Brompton C Line 12-speed: One minute review
Ever since 1976, Brompton bikes have been one of the best and, at times, only options for folding bikes. The innovative 3-part fold has made it perfect for taking on trains, throwing in the back of a car, or zipping around city streets.
Over the years, Brompton has been increasing its gear options, with a big jump in the latest C, P and T Lines from six to 12 speeds. This significant increase in gear range has moved these bikes away from only being able to cope with simple, small-incline roads and made them equally at home going up and down steep hills and round uneven country roads.
The new gear system, a 3-speed Sturmey-Archer hub, and a 4-speed derailleur give users pretty much every gear option they could want. I never found myself needing more than the offered range, and in fact, I only ever needed the middle range of 8 gears. Being able to drop into something really low and receive the added pedal assist made it possible to eat up steep hills.
Everything else about the C Line Explore is tried and tested and previously available. The 300Wh lithium-ion battery pack and 250-watt brushless motor make it road-legal here in the UK, while still delivering enough power when it's needed.
The build quality is what we have come to expect with Brompton: high-quality parts that will last a lifetime. This is particularly evident with all three folding mechanisms that will see a lot of action.
This new bike gives us the best of everything: all the gears for various different inclines and the convenience of the compact Brompton package: lightweight, portable, and folding.
Brompton C Line 12-speed: Price and availability
- $4,250 / £3,150 / AU$7,300 for Electric C Line Explore 12-speed
- $4,950 / £3,895 for Electric P Line Explore 12-speed
- Non-electric 12-speed options are also available
The Brompton 12-speed options are available across the C and P Line Explore electric bikes as well as the standard P and T line models.
The Electric C Line Explore 12-speed comes in at 17.3kg / 38.1 lbs with the battery and costs $4,250 / £3,150 / AU$7,300.
For the slightly lighter (16.3 kg / 35.9 lbs), with battery, P Line Explore with 12-speed, you'll be looking at a significantly higher price of $4,950 / £3,895, while it currently seems to be unavailable in Australia.
The bikes are packaged with everything required to construct the bike, including a detachable battery and charger to go with it. A range of accessories are also available, including a Quad Lock Mount for mounting phones to the bike.
This is certainly on the higher end of folding electric bike prices, so the value score is weighed down by this. However, Brompton is a premium, long-lasting product, and there's no doubting the quality construction on offer here.
- Value score: 3.5/5
Brompton C Line 12-speed: Design
- 3-speed Sturmey-Archer and 4-speed derailleur
- Classic Brompton bike design
- Lightweight frame and robust folding mechanisms
The only new addition to the C Line Explore Electric, P Line Electric, P Line Explore, and T Line Explore is the introduction of a 12-speed gearing option. This has been achieved using a 3-speed hub and a 4-speed derailleur.
Brompton enthusiasts will know that we've seen a hub gear and derailleur combo before with the previous C Line Explore connecting a 3-speed hub to a 2-speed derailleur. This new version is this principle on steroids.
The Sturmey-Archer hub is completely weather-sealed, keeping it away from the elements and increasing its longevity. The hard-wearing hub shell protects it from damage from foreign objects and, again, guarantees the requirement for minimal maintenance.
The derailleur, originally designed for the ultralight titanium T Line, is small and super lightweight, meaning it's always out of the way, whether folded or in use.
The two sets of shifters are pretty easy to understand, with the right shifter controlling the hub gear and the left shifter controlling the derailleur. The buttons are easy to push, and the gears change quickly and effortlessly. The shifter displays are fairly easy to interpret, although the 4-speed derailleur only has the numbers 1 and 4 displayed at the two extremes.
Everything else about the Brompton C Line Explore is what was available on previous bikes in this line. The steel frame is robust enough yet lightweight enough to make it possible to lift the bike easily, especially when in its folded position.
The small and thin wheels are classic Brompton, which is probably where this bike comes up short. With 12 speeds, I wanted to be able to go anywhere. I had no limitations when it came to having the right gear for the job, but not all terrains were ideally suited to such small wheels.
I would also like to have seen a kickstand included, even a small, flimsy one.
- Design Score: 4.5/5
Brompton C Line 12-speed: Performance
- Impressive gear range for a folding bike
- Smooth gear changes throughout the range
- It can take a few seconds for motor to kick in
I have next to nothing negative to say about the performance of the new C Line Explore electric bike.
The new 12-speed gear setup across a hub and a derailleur is beautifully executed, delivering a whole new range of gears never seen before on a Brompton bike. Gear changing through the full range is quick, effective, and seamless, with absolutely zero sticking mid-shift. Gears were located with no problems whatsoever.
The gear shifters performed equally well, with the gear shift buttons substantial enough to be easily found with my thumbs, but ergonomically designed to not be in the way while gripping the handlebars
The motor had enough power in most instances, but sadly fell slightly short on the steepest inclines I could find. This was a little disappointing because surely that's the purpose of having the 12 speeds. That being said, having extra gears at least meant I could manually ride those hills. The power assist modes are located on the battery itself and are not easily changeable mid-cycle, which is, in my opinion, a bit of a design flaw.
The seat was absolutely fine for shorter journeys, but towards the end of my 7-mile commute, I was beginning to have some comfort problems. The smaller wheels were also far from ideal on the more rugged terrain of the rural roads that I took the bike on.
- Performance score: 4.5/5
Brompton C Line 12-speed: Battery life
- 20-45 miles per full battery
- Four-hour per charge
- Battery makes weight front-loaded
The Brompton C Line Explore electric bike has a range of between 20 and 45 miles, depending on which of the three power assist modes is selected. This range isn't terrible, but it will require most users to recharge the battery every few days.
While I was testing the bike, I opted to use it on my 7-mile commute, resulting in a 14-mile round trip. I also went for the highest level of power assist and was definitely experiencing some range anxiety towards the end of my return trip. This range isn't necessarily a problem because most Brompton owners are unlikely to be travelling more than 20 miles per day. My annoyance with it is more the necessity of having to do a daily charge and the associated charging costs.
A full charge from empty takes around 4 hours, which is perfectly reasonable for this type and size of battery. The battery itself takes pride of place right at the front of the bike and is easily clipped in and out. The battery connections are well protected, with the charging port located behind a rubber safety flap.
- Battery life score: 3.5/5
Brompton C Line 12-speed: Scorecard
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
How I tested the Brompton C-Line 12-speed
Due to the fact that the single biggest improvement was the increase from 6-speed to 12-speed, I decided that the bike really had to be put through its paces. It would be no good putting it in a city environment that it is familiar with. We need some hills and some uncomfortable terrain!
My daily commute provided the perfect test ride. 7 miles of hills, rural roads, city streets, on-road, off-road, and everything in between. The gear range performed admirably well, with little need for all 12 speeds.
First reviewed: January 2024
