Brompton M6L in review

The venerable English brand Brompton have sent the M6L version of their classic folding bike into our big commuter bike group test. As the only non-motorised bike, the compact M6L enters the ring as the underdog. Can it overcome the missing E-support with its clever folding mechanism?

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best ebike of 2021 – The 19 most exciting concepts for everyday use

**Brompton** M6L Cloud Blue
12.60 kg | € 1,785 | Manfacturer’s website

No one else dictates how you live your life. You live it fast, consciously and intensely. Success and control are important to you in both your job and in private. You’d never be seen cruising across town on a folding bike. In your eyes, anyone who swaps a sports car for a bicycle is a loser. A pity! If you stay fixed in your ways, you’ll miss it – the ease of urban mobility aboard the Brompton. And if it were only about sales figures, then the Brompton folding bike would be a winner already! There’s no other British manufacturer that produces as many bikes a year as Brompton. In many ways, the Brompton is a frontrunner and unique in our group test: it’s the only bike that forgoes a motor and the frame is constructed from steel instead of aluminium or carbon like the competition. At 12.6 kg, it’s the lightest bike in the test and with its 16″ wheels, also has the smallest tires. Ready to ride, it is the most compact bike on test and when folded together, the Brompton is the only bike that fits the loading bay of the Riese & Müller, the biggest bike tested here. On top of that, the Brompton gives you access to one of the most exclusive races on two wheels: the Brompton World Championship. Adhering to a strict dress code, for example, a jacket with a (bow-)tie for the men, Brompton races are organised worldwide, serving as qualifiers for the annual World Championship in England. A no brainer then for us to engage our strongest colleague for the task: Thommi can bench press 100 kg and will use all his might to turn the pedals of the British pocket rocket.

Brompton M6L spec in detail

Brompton’s frame design and folding mechanism have remained largely unchanged for decades. Nonetheless, the details of the individual bikes in the portfolio have been fettled and fine-tuned for more than 30 years, which is noticeable in the number of clever solutions present. The M in the model’s designation identifies the traditional, high-rise and narrow bars. The 6 denotes the 6-speed drivetrain consisting of a 3-speed gear hub and two sprockets at the rear. Thanks to the gear hub, you can shift into an easier gear for setting off even when you’re at a standstill at the lights. The L denotes a spec that includes mudguards. The front guard is also equipped with a mud flap ensuring dry feet even through bad weather.

Many bikes in the test offer additional bags, but only for the Brompton is there literally just one bag.

All cables are routed externally, take big loops and are held in place with lugged cable stops in a number of places, meaning that nothing can get trapped or pinched when folding the bike together. Classic rim brakes do the braking and these provide sufficient power for the intended application of the Brompton. The front and rear light ensure good visibility, with both powered by the dynamo hub. There’s even space for a small Zéfal mini pump on the rear end. For the saddle, Brompton spec an all-weather C17 from Brooks, another storied British brand, who actually boast a history older than the bicycle itself. Aside from the version we tested, the folding bike is also offered as a version with a front hub motor and battery in the front rack as the Brompton Electric, or as the Brompton Superlight with a lightweight titanium fork and rear end.

**Pocket-sized comfort**
The elastomer between the seat tube and rear end helps with a lot of the comfort in the saddle.

**Fits in any gap – unfortunately**
The small and narrow tires aren’t made for bumpy surfaces. You’ll also have to pay attention when crossing train or tram tracks.

**Every move counts**
In four steps, the Brompton transforms from a bike to a handbag. The folding mechanism of the bike is so clever that even James Bond would put a Brompton in the boot of his Aston Martin.

Brompton M6L Cloud Blue

€ 1,785

Specifications

Motor -
Battery -
Display -
Fork -
Brakes Rim brakes
Drivetrain Sturmy Archer 2x3
Tires Schwalbe Marathon Racer 16 x 1 1/3"

Technical Data

Size L
Weight 12.60 kg

Specific Features

lighting system with front hub dynamo
foldable frame concept
air pump mounted on frame
rim brakes

**Small, but oh my!**
The spec on our mini leaves few wishes unfulfilled. Mudguards, lights and a rack for luggage come as standard.

