We Americans are sort of getting hosed on the prices for Brompton accessories. $391.94 all-in US price in NY vs $167.50 in UK when on sale vs $241.20 in UK when not-on-sale.
| Scenario | Price | Conversion | All-in (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK sale price (Brompton.com) | £125 inc. VAT | × $1.34 | $167.50 |
| UK normal price (Brompton.com) | £180 inc. VAT | × $1.34 | $241.20 |
| US price + NYC sales tax (8.875%) | $359.99 + $31.95 | — | $391.94 |
I have a Brompton electric that I love, but I wanted something lighter that I'm willing to lock up outside at the gym (so not crazy expensive like the T-Line) and that I can also carry around for multimodal commutes with lots of stairs. Additionally, the fold had to have just as small of a footprint as a Brompton, as I'd love to fly to Europe/Asia and pack it in check-in luggage.
So here's my ongoing Aceoffix C5 build, which weighs less than the 4-speed T-line, despite including a rack and fenders. I went with Aceoffix b/c a fairly knowledgable youtube made a video about it and because its fold was exactly the same as a Brompton, whereas some other bikes seemed to have slightly larger folds and I was concerned about being able to pack those.
| Item | Cost (USD) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Aceoffix C5 base bike (5-speed, 6069 AL frame, carbon T800 fork) | $986 | 7,500 g / 16.5 lb |
| Aceoffix Lightweight titanium-axle pedals (single QR) | $35 | 156 g / 5.5 oz |
| Carbon-titanium rear rack | $80 | 170 g / 6.0 oz |
| ACEOFFIX UD carbon M-bar (600mm) | $51 | 130 g / 4.6 oz |
| Carbon + Ti fenders (Aceoffix L-matte, front + rear) | $118 | 145 g / 5.1 oz |
| Brompton Ergonomic Grips (Q103121, dealer-sourced US) | ~$45 | ~140 g / 4.9 oz |
| DDP shipping (China → Brooklyn, all duties included) | $70 | — |
| NY sales tax on Alibaba order (~8.875%) | ~$112 | — |
| TOTAL | ~$1,497 | ~7,750 g / 17.1 lb |
Trying to understand the thought process here. I guess it was so that the wheels don’t obstruct anything on the rack itself when unfolded? But when folded, it also makes it impossible to trolley on anything but perfectly flat floor without scraping the rack.