I own both a Brompton and a Moulton (several actually) and they have two different functions. If I want to ride a bike, but have to also use other forms of transport, especially trains with lots of rules and regulations as to when bikes can be carried, then the Brompton wins hands down. That's why I bought one. If you want to go places, the Moulton is a winner. You certainly could ride 100 miles on a Brompton, but the same journey on a Moulton would be a dream owing to the silky smooth ride ... There are a huge range of Moulton models to choose from, costing (in the UK 2020) from around £1,500 to £20,000+. The model ridden in this video was in the budget bracket.
I own a Moulton, a Brompton, and a Birdy. The Brompton is a townie bike. If you live in a relatively flat urban area without much space, don't feel comfortable locking your bike outside, and commute on your bike to work, the Brompton is a great choice. I used mine in Tokyo when train service was made a little spotty by the 2011 earthquake. I would bring my Brompton on the train with me, and if there was a rolling blackout which caused train service to be suspended, I could ride my Brompton home. The Brompton can be folded instantly and put next to or even under your desk, or in a corner of your home. However, the Brompton is not a bike you would like to ride if you live in steep terrain. Even in Tokyo, which is not exactly mountainous, there are some roads which I have to dismount and push my Brompton to the top. I've climbed Alp d'huez and the Angliru bicycle, so I'm not a bad climber, but being limited from 3 to 6 gears is also going to limit your climbing. The 16" tires on the Brompton are not easy to find in all markets. The riding position on a Brompton is very upright, making it difficult in a strong headwind. But there is an increasingly strong aftermarket for Brompton bikes, so things like more adjustable stems and seat posts are available. The Birdy is a wonderful machine. It lighter than the Brompton, folds up nearly as small, uses commonly available components, and can be customized to pretty much anyone's taste. My Birdy is fitted with a mix of Dura Ace and XTR Di2 parts, converted to 20" wheels, and can be set up to precisely mimic the riding position on my road bike. However, the rear suspension on the Birdy is very sloppy, and bobs way much when you are out of the saddle. The Birdy is also noisy, those models with v brakes are very rattly, and the wheeled accessory racks are so noisy that I tossed mine after a week. The standard 18" wheel is almost as hard to find tires for as the Brompton, but converting to 20" wheels is as simple as bolting them on. If you use v brakes, you'll need extensions, or a new $30 set of brakes. The Birdy is fast, and can be geared to ride on any terrain. But you can't run very large tires if you convert to 20" rims, 1.75 is as big as you can get. Wider tires will fit if you stick to the 18" wheel. Now for the Moulton. It is my favorite bike. It rides like a road bike, has all the positive qualities of a classic steel road bike, but in a much more compact size. I like that it takes off-the-shelf parts, and in that instance, is even more modifiable than the Birdy. I have an old APB, which can accept larger BMX tires or whatnot, and being able to take the bike apart and pack it into a bag is a great plus. Here in Japan the Ostrich company makes a specific bag for the Moulton which is compact and light enough (while still being durable) to put in your backpack or a pannier. The front suspension is genius, the rear suspension is a little flexy, but not as much so as the Birdy. When I go for rides with friends, I'll let them ride the Birdy or the Brompton, and I will ride my Moulton.
My wife and I each have a Moulton and a Brompton each.The Brompton is great to fold for City travel and the Moulton is very fast for City and country touring.One advantage of the Moulton is the great front suspension which helps with wrist Athritis..both very well made bikes...highly recommend both.Unladen the Moulton can get up to very high speed too!
This is like comparing a Chef's knife and a Swiss Army Knife. They have different functions. A Brompton fits under the table in Starbucks. That's all you need to know.
In the 60's I had a Moulton Speed 6, apart from trying to pedal without bouncing, and the chain occasionally derailing, looping under the rear tire & flat-spotting it..another issue was melting the brake blocks on long fast winding downhills. Just had to keep spares!
Great video. The Brompton is incredible for multi-modal commuting because the fold is SO compact, and yet rides really well in the city (Wash D.C.), it's a workhorse. I can see how the Moulton would be wonderful for travel.
Having owned a Moulton for 12 years, I agree with your points. I sold it to help finance a custom touring bike, but I'm looking to supplement it with a Brompton, taking advantage of their clever compactability.
When looking for a folder I also found the Moulton, though it is hard to find any in Denmark and I ended up with a by now around 8,5 kilo and very much rebuilt Brompton. Also the Brompton has a suspension though I have lately found a Super-hard, J.K. block from Taiwan, to eliminate most flex. But its primary function is transport as folded and not being a bike! I am glad to have seen how a Moulton functions though! Finn. Denmark
That is interesting. When folding bikes boomed in the Philippines in 2013, Moultons were ballyhooed as an obscure but somewhat desirable "folding bike" when really it's a mini velo you can dis-/re-assemble. Thanks for laying it out there and clearing the confusion. Seems like this is closer to the "small-wheeled road bike" ethos than many of Dahon or Tern's offerings.
The Brompton is better uphill because it doesn't pogo and, of course, it folds properly. The Moulton is better on bad roads. I've ridden both types substantial distances. Ultimately, both are very compromised but they are fun in their own way.
Torn between Bike Friday and Moulton... currently riding a single gear Bike Friday and its my only go to bike so curious to see how it compares to Moulton.
The natural question, or topic for future comparison, is Moulton vs. Bike Friday. Everything you said about the Moulton holds for the Bike Friday except for the suspension. The Bike Friday hits a great sweet spot between performance and easy travel with the very quick folding breakdown that it allows (10 minutes is all I need from the case to the road). It also has none of the down sides of the suspension bike, no bobbing or bouncing even when riding hard. Of course, I am a Bike Friday owner (for 22 years) and have only ridden the Moulton for a couple quick tests so I--and I hope others--would love to get your comparison.
