Brompton C Line (4 or 12 speed) review

Full review

The Brompton C Line is still the benchmark for people who fold a bike every day. Brompton gives the folded size as 58.5 x 56.5 x 27 cm, so it is only 27 cm deep, and it fits under desks, in cupboards and in the luggage space on a crowded train. It folds in under 20 seconds, and you can roll the folded bike along on its small wheels.

The frame is steel, and Brompton fits mudguards and folding pedals as standard, with a roller rack as an option. Retailers list 16 inch wheels with Schwalbe Marathon Racer tyres, which resist punctures, and dual-pivot caliper brakes. Brompton's own page gives a starting weight of 11.35 kg for the lightest versions, while retailers list about 12 kg for the 12-speed.

Gears come as four-speed, which suits flat cities and short rides, or twelve-speed, which combines a hub gear with a derailleur for hills and longer trips. Handlebars come in three heights to suit your reach.

The small wheels make steering lively and bumps more noticeable than on the 20 inch bikes, and the price is the highest of the six. What you pay for is the smallest fold, a long track record and a frame many riders keep for years. If you carry the bike every day, it is the most convenient here.