Brompton is to folding bicycles what the VW California is to campervans. Over 50 years, the Brompton name has become synonymous with folding bikes.

Cycling can be a great way to get around on tour, but before you start thinking about heading to one of the best campervan campsites for cyclists, you will want to get the right bike. The basic Brompton design has evolved gently over five decades and is still going strong.

The G Line and the Electric G Line which I’ve been riding take the bike in a slightly different direction. The G Line replaces the tiny 16-inch wheels of the regular Brompton with smoother rolling 20-inch wheels. Rim brakes are also out, replaced with hydraulic disc brakes for all-weather stopping power.

It does make the bike better to ride than a 16-inch wheeled Brompton, with a more comfortable ride and better stability. The G Line is also more able on bridleways and canal towpaths. The lightly treaded tyres struggle in deep mud but bite into soft ground, without making the bike feel slow on smooth surfaces.

If you are happy to do all the hard work yourself, the G Line range starts from £2499. Prefer some help on the hills? The electric version is priced from £3499, with models with a handlebar controller costing another £200.

The bike folded up
Jockey wheels on the rack help transport the bike

There’s a maximum of 250 watts of electrical assistance at speeds of up to 15.5mph (25kph). It’s possible to cover ground quite quickly while making similar physical effort to walking.

The bike has three levels of assistance, or you can choose to ride without any help. Pressing the handlebar controller scrolls through the different settings. Level 1 is quite gentle and maximises battery range. I used 11% of the battery on an 11-mile ride, suggesting a range of 100 miles. However, I was quite hot and bothered by the end of the ride.

The controls on the battery bag
Simple controls in the battery bag turn the battery on and off and toggle through the three levels of powered assistance

Using Level 2 or Level 3 made for more relaxed riding, and the feeling of having a permanent tailwind. On Level 2, I found the range closer to 44 miles, dropping to around 30 miles on Level 3. That’s a better range than I achieved riding the estarli electric folder which I reviewed in 2023.

The battery sits in a bag on the front of the bike. It can be charged in situ or detached. A full charge takes around four hours, or two hours with the optional fast charger.

One of the Schwalbe tyres
Schwalbe tyres are versatile

Being electric, this Brompton is considerably heavier than other models. The battery and bag contribute 3.2kg towards the 19.7kg total (just over three stone). That’s quite a weight to lift into a motorhome with a garage or to haul up the steps at a train station.

Thoughtfully, Brompton includes some wheels on the rear luggage rack, which the bike rests on while folded. It’s a clever feature allowing the bike to be wheeled around rather than lifted. However, the tiny wheels do leave the rack very close to the ground – I scratched the rack while wheeling the bike over bumpy ground.

The G 4 battery pcak in the bag
The G 4 battery pack is stowed in a bag which sits on a small
bracket on the front of the bike

The larger wheels also make the G Line bigger when folded than a regular Brompton, measuring 72cm x 67cm x 41cm. At that size, it’s less convenient for rush-hour commuters but still much easier for motorhomers to store than a conventional bicycle.

The price may be more of an issue. At £3699, the Brompton commands quite a premium over the likes of the estarli e20.9, which costs £1950 complete with rack and mudguards.

Take a look at our reviews of the Tenways CGO600 Plus, an e-bike with eight gears and one that is well-suited to shorter, hilly adventures. You can also see what we made of the Ribble CGR E AL Sportfit Apex XPLR, a lightweight bike which offered good performance.

Alternatives to consider

estarli e20.9

Price: £1950

Capable, and more affordable than the Brompton.

MiRider 16

Price: £1595

Smaller 16-inch wheels make for a compact fold, and the price is keen

For those of you who are wondering about how to transport your ebike to your campsite, see what we have to say about motorhome bike racks.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.