I use to own a New World Tourist and enjoyed the ride but never got along with the fold and eventually sold it. I think in terms of ride quality, they are similar but the Moulton will be smoother on rougher terrain. I've actually gotten use to the bob and have adjusted my pedaling so it is minimized. Some people will just hate it, others won't be bothered much by it. Hopping on my recent 650b Vaya conversion, I was momentarily taken aback at how "rough" the ride felt on the big wheeled bike :) My guess is the space frame on the Moulton is laterally stiffer and probably less prone to whippiness with a load. I'm hoping to ride the Moulton with panniers to see how it does loaded and may do one more video on it.
A better comparison than the New World Tourist might be the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, which has a more efficient setup. The newer version also folds differently (and better) from my original. Bike Friday is celebrating 25 years now out of Eugene, OR, and have a range of models that meets a lot of needs for the traveling cyclist. And no one I know can beat the suitcase-becomes-trailer setup they offer.
That is an interesting review of the Moulton bicycle. I have three Moultons and I've used them for about fifteen years. I don't ride large wheeled diamond framed bicycles at all any more. What are they for? People tend to compare the Moulton to folding bikes because it has small wheels, but the Moulton is designed to be a full performance bicycle and uses small wheels because the late Dr. Alex Moulton believed that was the best way to build a full performance bicycle. With the Moulton it is best to use low rolling resistance tyres at high pressure. As you say in your review it will ride very smoothly indeed even with high tyre pressures. I totally agree with you that the best way to ride this bicycle is neatly. If you ride very aggressively then it is not for you. However the vast majority of people that I see ride neatly enough for the Moulton. I recommend doing some fast descents on the Moulton, then do the same with the large wheeled diamond framed bicycle for comparison.
Once you get a Moulton, you will never go back to standard bikes just like once Mac never back 😅. I have the TSR30 and in fast descents, it performs safer than normal bikes in my opinion as of the suspension and the smaller wheels
Yes, I totally agree. Fifteen years ago I rode my first Moulton bicycle and I have never gone back to a regular large wheel diamond framed bike. Now I have three Moultons. I just love them and will always do so.
indeed, at first back in early 2014, I couldn’t afford having the new space-frame version so got the 1966 Moulton Mini for £100 which I found it was only suitable for children and women. Then I got the 1962 fframe 4-speed for £175 back in early 2015 and still rides beautifully.
I have two APBs and an AM7. The AM7 I picked up second-hand some years ago so it was not expensive for me. One of the APBs I bought new about fifteen years ago the other I bought second-hand. The way I discovered Moulton bicycles was that a friend left one, an APB with me for a couple of months. He needed to store it somewhere temporarily. I rode it around and found that I really loved it, but it took me a couple of weeks to really get it. Now I never look back. Those original classic Moultons are wonderful as well. I'm sure your 1962 F-frame is lovely.
Try a harder spring in the front and tighten the bolt's alan keys at the bottom of the front forks,it stop's the front bouncing to much when climbing,make's a big difference to fast riding,but you need a smooth style to ride one fast.
Brompton bike: Bus/subway hopping, short distance rides, in-town travel and affordable. Moulton bike: compact high performance "road bike", can be fitted with the best road bike components, very good for short/long distance rides but cannot be folded and very costly. I have both bikes and enjoy them all. goo.gl/photos/5jy4m2mvcxLHR4TU7 goo.gl/photos/nKZ4FhQS1SkeF9mX6
Like your videos but you need way more close ups on what you are talking about beyond your b-roll. Example: you talk about the front and rear suspension on this bike yet not one video/picture of it.
Even the first Moultons were fast bikes (particularly in acceleration), they caused the French based 'world' bike sport federation to ban small wheeled bikes from competition, i assume the big frame makers had something to do with it.
They do accelerate wonderfully, and downhill, Moultons are amazing! The main reason they were banned IIRC is that they allowed riders to draft so closely that it was deemed dangerous (and an unfair advantage). Of course, at anything over 5mph, the way cyclists bunch up is already dangerous. ua-cam.com/video/i_CD1USE5ro/v-deo.html
The ICU banned Moultons when they were first invented so they couldn't be used in ICU races ( like the Tour de France), because they beat the traditional large wheel race bike , which were often made by French manufacturers.
To be 100% accurate, they didn't *specifically* ban Moultons by name, but rather issued strict guidance that related to the size of the wheel you could use on a bike in competition. The 16 inch wheels used by Moulton back in the '60s fell outside the limits, so effectively banning Moultons from competition. The reason they gave was that bikes with smaller wheels appeared to give individuals or teams that used them an unfair advantage, thus implying that the design was an improvement on existing designs. This was a fabulous opportunity to promote competition and encourage competing designs, but no - as the previous poster states, the UCI - a French organisation, after-all - backed the continental industry players and, fast-forward to today - we're still stuck with the traditional diamond framed, large wheel bicycles, the design of which goes back to before the first world war - imagine if cars were like that!!
So it sounds like you'll be keeping these two then! I've owned many Moultons, mostly classics which are used for town and for fun, but the modern ones are just brilliant fast-touring bikes. There is something about the ride, that can not be conveyed unless you've ridden one. I've actually never used one for travel, never even split one! They are fantastic bikes in their own right. I've had 2 Bromptons as well, but here in England, they're just so same-old-same-old like everyone else, so I got a Birdy instead! As an alternative travel-roadbike, try the Airnimal Chameleon.
