Brompton + Barbour lifestyle collection
|
I'd love a Brompton. I really would. I've been riding a folding bike everywhere, nearly every day, for years now. But it's not in the budget.
And this Brompton/Barbour collection, or whatever it is, tells me why. Bromptons are expensive bikes. Some of that price premium over, say, a Dahon may be justified by quality (and place of manufacture). But it seems like it's at least partially due to the bike brand being promoted as a fashion accessory (certainly looks that way where I live, anyway), much like, for example, a Hermes Birkin bag, the price of which is wildly inflated over its actual utility. |
It's made in England and you're going to pay for that. The Barbour Edition is just a paint color and a bag, it's not notably more expensive than standard Broms. Yes you can buy a Dahon much cheaper and be happy with it, just know the fold is huge and clunky compared to a Brompton and they tend to sound like a can of nails rattling. Which again, for cheaper maybe that's fine.
|
Originally Posted by Joe Remi
(Post 22665953)
Yes you can buy a Dahon much cheaper and be happy with it, just know the fold is huge and clunky compared to a Brompton.
As for sounding like a can of nails, if you meant freewheel/hub noise, that’s exactly how my 6 speed Brompton sounds like compared to my Birdy. |
On Bromptons, rattles and the like are features that you, as the privileged member of an elite group, get to enjoy courtesy of the manufacturer. On cheap Asiatic bikes like a Dahon, they are inexcusable flaws that poor plebs bring upon themselves. You know, kinda like Litepro. On an inexpensive bike, they are components of questionable quality that cast serious doubts about the judgement of the buyer. On a bike made in Oregon, on the other hand, they are the savvy choice of a discerning consumer. 😉
|
In general, I can’t understand people saying that you have to pay the price for bike built in England. I bought my Brompton because of it’s features. I would never consider paying extra for anything because it’s made in England by overpaid workforce.
I paid more for my Birdy with frame (afaik) and most components made in Asia and probably only assembled in Germany and absolutely love it. |
Originally Posted by CEBEP
(Post 22665969)
In general, I can’t understand people saying that you have to pay the price for bike built in England. I bought my Brompton because of it’s features. I would never consider paying extra for anything because it’s made in England by overpaid workforce.
I paid more for my Birdy with frame (afaik) and most components made in Asia and probably only assembled in Germany and absolutely love it. |
Originally Posted by Joe Remi
(Post 22665975)
I didn't say "you have to pay the price for a bike built in England" and don't appreciate the insulting misquote. I quite clearly said a bike built in England will cost more, you don't have to pay it.
It's made in England and you're going to pay for that. had different meaning then I probably missed something. |
|
Originally Posted by Joe Remi
(Post 22665953)
It's made in England and you're going to pay for that. The Barbour Edition is just a paint color and a bag, it's not notably more expensive than standard Broms. Yes you can buy a Dahon much cheaper and be happy with it, just know the fold is huge and clunky compared to a Brompton and they tend to sound like a can of nails rattling. Which again, for cheaper maybe that's fine.
|
Originally Posted by CEBEP
(Post 22665969)
In general, I can’t understand people saying that you have to pay the price for bike built in England. I bought my Brompton because of it’s features. I would never consider paying extra for anything because it’s made in England by overpaid workforce.
Dahon, for example, is an American company that chooses to make its bikes in China because labor costs (and regulatory barriers and worker protection legislation are nearly non-existent) are very low. Should that be the ceiling for labor costs? Does that make workers in Europe, or the United States, or Great Britain, "overpaid"? That's fine. Speaking for myself, I would consider paying extra for something rather than benefit by exploiting impoverished workers. |
Originally Posted by CEBEP
(Post 22665983)
If what you said:
It's made in England and you're going to pay for that. had different meaning then I probably missed something. |
Originally Posted by Winfried
(Post 22666005)
Is the Dahon Curl actually for sale? After all these years, I've yet to see one on the road.
|
Originally Posted by Ron Damon
(Post 22665967)
On Bromptons, rattles and the like are features that you, as the privileged member of an elite group, get to enjoy courtesy of the manufacturer. On cheap Asiatic bikes like a Dahon, they are inexcusable flaws that poor plebs bring upon themselves. You know, kinda like Litepro. On an inexpensive bike, they are components of questionable quality that cast serious doubts about the judgement of the buyer. On a bike made in Oregon, on the other hand, they are the savvy choice of a discerning consumer. 😉
|
Originally Posted by MAK
(Post 22666474)
My Brompton (M6R) doesn't rattle at all. I also don't consider myself a "privileged member of an elite group". I consider myself a savvy purchaser who did my research (I test rode Bromptons, Dahons and Terns) and was willing to pay a little more for the quality, fold, ease of packing when traveling and resale value that I found in a Brompton.
|
As I’m not a farmer or a wannabe farmer, Barbour as a brand doesn’t interest me. If I want a waxed canvas bike bag that are made in England, I buy Carradice gear (second-hand admittedly on eBay) which is pretty much indestructible and easy to repair.
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:33 AM. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.