This is definitely the thoroughest and most realistic comparison between the electric and standard version online, especially addressing to everyday commutes, thanks for the time and effort you put on your vids, great job!
I just got the Brompton C line electric and it is magical. Some points I've noticed - You could still get a workout - the bike can be a regular bike cuz of the motor not having any drag. Thanks for the video.
Your testing methodology and analysis of the results are fantastic. This is the best electric vs non-electric Brompton comparison I've seen. Great job!
I am riding a brompton electric. This video gives a very good impression on how it feels. Well Done! There is one thing I would like to add. Riding electric changes your perception of effort compared to speed. Your brain expects uphill riding to be effortless. When switching back to non electric riding these expectations are not fullfilled. This let you think you are getting weaker from riding electric when sitting next time on a non electric or switching off the motor. But it is only a change in perception.
To this point, there are at least a few studies suggesting that typical ebike riders burn at least as many or more calories from riding ebikes than typical cyclists do. Commuters and casual cyclists in particular tend to bike based on a stable effort levels and ebikes don't really change that -- they just men's you go further per effort. Granted, you'll burn less calories up a hill, but pedelec owners generally tend to ride significantly more often and further.
Superb video. This video also takes the "wind out of the sails" from talking negatively about electric bikes. In view of my advancing age, an e-Brompton is better to use than no bike. 😊
I enjoyed watching this comparison - and you brought out key points :-) Because it is less sweat, the Brompton electric opens up the user-convenience and handiness of the bike beyond the standard one (if accepting the extra bike weight and less load-space/capacity of it). And it probably means that a change of clothing is not necessary after a ride. As journey times are reduced, it means the bike is more of an option more often for errands. Hop on and off you go! As a better speed can be maintained on inclines, it is safer to ride in busy traffic, and more roads become bike-usable. This in fact was the one most appreciated aspect I found when I rode a demo bike for an hour (in UK). I liked that at traffic pinch-points I could keep up a decent speed so as to reduce frustration for motorists. At times, I felt slightly super-human even - a great feeling! I am pleased that you mention the fitness aspects too. Someone who wants a “workout” as such might prefer a standard Brompton or a conventional road bike perhaps. But as I have seen, workout means different things to different people - electric can be an enabler for those who would otherwise not consider a bike at all (too much effort!) and does in fact enable them to have a workout at a different level - and enjoy it too. I mostly use my pedal-power Brompton for pleasure rides/fitness, so I am not looking for assistance for these generally. But I can definitely see a place for an electric one for just getting jobs done with less effort when that is the need. The freedom an e-bike can give has benefits beyond just physical fitness.
One of the most valuable presentations I’ve ever seen! Whatever advanced degree you’re pursuing, I hope your future job prospects see this presentation! You’re going far in this world!
Just got back from my first decent ride [~22 miles / ~35 km] on my shiny-new electric Brompton. Saw the battery level drop by one bar pretty well every 7 miles. One recommendation I'd make to anybody considering a Brompton is to go for the 6-speed. On my non-electric 3-speed Brompton [with the gearing option for hills rather than speed] my comfortable cadence has me riding at around 12 mph, with the 6-speed [standard gearing option] I find I'm riding at 17-18 mph, so for a lot of the ride time, the motor isn't on...but the assistance going up hills means I reach that speed quite quickly. Love it!
Was researching Bromptons to make a purchase. Was pleasantly surprised to find my Alma Mater as the testing grounds. Brings back memories. Keep the good contents coming fellow Ramblin Wreck. Go Jackets!
Thanks! Great video, very helpful and clear! You answered to my suspicious that the dynamo actually add resistance to the ride, even when going down to an hill. That's way I opted for third market lights and a standard three gear Brompton. And I have to say: you made me smile with the last segment on the steep road :) You have my sympathy because, on my way home from work, the road is constantly rising and the last part (about 400m) is steeper and make me sweat and breath a lot! Thanks again.
What can I say: In my world, you are a genius. You show the recording setup in such a kind and nice way, you walk us through all the aspects and your findings as an expert really wanting to share. Thanks.
This has quickly became one of my favorite channels. So much time and effort put into giving the people accurate information. I love it man keep up the good work!
This shows 2 things to me…how much quicker an ebike can be compared to a normal bike (depending on the route), and how much faster bikes are than cars in traffic! Thanks for the video, great & detailed comparison!
I cannot add anything to what has already been written other than to say, I bought my Brompton last week on the back of one of your vlogs. Thank you for posting such in-depth reviews.
