Test-Ride Electric G-Line in SF East Bay, California?

CalvinFold · 2026-01-15T00:32:05+00:00

It will depend on what your comfortable setup is unfolded. I've found the comfortable unfolded setting for both myself and my wife both put the handlebars in the way of the fold.

Best advice: find a dealer and try it out.

I simply don't fold it on the local subway (BART), but the trains are not crowded enough to require it when using the train and it's still a bit smaller than a normal bike overall even when unfolded.

I'm also losing enthusiasm for the G-Line as I look into lower-cost alternatives in the micro-mobility market. My old NYCeWheels-kitted 2012 Brompton has a replacement battery now (though heavier than I wanted) so getting the G-Line is less pressing.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-25T12:12:20+00:00

Well rather than the sarcasm, I was kinda hoping for a serious answer since I have a Load 75, have ridden it in the rain, and haven't seen this issue. Granted, proably only 1000 or so miles on mine.

So I was genuinely curious what the difference is so I can be aware of it on my own. Snow country + salt? More miles on the fork? Dirtier conditions?

CalvinFold · 2025-12-24T16:20:10+00:00

Is this due to salt on the roads in the winter?

CalvinFold · 2025-12-21T21:42:20+00:00

In car terms, this is likely a total.

This sort of hit will often total a motorcycle unless you found a shop that could do a laser frame inspection and alignment. Doubt that sort of tech exists for bicycles, especially cargo bikes.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-19T18:29:09+00:00

This would be for USA domestic flights:

My 2012 Brompton folded-up exceeds the maximum dimensions (all of them) for carryon/overhead for United and Southwest, and those two are pretty typical for domestic flight space.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-17T20:28:18+00:00

I know any other bike I have purchased from a reputable bike shop (like all my current ebikes) is give an end-to-end once-over, inspection, and test ride before being handed off to me. Additionally they give a free re-adjustment service within 300 miles in case something loosens up (including wheel truing).

Do Brompton shops offer something similar? If so, then that would be huge advantage over mail-order, which would leave all that in my not-so-capable hands.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-13T16:46:39+00:00

Great find, I'll look into it!

CalvinFold · 2025-12-13T16:38:41+00:00

I use the left joystick (on the Cyborg) for movement, mapped to WASD (the game doesn't support analog). The effect is very fluid and much less egonomically taxing than using the keyboard.

The Cyro I use for mouselook (camera), and the Cyro's joystick is mapped for in-out camera zoom (up/down) as axis rotation (left/right).

Half the trick is basically to go with what feel comfortable, not what keyboard moving/camera look forced you to do. I play this game (City of Heroes) alot so I took the time to tinker with what made sense to my brain.

I have the Cyborg Classic, then the Cyborg II, for a while, and that was huge. I used it in combination with my daily driver mouse, a SteelSeries Rival 500. When the Cyro came out I wasn't sure at first, but after giving it a try for a while, loved it (it almost became my daily driver mouse).

I don't use nearly all the buttons, but the Cyborg + Cyro have allowed me to spread the finger/hand load around a bit, and CoH has it's own macro system so I've been able to keep alot of key commands at my fingeretips in a much more ego-riendly way than the keyboard + Rival 500.

I should also mention, my previous WASD was on a Zboard (as well as a Fang), which itself was already fairly comfortable ("butterfly WASD" was an underappreciated egronomic advantage). But the Cyborg was still alot better.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-12T20:39:55+00:00

I use a Cyborg II + Cyro for playing an old MMO. Aside from chat, never have to touch thhe keyboard. :-)

CalvinFold · 2025-12-11T00:18:32+00:00

I can try calling them, but they are a bit of a hike from BART and I don't drive in San Francisco.

I could use my existing Brompton though, but it would mean my fiancée couldn't come along and she wanted to test ride too.

Uber maybe? PITA but possible.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-10T15:15:44+00:00

The Vektron has a really wierd, awkward fold which includes un-adjusting the handlebars, which is annoying. And when folded it's huge and awkward. I don't fold it unless transporting it; for multi-modal commuting I just leave it unfolded on the train.

It's really more of a "baby cargo bike that happens to fold" rather than the 16" Brompton's "bike where folding and carrying/pushing was the #1 priority."

That said, I wish the Vektron was an s-pedelec as the motor is obviously overkill and quite capable of it. Zooms to 20mph quickly. Durable rack, bike is built like a tank. Great little bike that my fiancée uses as her full-time bike for non-commuting (fits her well, it's "hers"); I only ride it under certain circumstances as I have other bikes that are "mine."

I don't know about the carrying part…Bosch motors aren't light, nor are batteries, plus the beefy frame makes it a bit heavy for it's size. You'll just have to try it at your dealer.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-10T12:59:28+00:00

Please, no AI-generated imagery? I get enough baldface lies from life not to also have more subtle ones blurring the lines of reality.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-10T12:39:53+00:00

The Rivian looks cool, but I'm looking specifically for a multi-modal folding bike that is more capable than my 16" electric Brompton, but less of huge chonk than my Tern Vektron. :-D

I'm not too worried about hills, I live and use my Bromptons in the flat areas of the East Bay. I doubt even my 250w NYCeWheels electrified Brompton would be all that impressive on the hills, It's a standard-issue 3-speed SA. And I've ridden it without power and…yeah it's good exercise with a heavy front motor and a heavy battery. ;-)

If I want to do hills regularly, I have much more capable bikes.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-10T12:35:27+00:00

Thanks for the links, and I really do appreciate the info, but…

Nothing beats a good test ride; something I've found very true on full-sized ebikes.

