Brompton Electric C-Line Explore Review | Cool & Compact

Ride quality is a complicated topic that addresses how a bike feels to ride. The subject incorporates fit, comfort, handling, motor responsiveness, the user interface, and more. In the case of the Brompton Electric C Line, with its unique folding frame, 12-speed 3×4 drivetrain, and app connectivity, there are even more points to examine and discuss!

Let’s first address the elephant in the room: if you’re new to Brompton, you likely haven’t seen a bike quite like the Electric C Line before. Its geometry is certainly uncommon, with a low, stretched-out frame, an extremely tall seatpost, and tiny 16” wheels. I’ll admit that when I set eyes on it, I expected I’d feel like a circus bear riding a miniature bicycle.

To be fair, there is an inescapable element of that sensation, but it felt and functioned much more like a full-size e-bike than I expected on my first ride. The bike’s geometry felt comfortable, intentional, and dialed in, with plenty of room for adjustability. I was immediately impressed; this was clear evidence of Brompton’s 50 years of experience.

In fact, the Electric C Line is made to accommodate a gigantic range of riders from 4’7” to 6’8” with a single frame size (and a caveat).

The bike has two stem/handlebar height options at purchase and is compatible with three seatposts. The included standard seatpost is for those with a 26”-33” inside leg measurement, but there is also an extended seatpost to accommodate those with up to a 35” measurement and a telescopic seatpost that goes up to 39”.

At 5’11”, I found the standard seatpost and mid-size stem/handlebar option on our test bike to be comfortable. I was able to achieve proper leg extension and experienced a moderate forward lean to the riding position. I’d likely opt for the taller stem for a more upright position, but that’s largely up to personal preference.

In terms of handling, the Electric C Line is generally nimble, thanks to its 38-lb weight and 16” wheels. Between its battery pack and front hub motor, most of the bike’s weight is on its front end, so its steering did not feel as quick as I expected based on those other factors —or, thankfully, as twitchy as I feared based on the bike’s narrow 515-mm handlebars.

The C Line features no suspension and narrow, small-diameter tires, so bumps can be noticeable, but the bike’s steel frame does a remarkably good job of absorbing vibrations. I was surprised by the softness of the ride when traveling in areas where other bikes with rigid aluminum frames felt stiff and jarring!

I’ve discussed the responsive and natural feel of the bike’s motor, but it’s worth mentioning that engaging the motor sometimes required an initial “shove” on the pedals. This was only a slight hiccup and was something I adapted quickly to.

One area of critique that I have is with the bike’s user interface. I found it somewhat difficult to change the bike’s pedal assist setting when moving due to the placement of the control panel on the battery pack; doing so required removing a hand from the bars and reaching over or around the stem and handlebars.

The Brompton Electric app allows users to adjust the PAS level and includes a speedometer (no display exists on the bike), so I found it a welcome addition to the bike with an added phone mount. Regardless, I encourage Brompton to include a handlebar-mounted remote/button pad on the handlebars—or, at the least, offer one for purchase separately.

Additionally, while I appreciate the flexibility of the Explore 12-speed model, I found myself shifting often. On a “one-by” drivetrain (with a single chainring and a multi-speed cassette), this process is simple, but the C Line’s two shifters sometimes felt like a lot to manage, especially considering that I found myself straddling the first and second hub gears.

Still, riders dealing with hills will likely appreciate the wide range of speeds. Those in flatter areas—or those who prefer simplicity—may find the 4-speed Urban model to be enough.

But John, you might say, you haven’t yet talked about how this folding e-bike folds. Let’s remedy that, as it’s similar to but also different from most of the other folding bikes I have reviewed. The process is ingenious, but it also has a learning curve; fortunately, Brompton includes diagrams showing the steps on the battery pack and on stickers in multiple places.

First, a release lever behind the seat tube allows the rear wheel to swing under the frame. Then, once the clamp on the hinged frame is released, the front wheel can swing around to hook on the chain stay of the folded rear section.

At that point, the collapsible stem can be released, allowing the handlebars to fold flat and secure in place. Finally, the seatpost can be dropped and the left side pedal folded down. Once all is said and done, we measured the folded bike to be roughly 25” L x 11” W x 25” T.

One final thing to discuss is the range of optional accessories Brompton offers for the Electric C Line. Of particular interest are both hardshell and soft travel cases for transporting the folded bike. A larger storage bag and rack are also available for the front-mounted battery.

Hopefully, it’s clear that the Electric C Line’s ride quality is both generally great and exceptionally unique! I found the bike comfortable, easy to use, and extremely functional, so I think it’s clear why Brompton is regarded so highly in the industry.