Tim here from bikes@vienna. Nice video Russ! Good info, fair comparison. Just a couple of points I'll make from my own point of view. I too am a fan of both the Moulton and the Brompton (dealer for both, and former Bike Friday dealer), and agree they each have their strengths. The way I look at traveling with a bike is dependent on what kind of trip it is. If I were going somewhere where I would unpack, assemble, then ride medium to long distances in really varied terrain for a number of days, the Moulton would win hands down. On the other hand, when I take trips where I'm only going to be somewhere a few days, and likely to do local, shorter exploratory rides, I find the faster fold and pack and unpack of the Brompton suits me better. I do a lot more of the latter than the former, and really only have room in my life for one travel bike, so given the other virtues of the Brompton for multimodal commuting and such, that's been my choice. You're recent videos though have me thinking now that I should try a longer trip with a Moulton sometime. Now, about the Brompton P-bar... AKA "the bar that gets no respect"... Yeah, it's a bit odd looking, especially if you're used to the "classic" Brompton bar, but I've had a P-type now since 2009 and I love it. It gives me an additional hand position or two for headwinds, or when I feel like pretending to be fast, and the upper position just fits me well for the bulk of my normal riding. Of course, it's not right for everyone, but I feel it gets a bad rap solely on looks sometimes. I've literally had customers simply refuse to even try it because of the looks. But this video is about the Moulton, so let me just say I do agree that for longer rides in more varied conditions, it makes a great travel bike. And it's a great conversation starter too! Now you've got me wondering if I should make some changes to the TSR-9 we have in the shop for my next extended trip... :-)
I agree that neither the Moulton or the Brompton is categorically superior. It really depends on the type of trip. That said, I've been super impressed with how fast the Moulton is and I think it slots in as a great packable go fast travel bike! On the P bar. I'm just not a fan. I appreciate the multiple positions and beyond the looks, I think what bugs me the most is that you have no access to the brakes in the lower aero position which for me really limits its use (I like to have a brake handy). I'm looking forward seeing how the Moulton does loaded with gear. Also, I plan to tinker a bit with the front suspension.
Good video, hit all the points. As a longtime Moultoneer, I've also owned a Bike Friday New World Tourist and Tikit, a Raleigh Twenty, several Dahons, and a Brompton. The Moulton is the superior bicycle to all of them but you're right, the Moultons are the least of the compromises for a packable or folding bike. One thing further is that the Moulton front suspension can be tightened to lessen the travel or just replace the front suspension spring with a stiff one. I've found the small wheel bike without suspension to be "buzzy" over a rough surface which is why Dr. Moulton added the suspension in the first place. He also recommended seated climbing rather than standing which creates the suspension motion. Seated is more efficient anyway. Cost is another factor: a 2017 Moulton SST with 22 speed Shimano is now $4,200.00. A Moulton New Series Double Pylon in stainless steel is $25,000.00 (1 year backlog).
It is interesting to hear other owners' comments. I too have one of each small wheeled bikes, Moulton, BF NWT & Tikit, Brompton, Dahon, and Birdy. For me the BF is lighter and quicker, but maybe it is because the Moulton's supension dulling all the feel and hence feels numb? The front suspension adjusted by tightening the linkages will result is squeeks and a stiff spring is the way to go. I had done heaps to my Moulton APB R18, but still struggle to get it below 10.5kgs. If I were to go riding with 700c bikes, I'd take none of the small wheeled bikes, too hard to keep up. But they are best for what they are designed for, packable for travelling.
Pocket Rocket and Moulton are both packable, so they are directly comparable. Pocket Rocket wins being much lighter and feels more responsive. But if you want loaded touring, perhaps it is the other way around.
Different ride altogether. Bike Friday feels like riding a regular bike where brompton has fixed length main tube which limits adjustments, also does not handle as fluid as regular bike or Bike Friday.
I live in Minnesota. The pot holes here would eat a Moulton. I’ve ruined 26”, 700c and 27” rims, in those instances, I probably would have been thrown over the bars on a Moulton. I really don’t see the point of the small wheels if the bike is not going to fold. To each his or her own.
A framework like that makes it extremely stiff and strong. Also it looks cool. There are a couple of drawbacks with derailleur systems and the small wheels.
Travel? So what do you do with that big bag when you continue your journey on the Moulton? The Brompton doesn't need any bag on a train or bus. Even if you do need a bag a simple Dimpa from IKEA is fine and can easily be folded and carried on the Brompton.
@@PathLessPedaledTV I agree, I didn't think about that. That would be some kind of vacation setting staying at one location and making day trips. In such a case I'd rather rent a good street bike at that location.
Hi there. Another informative video. 👍 Aside from the time spent packing/unpacking and the slight bobbing issue looks like you found the Moultons to be wonderful road bikes easy to take on planes. BTW, was wondering whether you use your Bromptons much lately. They don't feature much in your recent videos.
We still have the Bromptons and use them on occasion. They've been relegated to trips where we take a lot of transit connections. So many bikes to experiment with!
Nice video. How long does it take to put it appart and then back together? Do you need special tools? I'm guessing you wouldn't do that on a regular basis. Thx
+Javier Malagon no special tools. Disassembly doesn't take that long. It's the packing and protecting that adds time. About a 30-40min job. Check out our packing video on the channel for details.
Agreed. You can separate the frame in 1 minute with an allen wrench, for storing in a car trunk. Older Moultons had a knob instead. Packing takes a while.
I have the Moulton TSR30 and I want to travel with it so I'm going to use bike box but @2:12 how could you fit it on that bag!! I need to try and see, or can you show us a picture of the setup inside? (check my channel, have some videos with Moulton in Saudi Arabia which I think it's the only one here in my country😅)
have not ridden one but i have a hard time seeing that middle frame section not being super torquey and not stiff because the tubes are all such a small diameter. How does it react to riding up or down a vertical drop such as a full height curb?
+littlegoobie it is actually pretty stiff because though the tubes are small they are all triangulated. I would say that it is stiffer than a Brompton or Bike Friday with bigger single tubes. I have taken it down some curbs and it does fine. You get a softer landing because of the suspension.
Those small diameter tubes you mention are arranged in torsion. To understand the principle think about the Eiffel Tower. The many I-beams of the Eiffel Tower are arranged so that forces travel through them longitudinally. It is the same with the Moulton bicycle.
it's a space frame, actually stiffer than a very stiff thing. Going up a hill on my TSR all the effort comes out on the road, going up it on my Brom... not so much!
