When Brompton launched the G-Line, we knew right away: we want to test it out! Because a Gravelbike that can also attack singletrails, that's what we like to be told more about. That we also wanted to experience it, we were invited to do so in October/November. What did we think of it? And why you should take it on holiday? You can find out in this review of the Brompton G-line!
Gravel folding bike for motorhome
The title of the paragraph says it all - it's actually a gravel folding bike for on the campervan. Or perhaps more accurately, in the motorhome. One of those that you take with you so nice and easy.
That's what it's made for. To easily take on adventures. The bike weighs 13.9 kg in the stripped down version (ours was a bit heavier because of the rear rack) and its size makes it easy to take it on the train. It is a bit more robust than the C-line or T-line. But yes, you can also gravel with this...
In fact, I also took it on the international train to London, where I attended an event. Then I tested the bike in Hackney Marsh. That was a great baptism of fire.
The bike folds in and out easily. Some technical gadgets have been devised, including a storage thingy for the pedal, a snap-in insert and, of course, the familiar Brompton folding and unfolding method. First straighten the handlebars, then the seat post, then unfold and secure the front and then swing out the wheel underneath.
Upon entering, in the box, we immediately notice the engineering gadgets. The saddle is conveniently tucked away and you can easily screw it on. By the way, the saddle is hard and I would recommend fitting your own, due to its friendliness to the noble parts.
Assembly
The bike is fitted with nice wide 20-inch Schwalbe G-One Allround gravel tyres. Ideal for forest trails, champagne gravel, hardpack gravel, but less suitable for the deep mud trails.
Furthermore, the bike has rear gears, in a more classic hub. The G-line is fitted with disc brakes, 140mm, which allow you to come to a stop well quickly. That does represent an upgrade over the standard Brompton.
The handlebars are kind of like MTB handlebars, quite wide, especially for city riding. The comfortable grips do their job.
In the city
I have used the bike for many rides around town. What I notice then is that with the wider tyres, bigger wheels and the disc brakes, you actually have a wonderful bike to deal with. With the eight gears, you get away well and keep up with most e-bikes. The handlebars are wide. In my opinion, too wide, because in busy city traffic you then have a lot of space to take up.
What is nice though, especially when transitioning from city to public transport, is the rack on the back. You can roll the bike nicely on that and it also protects it. The bag carrier, I should do more with that in the city.
Out of town
I take the bike to the forests around Utrecht. On the tightly laid, Dutch forest paths, it handles well. You do notice, though, that if you really want to use it for training, you'll come up short at gear 8 at some point. You miss a gear or two to really gain speed. It does make for great photos in the woods, though.
During my rides in and around Utrecht, it gets away well. During my trip to North London and the parts around Hackney, he does get stuck in the bogs. It had been raining and he doesn't like the wet meadow I plough through. So is the bike less flexible and versatile after all?
I do notice that for me, with 1.93 and long legs, it is on the short side. I would also recommend buying the Brompton seat post extender. Just like lights, because it doesn't have them.
Nice plaything, but what is it really?
It's a fun plaything and you can really get by on dirt. But to call it a replacement for your gravel bike? No. Not that. I think it's a sporty bike, ideal for an adventurous ride from the campsite in unfamiliar surroundings. Why I don't think it's a full-fledged gravel bike?
- It steers the brusquely. You miss the real control of a racey gravel bike
- With the version we had, you have a heavy gravel bike, which gets stuck in the mud quickly with the studs on the tyres.
- He is at the price: €2879,for the entry-level bike. Our version is just under 3k and with matching bags it comes to €3333,- You can really buy a nice gravel bike with bags for that. But then again, you don't just leave it on the Albert Cuyp.
- So you lack some gears to make it a real sporty ride. You get up to about 25-28km per hour and then you soon go into coffee grinder mode.
Why you WOULD want to buy it?
Because it is a fine folding bike that offers more stability than a standard Brompton. That you can ride it very well on all terrains and get more out of it than on a regular city bike. It is therefore a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. In English, that's called a ‘jack of all trades, a master of none’. And that is probably exactly why it went back in the box to the UK.