This is the first comment I’ve left on a UA-cam video, I just feel compelled to do so because you did such a good job with this video. I’ve been deciding between a Brompton Electric and standard and haven’t been able to find a decent comparison. The direct cutting between videos on the same route, the gradient %, speed, motor sound and ambient sound I think is as good and in some ways better than me riding the two bikes myself. Really great job, and thank you :)
What you have done is absolutely fantastic. When I see reviews about ebikes I think that I would like to hear the sound of the engine, see the level of incline, etc., and you have done it perfectly. I hope you can continue doing this type of review with more ebikes. Thanks for sharing your excellent work. Subscribed!!!
BRILLIANT film and report!!!! Thank you!!! The speeded up section past traffic around the 4:20 mark had me wincing and leaning to the right!!!! SCARY!!!!!!!!
Very nice video, as always. I got to test out a Brompton electric this weekend. It was lovely. Instead of doing 50-70 km on weekends, I can easily do 100 km, which is tempting. Two issues for me personally: first, when used in the highest power, I had to be extra careful. Bike paths in The Netherlands are nice, but the front wheel assist combined with small tyres and potholes can be dangerous on a more extended trip. I wish the motor were in the frame or the back wheel instead. Second and more important was the noise, especially when riding through quieter forest paths. It was a bit annoying; I can't imagine if I had to hear this noise for 5+ hours on a bike tour in quiet places. The motor noise in the city is not at all an issue. That being said, the bike shop was kind enough to let me take the bike for the weekend, I will give it another shot!
Excellent video with great footage, graphics and information. Very well done. I have the Brompton electric M6L and love it. I find I use it much more than I used the normal Brompton. I live in Brussels which has some elevations and I find it opens up the city in a whole different way. I don’t think twice about popping to the stores as it’s effortless and fast. And on weekends I can use it to ride in the forest (paved road) for much longer distances. It’s great.
I saw this video 3 years ago and found it interesting. I’m now about to buy a Brompton and find it invaluable. Thanks for the almost scientific comparison. Excellent 👌
Well done ! Thank you so much for putting the effort into doing this video..., :) I am a Brompton owner and now - alas - I see a newer Brompton coming into my life.., :) HA.
This clip is the best so far for this topic, no matter Brompton or not. I don’t have electric bike, only regular bike but always wonder what the feeling for bikes electric bike. Your clip is finally answering my question.
Brilliant video comparison. I can see this took a lot of effort to put together, so thank you for that, it's the best video comparison on UA-cam! For the bikes, everyone has an opinion on their pros and cons and preference but if it wasn't for our electric bikes we wouldn't be able to cycle as often as we do and more importantly, cycle together as much as we do. A shared enjoyment has us both excited and looking forward to our next cycle ride. Would really like a Brompton electric but for now my current electric folding bike is putting the smile on my face.
Absolutely the best comparison I've seen on this topic. Unfortunately I'm not about to go out to purchase an electric Brompton to replace my regular Brompton, albeit not the reason you might think. It's not the monetary reason, you can't even buy a new Brompton these days without possibly having to wait a full year!! So here's my suggestion Victor, find a way to borrow or obtain a regular Brompton that's been converted over to one of the many electric conversions out there and go through the same review. It just might spark everyone out there that is lucky enough to own a Brompton to convert over to electric. Just my two cents. Keep up the great videos!
Excellent stuff. I have a Swytch conversion kit on my Brompton and get pretty much the same results. I even have the same type of commute (if a little longer and usually a lot wetter). There's no doubt the Brompton Electric is a slightly more refined ride due to the torque sensor as opposed to the Switch's cadence sensor and I think I'm going to have a tough and slow time getting anything fixed if anything goes wrong. However, the Brompton electric was just too expensive for me and I can't justify owning two bikes so a removable kit was the only solution for me. One benefit I soon realised though is as the battery for my Swytch is on the handlebars, I can still use my large metro Brompton bag, even with S type handlebars. I've yet to need 1- on my Brompton and am seriously considering buying the faster 54T chainring, so I can burn rubber/calories on the straights and leave the electric for the hills. Electric is definitely the way forward and e-Bromptons make Bromptons even more fun to ride than their non-electric versions.