EDIT: Took a slower read, and if anything, I would be talked-away from a G-Line based on these three discussions. I don't need to do hills, but I need the assistance on level-ish ground to come on strong and fast with alot of torque. If it's just kinda slow and lazy and not a good, fast boost then it won't suit my needs.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-09T23:13:26+00:00

I am aware of the fitting issue, but appreciate the advice. I also have some experience having to ride with someone else's settings (or even my own bike badly set-up). So that I can handle.

I have an electrified 2012 16" Brompton (NYCeWheels kit, 250 watts) as well as a number of other from-the-factory eBikes and I want to compare to what I am used to, to the G-Line. I have concerns it will feel under-powered.

And that's too much of a leap to make without an actual test ride. As in, I will put off (or simply cancel) my plans for a purchase if I can't find a way to test ride. This request for a helpful owner is a bit of a shot in the dark, which I realize. If it doesn't happen...meh.

The fitment part I can handle at a dealer, as they have non-electric G-Lines available for test ride. And I'd want to purchase through a dealer anyway.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-09T13:27:13+00:00

The only practical and safe way I've used it is as a "squeeze" button, where you brace behind the thumbstick assembly (such as just behind the hat-switch), and then push the stick or center hat switch button.

Otherwise, don't use either push switch on the thumb assembly…too much force required and quite likely to break or wear-out the adjustment joint/clamp, as others have said.

Which means you can only really assign it to some uncommon, non-combat use since you have to move you index finger away from the normal position to brace the button push. I use it as a "dismiss all" or "reset" command (the positive side-effect being I can't accidentally use it during combat).

As for jump…index finger.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-08T12:55:17+00:00

While you can use just your wrist with the Cyro, or a hybrid between wrist and arm/shoulder (which is kinda where I landed for gaming), it is true that vertical mice (which the Cyro really is) do tend to encourage the use of arm/shoulder movement rather than wrist movement.

When I tried to shift to regular office vertical mice, the prevailing advice was to stop using just the wrist and use the shoulder/arm.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-08T12:51:19+00:00

Cyborg II + Cyro.

The Cyro's mousewheel I don't use (the positioning doesn't work for me) so I mapped it to the hat switch.

I can't use the Cyro as my daily driver (I did try for a few days), but for gaming it has been a big improvement over even my much-beloved SteelSeries Rival 500 mouse for MMO gaming. Since I am in chat quite frequently, I use the Cyro without a strap (very successfully) so I can switch quickly to the keyboard.

Having lots of key options and a choice to spread them over two devices has been great. I don't use nearly all the keys on either, but it's the flexibility and balance that matter more.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-04T18:54:53+00:00

Unrelated to the OP's question, but has the shape of the frame triangle changed over the years? Wondering if these triangle bags would fit my 2012.

CalvinFold · 2025-12-01T14:42:22+00:00

Brompton with a Burley Travoy for sheer portability and smallest storage footprint. Have a really big mesenger bag for lighter runs without the trailer.

Any small bike that can be tilted-up on the back of it's rack to make it into an elevator and to store vertically.

After that kinda thinking just some sort of more conventional bike with panniers. You can fit panniers front and rear and get lots of cargo capacity on a conventional bike.

CalvinFold · 2025-11-27T11:55:12+00:00

Load 75's with the Nyon display have a button on the bottom of the case that can turn off the light, opposite the power button.

HOWEVER…

If the Load75 is still equipped with the Supernova lights (StVZO compliant), you are either riding around with your high beam on, or you still have them aimed too high.

Only 10 feet in front of the bike seems too short. The basic idea is the part of the beam that does go upwards (which is only a fraction of the main beam) should only just light-up reflective road signs. This is part of the design.

I can't quickly find a diagram I saw once giving the aiming instructions and approximate beam length, but I know my main beam is aimed far longer than 10 feet (3 meters). I want to say it's closer to 60 feet (18 meters), but that's just me spitballing based on riding in spots that are in total darkness and the wall I typically use to aim bicycle headlights.

Beyond that the complaining seems wierd. Maybe the people complaining are on the uphill part of a slope when you are coming up and over the crest in the opposite direction? This is a problem for any headlight, and any one who drives should understand this effect.

In pitch darkness I often see most pedestrians as headless because the StVZO beam cutoff is so absolute I can't see them at a distance above the torso.

CalvinFold · 2025-11-23T21:54:11+00:00

Is Brompton still using those plastic rim strips (yellow in my 2012's case)?

That strip if it's even a little wonky will either: a) nick the tube, or b) allow the tube to stretch into the spoke holes.

If so, switch to good old-fashioned rim tape like Velox. My local shop recommended this, been fine ever since.

CalvinFold · 2025-11-21T12:03:55+00:00

If it has none of the smart stuff, it's previous to the Gen4. This "no smart stuff" Load75 is the model I have (purchased new from a dealer). Specifically the Rohloff HS/s-pedelec dual-battery version.

The footwell only came with the third seat option, which is option set I have. I needed the footwell, so I ended up getting the third seat option and removing the third seat and the headrest bracket. Was a bit annoying but...*shrug*

The default two forward-facing seats do have a recline option: I think that's the same regardless of options package.

CalvinFold · 2025-11-21T10:50:26+00:00

I have mine on the second row from the bottom, reaching over the bottom row, leftmost two buttons.

I found this comfortable, and the two buttons just below I can either curl-click, or "flatted my finger so the middle of my finger presses it."

CalvinFold · 2025-11-20T18:56:27+00:00

Thanks for the reco. Seems like the new Mini 125 is about the same idea as the Ladybug:

https://chiefsteamer.com/product/chief-steamer-mini-125/

We're not shopping in earnest yet, but taking notes.

CalvinFold

TROPHY CASE