Brompton is taking a more straightforward approach to their classic compact folding bikes for 2022, giving them new simplified names to make it easier to pick which is best for you. Moving away from four decades of semi-cryptic acronyms that really only Brommie-heads really understood, the new all-rounder A Line, classic all-steel C Line, and mini e-bike Electric C Line make it easier to find the perfect folding city bike…
2022 Brompton simplified folding bike line relaunch
Brompton’s new naming scheme is an attempt to simplify the process of buying one of their classic benchmark folders. A direct answer to consumer confusion – new A, C & Electric C Lines get renamed for how cyclists actually use the compact bikes.
“16 million combinations, with acronyms that make sense to engineers and Brompton aficionados but do very little to help a new customer chose the right bike. So after much research, deliberation and debate we are redefining the Brompton range around how it can fit in to your life. We hope this will resonate with the growing community who are interested in cycling and will also lay the foundations for our future product development”, describes Brompton CEO Will Butler-Adams.
New names, specs & options
The new A Line is the essential entry-level Brompton, a one-size-fits-all solution for $1050. The gloss white only A Line takes a hand-brazed folding steel frame and builds it up with a no-nonsense 3-speed internal gear hub and an upright mid-rise handlebar. No fenders or racks are included, but you can always add them later.
Just to bring you up to speed, the recently launched, low-priced B75 is now this A Line.
The C Line is the more customizable family of classic, made-in-London since 1975 steel 3-part folding city bikes, available in three options ranging from $1460 – $1660. The C Line Urban (black, above) is their minimalist, lighter option for running around town with just 2-speeds in the rear hub. The C Line Utility (red, above) steps it up to a 3-speed shift-while-stopped hub gear, based on the first-ever Bromptons made, with a mid-rise bar to sit a bit more upright. Then, the C Line Explore (blue, above) is the wider-roaming model with a 6-speed hub.
And the recent special Team GB Tokyo 2020 Olympic edition M6L would now be a C Line Explore.
All C Line folders come with full-coverage fenders, Brompton’s luggage carrier mount up front, and your pick of low flat, mid-rise, or high-riser bars.
Lastly, the Electric C Line is made up of those same classic all-steel folding bikes, supercharged into e-bike versions of each Urban, Utility & Explore builds – from $3550 – $3800. They all get the same specs & build options, but add in a front 250W hub motor and powered by a light 25-50 mile range removable battery pack that can be recharged in 4hrs at home or work.
Brompton product manager Joel Natale says, “Brompton owners rarely describe themselves as ‘cyclists’, they use their Brompton as a magic carpet to move freely across the city, and it was evident through our research that prospective customers found it challenging to navigate the Brompton range.” Now that should get a bit easier.
