I’ve had 4 Moulton f frames, a Bickerton, two APBs, a Pashley Land Rover and four Dahons. I finally realised I was finding alternatives to a Brompton but hadn’t been prepared to spend the money. Upon realising this I sold the last Dahon, the Land Rover and a posh fountain pen (a1930’s Waterman Patrician in Lapis) and bought a Brompton nuff said!
Why are Brompton folding bikes so expensive?
- Thread starter Bimble
- Start date
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- Tags
- brompton folding bike
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
They're expensive because Brompton exist to maximise shareholder value, and the more they can charge per unit the better they can do that. They know how far they can push it before people become unwilling to pay, and walk just south of that line. Theres no mystery to it.
cougie uk
Guru
They're expensive because they're made in London. They could have sold up and let a factory in Taiwan make it for cheaper - but some things are worth paying for.
While they didn't sell up, they certainly entered agreements to have Bromptons manufactured in the Republic of China. Hence all the clones.
See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neobike
It's a murky story of double-dealing and intrigue...
It's a murky story of double-dealing and intrigue...
What's Brompton's international market like? Quite a few UK brands are very popular with high-end consumers overseas mainly because they're seen as iconic British brands and the products are made in the UK. I'm sure Burberry labels that said "Made in China", for example, wouldn't sell so well - although Burberry does manufacture in quite a few countries (including China) it's very careful with its labeling.
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Pale Rider
Legendary Member
There's a bit more to it than squeeze the punter until the pips squeak.
Brompton has the best customer support of any bike company I know of in terms of parts inventory and published workshop instructions - there's an expanded diagram available online for almost every repair/maintenance task.
All this is a genuine cost to the business which Brompton can presumably only recover from the price of the bike/bits because that's their only source of income.
I believe the heavy metal work is done in South Wales, and paint is also outside London, so Brompton has taken steps to reduce costs while staying in the UK.
As a general point, I'm told China and the Far East is not the bargain to manufacture in it once was, partly due to increasing wage costs.
That's something to be welcomed, given the benefit was based on slave labour.
Eastern Europe is now just as cheap as China, if not cheaper, and one of my ebike company buddies tells me it's almost as cheap to assemble in the UK.
Now there's an innovation.
Brompton has the best customer support of any bike company I know of in terms of parts inventory and published workshop instructions - there's an expanded diagram available online for almost every repair/maintenance task.
All this is a genuine cost to the business which Brompton can presumably only recover from the price of the bike/bits because that's their only source of income.
I believe the heavy metal work is done in South Wales, and paint is also outside London, so Brompton has taken steps to reduce costs while staying in the UK.
As a general point, I'm told China and the Far East is not the bargain to manufacture in it once was, partly due to increasing wage costs.
That's something to be welcomed, given the benefit was based on slave labour.
Eastern Europe is now just as cheap as China, if not cheaper, and one of my ebike company buddies tells me it's almost as cheap to assemble in the UK.
Now there's an innovation.
cougie uk
Guru
The Scoundrels !
Brompton tried that back in 1991 with Eurotai, but Andrew Ritchie was so dismayed with the quality control & marketing style, he decided to keep Brompton production in the UK. A rare case of 'selling up to a cheap producer for the sake of a lower selling price' not being the standard required by a British firm.
mitchibob
Über Member
- Location
- Treorchy, Wales
I did the Ride London-Surrey 100 on a Brompton the other day along with thousands more road bikes and a few other Brommies, and I can guarantee I had more fun than the roadies, more kudos from fellow riders and more cheers from the side of the road. That's priceless! Made what would've otherwise felt like a miserable winter training ride into a great experience. Just wouldn't have been the same on a similar value road bike.
But honestly, having had a hard crash on one, even though it could do with a new frame, as it's slightly bent, my first brompton M2L is still perfectly ridable after some headset adjustments and slight front wheel truing after going into the side of a car at 20mph that left me with a cast on each arm (wrist and hand breakages). They are really well made. My newer M6L has done 6,000km in less than a year and has only needed new front break blocks, chain and sprockets so far. All pretty cheap replacements if you're doing them yourself (£35?). Oh, and about £30 quid some some kojaks for summer, and maybe winter. Rest of the bike still looks (after a clean) and rides like it's new. Well, if you don't look at the slightly scuffed SPD pedals. There have been a couple incidents. I'll still probably replace the frame on my M2L, as it does bounce a little more than it should at higher cadences.
But honestly, having had a hard crash on one, even though it could do with a new frame, as it's slightly bent, my first brompton M2L is still perfectly ridable after some headset adjustments and slight front wheel truing after going into the side of a car at 20mph that left me with a cast on each arm (wrist and hand breakages). They are really well made. My newer M6L has done 6,000km in less than a year and has only needed new front break blocks, chain and sprockets so far. All pretty cheap replacements if you're doing them yourself (£35?). Oh, and about £30 quid some some kojaks for summer, and maybe winter. Rest of the bike still looks (after a clean) and rides like it's new. Well, if you don't look at the slightly scuffed SPD pedals. There have been a couple incidents. I'll still probably replace the frame on my M2L, as it does bounce a little more than it should at higher cadences.
GM
Legendary Member
- Location
- North of the river
I've got to agree100% with that. I did the 46 on mine, it was an absolute delight to do!
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
You've not lived till you've toured on a Brompton.
And you've not nearly died till you've done Ventoux on a Brompton...
And you've not nearly died till you've done Ventoux on a Brompton...
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
When are you doing the Angliru and Zoncolan to complete the set? ;-)