I'm from a very hilly city in the UK, I have a Swytch Brompton Ebike, it will literally get me up any hill, no hill has defeated the kit I'm an average weight male. I have had to sacrifice top end speed for lower gears, but I've managed to get to work in half the time. An electric basically negates hills, it pretty much like riding continually on the flat, I highly recommend if you don't won't to get to work hot and sweating, but you still get a medium work out. Great review by the way 👌
Yup this definitely highlights the biggest wins with electric, not arriving at work/destination sweaty. over here in sydney a lot of the hills are 10% and would leave it on max power on the ay in and turn the power down on the way back or use the motor if there was a heat wave what i really appreciated was how easy it made hauling a full shopping load with the travoy behind me
This video answered so many questions. Absolutely well thought out comparison especially for the layman to easily digest and understand. Thanks, Victor! 👏😁
Great video, really well designed and presented. Brompton will (or should) be linking to this! :-) The drag issue was also interesting. Some e-bikes I have tested have a noticeable motor drag when peddled without assistance - something significant to be aware of. The only additional thing I would like to have heard was how much of the battery range was used on the ride. A little curious as well to know what percentage of the time you now find yourself using the standard Brompton. :-)
Brilliant work ! I have the same 3 Brompton bikes . My conclusions were identical but it was interesting to see it ! My terrain is much hillier though . I recently set off and didn’t notice for 800 yds that I had not powered on the bike ..so yes , it feels like a Brompton with no drag .
Excellent video and very well presented data which is meaningful. It's pretty impressive how well a foldable bike, originally built for flatter cities copes with hillier terrain, and the electric seems to make a massive difference. It might "only" cut travel times by about 25%, but it's night and day when it comes to the amount of effort required when faced with an uphill. Of course what the Brompton is also made for is mixed-mode travel. I'm guessing that the electric conversion doesn't change that too much; there's that bag and extra weight to carry around, but it doesn't look impossibly heavy.
Thank you for this video. I really found it super interesting and super well done. With all the technicalities and the graphs. And your explanations. And even the sound, wow amazing. Super good. Cheers from Spain (I'm a conventional Brompton owner).
Excellent video as always! Valuable info showing what a boost the pedal assist provides. My only question is how much did the battery discharge on this ride and on the big hill? That would give a good idea of what to expect on a typical ride in hilly terrain. I really enjoy your work on these videos. They are meaningful and well thought out. Kudos!👍
Thanks for the comparison nice effort in your production. Regarding the same level of exercise I suspect short term it may be the case that one would be more likely to get out and use the electric bike over no trip at all but long term I’m confident human nature would drive exclusive use of the electric bike, that sadly is a well studied and documented reality. Recently I set up a non Brompton bike up as a *gasp* single speed, I never thought I would ever ride a single speed, living in the Pacific Northwest we have some hills... The experience was not what I expected. Here are some things that happened: 1. Converting to single speed removed a dramatic amount of friction from the drivetrain, so the single gear I have feels easier than the equivalent on a geared bike. This could also be because I remove a significant amount of weight from the bike. 2. I changed my braking habits, using the momentum I generated to get over smaller hills more easily than on a geared bike where I was more likely to gear down and spin up. 3. Probably the biggest change in my mindset came with the big hills. As a mountain biker I was steadfast to stay on the bike and push harder! Turns out it’s just no big deal to hop off and walk for a bit. In fact, it turned out to be a benefit; I get to use different muscles for a few minutes and stretch out my legs. 4. My drivetrain maintenance has plummeted, there’s nothing to break a quick clean occasionally, and it’s ready, so simple. 5. Bike riding became even more Zen-like it’s remarkable to realise in not having to consider gear selection or if one is in the right gear. I can’t overstate this change enough it truly is inspiring. 6. I’m stronger and fitter. Riding single speed was so positively transformative that it inspired me to convert my Brompton from an S6L to a two speed. Why the two speed and not single? For a Brompton two or single speed components are nearly the same, the only additional parts to operate as a two speed is the rear shifter and the tiny derailleur. From a weight perspective I lost the vast majority with the internal hub rear wheel. The two speed offers a nearly similar zen-like experience to single speeding but allows me to tackle bigger hills faster, as my commuter and grocery getter this is important to me. All the other benefits I mentioned above also apply to the now S2L Brommie and carrying the now 23.5lb package when needed is that much more pleasant.
I started watching this thinking, "I'm not interested in electric bikes". I am now. Without being indelicate, your point about sweating is a good one. I've cycled to a meeting, arrived looking too sweaty, so gone out and bought another shirt only to sweat through that one too. At the same time, 4kg does seem quite significant. The road surface doesn't look too bad to me. Where you have my sympathy is the arrangement at 12:45: road, parked cars, cycle lane, sidewalk. Why? I suppose it's a slight improvement on its London equivalent that someone has at least remembered that cars have doors which might swing open.