**A live wire**
There’s no motor or battery on the Brompton, but power for the light is produced by the dynamo and is powerful enough at low speeds for good visibility in the dark.

**No, we didn’t let a bike fall in the crusher**
Folded together, the Brompton takes up just 59 x 56 x 27 cm and can be stood up on its support wheels.

Size	L
Seat tube	250 mm
Head angle	72.7°
Seat angle	72.8°
Chainstays	411 mm
BB Drop	65 mm
Wheelbase	1,045 mm
Reach	415 mm
Stack	644 mm

From bike to luggage in four steps

On average, every Brompton bike is constructed from 1,200 parts, many of which are manufactured specifically for their purpose by Brompton. All the more astonishing is the folding mechanism, which lets you fold the bike down to a size of under 59 x 56 x 27 cm in just four steps. The frame folds at 3 joints and unintentional opening is prevented by lowering the seat post. In this configuration, the bike can be easily transported and taken with you on the train or into the office. The bike has three small rollers on the rear mudguard and rear end, on which it stands in its folded state. And if you ever want to travel with it, then there’s even a special padded bag in which you can stow the Brompton. While the bike cuts a fine figure as a piece of luggage itself, options for luggage on the bike are limited. Up front, there’s a rack which, together with special bags designed for it, can take up to a 10 kg load. The R spec of the Brompton comes with an additional rear rack which can carry up to 10 kg.

Brompton M6L on test

If you have hankering for a meal from your favourite restaurant four blocks away during your lunch break but don’t fancy walking, the Brompton comes to the rescue. Pulled out from under your desk, it’s ready to ride in less than a minute. You’ll feel immediately comfortable aboard the Brompton, with the high bars and long seat tube resulting in a compact and upright riding position. Together with the low standover height of the frame, it means that you can just as easily get on and off the bike. In busy city traffic, the Brompton scores with its great manoeuvrability and its simplicity results in a lot of enjoyment when navigating around obstacles. An elastomer insert contributes to comfort by cushioning blows at the rear.

Fold together by hand – isn’t there an app for that? The Brompton eschews high-tech and connectivity, instead offering British workmanship.

The flex in the stem ensures that your hands don’t get too shaken up either, not even from cobbles or slightly uneven surfaces. Despite noticeable flex in the frame and stem, components are securely fitted so that the Brompton doesn’t suffer from a noisy mess of clattering cables or mudguards. With just 6 gears, the M6L is missing the range to be able to surmount steep climbs – that said, it’s all the easier to push here. With its small and narrow tires and limited suspension, it’s not made for off-road tours or long trips. The rim brakes might be less powerful than the hydraulic stoppers on the competition, but they’re more than sufficient for inner-city use. Everything on the Brompton is made to provide active riders with a super convenient city bike for short rides – and in this category, it’s not easy to surpass the Brompton M6L.

Tuning tip: The FREITAG F748 COLTRANE rucksack is purpose made for the Brompton’s front rack. It looks good both on you and on your bike.

Brompton M6L conclusion

While the Brompton M6L started this race as the clear underdog, it was able to leave a lot of its competitors behind in city traffic. As the most affordable bike in the test, it also convinces in terms of value for money thanks to its consistent and coherent spec. Thanks to its handiness, clever folding mechanism and manoeuvrable handling, it is a fitting city and commuting bike for short journeys and everyone with an active riding style. It’s simply not conceived for any other purpose.

Tops

great practicality
genius folding mechanism
high-quality finishing
thought-through, detail-focussed design

Flops

limited range of applications
limited luggage options

Rider Type

The trans-urban mile muncher 1

The stylish city explorer 2

The Transporter 3

The short distance whizz 4

The passionate recreational cyclist 5

You can find out more about at brompton.com

The testfield