Inside Brompton: how the folding bike is handmade in London
Nothing destined me to become a Brompton fan. And yet, after a full tour of the London headquarters, from the R&D centre to the assembly line, it is hard to look at this folding bike the same way. Here is what we found behind the scenes of an icon handmade in London for 50 years.
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Why a folding bike is so complex
Will, Brompton’s CEO, opened the doors for us. First stop: the research and development centre, where everything is designed in London. There we discovered in-house tests that go well beyond the standards, and a Brompton literally covered in strain gauges.
Hand brazing, signed by the brazer
Next, the factory. Frames are brazed by hand, and each frame bears the name of the brazer who made it. The titanium frames are made at the Sheffield factory.
Paint, robots and traceability
After the brazing workshop come the paint shop and the assembly line, where every bolt tightening is recorded. Some of the machines used were designed by Brompton itself. The visit also tackles the question: why manufacture in London?
From Andrew Ritchie to today
The visit is a chance to look back at the story of Andrew Ritchie, the inventor, who came up with this bike in 1975 in his flat facing the Brompton Oratory. We also talk about Will Butler-Adams and his journey with Brompton, a bike that changes lives, how to evolve an icon, and what Brompton could look like in ten years.
Sustainability according to Brompton
To finish, a simple idea: for Brompton’s CEO, sustainability starts with a bike you keep for twenty years.
Thanks to Brompton France and Bromton Junction Paris for the loan of the P Line. Do you ride a Brompton? Let us know in the comments on YouTube.