I wanted a Moulton TSR badly, but, at 6'-4", no matter how the bike shop set up the machine, with all kinds of extensions, I could still not get in a comfortable position on it (I like to ride fairly upright), and I kept pitching forward, almost over the handlebars, making it hard to control the steed. My whole body balance was off. Way off. It felt as if I was riding a toy, or a clown bike. It's too bad, because I really, really wanted it to work for me, but it wouldn't. I think a bigger-framed version of the Moulton with a longer wheelbase and also more upward vertical adjustment could work for somebody like me, but I seriously doubt they'd ever create one. I know some six-footers will probably chime in saying the Moulton is fine for tall people, but, unfortunately, it's not for THIS tall person. Rats!
yes I think your right I have a tsr 30 tour i'm 5 foot 8 it just fits me I ride with the saddle right back,i would not recommend one for a rider taller than me,so I think moulton need a longer framed version for taller rider's.
I am 6'2" tall and own an AM 20-2. With a Mosquito handlebar fitted on a wishbone stem I got a convenient upright position. As you, I like to ride fairly upright!
This is where the Bromptons have an advantage. Moultons can get prohibitively expensive. A TSR model equipped for touring will be around 3k. The Bromptons we rode were $1800.
The Brampton any day over the Moulton why? because the Brampton is kick ass faster to fold and unfold making it far easier to carry with you almost anywhere.
I have done a lot of touring on my TSR30. In fact it is ideal for touring because you can have the bulk of you bagage at the front of the frame (small wheels allow for that) and you get much more of a 50/50 weight distribution. I have toured with at around most of Europe. Check my set-ut here: istambulpaakombisykkel.wordpress.com/
In the UK I think it's illegal to do a piece on Moulton and not mention that Sir Alex Moulton also designed the suspension for the original Mini car(&that it was the 1st small wheeled bike & 1st bike with suspension)! I learned to ride on a Mini Moulton(the kid's version). I remember it being much lighter and faster than the fat wheeled shoppers & Raleigh Choppers my mates had. Dx
This travel bike ned a luggage. Folding bike no ned luggage. Only gd for long distance carry. U only ned to bring along when going overseas. Not for transit travelling.
I can't believe anyone would even ask. The Moulton beats the pants off the Brompton, absolutely no contest. The Brompton might be great for saving space but that means its functionality as a bike is compromised, of course.
Comparing a MOULTON to Bromtpon is like Comparing an Orange to a ROCK! A bike Friday to a MOULTON is a better Comparison! And you forgot one VERY IMPORTANT THING! PRICE, A MOULTON will set you back minimum 7 GRAND! A Brompton fully outfitted about 2,600.00!
+MARKLINMAN1 Couple of things. 1) we compared the Moulton and Brompton because we have the most experience with these two AND people get them confused often. In the video I DID say that a more accurate comparison would be a Bike Friday. 2) the Moulton SST can be had for $4500 from PortaPedal not $7000. You can get even less expensive builds with the TSR that are closer to 3k putting it closer to the price point of a Brompton.
A Moulton TSR, made at the Pashley factory in Stratford-upon-Avon, is about 2,000 GBP depending on specification. The "real" Moultons, made in Bradford-on-Avon with an actual spaceframe, are the really expensive bikes, nearly 20,000 GBP for the top model.
I own both a Brompton and a Moulton (several actually) and they have two different functions. If I want to ride a bike, but have to also use other forms of transport, especially trains with lots of rules and regulations as to when bikes can be carried, then the Brompton wins hands down. That's why I bought one. If you want to go places, the Moulton is a winner. You certainly could ride 100 miles on a Brompton, but the same journey on a Moulton would be a dream owing to the silky smooth ride ...
There are a huge range of Moulton models to choose from, costing (in the UK 2020) from around £1,500 to £20,000+. The model ridden in this video was in the budget bracket.
I own a Moulton, a Brompton, and a Birdy. The Brompton is a townie bike. If you live in a relatively flat urban area without much space, don't feel comfortable locking your bike outside, and commute on your bike to work, the Brompton is a great choice. I used mine in Tokyo when train service was made a little spotty by the 2011 earthquake. I would bring my Brompton on the train with me, and if there was a rolling blackout which caused train service to be suspended, I could ride my Brompton home. The Brompton can be folded instantly and put next to or even under your desk, or in a corner of your home.
However, the Brompton is not a bike you would like to ride if you live in steep terrain. Even in Tokyo, which is not exactly mountainous, there are some roads which I have to dismount and push my Brompton to the top. I've climbed Alp d'huez and the Angliru bicycle, so I'm not a bad climber, but being limited from 3 to 6 gears is also going to limit your climbing. The 16" tires on the Brompton are not easy to find in all markets. The riding position on a Brompton is very upright, making it difficult in a strong headwind. But there is an increasingly strong aftermarket for Brompton bikes, so things like more adjustable stems and seat posts are available.
The Birdy is a wonderful machine. It lighter than the Brompton, folds up nearly as small, uses commonly available components, and can be customized to pretty much anyone's taste. My Birdy is fitted with a mix of Dura Ace and XTR Di2 parts, converted to 20" wheels, and can be set up to precisely mimic the riding position on my road bike. However, the rear suspension on the Birdy is very sloppy, and bobs way much when you are out of the saddle. The Birdy is also noisy, those models with v brakes are very rattly, and the wheeled accessory racks are so noisy that I tossed mine after a week. The standard 18" wheel is almost as hard to find tires for as the Brompton, but converting to 20" wheels is as simple as bolting them on. If you use v brakes, you'll need extensions, or a new $30 set of brakes. The Birdy is fast, and can be geared to ride on any terrain. But you can't run very large tires if you convert to 20" rims, 1.75 is as big as you can get. Wider tires will fit if you stick to the 18" wheel.