Very good display video about the Brompton Electric. What you have shown is that the electric assist was quite sufficient to provide assistance regardless of how hilly the terrain gets. The distance for you to travel was very typical day to day distances, under 10-20km but the electric was there to make assistance adequate for the various hilly terrain..
Great informative video, thank you so much for all the afford you make in your free time to create your videos. For me, after watching this, I am even more happy with my Standart 6 speed Brompton. The motor sounds to annoying for me 😂
11 dislikes! Why would anyone dislike this video. It is extremely well made. If it is the subject that the dislikers object to; what did they expect a video titled 'How much faster is the Electric Brompton on everyday rides' to be about?
Getting dislikes is a sign that the channel is growing, so I don't really mind them! I wish people would leave some constructive feedback along with the dislike, though.
Speed on descent is also a function of weight. I have a midrive Tern GSD cargo bike, and I can get some serious speed on the downhill out of the neighborhood when I add my kid. My husband was snippy about my electric assist leaving him in the dust on the way to school one morning. Dude, me + bike + kid = nearly 300 lbs rolling down that big hill. I'm *riding my breaks.*
Victor, this a most entertaining and educational video. I don't know if I'll ever get an electric Brompton as I like both my non-electrics very much but like hearing about yours. Stay safe.
Victor, this is by far the best comparison video of the electric Brompton and standard Brompton on the net. I'm hoping to buy an electric Brompton in the spring and your info has been so helpful. I'm about 5 kg lighter than you so the bike should take my weight. Thank you so much!
@@EverydayCycling - Do you miss having the rear rack and the possibility to carry luggage up front? That is one of the major advantages of the traditional Brompton.
Hey, this is my second video from your channel. It's very informative and I really appreciate your effort to collect all the data and present it during the runs. You got me hooked on the bromptons, and the stuff you're doing with them. Thanks man, two videos, two likes and a sub. Keep up the good work =)
This is definitely the thoroughest and most realistic comparison between the electric and standard version online, especially addressing to everyday commutes, thanks for the time and effort you put on your vids, great job!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment!
THANKS 4 THE FYI
First class presentations, as you say, as detailed as possible without using exotic measuring gear. 5 star.
Thank you!
I just got the Brompton C line electric and it is magical.
Some points I've noticed
- You could still get a workout
- the bike can be a regular bike cuz of the motor not having any drag.
Thanks for the video.
Your testing methodology and analysis of the results are fantastic. This is the best electric vs non-electric Brompton comparison I've seen. Great job!
Thank you!
I am riding a brompton electric. This video gives a very good impression on how it feels. Well Done! There is one thing I would like to add. Riding electric changes your perception of effort compared to speed. Your brain expects uphill riding to be effortless. When switching back to non electric riding these expectations are not fullfilled. This let you think you are getting weaker from riding electric when sitting next time on a non electric or switching off the motor. But it is only a change in perception.
To this point, there are at least a few studies suggesting that typical ebike riders burn at least as many or more calories from riding ebikes than typical cyclists do. Commuters and casual cyclists in particular tend to bike based on a stable effort levels and ebikes don't really change that -- they just men's you go further per effort. Granted, you'll burn less calories up a hill, but pedelec owners generally tend to ride significantly more often and further.
How are you liking the electric i am thinking of getting one.
Superb video. This video also takes the "wind out of the sails" from talking negatively about electric bikes. In view of my advancing age, an e-Brompton is better to use than no bike. 😊
Great point!
I enjoyed watching this comparison - and you brought out key points :-)
Because it is less sweat, the Brompton electric opens up the user-convenience and handiness of the bike beyond the standard one (if accepting the extra bike weight and less load-space/capacity of it). And it probably means that a change of clothing is not necessary after a ride.
As journey times are reduced, it means the bike is more of an option more often for errands. Hop on and off you go!
As a better speed can be maintained on inclines, it is safer to ride in busy traffic, and more roads become bike-usable. This in fact was the one most appreciated aspect I found when I rode a demo bike for an hour (in UK). I liked that at traffic pinch-points I could keep up a decent speed so as to reduce frustration for motorists. At times, I felt slightly super-human even - a great feeling!
I am pleased that you mention the fitness aspects too. Someone who wants a “workout” as such might prefer a standard Brompton or a conventional road bike perhaps. But as I have seen, workout means different things to different people - electric can be an enabler for those who would otherwise not consider a bike at all (too much effort!) and does in fact enable them to have a workout at a different level - and enjoy it too.
