Brompton Electric T-Line Folding Electric Bicycle Review: Pocket-Sized Pedal Power

The typical commuter electric bike weighs between 40 and 65 pounds. The battery, motor, and components needed to hurtle you up hills can double, or even triple, the weight of a traditional bicycle. The new Brompton Electric T Line e-Motiq weighs just 31 pounds, and that’s with its 345-Wh battery attached. Remove the battery pack and it is a diaphanous 24.6 pounds. In comparison, the original steel Brompton Electric weighed 32.4 pounds, plus an additional 6.4 pounds for the battery.

Virtually anyone who has ridden an electric bike will attest to the fun, freedom, and convenience they offer. Almost everyone who has tried to lift a electric bike up a flight of stairs or onto a roof rack will be able to recommend a good chiropractor. For those without a garage or easily accessible shed, they can often feel as portable as a motorbike, just twice as easy to steal.

This new all-titanium electric Brompton solves all these issues. It is accessibly light, folds like only a Brompton can, and has an incredibly smooth ride thanks to the all-new 250-watt rear-hub motor. But damn, it’s expensive.

Titanium Time

Photograph: Chris Haslam

Brompton’s lightweight frame is made almost entirely from aerospace-grade titanium. Parts are manufactured in Sheffield, an industrial city in the north of England, and then assembled in London. Why is this important? Manufacturing anything in the UK comes at a premium.