Now for the Moulton. It is my favorite bike. It rides like a road bike, has all the positive qualities of a classic steel road bike, but in a much more compact size. I like that it takes off-the-shelf parts, and in that instance, is even more modifiable than the Birdy. I have an old APB, which can accept larger BMX tires or whatnot, and being able to take the bike apart and pack it into a bag is a great plus. Here in Japan the Ostrich company makes a specific bag for the Moulton which is compact and light enough (while still being durable) to put in your backpack or a pannier. The front suspension is genius, the rear suspension is a little flexy, but not as much so as the Birdy. When I go for rides with friends, I'll let them ride the Birdy or the Brompton, and I will ride my Moulton.
My wife and I each have a Moulton and a Brompton each.The Brompton is great to fold for City travel and the Moulton is very fast for City and country touring.One advantage of the Moulton is the great front suspension which helps with wrist Athritis..both very well made bikes...highly recommend both.Unladen the Moulton can get up to very high speed too!
I never knew! I have a Brompton, and I've seen the Moulton once or twice and just assumed it's another folding bike. This is a great video, thanks!
This is like comparing a Chef's knife and a Swiss Army Knife. They have different functions. A Brompton fits under the table in Starbucks. That's all you need to know.
Lee Hargreaves also under a pub table also!
.. and best left there.
I have both!
@@nobby531 ...for me!
In the 60's I had a Moulton Speed 6, apart from trying to pedal without bouncing, and the chain occasionally derailing, looping under the rear tire & flat-spotting it..another issue was melting the brake blocks on long fast winding downhills. Just had to keep spares!
Great video. The Brompton is incredible for multi-modal commuting because the fold is SO compact, and yet rides really well in the city (Wash D.C.), it's a workhorse. I can see how the Moulton would be wonderful for travel.
Just dont get water on the Brompton, components rust very quickly.
Having owned a Moulton for 12 years, I agree with your points. I sold it to help finance a custom touring bike, but I'm looking to supplement it with a Brompton, taking advantage of their clever compactability.
I cant wait to receive my Moulton. Great video! I will need to watch the video again on disassembling the Moulton for air travel.
Can you do another step by step video in detail of packing a Moulton for travel in suitcase? Your videos are very informative
When looking for a folder I also found the Moulton, though it is hard to find any in Denmark and I ended up with a by now around 8,5 kilo and very much rebuilt Brompton. Also the Brompton has a suspension though I have lately found a Super-hard, J.K. block from Taiwan, to eliminate most flex. But its primary function is transport as folded and not being a bike!
I am glad to have seen how a Moulton functions though! Finn. Denmark
That is interesting. When folding bikes boomed in the Philippines in 2013, Moultons were ballyhooed as an obscure but somewhat desirable "folding bike" when really it's a mini velo you can dis-/re-assemble. Thanks for laying it out there and clearing the confusion. Seems like this is closer to the "small-wheeled road bike" ethos than many of Dahon or Tern's offerings.
...and pricier, as well.
Great video... I have owned a Brompton.... and at some point I feel I must own a Moulton... a beautiful bit of design
I am thinking the exact same thing!
Me too!
The Brompton is better uphill because it doesn't pogo and, of course, it folds properly. The Moulton is better on bad roads. I've ridden both types substantial distances. Ultimately, both are very compromised but they are fun in their own way.
I took a moulton tar on the great Allegheny passage and c&o trail last June. it was wonderful.
+MCS Eacock what tires did you use?
I used schwalbe marathon, but the rear one did not survive the entire trip. packed gravel along the gap, muddy towpath. I will send pictures.
Torn between Bike Friday and Moulton... currently riding a single gear Bike Friday and its my only go to bike so curious to see how it compares to Moulton.
thanks for this well paced and informative video about putting the Moulton through its paces
The natural question, or topic for future comparison, is Moulton vs. Bike Friday. Everything you said about the Moulton holds for the Bike Friday except for the suspension. The Bike Friday hits a great sweet spot between performance and easy travel with the very quick folding breakdown that it allows (10 minutes is all I need from the case to the road). It also has none of the down sides of the suspension bike, no bobbing or bouncing even when riding hard. Of course, I am a Bike Friday owner (for 22 years) and have only ridden the Moulton for a couple quick tests so I--and I hope others--would love to get your comparison.
I use to own a New World Tourist and enjoyed the ride but never got along with the fold and eventually sold it. I think in terms of ride quality, they are similar but the Moulton will be smoother on rougher terrain. I've actually gotten use to the bob and have adjusted my pedaling so it is minimized. Some people will just hate it, others won't be bothered much by it. Hopping on my recent 650b Vaya conversion, I was momentarily taken aback at how "rough" the ride felt on the big wheeled bike :) My guess is the space frame on the Moulton is laterally stiffer and probably less prone to whippiness with a load. I'm hoping to ride the Moulton with panniers to see how it does loaded and may do one more video on it.
A better comparison than the New World Tourist might be the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, which has a more efficient setup. The newer version also folds differently (and better) from my original. Bike Friday is celebrating 25 years now out of Eugene, OR, and have a range of models that meets a lot of needs for the traveling cyclist. And no one I know can beat the suitcase-becomes-trailer setup they offer.
They need to bring out a light-weight Moulton, then it is definitely the winner!
That is an interesting review of the Moulton bicycle. I have three Moultons and I've used them for about fifteen years. I don't ride large wheeled diamond framed bicycles at all any more. What are they for? People tend to compare the Moulton to folding bikes because it has small wheels, but the Moulton is designed to be a full performance bicycle and uses small wheels because the late Dr. Alex Moulton believed that was the best way to build a full performance bicycle.
With the Moulton it is best to use low rolling resistance tyres at high pressure. As you say in your review it will ride very smoothly indeed even with high tyre pressures.