I mostly use my pedal-power Brompton for pleasure rides/fitness, so I am not looking for assistance for these generally. But I can definitely see a place for an electric one for just getting jobs done with less effort when that is the need. The freedom an e-bike can give has benefits beyond just physical fitness.
One of the most valuable presentations I’ve ever seen! Whatever advanced degree you’re pursuing, I hope your future job prospects see this presentation! You’re going far in this world!
I totally agree.
Agree too!!
Just got back from my first decent ride [~22 miles / ~35 km] on my shiny-new electric Brompton. Saw the battery level drop by one bar pretty well every 7 miles. One recommendation I'd make to anybody considering a Brompton is to go for the 6-speed. On my non-electric 3-speed Brompton [with the gearing option for hills rather than speed] my comfortable cadence has me riding at around 12 mph, with the 6-speed [standard gearing option] I find I'm riding at 17-18 mph, so for a lot of the ride time, the motor isn't on...but the assistance going up hills means I reach that speed quite quickly. Love it!
Was researching Bromptons to make a purchase. Was pleasantly surprised to find my Alma Mater as the testing grounds. Brings back memories. Keep the good contents coming fellow Ramblin Wreck. Go Jackets!
what a great review, no shilling, just honest high-quality well-prepared honest review. thank you for that.
Thanks! Great video, very helpful and clear! You answered to my suspicious that the dynamo actually add resistance to the ride, even when going down to an hill. That's way I opted for third market lights and a standard three gear Brompton.
And I have to say: you made me smile with the last segment on the steep road :) You have my sympathy because, on my way home from work, the road is constantly rising and the last part (about 400m) is steeper and make me sweat and breath a lot! Thanks again.
What can I say: In my world, you are a genius. You show the recording setup in such a kind and nice way, you walk us through all the aspects and your findings as an expert really wanting to share. Thanks.
Thank you, Martin! I really appreciate your feedback!
Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce this video, we found it interesting and informative. Best Wishes. Neil and Anne
Absolutely fearless riding on roads like that
definitely a place that doesn't put much emphasis on safer cycling infrastructure
This has quickly became one of my favorite channels. So much time and effort put into giving the people accurate information. I love it man keep up the good work!
This shows 2 things to me…how much quicker an ebike can be compared to a normal bike (depending on the route), and how much faster bikes are than cars in traffic! Thanks for the video, great & detailed comparison!
The speed difference on those hills was a great demonstration. It's what puts a lot of us getting on a bike.
I cannot add anything to what has already been written other than to say, I bought my Brompton last week on the back of one of your vlogs. Thank you for posting such in-depth reviews.
This is the first comment I’ve left on a UA-cam video, I just feel compelled to do so because you did such a good job with this video. I’ve been deciding between a Brompton Electric and standard and haven’t been able to find a decent comparison. The direct cutting between videos on the same route, the gradient %, speed, motor sound and ambient sound I think is as good and in some ways better than me riding the two bikes myself. Really great job, and thank you :)
Which have you decided to buy?
yes, i would be interested aswell, which one you ended up buying :-)
What you have done is absolutely fantastic. When I see reviews about ebikes I think that I would like to hear the sound of the engine, see the level of incline, etc., and you have done it perfectly. I hope you can continue doing this type of review with more ebikes. Thanks for sharing your excellent work. Subscribed!!!
Awesome review! You have convinced me to buy the BE. There is a hill on my way to work and I definitely don't want to arrive all sweaty.
BRILLIANT film and report!!!! Thank you!!! The speeded up section past traffic around the 4:20 mark had me wincing and leaning to the right!!!! SCARY!!!!!!!!
Very nice video, as always. I got to test out a Brompton electric this weekend. It was lovely. Instead of doing 50-70 km on weekends, I can easily do 100 km, which is tempting. Two issues for me personally: first, when used in the highest power, I had to be extra careful. Bike paths in The Netherlands are nice, but the front wheel assist combined with small tyres and potholes can be dangerous on a more extended trip. I wish the motor were in the frame or the back wheel instead. Second and more important was the noise, especially when riding through quieter forest paths. It was a bit annoying; I can't imagine if I had to hear this noise for 5+ hours on a bike tour in quiet places. The motor noise in the city is not at all an issue. That being said, the bike shop was kind enough to let me take the bike for the weekend, I will give it another shot!
Me from wanting a top end road bike to wanting an electric Brompton instead after watching this. Very joyful riding!
