Since 1975, Brompton has perfected a formula: a three-part fold, a lightweight frame, and a bicycle that transforms into a portable package in under 20 seconds. Built by hand in London, each bike carries with it a sense of precision and craftsmanship. But beyond the mechanics lies a bigger idea—reshaping how we move through our cities.

In places like Copenhagen, London, and Hanover, cycling has long been a core part of daily life. Could Asia be next in the pecking order? We sat down with Mark Smedley, Managing Director of Brompton Asia-Pacific, to talk about the enduring appeal of the brand—and how Brompton isn’t just trying to shape cities like Singapore, but is, in turn, being shaped by them.

ESQUIRE SINGAPORE: Why are Brompton bikes considered a premium product and what justifies a higher price point?

MARK SMEDLEY: There's a lot of love, attention to detail, and sweat that goes into every Brompton. Technically, all products go through rigorous testing—Bromptons are tested to mountain bike standards, which is high for city riding. They’re built to last.

There’s no planned obsolescence. Many consumables are made in-house, which gives the bike real longevity. You can keep it running for 20–30 years.

We don’t release new parts just to boost sales. Instead, we focus on building something robust that thrives in urban life. In the West, it’s a daily commuter. In the East, it's more a weekend social tool—but it’s built to endure either way.

Every bike is still handmade in London. Each part is either designed specifically for the Brompton or partially handmade to suit the iconic fold. That’s what sets it apart—it’s not generic.

ESQ: What sets Brompton’s folding mechanism apart from its competitors?

MS: We’ve spent 50 years perfecting it. The folding mechanism is what truly sets us apart. Hand brazing lets us join metal pieces without compromising strength, preserving the frame’s integrity.

The fold itself is compact and easy—designed to be operated one-handed. With just a little practice, anyone can learn to fold or unfold it in seconds. Even my nine-year-old can do it faster than me now. Andrew Ritchie, our founder, once said: if you can't carry or unfold the bike easily, it’s not portable—and we’ve lived by that.

ESQ: Is there a Brompton innovation that you're most personally excited about right now?

MS: There’s one I wish we had—a child seat—but it's technically too complex for now.

The innovation I’m most excited about is electrification. Because of the bike’s unique design, we had to create everything ourselves—the battery, the motor, the electronics.

It’s about the future. Cities are congested and polluted. We need people to think differently about transport. At first, people think e-bikes are “cheating,” but they actually expand access to cycling. With electric assist, a two-kilometre ride becomes five or seven, without extra effort.

We’ve spent years on R&D, and we’re refining it further—with a new electric motor and a lighter titanium model coming. It might just be the lightest, smallest folding ebike in the world.

ESQ: Let’s backtrack to that child seat. Why makes it so complicated?

MS: Other companies have options, but as a British market leader, we have to meet strict compliances and regulation standards to keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to be able to master that on a folding bike.

ESQ: What is your boldest vision for how Brompton could transform Asia-Pacific cities with foldable bikes?

MS: That’s a really good question. I think that Brompton is in quite a unique position and for 50 years now, has produced this fantastic product that enables people do things they couldn’t before.

Our communities have embraced the bike in creative ways: for travel, friendship, and personal expression. They inspire others to ride. And that’s what changes behaviour. To create cities where cycling is for all ages, we need safe infrastructure—and governments are investing.

Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN) is expanding. But it takes more than just lanes—we need brands like Brompton to use their voice, to educate, and to show that bikes aren’t just fun—they change lives. We want to help city planners make active travel the default choice.

ESQ: Is city infrastructure a prerequisite for Brompton to expand?

MS: Infrastructure helps people feel safe enough to choose cycling—and some cities are ahead of others. Asia’s megacities all face the same core issues: congestion, limited space, and public health problems.

So yes, better infrastructure boosts adoption. But at Brompton, our focus is behaviour change. We want to make a meaningful impact—whether it's one rider or many.

ESQ: Coming from London and having to adjust to the Asia-Pacific market, has Brompton had to alter its designs or marketing decisions?

MS: That’s another good question. I’ve been with Brompton for many years now, and it’s been a remarkable journey. Our success has been driven, yes, by a fantastic product—but more than that, by a passionate community that brings the product to life.

In Asia, collecting is part of our cultural DNA. We grew up trading Pokémon cards, baseball cards—whatever it was. It’s not uncommon to meet someone who owns two or three Bromptons. I’ve even heard of someone who owns over a hundred, just to collect all the different variants we’ve produced.

It’s through this energy—through users here—that the brand has come alive in unexpected ways. While back in our rainy London headquarters, people cycle in hi-vis jackets, our community here brings vibrancy, colour, and a completely different kind of energy to Brompton.

And that, in turn, shapes the way we think. It informs the accessories we develop, the way we design. Because to us, the bike is a tool—but once you start adding to it, it becomes something truly personal.

Here’s one example: Brompton can be configured in 16 million different combinations. Add accessories, and that shoots up to something like 16 billion. So yes—what’s happening here isn’t just influencing us, it’s pushing the brand forward.

ESQ: This mix-and-match mentality—was that not a thing in London?

MS: Not in the same way. In London, people mostly want black. Black, black, and maybe grey.

In Singapore, that all changed. Brompton started managing Southeast Asia directly around 2018, but even before that, our distributor here brought colour into the market. And it worked. Singapore became, without doubt, one of our most vibrant global markets. It inspired what we thought was possible—not just in Asia, but back in Europe as well.

ESQ: I imagine this would alter the growth strategy greatly from Asia-Pacific to London.

MS: For us, it’s not just about revenue or sales. Of course, we need to be sustainable as a business. But what drives Brompton is a mission: to change how people move through cities.

We’re not aggressive in how we sell. We want people to have a genuine reason for choosing our bikes—because that decision could last 20, 30 years. And hopefully they become part of a larger community.

Instead of focusing on regions, we look at cities. Where is the infrastructure ready? Where are people thinking about health, the environment, or simply better ways to get around?

Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo—they’re all prime cities for us. Bangkok, Jakarta, Melbourne—these are all stepping stones. Asia, including China, now accounts for about 50% of our global business. That growth came quickly.

Why? Because here, people share. Word of mouth, peer-to-peer, social media—there’s a strong sense of community. In Europe, people tend to be more reserved. But here, we celebrate, we show, we ride together.

This creates massive opportunities for us in Asia over the next 5 to 10 years. Because we’re not just selling bikes—we’re trying to present an alternative to the motor car.

ESQ: Final question—what’s your personal Brompton bike of choice?

MS: Ah, another great one. I got my first Brompton—the M3L, but we don’t use that name anymore—nearly 15 years ago, and I still have it. It’s been around the world with me—and still rides beautifully.

That said, I now mostly use the T Line 4-speed, our titanium model. It’s half the weight of my original, just under 8kg—lighter than most carry-on bags. It’s changed everything.

Back when I had a long, awful commute, Brompton made it doable. I live in Serangoon Gardens and it takes me 27 minutes to cycle to work. That’s faster than taking the train or a car—which both take around 30 to 45 minutes for the same 12km route.

If I forget it, I feel naked. The bike gives me total freedom. I explore cities, even my own. With it, I’ve found corners of Singapore I never knew existed. It lets me go off the beaten path, even on work trips.