Folding bikers assemble…a bit of conundrum…

Looking for a little pointing in the right direction

Have been toying with the idea of a folding bike for occasional commuting, shopping and farting about when I don’t want / can’t take full size bike (trains, family holidays when the rugrats take their bikes, just pottering around the park when the rugrats are out on their bikes)

Out of the blue I have been offered a new (insurance replacement) Tern Link D7i which is very tempting but bowing down to curiosity I searched and found several used 6 speed Bromptons for near enough the same price

Have owned, used and killed (not completely my fault) a 6 speed btwin tilt and loved it for its intended purposes, having picked it up cheap I made a small promise to myself that if I used it enough, when the time came for a new one I’d “upgrade” a little to something a little (in my mind anyway) fancier, after experiencing the tilt happy to stay around the 6 speed range

So….

New Tern or used Brompton?!?

WWSTWD???

New Brompton through C2W?

If you need to fold it multiple times, but not carry it too far, buy the Brompton. If you want a decent riding bike for occasional folding (like the BTwin), get the Tern. The Tern will ride better, but the Brompton is a better folder. It’s just not light, especially not the six speed. I’ve had both a six speed Brompton and a BTwin Tilt single speed that I ran fixed with drop bars. No question, the Twin was a much better ride.

A used Brompton is almost a depreciation-busting purchase. You can sell it for what you paid for it if you have the provenance. A used Tern will not hold value.

New Brompton through C2W?

always an option but if I’m honest, I’d prefer that to be a last resort, just had to buy a new car which has added to the monthly outgoings so trying to keep an eye on that,

currently in no huge rush so happy to take my time and make the right decision

A used Brompton is almost a depreciation-busting purchase. You can sell it for what you paid for it if you have the provenance. A used Tern will not hold value.

definitely something I had considered…

If you need to fold it multiple times, but not carry it too far, buy the Brompton. If you want a decent riding bike for occasional folding (like the Twin), get the Tern

Normally stays unfolded when stored and folded up as and when needed so on that with the comment above it’s the Tern

But, considering parts, repair, customer service and such, I’d assume the Brompton would be the better buy?

basically I’m looking for a folder that will get me about and hoping that it will be a keeper so have started considering (rightly or wrongly) general build and durability alongside upkeep and support

I can’t comment on the above two bikes as I’ve only previously owned a Dahon Vitesse (5spd hub gear) and a Specialized Globe Mity folder (8spd 105) which are both 20″ wheels, I wouldn’t want to go smaller on the wheel size.

I used the two above from riding from home and catching the Enfield – Liverpool Street train followed by cycling over to Waterloo, this was in 2007/8.

I’ve just picked up an almost new Specialized Globe Mity folder with 8spd Tiagra & 1.35″ Marathon Plus tyres which now lives in the boot of my car and I use for the last 3 miles of my daily car commute. It’ll also be used for some train travel and short trips to avoid car parking charges when heading into town centres.

Whilst folding is essential to get mine into the boot of the car and into a storage room at work, it’s size isn’t so important and I can get away with running flat MTB pedals which makes a huge difference to the ride and feeling on the bike.

Go 20″ wheels unless the folded size is your most important criteria.

Maybe the new Brompton 20″ “gravel” folder is for you!

I took an ado air e folding bike for a spin round a carpark earlier in the year and I liked it.

Tempted to buy 1 in the sales at the moment as they are at the cheapest I’ve seen them, direct from ADO.

I don’t really need one tho!

Bromptons are great but spare parts are ridiculously inflated. And as has been said here – insanely heavy for what they are.  Pretty sure my Brompton weighs more than my Orange Stage 5

Brompton retain their value for good reason. Just get a basic a line and add mudguards and decent saddle, should be sub 1k gbp. I havent looked but doubt a second hand one goes for much less, i think the a line s predecessor was the 75. Its the deeper handlebar one made out the old parts bin.

I originally got my Brompton for a mixed commute: ride to station, train up to Wimbledon, ride to the office in Hammersmith from there, including a section of the Thames Path than is pretty rough / unpaved. It’s still going strong as a bike for getting to the pub / shops ten years on. You cannot beat the convenience.

In the four years I commuted into London a friend doing a bit of the same (although not as much mileage / Thames Path stuff) went through three Dahons. He eventually got a Brompton which he still uses now.

If small fold size is important and you’re getting on and off commuter trains daily, then a Brompton is the way to go. It will take a licking and keep on ticking, outlasting consumables like rims, hubs and chainsets.