Excellent video with great footage, graphics and information. Very well done. I have the Brompton electric M6L and love it. I find I use it much more than I used the normal Brompton. I live in Brussels which has some elevations and I find it opens up the city in a whole different way. I don’t think twice about popping to the stores as it’s effortless and fast. And on weekends I can use it to ride in the forest (paved road) for much longer distances. It’s great.
I rode my Brompton electric around my local park. It was nothing short of joyous, roll on springtime so I can enjoy commuting by bike too.
I saw this video 3 years ago and found it interesting. I’m now about to buy a Brompton and find it invaluable. Thanks for the almost scientific comparison. Excellent 👌
Outstanding presentation, the best i’ve seen
Well done ! Thank you so much for putting the effort into doing this video..., :) I am a Brompton owner and now - alas - I see a newer Brompton coming into my life.., :) HA.
This clip is the best so far for this topic, no matter Brompton or not.
I don’t have electric bike, only regular bike but always wonder what the feeling for bikes electric bike. Your clip is finally answering my question.
Thanks, I'm so happy to hear that!
That's the kind of content I want to see every time I open UA-cam. So useful 👍
Finally a very practical feel the ride video! Thank you for sharing
Brilliant! Captures all the reasons for owning a Brompton Electric. Thank you.
I'm glad you liked it!
Nice simple, practical comparison I enjoyed that. I was surprised at the drag difference from a hub dynamo and the motor so thanks.
Brilliant video comparison. I can see this took a lot of effort to put together, so thank you for that, it's the best video comparison on UA-cam!
For the bikes, everyone has an opinion on their pros and cons and preference but if it wasn't for our electric bikes we wouldn't be able to cycle as often as we do and more importantly, cycle together as much as we do. A shared enjoyment has us both excited and looking forward to our next cycle ride. Would really like a Brompton electric but for now my current electric folding bike is putting the smile on my face.
Perfect video man. Thanks alot! 10/10 Helped a bunch!
Great comparison video. Really helpful!
I have an electric M6L and it's awesome
Absolute legend, thanks so much for this video. So well thought out, data so accurately captured. You sir deserve a medal. Thanks again 🙏🏻🙂
Absolutely the best comparison I've seen on this topic. Unfortunately I'm not about to go out to purchase an electric Brompton to replace my regular Brompton, albeit not the reason you might think. It's not the monetary reason, you can't even buy a new Brompton these days without possibly having to wait a full year!! So here's my suggestion Victor, find a way to borrow or obtain a regular Brompton that's been converted over to one of the many electric conversions out there and go through the same review. It just might spark everyone out there that is lucky enough to own a Brompton to convert over to electric. Just my two cents. Keep up the great videos!
Excellent stuff. I have a Swytch conversion kit on my Brompton and get pretty much the same results. I even have the same type of commute (if a little longer and usually a lot wetter). There's no doubt the Brompton Electric is a slightly more refined ride due to the torque sensor as opposed to the Switch's cadence sensor and I think I'm going to have a tough and slow time getting anything fixed if anything goes wrong.
However, the Brompton electric was just too expensive for me and I can't justify owning two bikes so a removable kit was the only solution for me. One benefit I soon realised though is as the battery for my Swytch is on the handlebars, I can still use my large metro Brompton bag, even with S type handlebars.
I've yet to need 1- on my Brompton and am seriously considering buying the faster 54T chainring, so I can burn rubber/calories on the straights and leave the electric for the hills. Electric is definitely the way forward and e-Bromptons make Bromptons even more fun to ride than their non-electric versions.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the Swytch kit!
I'm from a very
hilly city in the UK, I have a Swytch Brompton Ebike, it will literally get me up any hill, no hill has defeated the kit I'm an average weight male. I have had to sacrifice top end speed for lower gears, but I've managed to get to work in half the time.
An electric basically negates hills, it pretty much like riding continually on the flat, I highly recommend if you don't won't to get to work hot and sweating, but you still get a medium work out.
Great review by the way 👌
Such a thorough and meticulously produced video. Thank you.
I have watched so many videos trying to decide between … and this one is the one that made my decision for me. All your videos are great. Thank you!
Great to hear!
Kudos for the refined and well thought editing.
Exactly what Brompton bike shoppers would like to watch before getting one , excellent job !
Yup this definitely highlights the biggest wins with electric, not arriving at work/destination sweaty. over here in sydney a lot of the hills are 10% and would leave it on max power on the ay in and turn the power down on the way back or use the motor if there was a heat wave
what i really appreciated was how easy it made hauling a full shopping load with the travoy behind me
This video answered so many questions. Absolutely well thought out comparison especially for the layman to easily digest and understand. Thanks, Victor! 👏😁
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Hello beautiful report, the comparisons are excellent, very well done, I congratulate you on your phenomenal work 😊👍👌
Brilliant comparison. Thanks so much for all of the filming and editing effort. Really appreciated.
