The new P Line blends lightweight, portability, and practicality
Takeaway: Demanding and space-conscious commuters should look no further than the Brompton P Line, which combines the best of the old titanium Superlight model with new gearing, durability, and portability features.
Price: $2,994 Weight: 21.8 lbs Folded size: 24”x11”x26”
Main Frame: Heat-treated steel, hand brazed Rear Frame: Titanium with a replaceable hanger Fork: Titanium fork with a threaded headset Saddle: Superlight saddle with chromoly rails, carbon-reinforced base, and lightweight padding. Seatpost: Brompton extended chromoly steel tube Grips: Superlight lock-on grips Seat Clamp: Machined aluminum seat clamp and rear frame clip in anodized matt black finish Pedals: Brompton Folding left hand and non-folding right-hand pedals Front Wheel: Aluminum rim, double-butted spokes, and aluminum hub Rear Wheel: Aluminum rim, double-butted spokes, and aluminum hub Tires: Schwalbe One Evolution V-Guard Drivetrain: Brompton 4-speed drivetrain, 163% range Crankset: Forged aluminum crank with 44T chainring and integrated chainguard Bottom Bracket: Square taper bottom bracket Derailleur: Brompton direct mount 4 speed derailleur Cassette: Brompton 4-speed (11-13-15-18T) Shifters: Brompton 4-speed trigger shifter Chain: Hollowpin Superlight Advance Chain Chain Tensioner: Advance chain tensioner with replaceable hanger mounting Brakes: Dual Pivot Calipers Headset: Superlight headset Extras: Front carrier block adaptor for Brompton luggage, Curved profile fenders
Why You Might Ride the Brompton P-Line More than Other Bikes Brompton P Line Gallery
While Brompton was far from the first to manufacture folding bikes, the brand has become synonymous with the category. During the initial English folding bike craze of the 1970s, founder Andrew Ritchie transformed the folding bike with smaller wheels, longer bars, and an even more compact fold. These modifications, rejected by Raleigh’s licensing department at the time, have made Brompton an enduring force in the industry. Though competition from other dedicated folding bike manufacturers like Tern and Dahon is fierce. Brompton has managed to maintain its lead with unmatched portability, size, and customizability amongst its diverse range.
Brompton’s modern, esoteric, letter-based naming convention leaves room for interpretation. All bikes fall under the A (classic steel frame 3-gear with mid-rise bars), C (classic steel frame with variable gearing, bar options, and front cargo block), T (all-titanium), or P (steel/titanium hybrid) lines. The P Line, formerly Superlight, is the premium model for minimal weight and maximum component quality. The P Line has a titanium fork and rear triangle but stops short of the full titanium frame outfitted on the T Line. It also lacks the motor available on the electric C Line.
The P Line pricing starts at $2,994 but you can get your hands on the A Line for as low as $1,134 or upgrade to the T Line for $5,030. The C Line threads the price needle at $1,668 or $3,996 for the electric pedal-assist model.
Quality of life is the P Line’s focus, where custom advanced tensioned four-speed gearing, puncture-resistant tires, and a sporty flat handlebar makes traffic and hilly terrain more than manageable. It may be a little squirrely over 25mph but the dual-pivot caliper brakes are responsive enough to restore confidence.
The P Line includes high-quality fenders with attached mud flaps, reflectors, and the Brompton brake lever-integrated bell. Though no accessory is spared, the P Line weighs over a pound less than the minimalist A-line and a whole three pounds less than the all-steel C-line.
The P Line, like all Brompton bikes, features a majority of proprietary accessories. Superlight grips, saddle, and novel folding pedals are all purpose-made to shed weight. The downside of these in-house parts is a lack of predictability for newcomers. If you haven’t ridden a Brompton before, you probably don’t have an idea of how the cockpit feels.
Life With the P Line
As a folding bike novice, the Brompton is a blessing. It features subtle, but identifiable, pivot points and triangle-mounted storage wheels for folded rolling. Learning to fold the Brompton is straightforward, but I would highly recommend watching one of their official how-to videos to avoid pinching your fingers or losing track of the order in which parts get folded. With a bit of practice, I was able to fold the P Line in under 15 seconds.
Outfitted with a frame-mounted front trunk bag, this bike is an errand machine. It maneuvers confidently in various folded states even with the trunk attached, transitioning from vehicle to cart in seconds. The center of gravity remains incredibly low with a trunk full of groceries, imparting virtually no effect on speed or balance.
The Brompton wheels easily in the wide aisles of a large supermarket, but things change when I find myself navigating a tiny Brooklyn specialty store. In a city where space is already at a premium and shopping carts are unheard of, the Brompton feels a little less than optimal indoors. Aisles barely wide enough for one person are much too narrow for toting a folding bike, and the Brompton is far too eye-catching to chain out front. These extreme space constraints are fairly unique to massive cities so your experience toting the bike while shopping may vary.
Folding bikes have historically required a compromise on sportiness in favor of portability, but this ends with the P Line. I’m a pretty demanding commuter. I like to get where I’m going fast and have fun along the way. With all of the sporty adjustments Brompton has made in developing the P Line, this may be the first folding bike that fits my needs. City bikes typically suffer on hills or in traffic with cars, but not this one. The P Line’s wide gearing makes climbing fun while weaving around bike lane-parked cars less of a nuisance thanks to the low flat handlebars.
This is a stylish bike that you won’t want to leave your side. A stunning reflective all-over paint job, available in black or gray, highlights the clean silhouette of the bike. Almost every component that can be painted or finished black has been, with a sleek black crankset and matching pedals. Even the reflective Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires of the less expensive models have been replaced by Schwalbe One Evolution V-Guard tires with puncture protection.
The Brompton P Line combines the best of the old titanium Superlight model with new gearing, durability, and portability features. It rolls and folds better than ever, measuring only 24”x11”x26” for closet or under-desk storage. The typical performance benefits of a full-size commuter are no longer a deciding factor. The P Line competes with the best and offers incredibly refined weight and portability to boot. The demanding, space-conscious urban commuter should look no further than the Brompton P Line.
On March 21, 2022, Brompton announced a voluntary recall of the Brompton Electric model to address an issue with the model's mudguard stay. This P Line model is not affected by the recall. To check if your Brompton Electric is affected by the recall, check out the Brompton website where you can check your bike's serial number, watch a video on the issue, and get more detailed information on this recall.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Aithne is a commuter and urban bike tester of mountain bike experience. Between rides, she produces experimental stories at The Atlantic and organizes media labor.
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