Brompton Electric T-Line Folding Electric Bicycle Review: Pocket-Sized Pedal Power | WIRED

$7,850 at Brompton Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Rating: 7 /10 Open rating explainer Information WIRED Ultralight for an electric bike. Natural-feeling power assist. Genuinely portable. Beautiful titanium construction. Power boost eats up hill starts. TIRED Removable battery pack means extra luggage to carry. Sub-16 mph max speed isn’t good enough. The typical commuter electric bike weighs between 40 and 65 pounds. The battery, motor, and components needed to hurtle you up hills can double, or even triple, the weight of a traditional bicycle. The new Brompton Electric T Line e-Motiq weighs just 31 pounds, and that’s with its 345-Wh battery attached. Remove the battery pack and it is a diaphanous 24.6 pounds. In comparison, the original steel Brompton Electric weighed 32.4 pounds, plus an additional 6.4 pounds for the battery. Virtually anyone who has ridden an electric bike will attest to the fun, freedom, and convenience they offer. Almost everyone who has tried to lift a electric bike up a flight of stairs or onto a roof rack will be able to recommend a good chiropractor. For those without a garage or easily accessible shed, they can often feel as portable as a motorbike, just twice as easy to steal. This new all-titanium electric Brompton solves all these issues. It is accessibly light, folds like only a Brompton can, and has an incredibly smooth ride thanks to the all-new 250-watt rear-hub motor. But damn, it’s expensive. Titanium Time Photograph: Chris Haslam Brompton’s lightweight frame is made almost entirely from aerospace-grade titanium. Parts are manufactured in Sheffield, an industrial city in the north of England, and then assembled in London. Why is this important? Manufacturing anything in the UK comes at a premium. The unpainted frame is flawlessly finished, and the ultralight carbon forks and handlebars weigh next to nothing and look fantastic. It’s classy, and looks like the future, especially compared to my dependable, but hefty old steel Brompton . Folded, it measures roughly 25.4 x 23.6 x 12.6 inches, which is small enough to sit under a desk or in an apartment hallway without getting in the way. The black plastic box housing the e-Motiq control unit is mounted behind the seat post and is uniquely ugly compared to the rest of the bike, with cables spewing from all angles. It is the only blemish on a beautiful design, and one born from complete necessity. The folding mechanism dictates every design decision for Brompton, and in reality, the box works and keeps cable routing tidy. At the front sits the carrier block where the battery clips in. This luggage-mounting block keeps the weight on the frame and not the front fork, so handling isn’t affected. The battery is housed inside a six-liter capacity bag made from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric that’s apparently 15 times stronger than steel. It weighs 6.4 pounds and has enough room for a bike lock and some lunch. The weight of the battery—and what that does to the balance of the folded Brompton—means you need to carry it separately when not riding. I could usually find space in my large commuter backpack , but if not, you’ll be juggling bike, battery, and bags. Brompton does offer some larger battery-compatible bags if you need more space. Power and Range Photograph: Chris Haslam The power behind Brompton’s new electric bike range comes from the e-Motiq rear hub drive system. This proprietary tech replaces the previous front-hub layout with a rear-mounted 250-watt motor delivering up to 30 Nm of torque, while the 345-Wh battery has a range of up to 45 miles. Disappointingly, Brompton hasn’t given the T Line Electric any more speed for US-based riders, so I’m afraid you’re limited to the UK speed limit of 15.5 mph instead of the Class 1 pedal assist maximum of 20 mph. I first came across the e-Motiq system in 2024, when I tested the larger 20-inch Brompton G Line . This powerful rear-mounted motor, which can hit 20 mph, offered a more stable ride compared to the front-mounted design, and being pushed definitely feels more natural than being pulled along. The redesign also keeps the weight at the rear, so the folding mechanism remains balanced. There are three power-assist levels available here, plus Push Assist (more on that below), and the e-Motiq system also adjusts based on your own riding style. It monitors pedal force and cadence. How often you stop and start and over your first 62 miles on the bike tweaks how the power is used. This isn’t to eke out out extra mileage, but to make your ride smoother and more natural. During testing, I barely noticed any changes as I racked up the miles, but I was seriously impressed by how normal the bike felt. Well, normal for a marginally wobbly upright design with tiny 16-inch wheels. Yes, there was a surge of power as I started to pedal, but the initial acceleration was controlled. It felt more like I’d supercharged