Brompton Electric T-Line Folding Electric Bicycle Review: Pocket-sized Pedal Power

Disappointingly, Brompton hasn’t offered the T Line Electric an alternative 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 encountered the e-Motiq system in 2024, when I was testing the large 20-inch Brompton G Line. This powerful rear-mounted engine, which can hit 20 mph, provided a more stable ride compared to the front-mounted design, and pushing felt more natural than pulling. The redesign keeps the weight in the back, so the folding mechanism remains balanced.

There are three levels of power assist available here, along with Push Assist (more on that below), and the e-Motiq system also adjusts based on your riding style. Monitors pedal power and cadence. How often you stop and start again over your first 62 miles on the bike changes how energy is used. This is not to get an extra mile, but to make your journey smoother and more natural.

During testing, I didn’t notice any changes as I put up the miles, but I was very impressed with how familiar the bike felt. It’s good, it’s typical of a moving design with 16-inch wheels. Yes, there was a surge of power as I started pedaling, but the initial acceleration was manageable. It felt like I charged my legs more, rather than strapping the engine to my bike.

My test bike was a single speed, but there is also a four speed option available. Driving around London, I didn’t need more than one gear as the engine took the effort out of any hills. Constant traffic also means it’s difficult to exceed top speed for long periods of time, but when the road opens up, I was impressed by how it can switch between assist and support power to stick to 15.5 mph. I can only guess, but on American highways, I think I’ll want four gears. I would also like an increase in the speed limiter. It’s a shame that Brompton even thought to include one of those things.

I also rode a few miles without the battery pack, and was pleasantly surprised. It weighs less than my old iron Brompton, and feels a lot nicer to handle, too. I dragged the Electric T Line at Motiq up countless flights of stairs, onto the London Underground, threw it into the trunk of a taxi at 2 AM, and left it in a restaurant just once. It’s light and small enough to take with you, and cheap enough that you’ll never lock it up and leave it on the road.

I was also able to ride a titanium Brompton T-Line without electricity, which at 17.64 kilograms, was almost laughably light. If you don’t need electric power, it’s a great bike.

Control, Additives, and Competition

It’s small, but the handle-mounted controller does cool things. There is a start assist button, which if you press just before you go through a traffic light, or hit a hill for example, it will give you a powerful push to start. It’s not a sound – it needs to be stopped but for it to come in.