tds101 

Brompton are famous for 1 design, and Dahon are famous for many. Both are copied incessantly,...it's a sign of success. Are the copies of the same quality, or an upgrade? Or, are they throwaways? At least, with the original, we usually know what we're getting.

The Dahon Curl? Oh, from the looks of it, we'd be getting a hospital bed. And for me, that's disappointing. I want it to be solid, like a Brompton. Looks like a pipe dream I've been having.

And, if I could sell a few of my bikes, I MIGHT be able to afford an 8+ speed Brompton. The dream,...IT'S REAL!!!

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/fol...n-8-speed-kit/

tcs

Yep. The first Brompton prototypes featured Le Petit Bi handlebars and a Di Blasi inspired underfold rear triangle. Subsequent prototypes were improved by adopting the Di Blasi Avia curved main frame (yes, the very feature Brompton claims to have 'copyrighted') and the Dahon patented side folding handlepost.

Winfried

Speaking of witch…



"What's in the exhibition?

… The earliest prototype Brompton in existence…"
https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/cycle-revolution

See you there, *****es.

leoho5

Other Brompton improvements I would propose: 1) eliminating the hinge clamp plates from twirling around when tightening/un-tightening (as some aftermarket products have), 2) having more frame clearance to be able to easily mount tires greater than 1.5" if needed, 3) having better quality mudguards that don't crack so easily, 4) switching to an allen key brake cable pinch bolt for ease of use and not having to carry an extra 10mm wrench around, 5) fixing the relative unsteadiness when the bike is in folded mode, 6) putting some sort of protective layer on the inside of the front plastic hook so it doesn't scratch up the rear triangle. Now I'm feeling a bit petty.

keyven

And that matters how? I love you man but ya gotta start reading between the lines.

Clearly other forumers here "get it". It doesn't matter if it's versus King Kong or Curious George.

With a little research - something you clearly are amazing at but chose to be selective about to make your flawed points - you'd see there have always been challengers to the Brompton clone throne, not all of them legit, but challengers nonetheless: Neobike, Flamingo, MIT, Chedech, Tyrell and surely a host of far-lesser-known China brands.

Picking out Dahon to hang your gifs on is quite unworthy of your genius.

There's nothing wrong with the clones fighting for a spot on the lower rungs of the ladder. The Brompton branding can simply continue to be the venerable Rolls Royce of the folding world, while the underdogs duke it out with shiny new "tech" every year. Having half a dozen companies trying to "out-think" each other in terms of improving the fold is better than letting Appl-, I mean Brompton, unilaterally dictate the flow. It also has the added bonus of keeping Brompton on their toes.

And that's a good thing.

ThorUSA

+1

bhkyte

Quote "The Brompton branding can simply continue to be the respected Rolls Royce of the folding world"

Not in this world.....

Winfried

Add OriBikes to the mix.

Products | ORi Life Style Folding Bikes

dynaryder

This. Alot of customers have been turned off by the price.

I do. Still kicking myself for selling my D10.

1) brakes need a quick release. They wouldn't even need to change the caliper,it's really not a big deal to design a lever with one.

2) tensioner that remains on the bike when the wheel is removed

3) pick a style of Ezy-wheel,and stick with it. Then use the same size for both front and rear.

4) one 3spd hub,that can take two cogs or one and a spacer.

Bunch of other issues I've seen,but too lazy to type. Our Brompton guy at the shop whimpers when they come in due to the fact that nothing is ever simple with them.

tds101 

Personally, I'd prefer a STOCK (I know it's a fairytale) Brompton with disc brakes, and a Shimano Nexus 8 speed internal geared hub. I'd take that over the (vaporware) Dahon Curl any day.

mulleady

I find my 2 Bromptons immensely reliable and the bike mechanics I use have absolutely no issues working on them! It's like car mechanics in that people need to train and learn about different variants and be capable and adaptable.

bhkyte

I agree with mullandy. If it goes to a Brompton dealer they have all the kit and knowledge to sort Bromptons out. Taken to non folder shops they often dont like folders of any description to work on.

dynaryder

I think they're just not telling you how much of pain it is to work on them. Or they've never had to put aftermarket parts on them. Our Brompton guy knows them inside and out,and still whimpers every time one comes in for service.

bhkyte

Mine,(for road use) would be my dualdrive ,bull bared ,brifter, rolling rack mezzo. But with better rear brakes, less sticking out folding stem and able to take a front bag.
Made from carbon fibre to get it down to about 11-10 kg or so.

Suspension removable elastemors would also be good.

tds101 

Does sound good. I'm in need of the smallest fold,...

mconlonx

Other people listed a bunch of possible improvements. It could also be as simple as price -- Brompton portability at a significantly lower price. Price being not so much a quality of product improvement so much as a marketing improvement.

That Dahon is trying to introduce a competing bike indicates that their engineers also think improvements can be made.

That Dahon has not brought it to market yet indicates that they can't introduce an improved Brompton at a competitive price, or that the alleged improvements are enough to justify a price equal to or greater than Brompton's, or that they can even beat Brompton at their own game...

Winfried

Isn't part of the price tag of the Brompton due to 1) the fact that it's made in the UK instead of China and 2) there's no competition for that kind of bike?

invisiblehand

With respect to #1 ... I think yes. With #2 ... competition is a little tricky to measure since there are substitutes, just not perfect substitutes.

But judging from the price of the old Merc, the total difference is large.

Winfried

If you need a really compact folder to take into the subway/bus/train during rush hour that still rides mostly like a regular bike (so Strida doesn't really count), there's currently no alternative to the Brompton.

Although cheaper, the Dahon Curve D3 is too bulky.

bhkyte

Other than Mezzo,ori,birdie, Diblasi...............
Curve works if its a racked version as it stands on its end.

Winfried

Nope.

• Mezzo/ori : no lug to carry bag in the front. Not a detail when commuting
• Birdy : too bulky. I had one. No lug in the front.
• DiBlasi : crap. No lug in the front
• Curve : Rear rack is not a good alternative to lug in the front. Besides, only has three speeds.

leoho5

I completely agree with your assessment. I have a Curve SL and although only slightly larger than a Brompton, it won't fit in an airline legal suitcase unless the wheels and mudguards are removed which is a hassle. The Brompton fits into the suitcase without any disassembly.

tcs

Hard to beat the Brompton then...

bhkyte

Quote "there's currently no alternative to the Brompton."
Re busy trains.
Keep saying it if you believe it.
I dont know how many times i have commuted on very busy trains on these alternatives to Bromptons. Many people are able to ride on busy train with non brompton bikes.
I must be wrong because you say so.

Brompton does not handle like a normal bike in many peoples opinions. In many ways the alteratives I suggest have less compromises in this respect than a Brompton. There are differnt luggage carring options available for all the bikes mentioned. Ori can have a front rack. Birdie has large front double pannier racks and a much bigger rear rack than a brompton. Diblasi has a front rack available as well as a rear rack. Curve rear rack is about the same size as Bromptons smaller rack. Mezzo rear rack is about 50% larger than bromptons and is a better Quick release system. Curve is drilled for a front truss also and can be upgraded to more speeds and there is /was the curve sl with a 9 speed 9 tooth cassette system.

This will run and run ad norsa.

tcs

Not just the UK, but in London! There couldn't be too many more expensive locations for a manufacturing operation in the entire world, and I'm at a loss to enumerate any positive benefit that this additional cost burden provides.