I totally agree with you that the best way to ride this bicycle is neatly. If you ride very aggressively then it is not for you. However the vast majority of people that I see ride neatly enough for the Moulton.
I recommend doing some fast descents on the Moulton, then do the same with the large wheeled diamond framed bicycle for comparison.
Once you get a Moulton, you will never go back to standard bikes just like once Mac never back 😅. I have the TSR30 and in fast descents, it performs safer than normal bikes in my opinion as of the suspension and the smaller wheels
Yes, I totally agree. Fifteen years ago I rode my first Moulton bicycle and I have never gone back to a regular large wheel diamond framed bike. Now I have three Moultons. I just love them and will always do so.
indeed, at first back in early 2014, I couldn’t afford having the new space-frame version so got the 1966 Moulton Mini for £100 which I found it was only suitable for children and women. Then I got the 1962 fframe 4-speed for £175 back in early 2015 and still rides beautifully.
I have two APBs and an AM7. The AM7 I picked up second-hand some years ago so it was not expensive for me. One of the APBs I bought new about fifteen years ago the other I bought second-hand.
The way I discovered Moulton bicycles was that a friend left one, an APB with me for a couple of months. He needed to store it somewhere temporarily. I rode it around and found that I really loved it, but it took me a couple of weeks to really get it. Now I never look back.
Those original classic Moultons are wonderful as well. I'm sure your 1962 F-frame is lovely.
God. I would eat a tire to have a Moulton.
Don't obey to random comments!
Try a harder spring in the front and tighten the bolt's alan keys at the bottom of the front forks,it stop's the front bouncing to much when climbing,make's a big difference to fast riding,but you need a smooth style to ride one fast.
Brompton bike: Bus/subway hopping, short distance rides, in-town travel and affordable.
Moulton bike: compact high performance "road bike", can be fitted with the best road bike components, very good for short/long distance rides but cannot be folded and very costly.
I have both bikes and enjoy them all.
goo.gl/photos/5jy4m2mvcxLHR4TU7
goo.gl/photos/nKZ4FhQS1SkeF9mX6
Tuan Nguyen couldn't agree more, my 2 perfect bikes
LOL - I think this is the first time I've ever seen the Brompton described as 'affordable'. (Yes, I am a Brompton owner).
Like your videos but you need way more close ups on what you are talking about beyond your b-roll. Example: you talk about the front and rear suspension on this bike yet not one video/picture of it.
Moulton is just a great bike that happens to disassemble. Brompton is first and foremost a folding bike.
Even the first Moultons were fast bikes (particularly in acceleration), they caused the French based 'world' bike sport federation to ban small wheeled bikes from competition, i assume the big frame makers had something to do with it.
They do accelerate wonderfully, and downhill, Moultons are amazing! The main reason they were banned IIRC is that they allowed riders to draft so closely that it was deemed dangerous (and an unfair advantage). Of course, at anything over 5mph, the way cyclists bunch up is already dangerous. ua-cam.com/video/i_CD1USE5ro/v-deo.html
Nice. From the video title I was expecting a comparison, but very interesting.
You should also mention the belt drive version with Rohlhoff hub gear
The ICU banned Moultons when they were first invented so they couldn't be used in ICU races ( like the Tour de France), because they beat the traditional large wheel race bike , which were often made by French manufacturers.
To be 100% accurate, they didn't *specifically* ban Moultons by name, but rather issued strict guidance that related to the size of the wheel you could use on a bike in competition. The 16 inch wheels used by Moulton back in the '60s fell outside the limits, so effectively banning Moultons from competition. The reason they gave was that bikes with smaller wheels appeared to give individuals or teams that used them an unfair advantage, thus implying that the design was an improvement on existing designs.
This was a fabulous opportunity to promote competition and encourage competing designs, but no - as the previous poster states, the UCI - a French organisation, after-all - backed the continental industry players and, fast-forward to today - we're still stuck with the traditional diamond framed, large wheel bicycles, the design of which goes back to before the first world war - imagine if cars were like that!!
I see there is Moulton web site with many models listed, but I don't see them listed for sale. What is the situation?
So it sounds like you'll be keeping these two then!
I've owned many Moultons, mostly classics which are used for town and for fun, but the modern ones are just brilliant fast-touring bikes. There is something about the ride, that can not be conveyed unless you've ridden one. I've actually never used one for travel, never even split one! They are fantastic bikes in their own right. I've had 2 Bromptons as well, but here in England, they're just so same-old-same-old like everyone else, so I got a Birdy instead!
As an alternative travel-roadbike, try the Airnimal Chameleon.
Velocipedium Would be interested in how you find the ride of the Birdy compared to the Moulton
Where do they sell new Moultons?
Tim here from bikes@vienna. Nice video Russ! Good info, fair comparison. Just a couple of points I'll make from my own point of view. I too am a fan of both the Moulton and the Brompton (dealer for both, and former Bike Friday dealer), and agree they each have their strengths. The way I look at traveling with a bike is dependent on what kind of trip it is. If I were going somewhere where I would unpack, assemble, then ride medium to long distances in really varied terrain for a number of days, the Moulton would win hands down. On the other hand, when I take trips where I'm only going to be somewhere a few days, and likely to do local, shorter exploratory rides, I find the faster fold and pack and unpack of the Brompton suits me better. I do a lot more of the latter than the former, and really only have room in my life for one travel bike, so given the other virtues of the Brompton for multimodal commuting and such, that's been my choice. You're recent videos though have me thinking now that I should try a longer trip with a Moulton sometime.
Now, about the Brompton P-bar... AKA "the bar that gets no respect"... Yeah, it's a bit odd looking, especially if you're used to the "classic" Brompton bar, but I've had a P-type now since 2009 and I love it. It gives me an additional hand position or two for headwinds, or when I feel like pretending to be fast, and the upper position just fits me well for the bulk of my normal riding. Of course, it's not right for everyone, but I feel it gets a bad rap solely on looks sometimes. I've literally had customers simply refuse to even try it because of the looks.
