has transformed the bicycle society into something from a global luxury brand. It is a bicycle for people who are not necessarily called cyclists, with a uniform in certain countries which is more Lacroix than Lycra.
“We are very widespread on a global scale,” explains Will Carleysmith, director of design and engineering at Brompton. “The United Kingdom is our audience most focused on commuters, but it represents only 16% of our business – the rest of what we do goes abroad, China taking 40% of our sales, interesting with a male / female division from 50 to 50 years.”
In Asia, Brompton is considered very different from the United Kingdom, where it is generally considered a practical tool for urban travel. “It is a super social and highly desirable tool that is much more on self -expression,” says Carleysmith. The collaborations also help to underline this story of “style” with Barbour, Palace Skateboard, Liberty London, Tour de France, Line Friends and Art Collaborations with Crew Nation and cultural lights, including Radiohead, Phoebe Bridgers and LCD Soundsystem.
But like any good 50th anniversary, there have been happy and sad tears. In 2022, Brompton sold its 1 millionth bike. During the cocvid locking, the demand has increased by five times, but following the supply chain and the bottlenecks of shipping, the cost increase and the intense investment in new conceptions, the before tax benefits plunged from 99% to only $ 6,335 (£ 4.602, or almost the cost of a single Brompton T-line) for the exercise) ending on March 31, 2024.
It is not the only cycling brand confronted with post-ceeding treasury flow problems, but rather than being trapped with excess actions, its financial problems were thanks to a global drop in demand and heavy investment, first with the Brompton Electric range and the largest G range of 20 inches, which spun at launch.
