96 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk
PRODUCTS FoldingbikestestedBEST BUYJUSTlikecarmakers,
Bromptonproducesspecialmodelssuch
asthisBlackEdition,althoughconfusingly
thetestbikeinourpicturesisorange.
Underneathit’sanM6Lmodel,which
meanssixspeedsfromslick-shiftinghub
gearsplustheabilitytofoldthebikesmall
enoughsothatitfitsintinybootsand
trainluggageracks.At11.8kg,it’slightenough
toliftupstairsandoverhighcarbumpers,too.
It’snotperfectand,atmorethan£1,000,isvery
expensivecomparedtomostotherbikeshere,but
ifyouneedtouseandfoldyourbikeonadailybasis,
thisBromptonreallywillmakelifeeasier.Thebrand’s
cultfollowingmeansit’llholditsvalue,too.Brompton
M6LBlackEdition
Price:£1,150Weight:11.8kg
Gears:SixRating:★★★★★
Contact:www.brompton.com
RECOMMENDEDDespiteitsname,the
CarreraTransitisneitheraPorschenor
aFordvan,butit’saprettygoodfolding
bikeatakeenpricefromHalfords.Itlooks
similartotheCarreraIntercity(opposite)
butisdesignedforin-townridingwith
athree-speedhubtransmission.
It’sheavierandbulkierthanthe
Bromptonswhenfolded,andtheprocess
ofcollapsingitdownisn’tnearlyasslick,
butitfeelsmorelikeaproperbiketoride,
andthethreegearratiosarewellchosenfor
cityriding.Italsocomeswithmudguards,astand
andaluggagerack.ItssizemeanstheCarrera
isn’tperfectfordailycommutingonrush-hour
trains,butit’sgreatformoreoccasionalusers.CarreraTransit
Price:£256Weight:14kg
Gears:ThreeRating:★★★★★
Contact:www.halfords.co.uk
THEsecondBromptoninourtestshares
allofthesamebasiccomponentsasour
winner,whichmeansittooisagreat
foldingbike.Thecompany’swebsite
allowsyoutospecifyabewildering
arrayofoptionstomatchyourtastes
andpreferences–differenthandlebar
shapes,gears,framematerials,
coloursandaccessories.
Thisbike’sconventionalcoloursarea
matterofpersonaltaste,butwesuspect
thatthechromecomponentswillneedmore
maintenancethantheBlackEdition’spaint.
Thethree-speedhubgearsarewellchosen
andwillbefineformosttownriding,but
thewinningBrompton’ssixspeeds
makeitamoreversatileall-rounder.BromptonM3L
Price:£950Weight:11.7kg
Gears:ThreeRating:★★★★★
Contact:www.brompton.com