But this video is about the Moulton, so let me just say I do agree that for longer rides in more varied conditions, it makes a great travel bike. And it's a great conversation starter too! Now you've got me wondering if I should make some changes to the TSR-9 we have in the shop for my next extended trip... :-)
I agree that neither the Moulton or the Brompton is categorically superior. It really depends on the type of trip. That said, I've been super impressed with how fast the Moulton is and I think it slots in as a great packable go fast travel bike!
On the P bar. I'm just not a fan. I appreciate the multiple positions and beyond the looks, I think what bugs me the most is that you have no access to the brakes in the lower aero position which for me really limits its use (I like to have a brake handy).
I'm looking forward seeing how the Moulton does loaded with gear. Also, I plan to tinker a bit with the front suspension.
tymncycle *Your recent
Good video, hit all the points. As a longtime Moultoneer, I've also owned a Bike Friday New World Tourist and Tikit, a Raleigh Twenty, several Dahons, and a Brompton. The Moulton is the superior bicycle to all of them but you're right, the Moultons are the least of the compromises for a packable or folding bike. One thing further is that the Moulton front suspension can be tightened to lessen the travel or just replace the front suspension spring with a stiff one. I've found the small wheel bike without suspension to be "buzzy" over a rough surface which is why Dr. Moulton added the suspension in the first place. He also recommended seated climbing rather than standing which creates the suspension motion. Seated is more efficient anyway. Cost is another factor: a 2017 Moulton SST with 22 speed Shimano is now $4,200.00. A Moulton New Series Double Pylon in stainless steel is $25,000.00 (1 year backlog).
It is interesting to hear other owners' comments. I too have one of each small wheeled bikes, Moulton, BF NWT & Tikit, Brompton, Dahon, and Birdy. For me the BF is lighter and quicker, but maybe it is because the Moulton's supension dulling all the feel and hence feels numb? The front suspension adjusted by tightening the linkages will result is squeeks and a stiff spring is the way to go. I had done heaps to my Moulton APB R18, but still struggle to get it below 10.5kgs. If I were to go riding with 700c bikes, I'd take none of the small wheeled bikes, too hard to keep up. But they are best for what they are designed for, packable for travelling.
Frank Seow Would be interested to know how you find the Birdy rides compared to the Moulton
I was just wondering about the gravel ride. Love to know how it goes!
I have a Pocket Rocket made by Friday and a M6L Brompton.
Wich is better ?
No one, they have vey different utilities.
Pocket Rocket and Moulton are both packable, so they are directly comparable. Pocket Rocket wins being much lighter and feels more responsive. But if you want loaded touring, perhaps it is the other way around.
Different ride altogether. Bike Friday feels like riding a regular bike where brompton has fixed length main tube which limits adjustments, also does not handle as fluid as regular bike or Bike Friday.
This video did NOT compare to the Brompton. Good review but somewhat misleading.
Nice! Please do a review of the carradice barley saddle bag. Thank you!
What the pricing on it ? Why you don don’t mentioned it?
Because people always complain about price and if they are really interested they can do a 5 second search.
I live in Minnesota. The pot holes here would eat a Moulton. I’ve ruined 26”, 700c and 27” rims, in those instances, I probably would have been thrown over the bars on a Moulton. I really don’t see the point of the small wheels if the bike is not going to fold. To each his or her own.
I bought a Brompton & stopped riding my big wheeled bikes. If I get a Moulton I may stop riding the Brompton?.
I want to sell my road bike and get a brompton. I want to start traveling with it.
@@smallnuts2 I would keep the road bike if you can as it has strengths over the Brompton & vice versa.
"...and the uh, weird 'P Bar'." Hah!
This review is great.
+Davey Oil not a fan of the P bar :)
Is there any particular reason for that shape in the moulton?
Inspired by bridges.
Raleigh still owned the rights to the origjnal F-frame Moulton, so Alex Moulton had to come up with something different.
A framework like that makes it extremely stiff and strong. Also it looks cool. There are a couple of drawbacks with derailleur systems and the small wheels.
Please compare to Pacific Reach R20
or the GT www.pacific-cycles.com/Product/Reach/Reach%20GT
Travel? So what do you do with that big bag when you continue your journey on the Moulton? The Brompton doesn't need any bag on a train or bus. Even if you do need a bag a simple Dimpa from IKEA is fine and can easily be folded and carried on the Brompton.
You are there aware there are different types of travel where you can leave a bag in a place.
@@PathLessPedaledTV I agree, I didn't think about that. That would be some kind of vacation setting staying at one location and making day trips. In such a case I'd rather rent a good street bike at that location.
Hi there.
Another informative video. 👍
Aside from the time spent packing/unpacking and the slight bobbing issue looks like you found the Moultons to be wonderful road bikes easy to take on planes.
BTW, was wondering whether you use your Bromptons much lately. They don't feature much in your recent videos.
We still have the Bromptons and use them on occasion. They've been relegated to trips where we take a lot of transit connections. So many bikes to experiment with!
Nice video. How long does it take to put it appart and then back together? Do you need special tools? I'm guessing you wouldn't do that on a regular basis. Thx
+Javier Malagon no special tools. Disassembly doesn't take that long. It's the packing and protecting that adds time. About a 30-40min job. Check out our packing video on the channel for details.
Agreed. You can separate the frame in 1 minute with an allen wrench, for storing in a car trunk. Older Moultons had a knob instead. Packing takes a while.
6mm allen key.
How would you compare the Moulton vs. a mini velo?
compare? by several thousands of $$$s
I ll keep for a brompton..