Great video, really well designed and presented. Brompton will (or should) be linking to this! :-) The drag issue was also interesting. Some e-bikes I have tested have a noticeable motor drag when peddled without assistance - something significant to be aware of.
The only additional thing I would like to have heard was how much of the battery range was used on the ride. A little curious as well to know what percentage of the time you now find yourself using the standard Brompton. :-)
Excellent presentation and I’m so glad I bought a Brompton Electric. Thanks for the comparison.
OMG this video is amazing. Well done Victor!
Thank you, David!
Loved your video, measures and presentation overall. I'll buy my brompton electric soon!
Great video and most insightful for those considering an electric Brompton vs a standard one. Thank you for all your efforts.
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant work ! I have the same 3 Brompton bikes . My conclusions were identical but it was interesting to see it !
My terrain is much hillier though .
I recently set off and didn’t notice for 800 yds that I had not powered on the bike ..so yes , it feels like a Brompton with no drag .
That was amazingly filmed and reviewed! Well done!!
Excellent video and very well presented data which is meaningful. It's pretty impressive how well a foldable bike, originally built for flatter cities copes with hillier terrain, and the electric seems to make a massive difference. It might "only" cut travel times by about 25%, but it's night and day when it comes to the amount of effort required when faced with an uphill.
Of course what the Brompton is also made for is mixed-mode travel. I'm guessing that the electric conversion doesn't change that too much; there's that bag and extra weight to carry around, but it doesn't look impossibly heavy.
Nice video, many thanks for producing it!
Thank you for this video. I really found it super interesting and super well done. With all the technicalities and the graphs. And your explanations. And even the sound, wow amazing. Super good. Cheers from Spain (I'm a conventional Brompton owner).
Hey @bromptonbicycle, maybe make this young man your American ambassador. His content is excellent.
Thank you!!
Excellent video as always! Valuable info showing what a boost the pedal assist provides. My only question is how much did the battery discharge on this ride and on the big hill? That would give a good idea of what to expect on a typical ride in hilly terrain. I really enjoy your work on these videos. They are meaningful and well thought out. Kudos!👍
Ottima domanda ma, a quanto vedo, dopo tre anni, nessuna risposta.
This is the best test of an electric bike I have seen.
One of the absolute BEST comparison videos I've ever watched. TY. You should branch out into other things, you are that good.
Thanks for the comparison nice effort in your production. Regarding the same level of exercise I suspect short term it may be the case that one would be more likely to get out and use the electric bike over no trip at all but long term I’m confident human nature would drive exclusive use of the electric bike, that sadly is a well studied and documented reality. Recently I set up a non Brompton bike up as a *gasp* single speed, I never thought I would ever ride a single speed, living in the Pacific Northwest we have some hills... The experience was not what I expected. Here are some things that happened:
1. Converting to single speed removed a dramatic amount of friction from the drivetrain, so the single gear I have feels easier than the equivalent on a geared bike. This could also be because I remove a significant amount of weight from the bike.
2. I changed my braking habits, using the momentum I generated to get over smaller hills more easily than on a geared bike where I was more likely to gear down and spin up.
3. Probably the biggest change in my mindset came with the big hills. As a mountain biker I was steadfast to stay on the bike and push harder! Turns out it’s just no big deal to hop off and walk for a bit. In fact, it turned out to be a benefit; I get to use different muscles for a few minutes and stretch out my legs.
4. My drivetrain maintenance has plummeted, there’s nothing to break a quick clean occasionally, and it’s ready, so simple.
5. Bike riding became even more Zen-like it’s remarkable to realise in not having to consider gear selection or if one is in the right gear. I can’t overstate this change enough it truly is inspiring.
6. I’m stronger and fitter.
Riding single speed was so positively transformative that it inspired me to convert my Brompton from an S6L to a two speed. Why the two speed and not single? For a Brompton two or single speed components are nearly the same, the only additional parts to operate as a two speed is the rear shifter and the tiny derailleur. From a weight perspective I lost the vast majority with the internal hub rear wheel. The two speed offers a nearly similar zen-like experience to single speeding but allows me to tackle bigger hills faster, as my commuter and grocery getter this is important to me. All the other benefits I mentioned above also apply to the now S2L Brommie and carrying the now 23.5lb package when needed is that much more pleasant.