I have the Moulton TSR30 and I want to travel with it so I'm going to use bike box but @2:12 how could you fit it on that bag!! I need to try and see, or can you show us a picture of the setup inside? (check my channel, have some videos with Moulton in Saudi Arabia which I think it's the only one here in my country😅)
have not ridden one but i have a hard time seeing that middle frame section not being super torquey and not stiff because the tubes are all such a small diameter. How does it react to riding up or down a vertical drop such as a full height curb?
+littlegoobie it is actually pretty stiff because though the tubes are small they are all triangulated. I would say that it is stiffer than a Brompton or Bike Friday with bigger single tubes. I have taken it down some curbs and it does fine. You get a softer landing because of the suspension.
Those small diameter tubes you mention are arranged in torsion. To understand the principle think about the Eiffel Tower. The many I-beams of the Eiffel Tower are arranged so that forces travel through them longitudinally. It is the same with the Moulton bicycle.
it's a space frame, actually stiffer than a very stiff thing. Going up a hill on my TSR all the effort comes out on the road, going up it on my Brom... not so much!
Welcome to How I met your channel xP
I wanted a Moulton TSR badly, but, at 6'-4", no matter how the bike shop set up the machine, with all kinds of extensions, I could still not get in a comfortable position on it (I like to ride fairly upright), and I kept pitching forward, almost over the handlebars, making it hard to control the steed. My whole body balance was off. Way off. It felt as if I was riding a toy, or a clown bike. It's too bad, because I really, really wanted it to work for me, but it wouldn't. I think a bigger-framed version of the Moulton with a longer wheelbase and also more upward vertical adjustment could work for somebody like me, but I seriously doubt they'd ever create one. I know some six-footers will probably chime in saying the Moulton is fine for tall people, but, unfortunately, it's not for THIS tall person. Rats!
yes I think your right I have a tsr 30 tour i'm 5 foot 8 it just fits me I ride with the saddle right back,i would not recommend one for a rider taller than me,so I think moulton need a longer framed version for taller rider's.
I am 6'2" tall and own an AM 20-2. With a Mosquito handlebar fitted on a wishbone stem I got a convenient upright position. As you, I like to ride fairly upright!
I don't know if it still stands, but a Moulton held the land speed record for a bicycle.
Oops! I do ride a Moulton. Wrong Moulton, Dave Moulton!
Cost?....curious as to how much vers the Brompton..
This is where the Bromptons have an advantage. Moultons can get prohibitively expensive. A TSR model equipped for touring will be around 3k. The Bromptons we rode were $1800.
Outside the UK or Europe, where can I buy one? Any distributor in tje U.S?
+Ignacio Illanes G. Porta Pedal in Phoenix, Arizona is probably the best well stocked dealer in the US.
Any chance you would test-ride the Austrian-made Vello Speedster to compare to the Moulton and Brompton? www.vello.bike/product-page/vello-speedster-1
Would love to, but depends on availability and if they would send one out to us.
Great! Thanks
2:56. Full suspension road bike?? 😑
The Brampton any day over the Moulton why? because the Brampton is kick ass faster to fold and unfold making it far easier to carry with you almost anywhere.
I want a moulton now
would love to see how it works fully loaded for touring (equal to your load you used on your Bromptons).
I have done a lot of touring on my TSR30. In fact it is ideal for touring because you can have the bulk of you bagage at the front of the frame (small wheels allow for that) and you get much more of a 50/50 weight distribution. I have toured with at around most of Europe. Check my set-ut here: istambulpaakombisykkel.wordpress.com/
In the UK I think it's illegal to do a piece on Moulton and not mention that Sir Alex Moulton also designed the suspension for the original Mini car(&that it was the 1st small wheeled bike & 1st bike with suspension)! I learned to ride on a Mini Moulton(the kid's version). I remember it being much lighter and faster than the fat wheeled shoppers & Raleigh Choppers my mates had. Dx
I’m afraid moulting lost me when I saw you dismantling and packing 😬
Try showing the bike and the parts your pointing out next time.
Still on rim brakes. No disk brakes.
Have you considered Airnimal's range of bikes? Road and Offroad airnimal.co/
Ah foldies... tiny wheels, big prices!
Why a Moulton?... still can't figure out. Folding and unfolding, quality, design ... a Bromton is unparalleld!
Quicker. More suspension. Can use drop bars.
Good review but title is misleading. Not entirely M vs B video.
moulton doesnt fold.... my road bike doesnt fold either
Wow i can't wait to received moulton of i have money lol
👍👍
"Ton"
“So what”
Sounds expensive
This travel bike ned a luggage. Folding bike no ned luggage. Only gd for long distance carry. U only ned to bring along when going overseas. Not for transit travelling.
I can't believe anyone would even ask. The Moulton beats the pants off the Brompton, absolutely no contest. The Brompton might be great for saving space but that means its functionality as a bike is compromised, of course.
Comparing a MOULTON to Bromtpon is like Comparing an Orange to a ROCK! A bike Friday to a MOULTON is a better Comparison! And you forgot one VERY IMPORTANT THING! PRICE, A MOULTON will set you back minimum 7 GRAND! A Brompton fully outfitted about 2,600.00!
+MARKLINMAN1 Couple of things. 1) we compared the Moulton and Brompton because we have the most experience with these two AND people get them confused often. In the video I DID say that a more accurate comparison would be a Bike Friday. 2) the Moulton SST can be had for $4500 from PortaPedal not $7000. You can get even less expensive builds with the TSR that are closer to 3k putting it closer to the price point of a Brompton.
A Moulton TSR, made at the Pashley factory in Stratford-upon-Avon, is about 2,000 GBP depending on specification. The "real" Moultons, made in Bradford-on-Avon with an actual spaceframe, are the really expensive bikes, nearly 20,000 GBP for the top model.
As soon as you said it don't fold I switched channels
Hardly "as soon as" since you found time to write a comment.