Awesome recap of both Bromptons and your grade graphics and presentation were excellent and very informative
Very useful video, many thanks Victor
You are welcome! Thanks for watching
Great Video. Thanks for creating and sharing it!
Informative and very interesting, thank you.
Superb comparison! Loving the very descriptive dashboards ;)
Glad you like them!
Excellent and echoes my sentiments as a new owner of the electric Brompton - thank you!
What a fantastic video!!!! Like always your content is relevant to what we need as a Brompton community. Thank you again !!!
Glad you think so, Victor!
This is one professionally-made video. 👍🏼
Appreciate the work you put into this. Thank you.
I started watching this thinking, "I'm not interested in electric bikes". I am now. Without being indelicate, your point about sweating is a good one. I've cycled to a meeting, arrived looking too sweaty, so gone out and bought another shirt only to sweat through that one too.
At the same time, 4kg does seem quite significant.
The road surface doesn't look too bad to me. Where you have my sympathy is the arrangement at 12:45: road, parked cars, cycle lane, sidewalk. Why? I suppose it's a slight improvement on its London equivalent that someone has at least remembered that cars have doors which might swing open.
Excelente video , thank you for taking the time to show us the differences between each other
Great video, very well done 👏🏽 informative, clear, detailed and to the point. brompton should pay you because I wanna buy a brompton electric now! 😂
Best comparison I have come across between those two bikes. Very informative..
Very good display video about the Brompton Electric. What you have shown is that the electric assist was quite sufficient to provide assistance regardless of how hilly the terrain gets. The distance for you to travel was very typical day to day distances, under 10-20km but the electric was there to make assistance adequate for the various hilly terrain..
Great informative video, thank you so much for all the afford you make in your free time to create your videos. For me, after watching this, I am even more happy with my Standart 6 speed Brompton. The motor sounds to annoying for me 😂
I hesitated for a long time but thanks to Victor's video I took the plung and got a black and white electric version !
11 dislikes! Why would anyone dislike this video. It is extremely well made. If it is the subject that the dislikers object to; what did they expect a video titled 'How much faster is the Electric Brompton on everyday rides' to be about?
Getting dislikes is a sign that the channel is growing, so I don't really mind them! I wish people would leave some constructive feedback along with the dislike, though.
Awesome video, i loved the speedometer! Really want a Brompton Electric now!!
This video is fantastic!! More live rides with jazz and narration please 👍
All right, will do then!
Great job with the video, very professional and objective! thanks for the effort
What a fantastic comparison, well done for producing such a detailed report if the two bikes. I'm surprised at the drag from the front dynamo hub.
Thank you for posting this interesting informative video on your channel
Thank you so much for this great video:) I love all your videos! Keep up the good work!!
I'm glad you're enjoying them! Thanks!
Very informative and well done.
Speed on descent is also a function of weight. I have a midrive Tern GSD cargo bike, and I can get some serious speed on the downhill out of the neighborhood when I add my kid.
My husband was snippy about my electric assist leaving him in the dust on the way to school one morning. Dude, me + bike + kid = nearly 300 lbs rolling down that big hill. I'm *riding my breaks.*
Thanks for sharing! I guess my next upgrade will be a kid. Just need to figure out where to attach him (or her) to the bike. 😂
Victor, this a most entertaining and educational video. I don't know if I'll ever get an electric Brompton as I like both my non-electrics very much but like hearing about yours. Stay safe.
Victor, this is by far the best comparison video of the electric Brompton and standard Brompton on the net. I'm hoping to buy an electric Brompton in the spring and your info has been so helpful. I'm about 5 kg lighter than you so the bike should take my weight. Thank you so much!
Really interesting, thank you. I am so pleased with my electric Brompton. The only downside is the increased weight if you need to carry it anywhere.
Yeah, that's true. I don't feel that much of a difference, but I'm pretty heavy myself.
@@EverydayCycling - Do you miss having the rear rack and the possibility to carry luggage up front? That is one of the major advantages of the traditional Brompton.
@@Michou007 i installed a rear rack, and i carry luggage at the front all the time!
Good reason to keep multiple bikes. I have to many bikes.
Great comparison. Awesome. Thanks Victor.
Hey, this is my second video from your channel. It's very informative and I really appreciate your effort to collect all the data and present it during the runs. You got me hooked on the bromptons, and the stuff you're doing with them. Thanks man, two videos, two likes and a sub. Keep up the good work =)
Love this analytical video.
Great video!
Great. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Very nice and useful video! I have a question: after how many kilometers do you need to recharge the battery?
Thank you very much